Stephen Dubner

speaker

14,303 appearances 95 recordings 4 series first heard Dec 2024 last heard 18 Sep

Stephen Dubner’s voice in public audio — every appearance, attributed to the second.

Trend

recordings per month · last 12 months

Recordings per month over the last 12 months — 62 in all, peaking in Jul 2026 with 12.

Appearances

newest first · ▶ plays the moment

Freakonomics Radio · Amazon Was Supposed to Kill the Bookstore. James Daunt Had Other Plans | Better in Person · 9 Sep 2026 podcast

And this is a bonus episode of our new TV talk show, Better in Person. voice-verified

If you want to watch the video, which is a whole different experience, it is on the Freeconomics YouTube channel or look for Better in Person on Apple Podcasts. voice-verified

My guest today is James Daunt, a name you may not know, but after listening to this episode, I think you will understand why I was so excited to speak with you. voice-verified

As always, thanks for listening. voice-verified

James Daunt. voice-verified

James Daunt is not a household name, at least in most households, but he always has been in mine. voice-verified

Years ago, he opened a small independent bookshop in London, Daunt Books, which many people consider their very favorite bookstore. voice-verified

From there, he somehow went on to revive two of the biggest bookstore chains in the world: Waterstones in the UK, and Barnes Noble in the US. voice-verified

Argue that James Daunt helped save the very idea of the bookstore, maybe the printed book itself. voice-verified

So, how did that happen? voice-verified

I wanted him to start from the beginning, so I asked what his sales pitch was when he first opened Daunt Books. voice-verified

I love that it came out the way it did. voice-verified

I don't understand how you could have such confidence at opening a bookstore in nineteen ninety. voice-verified

And so what were those four years of work like? voice-verified

Did you enjoy it? voice-verified

Did you think about a career in banking? voice-verified

Wait a minute. voice-verified

I was under the impression that the girlfriend who said that is your current wife or is that a different Yeah, you know, I've only had one girlfriend and one wife. voice-verified

So You only had one girlfriend even. voice-verified

Yes. voice-verified

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