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Jimmy Soni: How Kobe Bryant Wrote, AI for Writers, and Crafting Bestsellers | How I Write

Outlier score0.2×Below typical

34,272 views vs a median of 167,559 across the channel's last 8 long-form uploads · as of Oct 29

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Author and publisher Jimmy Soni joins David Perell on 'How I Write' to explore how world-class obsessives master their craft. Soni details Kobe Bryant's hidden career as a dedicated storyteller and writer, reveals his own 4:00 AM writing habits and research strategies, discusses his use of AI as an editorial thought partner, and recounts the creation of his coffee table book on Jane's Carousel.

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8chapters16on-screen captures38people12claims and stats50references in all
Source: How To (Really) Write With AI — Jimmy Soni · David Perell
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    The explainer

    What the video says, with a link to every moment

    A 2-minute read. Each underlined phrase opens the video at that second.

    In this extensive conversation on How I Write, biographer and publisher Jimmy Soni reveals how intense creative obsession bridges disciplines, from elite athletics to historical biography. Soni introduces his upcoming book project, explaining how Kobe Bryant studied storytelling3:40 with the intention of becoming this generation's Walt Disney. Kobe approached narrative craft with athletic rigor—waking up early to write for eight hours, dissecting Joseph Campbell's hero's journey, writing all his own commercial scripts, and collaborating with animation legend Glenn Keane and composer John Williams to create the Academy Award–winning short Dear Basketball7:20. To maintain creative integrity against standard corporate formulas, Kobe even created his own publishing imprint, going so far as to spend weeks redesigning book barcodes13:05 so they blended seamlessly into cover art.

    Soni connects Kobe's ferocious discipline to his own daily creative life. To insulate his creative focus from the constant demands of the world, Soni relies on a strict 4:00 AM writing schedule20:55. Rather than staring blankly at an empty screen, he uses model books as an on-ramp30:45, spending 15 minutes analyzing masterworks like Brad Stone's The Everything Store or Eric Jorgenson's The Almanack of Naval Ravikant before writing. To prevent research from turning into an excuse for procrastination, Soni blends research directly with drafting and pursues what he calls the toenail strategy41:55—seeking unusual details overlooked by mainstream biographers, exemplified by his discovery of early chess investor Ed Bogus37:00 and his poignant interview with Elon Musk regarding Greg Kouri42:35.

    Turning to technology, Soni vigorously defends generative AI as the sharpest tool ever made available to writers. Rather than viewing artificial intelligence as a substitute for original thought, he treats LLMs like Claude as an on-call editorial partner56:35 capable of stress-testing arguments and checking rabbinic liturgy. Dictation software like Wispr Flow1:02:55 helps him bypass the psychological friction of perfectionism to quickly produce messy first drafts. Soni also discusses co-founding Infinite Books with Jim O'Shaughnessy1:08:20 to overturn dinosaur publishing practices through fair 70% royalty splits, proactive A/B testing, and automated plagiarism safeguards.

    Soni concludes by detailing his five-year journey writing the coffee table book on Jane's Carousel1:21:10 in Brooklyn Bridge Park. He describes Jane Walentas spending three decades meticulously hand-scraping 1922 wooden horses with X-Acto knives to preserve their original historic hues, demonstrating how genuine love of craft1:26:20 remains the ultimate driving force behind enduring work.

    slide
    JANE'SCAROUSELBROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK
    ▶ 1:21:09
    On screen at 1:21:09
    Highlights
    1. 0:38Why Kobe Bryant would have been on How I Write
    2. 20:38Jimmy's 4:00 AM daily writing routine
    3. 36:40The Ed Bogus PayPal chess discovery
    4. 45:20Emulating Robert Caro's method writing
    5. 52:40How AI serves as an editor and research partner
    6. 1:08:15Founding Infinite Books and challenging traditional publishing
    Chapters across the 1:30:48 runtime
    How it's told

    A studio dialogue exploring obsessive writing and biography

    Format: Interview. Host David Perell interviews biographer and publisher Jimmy Soni in studio on the craft of writing, uncovering forgotten sources, using AI as an editor, and rethinking publishing. The conversation moves from Kobe Bryant's hidden creative habits through practical research systems to artistic dedication.

