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TED Talks DailySunday PickApr 12, 2026

Sunday Pick: Sci-fi writer Andy Weir doesn't love writing | from ReThinking with Adam Grant

Summary, books mentioned, transcript quotes, and timestamps for Sunday Pick: Sci-fi writer Andy Weir doesn't love writing | from ReThinking with Adam Grant on TED Talks Daily.

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The MartianProject Hail MaryTheft of Pride+1 more
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Sunday Pick: Sci-fi writer Andy Weir doesn't love writing | from ReThinking with Adam Grant mentions The Martian, Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, Theft of Pride, and I, Robot by Isaac Asimov with timestamps, quotes, and episode context.

The MartianProject Hail MaryTheft of PrideI, Robot
3 books from this episode
The Martian

I thought this is for absolute dorks who want to see me like do the math in the narrative. But I never imagined that a book which is basically a long…

Project Hail Mary
Andy Weir

Andy Weir is known for weaving deep, carefully researched science into his novels, including The Martian and Project Hail Mary.

Theft of Pride

The second one, I thought actually, even now looking back, I think the plot and the storyline had merit. But it was like very poorly executed because…

Episode summary
Andy Weir is the bestselling author of The Martian and Project Hail Mary. He’s known for weaving deep, carefully researched science into his novels, building intricate sci-fi worlds that have captivated millions of readers. But here’s a plot twist: Andy doesn’t actually love the act of writing itself – so how does he motivate himself to do it anyway? Adam talks with Andy about the creative process, the skills involved in discarding bad ideas, finding joy in worldbuilding and research, and why you should never be writing with a sequel in mind. This episode originally aired on ReThinking in 2023. Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The Martian

I thought this is for absolute dorks who want to see me like do the math in the narrative. But I never imagined that…

Card
Project Hail Mary
Andy Weir

Andy Weir is known for weaving deep, carefully researched science into his novels, including The Martian and Project…

Card
Theft of Pride

The second one, I thought actually, even now looking back, I think the plot and the storyline had merit. But it was l…

Card
I, Robot
Isaac Asimov

The speaker mentions 'I, Robot' as their favorite book, highlighting its significance in defining science fiction for…

Card
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Summary, books mentioned, transcript quotes, and timestamps for Sunday Pick: Sci-fi writer Andy Weir doesn't love writing | from ReThinking with Adam Grant on TED Talks Daily.

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  • Referenced books include The Martian and Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir.
  • Andy Weir is the bestselling author of The Martian and Project Hail Mary. He’s known for weaving deep, carefully researched science into his novels, building intricate s…
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Books Mentioned

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The Martian cover
The Martian

“I thought this is for absolute dorks who want to see me like do the math in the narrative. But I never imagined that a book which is basically a long series of algebra word problems would end up being so popular.”

Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link
Check price
Project Hail Mary cover
Project Hail Mary
Andy Weir

“Andy Weir is known for weaving deep, carefully researched science into his novels, including The Martian and Project Hail Mary.”

Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link
Check price
Theft of Pride cover
Theft of Pride

“The second one, I thought actually, even now looking back, I think the plot and the storyline had merit. But it was like very poorly executed because I still had a lot to learn about prose.”

Amazon search results · affiliate link
Find on Amazon
I, Robot cover
I, Robot
Isaac Asimov

“The speaker mentions 'I, Robot' as their favorite book, highlighting its significance in defining science fiction for them.”

Amazon search results · affiliate link
Find on Amazon
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The Martian
TED Talks Daily · 39:31
I thought this is for absolute dorks who want to see me like do the math in the narrative. But I never imagined that a book which is basically a long…
Project Hail Mary
TED Talks Daily · 0:18
Andy Weir is known for weaving deep, carefully researched science into his novels, including The Martian and Project Hail Mary.
Theft of Pride
TED Talks Daily · 43:02
The second one, I thought actually, even now looking back, I think the plot and the storyline had merit. But it was like very poorly executed because…
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The Martian cover
Mentioned at 39:31
The Martian

I thought this is for absolute dorks who want to see me like do the math in the narrative. But I never imagined that a book which is basically a lo…

Check priceJump to mention
Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link
Project Hail Mary cover
Mentioned at 0:18
Project Hail Mary
Andy Weir

Andy Weir is known for weaving deep, carefully researched science into his novels, including The Martian and Project Hail Mary.

Check priceJump to mention
Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link
Theft of Pride cover
Mentioned at 43:02
Theft of Pride

The second one, I thought actually, even now looking back, I think the plot and the storyline had merit. But it was like very poorly executed becau…

Find on AmazonJump to mention
Amazon search results · affiliate link

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