Ep. 436: Getting Revenge with Jack Carr

Published: 2023-05-01 09:00:00

Description Show ▼

Steve Rinella talks with Jack Carr, Ryan Callaghan, Brody Henderson, Phil Taylor, and Corinne Schneider.

Topics include: Opinions on eavesdropping; when you're a New York Times Selling Best Author every time; go get "Only the Dead," Jack Carr's latest novel; novelizations and when a prequel sequel of a movie is a book; show business lessons; when 18,000 dairy cows die in an explosion at a Texas dairy farm; wolverine sightings in Oregon for the first time in three decades; K-leather; conservation surveys; when a flunking soap opera actor narrates your book and you have to wait ten years to re-record it yourself; going into the cave; when you legitimately consider yourself an author; waning accountability; history of war lessons; the Taliban as a guest of Afghanistan; Hemmingway's typewriter; heavy with acronyms; Chapter 10 of “MeatEater” narrated by Steve; and more.

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Referenced Books

First Blood

by David Morrell

Jack Carr discusses this 1972 novel and how it differs from the Sylvester Stallone movie adaptation, using it as an example of how adaptations change from books to film.

Referenced at 00:03:26

Hero with a Thousand Faces

by Joseph Campbell

Jack Carr credits this book with teaching him about the hero's journey narrative structure, which influenced his approach to writing and was an inspiration for George Lucas's Star Wars.

Referenced at 00:52:05

The Power of Myth

by Joseph Campbell

Mentioned as both a PBS series with Bill Moyers and subsequent books based on those interviews. Jack's mother introduced him to this work, which influenced his understanding of storytelling.

Referenced at 00:52:05

Heat 2

by Michael Mann and Meg Gardner

Discussed as a prequel/sequel book to the movie Heat, co-written by director Michael Mann with novelist Meg Gardner. Jack praises it as exceeding expectations.

Referenced at 00:07:46

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

by Quentin Tarantino

Referenced as an example of a director writing a novelization of his own movie with added scenes and changed dialogue.

Referenced at 00:08:28

Rambo: First Blood Part II

by David Morrell

Mentioned as a novelization based on the screenplay that made the New York Times bestseller list in 1985. Jack is collecting these old novelizations.

Referenced at 00:08:49

Rambo III

by David Morrell

Another David Morrell novelization that Jack is collecting as part of his interest in 1980s novelizations.

Referenced at 00:08:49

The Most Dangerous Game

by Richard Connell

Jack read this short story in sixth grade and it inspired him to eventually write his novel Savage Son, which explores the theme of hunter and hunted.

Referenced at 00:41:41

A Time to Kill

by John Grisham

Jack discusses how this was Grisham's first novel that initially couldn't find a publisher, but was republished after The Firm became successful. Jack considers it Grisham's best work.

Referenced at 01:43:06

The Firm

by John Grisham

Referenced as the breakthrough novel that made John Grisham famous and led to the republication of A Time to Kill. Used as an example of why Jack always planned to write a second book.

Referenced at 01:43:06

The Afghanistan Papers

by Craig Whitlock

Discussed as a Washington Post book containing interviews obtained through FOIA lawsuits, revealing discrepancies between what military officers said privately about Afghanistan versus their public statements.

Referenced at 01:16:25

The Accidental Guerrilla

by David Kilcullen

Jack references this book when discussing 'insurgent math' and how military actions in Afghanistan inadvertently created more enemies.

Referenced at 01:18:28

On Writing

by Stephen King

Jack read this before starting to write his first novel, though he notes it's more autobiography than a how-to book on writing.

Referenced at 01:26:28

The Successful Novelist

by David Morrell

One of the books Jack read as preparation for becoming a novelist, written by the author of First Blood.

Referenced at 01:26:28

The War of Art

by Stephen Pressfield

Referenced when Jack discusses 'turning pro' as a writer and making the mental shift to considering himself a professional author before having a publishing deal.

Referenced at 01:00:20

Misery

by Stephen King

Brody references this book (though mentions only seeing the movie) in the context of discussing how dedicated fans might react to an author's treatment of beloved characters.

Referenced at 01:47:56

Narrator

by Landon Beach

Jack mentions this book has a similar theme to Misery, involving a narrator character in a thriller scenario.

Referenced at 01:48:12