    Story arc

    1. 0:00IntroductionDavid Perell introduces Jimmy Soni and opens on the idea that the world conspires against writing, framing Kobe Bryant as an overlooked master of narrative.
    2. 0:38Kobe Bryant's Secret ObsessionJimmy breaks down Kobe Bryant's disciplined shift into writing, daily journaling, ad copy creation, and winning an Oscar for Dear Basketball.
    3. 20:05The 4:00 AM RoutineJimmy details his 4:00 AM writing discipline, the math of consistent word counts, and using model books as on-ramps to avoid friction.
    4. 28:48The Danger of Research as AvoidanceThe discussion turns to how research easily turns into productive procrastination, and why concurrent drafting and strict time limits are essential.
    5. 35:22The Toenail Strategy & Ed BogasJimmy explains tracking down overlooked peripheral characters, showing how cold-calling early investor Ed Bogas revealed Peter Thiel's chess psychology.
    6. 45:00The Hall of HeroesThey examine Robert Caro's total immersion in his subjects and contrast it with Michael Lewis's genre-hopping versatility and op-ed experiments.
    7. 51:59AI as the Writer's SuperpowerJimmy explains leveraging Claude and voice transcription to draft fast, run devil's advocate critiques, and remove writer anxiety.
    8. 1:06:00Reinventing Publishing with Infinite BooksJimmy critiques the legacy publishing model's two-week bestseller window and presents Infinite Books' 70% author royalty alternative.
    9. 1:20:45Jane's Carousel & Lifelong Love of CraftJimmy shares the story of Jane Walentas spending thirty years restoring a 1922 carousel, exemplifying pure love of craft over commercial ambition.

    Setups and payoffs

    1. 0:01Setup Jimmy asserts that Kobe Bryant would have been a guest on How I Write if he had lived.
      ↳
      2:59Payoff Jimmy explains Kobe's ambition to be the Walt Disney of his generation and his obsessive study of story structure.
    2. 0:26Setup David previews Kobe Bryant's extreme obsessive drive outside basketball.
      ↳
      19:22Payoff Jimmy shares Kobe's interview where he confesses he only makes time for fellow obsessives.
    3. 35:24Setup David asks Jimmy to tell the story of finding Ed Bogas.
      ↳
      37:37Payoff Jimmy describes reaching Ed Bogas on the phone and discovering why he invested in Peter Thiel's early startup based on ruthless chess play.
    4. 41:35Setup Jimmy introduces Michael Lewis's metaphor of Renaissance painting toenails.
      ↳
      44:45Payoff Jimmy defines the toenail strategy of interviewing peripheral sources to uncover central truths.
    5. 51:59Setup David frames the transition to artificial intelligence around Jimmy's traditional devotion to biographical craft.
      ↳
      53:50Payoff Jimmy demonstrates using AI tools to enhance editing, expand research speed, and defeat writing anxiety.
    6. 1:20:45Setup David asks Jimmy why he chose to write a coffee table art book about a carousel.
      ↳
      1:24:46Payoff Jimmy describes Jane Walentas's thirty-year manual restoration with X-Acto knives and partnering with Phaidon.

    Devices

    • MetaphorDescribing the everyday world as a conspiracy designed to pull writers away from their desks.0:0520:59
    • AnalogyThe toenail strategy: using the overlooked corners of art history to explain why marginal characters yield breakthrough biographical details.41:3544:45
    • ContrastContrasting legacy publishing's two-week marketing window with the long-tail word-of-mouth success of books like The Boys in the Boat.1:22:201:27:00
    • Tactical breakdownDetailing prompt techniques for Claude to generate hostile op-ed counterarguments and using Whisper Flow voice dictation.57:351:02:40
    • Physical prop demonstrationHandling, displaying, and flipping through the physical coffee table volume of Jane's Carousel.1:21:091:28:12

    From the video's own structure, matched to the transcript and on-screen text.

    Teardown

    The video alienates clickers by promising an actionable AI writing tutorial in the title and thumbnail, then burying a 14-minute AI discussion nearly an hour into an elite biography craft interview.

