Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis, best known for his consumer finance advice, has shared a surprising connection to Hollywood: he believes he played a small part in the success of Andy Weir’s novel The Martian, which later became a blockbuster film starring Matt Damon.
On his Martin Lewis Podcast this week, Lewis admitted a love of sci-fi and science fantasy, and was asked what his favourite 'skiffy' book or film was.
He explained how a blog post he wrote in 2013 helped shine a spotlight on the book: “I actually believe, and some of this may be completely made up in my own head, but I believe I am partially responsible for the success of the book The Martian, which later went on to be a film.”
The Martian was the last time Matt Damon really contended for an Oscar & that was over a decade ago. There was a time when Damon winning an Oscar felt inevitable. But with The Odyssey, it seems like this could be Damon’s biggest moment yet. Damon always interests me. Can’t wait. pic.twitter.com/G2TZQ7vqec
— Cinema Tweets (@CinemaTweets1) December 23, 2025
From Kindle Blog to Amazon Charts
Lewis recounted his experience: “It was a 77p Kindle book at the time, and I wrote a blog about it in my weekly email.
"Many people downloaded the book after the blog, which boosted it up the Amazon charts. I remember seeing it go right up, from the hundreds or thousands to the teens.”
He admitted the success may have been modest, but memorable: “I like to think I played a part.
"I definitely boosted the book up the charts because it was really, it was literally a 77p Kindle book that people weren’t noticing, and then I wrote a blog.
"That was my bit of skiffy history.”
Martin Lewis’s love of science fiction (or 'skiffy')
The expert also shared his personal taste in literature: “I do like my science fiction, though I’m also a science fantasy as well, so I’m somewhere in between the two of them.
"I grew up on Star Trek: The Next Generation, so that has to be that.
"And I’m definitely a Star Wars fan.”
He highlighted the importance of escapism in his reading habits: “Because I have a stressful life, I tend to only read science fiction, fantasy, or historic novels.
"I don’t like reading fiction that resonates with my day-to-day.
"It has to be a form of escapism… I find that for my mental health, I have to be in a book.”
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From novel to Hollywood film
The Martian was adapted into a 2015 epic science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott with a screenplay by Drew Goddard.
The film stars Matt Damon alongside an ensemble cast including Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, Kristen Wiig, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sean Bean, Michael Peña, Kate Mara, Sebastian Stan, and Mackenzie Davis.
It follows an astronaut’s struggle to survive on Mars after being left behind and NASA’s efforts to bring him home.
Lewis also recommended another Weir novel, Project Hail Mary, which is also being adapted for the screen:
“Project Hail Mary is brilliant too, although The Martian - it’s just such a clever concept," he told listeners.
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