Podcast Summary: The Indicator from Planet Money
Episode: What We're Reading on the Beach This Summer
Release Date: August 11, 2025

In the August 11, 2025 episode of The Indicator from Planet Money, NPR delves into the world of summer beach reading, exploring a diverse array of books that intertwine economic insights with gripping narratives. The hosts—Darian, Waylon, and Adrian—share their personal selections, providing listeners with a rich tapestry of literature that not only entertains but also enlightens.

Introduction: Setting the Scene

The episode kicks off with Darian painting a quintessential late summer beach scene: "Stretching out underneath an umbrella, headphones in my favorite books in a cute indicator" (00:01). Waylon humorously emphasizes his sun safety routine, mentioning his "SPF 500 slathered over my alabaster legs" (00:23), to which Darian quips, "Only 500. I think you gotta go four dig" (00:28), setting a lighthearted tone for the discussion ahead.

Waylon’s Choice: Who is Government? by Michael Lewis

Waylon introduces his summer beach read, Who is Government?, an essay collection curated by Michael Lewis, renowned for his work on The Big Short. He remarks, "You might remember him from the Big Short. And I know this is a beach read because I have test read this on several beaches" (02:43). This playful nod underscores the book’s accessibility despite its profound economic themes.

Exploring Unsung Government Heroes

Waylon delves into the book’s core premise: uncovering the "thousands of unsung heroes in the government" who, despite bureaucratic challenges, achieve remarkable feats. A standout example is Christopher Mark, a mine safety official at the Department of Labor. Waylon recounts, "Nearly 100 coal miners would die every year because of roof falls... But then in the late 1980s, Chris came along. He actually was a coal miner once himself... in 2016, there were zero deaths in coal mines from Roof Falls in the US. And that's in large part thanks to Chris" (03:10–03:55). This narrative highlights the tangible impact of dedicated individuals within governmental structures.

The Intersection of Economics and Government

Waylon emphasizes the book's relevance to economic discourse, noting, "Economics and politics are becoming more entwined. And so to truly understand the economy, you need to understand government workers and their motivations, their frustrations and their achievements" (04:13). This insight underscores the intricate relationship between public institutions and economic outcomes, making Who is Government? a valuable read for listeners interested in the structural forces shaping our economy.

Darian’s Selection: El Dorado Drive by Megan Abbott

Darian shifts the focus to fiction, presenting El Dorado Drive by Megan Abbott as his beach read. He describes it as "a new novel... set in the suburbs of Detroit," centered on three sisters who, despite growing up comfortably due to their father's executive position at General Motors, face economic hardships in adulthood (04:42).

A Gripping Tale of Deception and Economic Decay

The novel explores the sisters' descent into financial instability, leading them to join "the Wheel," a seemingly empowering women's social club that is, in reality, a pyramid scheme. Darian explains, "New members have to bring $5,000 in cash to their first meeting... one woman who gets 25k to take home the big pot. So they take turns being the big prize winner" (05:26). This setup serves as a critique of how economic desperation can drive individuals toward exploitative schemes.

Reflection of Broader Economic Themes

Darian connects the novel's narrative to broader economic issues, stating, "The backdrop for this novel is American economic decay. ... the decline of the auto industry in Detroit has hollowed out the middle class. ... they have debt problems, they have medical bills..." (06:28). Through El Dorado Drive, listeners gain insight into the personal impacts of industrial decline and economic instability, making it not just a captivating story but also a commentary on societal shifts.

Adrian’s Pick: Algo: How Social Media is Transforming the Future of Language by Adam Alexik

Adrian brings a non-fiction perspective with Algo by Adam Alexik, a linguist known on social media as Etymology Nerd. She provides a succinct overview: "This book makes the argument that language is changing at a faster pace than ever before thanks to social media algorithms" (07:38).

The Algorithmic Influence on Language Evolution

Adrian discusses how social media algorithms are not just passive filters but active shapers of language. For instance, to circumvent content suppression, users adopt new terms like "unalive" instead of "kill" (08:28). This adaptation illustrates how digital platforms can drive linguistic innovation, often creating entirely new words.

Impact on Communication Styles

Furthermore, the book explores how algorithms influence not just the words we use but our speaking patterns. Adrian notes, "Influencers on TikTok might speak really fast because if they speak slowly, people are more likely to swipe away" (09:06). This observation highlights how the quest for engagement molds not only content but the very rhythms and tones of our speech, with long-term implications for communication norms.

The Role of Tech Companies

Adrian emphasizes, "These algorithms are ultimately shaped by the companies who own them. And so in a way, these tech companies are really shaping how people talk and communicate and the words that we use" (09:49). This point underscores the significant role that tech conglomerates play in steering linguistic and cultural trends, raising questions about agency and control in the digital age.

Conclusion: Synthesizing Insights

The episode effectively weaves together discussions of government efficacy, economic decline, and the transformative power of technology on language, presenting a multifaceted exploration of how various factors influence and reflect our economic landscape. By selecting books that range from non-fiction analyses to engaging fiction, the hosts provide listeners with a comprehensive view of summer beach reading that is both intellectually stimulating and deeply relevant to contemporary economic and social issues.

Notable quotes from the episode include:

• Waylon on Who is Government?: "There are thousands of unsung heroes in the government. They're doing amazing things, but because of bureaucracies being bureaucracies, we rarely hear those stories" (02:56).

• Darian on El Dorado Drive: "The novel describes how the decline of the auto industry in Detroit has hollowed out the middle class" (06:28).

• Adrian on Algo: "These algorithms are ultimately shaped by the companies who own them. And so in a way, these tech companies are really shaping how people talk and communicate and the words that we use" (09:49).

For listeners seeking to understand the interplay between economics, government, and technology, this episode offers a curated selection of literature that illuminates these complex dynamics through both factual analysis and narrative storytelling.