    Below the channel's typical: 0.2× its typical views (34,272 vs a median of 167,559 across the channel's last 8 long-form uploads, as of Oct 29) · Long-form interview · 427 days old

    The promise

    A viewer expects to discover a genuine, non-gimmicky workflow for using AI tools to write serious work from a published author.

    Packaging

    How it looks in the feed

    Show the feed as
    1:30:48

    How To (Really) Write With AI — Jimmy Soni

    David Perell34K views · 1y agoI interviewed Jimmy Soni, who is currently writing a book about Kobe Bryant. He spent six years on his previous book about the origin story of PayPal and has…

    Views and age as of the teardown, Oct 29, 2026. Other videos are blanked out.

    • 2/5Thumbnail imageThe frame is a standard podcast close-up with little visual tension or narrative. It lacks visual proof or demonstration of writing tools.A close-up shot of Jimmy Soni speaking in a white collared shirt against an out-of-focus dark green backdrop.
    • 2/5Thumbnail text“Actually WRITING WITH AI”The text is clean and legible, but it duplicates the title almost word for word. It misses the chance to tease a specific method, tool, or outcome.White serif text on the right side reading 'Actually WRITING WITH AI'.
    • 3/5TitleThe parenthetical adds intrigue by implying common AI advice is useless, but relying on a guest name without credentials blunts the hook.The title opens with 'How To (Really)' and appends the guest name 'Jimmy Soni' after an em dash.
    • 2/5Title + thumbnailBoth elements do the exact same job using nearly identical wording. Neither element introduces visual evidence or a specific contrasting detail.The thumbnail says 'Actually WRITING WITH AI' while the title says 'How To (Really) Write With AI'.

    Curiosity gap: If most people are using AI to write incorrectly, what does a real writer do differently?

    The three hooks

    The title, the thumbnail text and the first words spoken each make a promise, and each does a different job.

    • Title“How To (Really) Write With AI — Jimmy Soni”How-toCuriosityOutcomeIt makes the viewer want a workable method to draft content with AI without sacrificing quality.
    • Thumbnail text“Actually WRITING WITH AI”Contrarian takeCuriosityOutcomeIt makes the viewer want to find out how real writing differs from low-quality AI text generation.
    • First words spoken“If Kobe Bryant had lived, he would have been on How I Write.”Pattern interruptCuriosityNoveltyIt forces the viewer to reconcile why one of the greatest basketball players in history would belong on a show dedicated to professional writers.
    • PairingRepeatsThe thumbnail phrase 'Actually WRITING WITH AI' merely rephrases the title's 'How To (Really) Write With AI' instead of dividing the work.
    • StakesOver-promisesThe title and thumbnail frame the video as a comprehensive masterclass on how to actually write with AI, but the guest only discusses AI tools for fourteen minutes across a ninety-minute interview.
    • UrgencyNoneThe conversation focuses on timeless biographical craft, historical routines, and evergreen writing mindsets without imposing any time-sensitive pressure on the viewer.

