
When two strangers share a birthday, a podcast becomes a deadly obsession. Lisa Jewell's "None of This Is True" - selling 5.5 million copies and haunting readers for 90+ weeks on bestseller lists - asks: how well do you know the person recording your darkest secrets?
Feel the book through the author's voice
Turn knowledge into engaging, example-rich insights
Capture key ideas in a flash for fast learning
Enjoy the book in a fun and engaging way
Imagine meeting someone who shares your exact birthday-not just the date, but the same hospital, same year. For successful podcaster Alix Summer, this chance encounter with Josie Fair in a pub bathroom feels like a mildly interesting coincidence. For plain, unassuming Josie, it feels like destiny. When they meet again outside their children's school, Josie seems desperate to connect, eventually proposing an unusual podcast concept: instead of interviewing women who've already transformed their lives (Alix's usual format), why not document someone about to change their life? Josie hints at dark secrets in her thirty-year marriage to Walter, a man twenty-seven years her senior whom she met when she was just fifteen. The premise intrigues Alix's journalistic instincts. Unlike her polished, successful previous subjects, Josie represents something raw and authentic-a woman trapped in stasis, ready to break free. "I'd probably tell thirteen-year-old me to run for the hills and not look back," Josie admits during one recording session, her eyes suddenly sharp as she reflects on meeting Walter. What begins as professional curiosity soon becomes something more complex as Alix invites Josie into her recording studio, her home, and ultimately her life. The birthday connection that initially seemed charming gradually transforms into something sinister-a carefully calculated entry point that Josie has seized upon to infiltrate Alix's perfectly curated world.
Break down key ideas from None of This Is True into bite-sized takeaways to understand how innovative teams create, collaborate, and grow.
Distill None of This Is True into rapid-fire memory cues that highlight Pixar’s principles of candor, teamwork, and creative resilience.

Experience None of This Is True through vivid storytelling that turns Pixar’s innovation lessons into moments you’ll remember and apply.
Ask anything, pick the voice, and co-create insights that truly resonate with you.

From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

Get the None of This Is True summary as a free PDF or EPUB. Print it or read offline anytime.