Books that Shape Ideas: Economics and Public Policy on The Seen and the Unseen Podcast

"The Seen and the Unseen" is India's premier long-form podcast hosted by Amit Varma. The podcast, which has been running since 2017, features long-form conversations with intellectuals, writers, economists, historians, and thought leaders from India and around the world. The podcast is highly recommended to the readers for deep dive into diverse topics with subject matter experts.

The Host, Amit Varma is a respected journalist and writer, a two-time winner of the Bastiat Prize for Journalism. The show is renowned for its rich intellectual content and the diversity of its guests, making it a valuable resource for anyone interested in public policy, history, culture, or economics in contemporary India. I am only sharing the books recommended related to economics & public policy: 

Books by Indian authors

1. In Service of the Republic — Vijay Kelkar & Ajay Shah
2. India’s Big Government: The Intrusive State & How It’s Hurting Us — Vivek Kaul
3. Samaaj, Sarkaar, Bazaar: A Citizen-First Approach — Rohini Nilekani
4. The Lost Decade (2008-18): How India’s Growth Story Devolved into Growth Without a Story — Puja Mehra
5. The Third Pillar: How Markets and the State Leave the Community — Raghuram Rajan
6. Easy Money series (3 volumes) — Vivek Kaul
7. Between the Buyer and the Seller — Karthik Shashidhar

These books should be a must read for all the youngsters keen to learn on public policy and all the UPSC aspirants who have to delve into Indian nation building.

Books by International Authors

1. Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology — Chris Miller
2. Where India Goes: Abandoned Toilets, Stunted Development and the Costs of Caste — Diane Coffey
3. Austrian Economics: An Introduction — Steven Horwitz
4. Friedrich Hayek: The Ideas and Influence of the Libertarian Economist — Eamonn Butler
5. The Mystery of Capital — Hernando De Sotov
6. Where Are the Customers’ Yachts? — Fred Schwed Jr.

Classics

1. Free to Choose — Milton Friedman & Rose Friedman
2. A Theory of Justice — John Rawls
3. Capitalism and Freedom — Milton Friedman
4. Individualism and Economic Order — Friedrich Hayek
5. The Road to Serfdom — Friedrich Hayek
6. Economics in One Lesson — Henry Hazlitt
7. The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money — John Maynard Keynes
8. Public Opinion — Walter Lippmann
9. Lombard Street: A Description of the Money Market — Walter Bagehot
10. The Wealth of Nations — Adam Smith
11. The Theory of Moral Sentiments — Adam Smith

For readers seeking to dive deeper into the themes discussed on the podcast, the book recommendations serve as a comprehensive guide to engaging with the complex ideas Amit Varma and his guests explore.

Book Recommendations by Nikhil Kamath - WTF Podcast

WTF is a podcast series where entrepreneur and Investor Nikhil Kamath hosts friends and industry experts and holds casual yet intellectually stimulating conversations. WTF Podcast is a must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs, startup founders, stock market investors, early-career professionals, business students, and young professionals eager to understand wealth creation, financial markets, and unconventional thinking. 

Nikhil Kamath’s book recommendations focus on cultivating a mindset of continuous learning, financial literacy, and strategic thinking. Based on my research of Nikhil Kamath's WTF podcast series, here's a comprehensive collection of book recommendations that have emerged from his conversations and personal recommendations:

1. Freedom from the Known by Jiddu Krishnamurti – Breaking mental conditioning and achieving true freedom
2. The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel – Behavioral influences on financial decisions and money mindset
3. The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker – Fear of mortality driving human behavior and accomplishments
4. When Genius Failed by Roger Lowenstein – Collapse of a hedge fund, lessons on overconfidence and failures
5. The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy – Small, consistent actions leading to significant long-term success
6. A History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell – Comprehensive overview of Western philosophical schools and thought
7. Atomic Habits by James Clear – Systematic approach for building good habits and breaking bad ones
8. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius – Stoic wisdom on resilience, discipline, and personal leadership growth
9. Caste by Isabel Wilkerson – Examination of caste systems and social hierarchies globally
10. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari – Human history is shaped by revolutions in cognition and society
11. Source Code by Bill Gates – Insights on technology innovation, philanthropy, and global challenges

Think School’s Book Recommendations

Think School is an outstanding podcast and YouTube channel for anyone passionate about business, strategy, and management for current MBA students, MAT & CAT aspirants, and professionals in the making. Learners get actionable frameworks on business models, startup journeys,  culture building, product-market fit, and competitive strategy directly from those who have built and scaled companies.

The Think School Podcast simplifies complex topics in business, geopolitics, and leadership through engaging storytelling and real-world case studies. Think School recommends the following books that focus on leadership, business mindset, and productivity for personal and professional growth:

Leadership and Purpose

1. Start with Why by Simon Sinek on Leadership rooted in purpose
2. Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg on the challenges women face in leadership
3. The Almanack of Naval Ravikant by Eric Jorgenson on Wealth and Wisdom
4. Culture Code by Daniel Coyle on Unlocking high-performing teams
5. This Is Marketing by Seth Godin on Purposeful marketing philosophy
6. Jab Jab Jab Right Hook by Gary Vaynerchuk on Social Media Storytelling

Negotiation and Influence

1. Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss on Negotiation Mastery
2. Pre-suasion by Robert Cialdini on the Art of influence and persuasion

Business and Entrepreneurship

1. Shoe Dog by Phil Knight is the Memoir of Nike’s founding journey

Personal Growth and Habit Building

1. Deep Work by Cal Newport on Focused productivity
2. Atomic Habits by James Clear on Systematic habit building
3. Hooked by Nir Eyal on Building habit-forming products
4. The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel on the psychological foundation for financial success
5. Factfulness by Hans Rosling — A fact-based worldview to understand global progress.
6. Black Sheep by Brant Menswar — Empowering stories about finding your unique voice.
7. Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins — Overcoming limits through mental toughness and resilience.
8. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius — Stoic wisdom for modern life grounded in mindfulness.
9. Essentialism by Greg McKeown — The disciplined pursuit of less for a meaningful life.

Must Watch Video

“How to Read Effectively Like a CEO?” by Think School (on YouTube) is a must-watch, where they recommend that the goal isn’t speed reading — it’s reading with intent. CEOs read to extract ideas, not just finish pages.