#7990
Mentioned in 7 episodes

Where'd You Go, Bernadette

Book • 2012
The book follows the story of Bernadette Fox, a former renowned architect and MacArthur Genius Grant recipient, who has become a recluse and suffers from severe agoraphobia.

When her daughter Bee earns perfect grades, she claims her reward: a family trip to Antarctica.

However, Bernadette's aversion to people and her increasing mental breakdown lead to her disappearance.

Bee compiles a series of emails, documents, and secret correspondences to find her mother, revealing a complex web of family dynamics, social satire, and personal struggles.

The novel pokes fun at Seattle's elite culture, private school parents, and the tech world, while exploring themes of creativity, mental health, and the bond between a mother and daughter.

Mentioned by

Mentioned in 7 episodes

Mentioned by
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Ryan Holiday
while introducing
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Maria Semple
and noting one of her best-known earlier novels.
208 snips
The 5-Step Stoic Routine for Clear Thinking | Maria Semple
Mentioned by
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Dan Harris
and
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Maria Semple
as her best-known earlier novel and Dan's gateway into her work.
204 snips
Trudging Through Your Own Life? Here's the Stoic Fix | Maria Semple
Mentioned by
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Dan Harris
as the book written by Maria Semple, who has been encouraging him to attend theater performances.
110 snips
How To Stay Open and Curious Even When You're Exhausted or Annoyed | Sarah Ruhl
Mentioned by
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Sam Fragoso
as a film that includes the line, "I've got to inhabit a space before I know what it wants to be."
16 snips
‘Before’ Director Richard Linklater
Mentioned by
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Kirk Hamilton
as a hilarious and enjoyable book about a woman who vanishes.
14 snips
What's The Deal With: Dragon Quest
Mentioned by
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Dan Harris
as a book written by his TED friend, Maria Semple, highlighting the concept of "learning to love your likes."
Zach Braff On: Anxiety, Sobriety, Insomnia, Grief, Social Media, and the Meaning of the Tattoo on His Wrist
Mentioned by
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Candice Brown-Murray
as a paperback copy she had packed for years to take on vacation until she finally read it.
Ep 493: Books that take you on an epic journey
Mentioned by
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Emilie Sommer
as Maria Semple's most famous book, but it is too old.
November Bonus Episode
Mentioned by
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Oprah Winfrey
when listing the author's previous bestselling novels and noting its film adaptation.
Maria Semple: “Go Gentle” | Oprah’s Book Club
Mentioned by
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Rich Roll
as an example of creative repression leading to negative consequences.
Chase Jarvis: Creativity Is Our Birthright

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