    The first 20 seconds

    TimeWhat you seeWhat you hearWhat it does
    0:00Host sitting in a leather armchair talking directly to the camera with 'How I Write' logo top left.'If Kobe Bryant...'Hooks attention with an unexpected celebrity name drop.
    0:01Host continues speaking, gesturing with both hands.'...had lived...'Introduces a poignant, high-stakes condition.
    0:02Host maintains eye contact, leaning forward slightly.'...he would have been on...'Ties the massive celebrity to the podcast's premise.
    0:03Host finishes line as screen begins to tint with a warm red flash.'...How I Write.'Delivers the unexpected connection between basketball and writing.
    0:04Guest Jimmy Soni appears smiling in armchair through a warm flash transition.Host voiceover: 'Jimmy Soni says that the...'Introduces the guest while visually transitioning into the episode.
    0:05Cut back to host in studio; large serif text 'Whole' pops on screen.'...whole...'Emphasizes scale with punchy kinetic text.
    0:06Text updates to 'Whole world' on screen; background synth music builds.'...world...'Builds curiosity around a bold guest philosophy.
    0:07Host throws both hands up in disbelief; text lingers.Musical riser swells.Physically exaggerates the guest's contrarian thesis.
    0:08Wide studio shot showing host and guest facing each other; text 'is a conspiracy' appears.'...is a conspiracy...'Framing changes to reveal full interview setting.
    0:09Same wide shot; text updates to 'from writing.' as guest laughs.'...to stop you from writing.'Completes the provocative quote to validate writer struggle.
    0:10Warm flash cut back to Jimmy Soni in his chair speaking.'He's the guest on today's show...'Explicitly defines the video format and guest identity.
    0:11Guest gestures animatedly while explaining.'...and he's done all kinds of writing.'Establishes guest credibility.
    0:12Guest continues talking with expressive hand motions.'He's written books...'Lists credentials across multiple formats.
    0:13Guest gestures upward, smiling mid-sentence.'...op-eds...'Demonstrates breadth of the guest's writing experience.
    0:14Graphic of Wall Street Journal article and civics booklet overlay on clean background.'...done the business stuff...'Provides visual proof of published work.
    0:15Animated graphic logo for 'Infinite Books' on screen.'...you name it.'Reinforces deep industry credibility.
    0:16Cut back to guest speaking with an open palm gesture.'He's working on a book about Kobe Bryant...'Connects back to the opening hook sentence.
    0:17Guest smiles and leans forward in his chair.'...and I didn't realize this...'Teases an untold insider discovery.
    0:18Guest explains earnestly to host.'...Kobe wanted to become...'Begins the reveal of Kobe's secret creative ambition.
    0:19Guest keeps speaking mid-thought as clip wraps.'...the...'Leaves an open loop about Kobe Bryant's unknown ambitions.
    Click confirmation
    Partially delivers. It introduces guest Jimmy Soni at 00:04 and establishes his elite writing credentials, but sets aside the AI angle in favor of an intriguing story about Kobe Bryant.
    Time to the point
    0:10
    Hook
    bold claim, contrarian take
    Reason to stay
    The host reveals that Jimmy Soni is writing a book about Kobe Bryant and cuts off right before explaining what creative dream Kobe wanted to pursue.
    Missing on purpose
    No generic channel introduction, no subscriber solicitation, and no formal logo sting before jumping into the conversation.
    Pace and texture
    Fast cuts every 1 to 3 seconds with flash transitions, bold kinetic text overlays, published work b-roll, and upbeat background music driving momentum.

    Story map

    Interview. A biographical author wants to prove that serious creative craft requires total obsession, but modern writers face constant distraction, creative anxiety, and broken publishing systems; the payoff is a practical demonstration of how elite writers use AI and daily discipline to overcome the resistance.

    TimeSectionNew tensionStakesTurnLoops
    0:00 –0:38Introduction & Hook TeaserWhy would Kobe Bryant be on a writing podcast, and how does Jimmy Soni integrate AI into serious book writing?RiseDavid claims Jimmy has an elite standard of craft, therefore his unconventional use of AI carries unique weight.Opens: Why would Kobe Bryant be a guest? How does Jimmy actually write with AI?
    0:38 –20:15Kobe Bryant: The Secret StorytellerDid Kobe Bryant actually study writing craft, or was his storytelling just celebrity vanity?HoldPeople laughed when Kobe said he wanted to be Walt Disney, but he studied story structure for 15 years, ghostwrote his own ads, and won an Oscar for 'Dear Basketball'.Opens: What did Kobe's daily schedule look like? What does Kobe's obsession teach writers?Closes: Why Kobe Bryant would have been on 'How I Write'.
    20:15 –28:50Jimmy Soni's 4:00 AM Routine & Cross-TrainingHow does a working parent protect the mental clarity required to write full-length biographies?HoldThe world conspires to distract writers, therefore Jimmy isolates the hours between 4:00 AM and 9:00 AM to make finishing a book basic math.Opens: How does Jimmy handle research without procrastinating?Closes: How Jimmy structures his creative days.
    28:50 –45:00Research Tactics & The Ed Bogas StoryHow do you keep historical research from becoming a comfortable excuse to avoid drafting?RiseResearch easily turns into productive procrastination, but blending drafting with strict timers and hunting peripheral sources uncovers breakthrough stories.Opens: How did cold-calling an unknown musician reveal Peter Thiel's startup psychology?Closes: The Ed Bogas PayPal backstory; how to use model books as warm-up on-ramps.
    45:00 –52:00Hall of Heroes: Robert Caro & Michael LewisShould a writer master one single biographical format or jump across disparate genres?HoldCaro embodies monastic, immovable dedication to one subject, but Lewis demonstrates the creative courage to abandon proven hits and pursue diverse curiosities.Opens: Why did Michael Lewis write under a woman's name early in his career?Closes: The Diana Bleeker pen name origin; Jimmy's creative north stars.
    52:00 –1:05:50AI as an Editorial Partner & Anxiety AntidoteCan generative AI assist serious long-form authors without degrading the human soul of writing?RiseWriters fear AI devalues craftsmanship, but Jimmy uses it as a tireless editor to stress-test op-ed arguments, extract Talmudic context, and eliminate drafting anxiety.Opens: What specific prompts does Jimmy feed into Claude?Closes: The core title promise of how Jimmy Soni actually writes with AI.
    1:05:50 –1:20:50Rebuilding Publishing with Infinite BooksWhy do traditional publishing houses routinely fail authors, and what does a better business model look like?FallLegacy publishing relies on a narrow two-week bestseller window, therefore Jimmy and Jim O'Shaughnessy launched an imprint offering 70% royalties and evergreen marketing.Opens: Why would an acclaimed author write a monograph about a playground ride?Closes: The financial and editorial model of Infinite Books.
    1:20:50 –1:30:48Jane's Carousel: A 30-Year Labor of LoveWhat sustains an artist when there is no commercial guarantee or short-term validation?FallCommercial publishing seeks rapid turnaround, but Jane Walentas manually scraped carousel horses for three decades simply for the love of craft.Closes: Why Jimmy wrote 'Jane's Carousel'; the unifying theme of creative obsession.

