How to Make a BOOK Into a Bestseller
In this episode, Planet Money chronicles the launch of its own book and the nail‑biting wait for the New York Times bestseller list, while exposing the opaque, high‑stakes system that determines bestseller status. Host Alexi Horowitz and book editor Tom Mayer describe the intense competition the book faces and reveal how the list’s secretive methodology fuels a self‑fulfilling “rich‑gets‑richer” cycle. Professor Laura McGrath provides historical context, recounting classic hacks—from a 1940s radio prank that fabricated a bestseller to Jacqueline Suzanne’s strategic book‑tour targeting specific reporting stores—showing how authors have long tried to game the system. The episode ultimately shows that the very act of trying to engineer a bestseller can undermine the chance of actually making the list.
BOOKstore Economics
In this episode, Planet Money dives into the hidden economics of independent bookstores, following Fisher Nash, the book buyer at Carmichael's in Louisville, as he decides which titles make it onto shelves. Fisher explains his decision‑making process—evaluating thousands of catalog...
A Pro-Worker Experiment in Private Equity
In this episode, Planet Money explores a novel private‑equity experiment led by Pete Stavros at KKR, who tried to give workers ownership stakes in the companies they run, starting with Capital Safety’s Red Wing plant. The story follows Cindy Cordes,...
Inside a BOOK Auction
In this episode, Planet Money chronicles its own journey to land a book deal, revealing the hidden economics of publishing—from literary agents pitching the idea, to crafting a proposal, and courting major houses amid industry consolidation. Host Alex Horowitz-Gazi and...
Chef Vs. Robot
In this episode, Planet Money explores the rise of robot chefs, pitting an automated wok robot named Robbie against a seasoned human chef, Chef Fong, in a taste‑test showdown. The segment showcases the robot’s speed and consistency while highlighting the...