Alright baby listeners, this week we’re heading to Mars… or are we? We’re diving into Total Recall, where memory is optional, reality is questionable, and Arnold Schwarzenegger solves existential crises with explosives. The original Philip K. Dick story is sharp, compact, and deeply unsettling, playing with identity in a way that leaves you slightly dizzy. The movie takes that same concept and says, “What if we add mutants, political uprising, and the most aggressively 90s action energy imaginable?” We talk about what makes the short story so clever, why the movie is wildly entertaining even when it abandons subtlety, and whether the spectacle enhances the idea or completely bulldozes it. Is it all a dream? Is it implanted memory? Does it even matter once someone says, “Get to the chopper” energy in space? Baby listeners, this one is chaotic in the best way.

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Alright baby listeners, buckle up, because this episode fought us every step of the way. We’re talking The Lost World: Jurassic Park, a sequel that somehow managed to give us more dinosaurs and less joy. We break down why Michael Crichton’s book, while not his strongest, still feels thoughtful and intentional, and why the movie feels like it was assembled by committee five minutes before filming started. We rant about wasted potential, weird chemistry, and the difference between tension and noise, all while asking the same question over and over: how did this follow one of the greatest movies ever made? Come for the dinosaurs, stay for the disbelief, and learn an important life lesson—greed never ends well, especially when it involves prehistoric murder machines.

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Episode page: https://bookisbetterpod.com/bibpod-episodes/ep-068-jurassic-park-the-lost-world/

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Sink your teeth into this one baby listeners. This week on The Book Is Better, we tackle the granddaddy of vampire lore: Dracula. From Bram Stoker’s surprisingly Christian, diary-driven nightmare to a century of wildly different film adaptations, we debate what actually makes this story work. We cover everything from creepy castles and plague ships to tragic love retcons, over-the-top sensuality, and why Mina deserves way more respect. It’s gothic, it’s chaotic, and it proves that sometimes the scariest thing isn’t the vampire—it’s what filmmakers do to the source material.

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Episode page: https://bookisbetterpod.com/bibpod-episodes/ep-067-dracula/

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Trust no one. Especially the people who pay you. In this episode of The Book Is Better, we dive into The Housemaid, a psychological thriller that keeps twisting the knife just when you think you’re safe. We cover deeply uncomfortable power dynamics and jaw-dropping reveals.Come unpack what works so well in the book and how the movie adapts those moments for maximum gasp-factor. Expect multiple moments of “wait… WHAT?” because this story does not play fair.

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Episode page: https://bookisbetterpod.com/bibpod-episodes/ep-066-the-housemaid/

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You’re a mean one… or are you? We are looking at How the Grinch Stole Christmas in all its forms, from the perfectly concise Dr. Seuss book to the iconic 1966 special, the chaotic Jim Carrey version, and the surprisingly heartfelt 2018 animated film. We debate villain backstories, Cindy Lou Who’s glow-up, Max being the real MVP, and why this story still hits us right in the feelings. Cozy, chaotic, and full of Christmas cheer, this episode proves the Grinch might just have the biggest heart of all.

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Episode page: https://bookisbetterpod.com/bibpod-episodes/ep-065-how-the-grinch-stole-christmas/

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Grab a marmalade sandwich and your coziest sweater, because we’re talking Paddington! This week, we compare the delightfully episodic book to the movie that said, “Yes, but what if we add a villain, a heist, and emotional growth?” From bath-time disasters and escalator confusion to found family, British charm, and one very polite bear, we break down why both versions work so well—and why this story somehow feels like a warm hug wrapped in a duffle coat.

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

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Episode page: https://bookisbetterpod.com/bibpod-episodes/ep-064-paddington/

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We’re off to see the wizard—and unpack a century’s worth of chaos along the way! With tin men who literally chop themselves apart to witches who melt faster than you can say “Technicolor,” we’re breaking down The Wizard of Oz like you’ve never heard it before. Join the family as we wander down the yellow brick road comparing Baum’s bizarre original to Hollywood’s sparkly fever dream. Expect laughs, trivia, and just a pinch of flying monkey trauma.

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Episode page: https://bookisbetterpod.com/bibpod-episodes/ep-063-the-wizard-of-oz/

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Get ready for glitter, guns, and government corruption—it’s The Running Man! 💥 What started as Stephen King’s dark takedown of a dying society became an 80s fever dream where Arnold kills people on live TV… for fun! We’re breaking down the book’s bleak brilliance, the movie’s glorious chaos, and why dystopia apparently looks best with shoulder pads. Spoiler: the movie may win the crowd, but the book wins the soul.

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

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Find us everywhere at @bookisbetterpod.

Episode page:https:https://bookisbetterpod.com/bibpod-episodes/ep-059-the-running-man/

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