    Payoff: delivered in part at 52:00. The core title promise—how to actually use AI to write—is only explored from 52:00 to 1:05:50 (roughly 14 minutes of a 90-minute interview), focusing on Claude editing prompts and Wispr Flow voice drafting. Ending: The conversation winds down on a reverent reflection about Jane Walentas spending thirty years restoring a Brooklyn carousel with X-Acto knives, closing on quiet mutual appreciation rather than a preview or pitch for the next video.

    Leaks

    Where a viewer might leave. Guesses from watching, not retention data.

    • 0:38 Viewers who clicked for a tactical AI writing tutorial get thrown into a 20-minute sports biography breakdown about Kobe Bryant.
    • 20:15 The dialogue shifts into personal scheduling, 4:00 AM wake-ups, and parenting routines, signaling that the video is a rambling craft chat rather than an AI masterclass.
    • 35:22 The Ed Bogas cold-call narrative is compelling history, but viewers seeking writing software workflows will realize the title topic is still nowhere in sight.
    • 1:05:50 The tactical AI discussion concludes after just 14 minutes, immediately pivoting into publishing royalty math and boutique imprint operations.

    Steal this

    1. The Peripheral Source Pivot ('The Toenail Strategy') Instead of asking the same questions everyone else asks prominent figures, target overlooked names on the margins to extract completely original anecdotes. 41:35
    2. The Model Book On-Ramp Trick yourself into drafting by spending the first 10 minutes reading a structurally perfect masterwork in your target genre to prime pacing and tone. 30:59
    3. Credibility Bridging Before Tech Adoption Establish rigorous, old-school devotion to craft before introducing controversial tech tools so the audience views your workflow as serious rather than lazy. 51:59
    4. Cross-Domain Contrast Hook Connect an unexpected, hyper-famous figure from a completely different arena to your niche topic to create instant narrative intrigue. 0:00

    Skip this

    • Burying the title topic for 52 minutes of casual studio banter. This only avoids catastrophic viewer abandonment because David Perell and Jimmy Soni share a dedicated niche podcast audience interested in long-form writing lore regardless of the title.
    • Packaging an eclectic, wide-ranging 90-minute interview under a narrow software tutorial title. Misaligned packaging depresses click-through and retention metrics for creators who lack an established base willing to sit through an hour of unrelated conversation.

    Open questions

    • What was the exact retention drop-off at the 00:38 transition when the interview switched from the AI intro teaser to Kobe Bryant?
    • Did Jimmy Soni use Claude or Wispr Flow during the drafting of 'The Founders', or did he only adopt these tools afterward?
    • Did David Perell test alternative titles focusing on Kobe Bryant or biographer habits before settling on the AI packaging?

    Teardown by Avail.video from the thumbnail, the title, the first 20 seconds and the report's notes on the whole video.

    On screen

    Everything the video showed you

    Slides, frameworks, quotes and formulas, captured verbatim with the moment they appeared. Tap any card to jump there.

    Reference shelf

    People, ideas and things mentioned

    Said means mentioned aloud; Shown means it appeared on screen.

    People38

    • Jimmy SoniAuthor, biographer, and co-founder of Infinite Books.0:00Said0:05Said0:06Said + shown0:38Said20:18Said20:50Said35:22Said52:20Said1:08:30Said1:30:45Said
    • David PerellHost of the 'How I Write' podcast and writing instructor.0:00Said0:38Said14:48Said20:05Said25:50Said35:22Said50:00Said1:05:00Said1:08:45Said1:20:45Said1:30:42Said
    • Kobe BryantFive-time NBA champion, creator of Granity Studios, and Oscar winner.0:00Said0:17Said0:22Shown0:43Said2:00Said6:40Said7:20Said10:00Said + shown12:45Said19:23Said + shown1:30:20Said
    • Walt DisneyPioneering animator, film producer, and media entrepreneur.0:20Said3:04Said
    • Michael JordanLegendary NBA basketball champion.1:04Said
    • Phil JacksonRenowned NBA basketball coach.0:23Shown
    • Andrew D. BernsteinVeteran NBA sports photographer.0:23Shown
    • Joseph CampbellMythologist and author of 'The Hero with a Thousand Faces'.3:41Said9:22Said
    • Ernest HemingwayCelebrated American novelist and short story writer.3:44Said
    • George R.R. MartinFantasy novelist and author of 'A Song of Ice and Fire'.3:47Said16:09Said1:30:22Said
    • J.K. RowlingBritish author of the Harry Potter fantasy book series.3:55Said
    • Naval RavikantSilicon Valley entrepreneur, philosopher, and angel investor.4:23Said34:50Said34:52Shown
    • Charlie MungerLegendary Berkshire Hathaway investor and polymath thinker.4:24Said
    • John WilliamsAcademy Award-winning American film composer.7:21Said8:00Said
    • Glen KeaneRenowned Disney animator and director of 'Dear Basketball'.7:29Said8:28Said9:00Said
    • Charles BarkleyFormer NBA superstar and television sports analyst.16:01Said
    • Jony IveAcclaimed industrial designer formerly of Apple.16:15Said
    • Taylor SwiftGlobal pop singer-songwriter and recording artist.16:34Said1:15:53Said
    • Robert CaroPulitzer Prize-winning biographer of Robert Moses and Lyndon B. Johnson.20:15Said20:17Said45:15Said45:20Said46:54Said52:16Said
    • Jerry SeinfeldLegendary stand-up comedian and co-creator of 'Seinfeld'.24:21Said30:44Said + shown
    • Brad StoneTechnology author and journalist who wrote 'The Everything Store'.31:16Said31:17Shown
    • Eric JorgensonAuthor of 'The Almanack of Naval Ravikant'.34:52Said + shown
    • Ed BogasMusician, film composer, and early Confinity/PayPal seed investor.35:24Said36:49Said38:13Said44:53Said
    • Peter ThielCo-founder of PayPal, venture capitalist, and hedge fund manager.34:44Said37:01Said38:58Said39:47Said
    • Elon MuskCo-founder of PayPal, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX.33:09Said42:10Said43:16Said
    • Greg KouriEarly angel investor and co-founder of Zip2.42:38Said43:26Said44:36Said
    • Michael LewisBestselling financial journalist and narrative nonfiction author.41:20Said48:20Said48:21Said49:27Shown49:28Said49:37Shown49:40Shown49:42Shown49:44Shown49:59Shown51:14Said
    • Lyndon B. Johnson36th President of the United States and subject of Robert Caro's multivolume biography.45:49Said46:58Said
    • Robert MosesMaster urban planner of New York and subject of 'The Power Broker'.47:07Said
    • Bruce LeeIconic martial artist, actor, and philosopher.17:53Said
    • PlatoClassical Athenian philosopher.34:52Said
    • Tyler CowenEconomist, author, and host of Conversations with Tyler.57:25Said
    • Balaji SrinivasanEntrepreneur, investor, and author of 'The Network State'.58:40Said
    • Jim O'ShaughnessyInvestor, author, and co-founder of Infinite Books.1:08:30Said1:21:49Said
    • Claude ShannonMathematician, cryptographer, and pioneer of information theory.1:20:04Said
    • Daniel James BrownNonfiction narrative author of 'The Boys in the Boat'.1:22:21Said + shown
    • Tom HanksAcademy Award-winning American actor and filmmaker.1:30:09Said
    • Jane WalentasArtist who spent 30 years meticulously restoring Jane's Carousel.1:20:53Said1:21:09Said + shown1:24:46Said1:25:00Said1:30:30Said

    Organizations1

    • Infinite BooksIndependent publishing house co-founded by Jimmy Soni and Jim O'Shaughnessy.0:15Shown1:08:20Said

    Things on screen11

    • Dear BasketballKobe Bryant's retirement poem and Academy Award-winning animated short film.6:40Said6:44Shown7:20Said8:05Said
    • The FoundersJimmy Soni's bestselling book chronicling the origin story of PayPal.1:50Said33:07Shown36:00Said36:04Shown
    • ClaudeAI language model by Anthropic used by Jimmy Soni for drafting and critique.56:15Said57:40Said57:50Said
    • Jane's CarouselRestored 1922 carousel in Brooklyn Bridge Park and art book by Jimmy Soni.1:21:08Said + shown1:21:09Said + shown1:25:00Said
    • The Immigrants Who Wait Their TurnWall Street Journal op-ed written by Jimmy Soni on naturalization and civics.0:13Shown
    • The Mamba MentalityBook by Kobe Bryant detailing his basketball approach and mindset.0:22Shown
    • The Everything StoreBrad Stone's narrative history of Jeff Bezos and Amazon.31:00Said31:17Shown
    • The Almanack of Naval RavikantCurated collection of Naval Ravikant's wisdom compiled by Eric Jorgenson.34:52Said + shown
    • Liar's PokerMichael Lewis's debut book about Wall Street bond trading at Salomon Brothers.49:27Said + shown
    • MoneyballMichael Lewis's book detailing statistical analytics in Major League Baseball.49:59Said + shown
    • The Boys in the BoatDaniel James Brown's narrative nonfiction book about the 1936 Olympic rowing team.1:22:21Said + shown
    Video description

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    1,344 / 5,000 characters
    By the numbers

    What YouTube shows about this video and its channel

    As of Oct 29, 2026. YouTube's public numbers first, then Avail.video's own arithmetic on them.

    The video

    Views
    34.3K
    Likes
    980
    Comments
    94
    Published
    Aug 27, 2025
    Length
    1:30:48
    Category
    People & Blogs
    YouTube's topics
    Knowledge
    Captions
    No
    HD
    Yes
    Language
    English
    Paid promotion
    None declared
    Made for kids
    No
    License
    Standard YouTube

    Creator's tags

    • writing advice
    • how to write
    • writing guide
    • writing
    • advice
    • writing lessons
    • writing books
    • writing online
    • writing essays
    • writing articles
    • knowledge
    • productivity
    • david perell
    • how i write
    • podcast

    The channel

    David Perell@davidperellchannel
    Subscribers
    333K
    Videos
    771
    Total views
    26.3M
    Channel age
    9 years (since Jan 2017)
    Country
    United States
    Uploads
    about every 6 days
    Across the last 8 long-form uploads
    Before this video
    —

    Calculated by Avail.video from YouTube's public numbers

    Outlier score
    0.2× · Below typical
    Views against the median of the channel's last 8 long-form uploads
    Views per subscriber
    0.10
    Likes vs the channel's usual
    1.9× the channel's usual
    2.9% of views vs a usual 1.5%
    Comments vs the channel's usual
    2.4× the channel's usual
    0.27% of views vs a usual 0.12%
    Rank among recent uploads
    #9 of 9
    By views: this video and the channel's last 8 long-form uploads
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    Watched by Avail.video · 2026-10-29