Podcast
The Bulwark Podcast
The title was highlighted across three episodes as a noteworthy new memoir, with Ezra Klein praising it as an astonishing account of raving and drug culture and recommending it as escapist reading. Tim Miller also noted its relevance, acknowledging its compelling first part about drugs but warning that later sections address political events like George Floyd and COVID, making it less of a pure escape. Overall, the hosts presented the book as a strong recommendation despite its mixed thematic focus.
Episode: Amanda Carpenter: A Life or Death Bet
It was mentioned as a book recommendation from Ezra Klein, who had pre-read it before its publication.
Ezra Klein at the end of that podcast on Wednesday gave a book rec. He said the name of the book rec wrong so now everybody's questioning Ezra's mental acuity. The actual book is called Health and Safety, a Breakdown by Emily Witt but here's the bad news. It's not published until September 17th and Ezra is just showing off his coastal elite access to the publishers that he pre-read a book before it's even out in the public.
I guess I'll give you one. I really liked Homegoing recently I read by, I'm going to butcher her name probably, Yaa Gyasi I believe is how you pronounce her name. So you can read that one this weekend. On September 17th you can read Health and Safety, a Breakdown as recommended by Ezra Klein.
Episode: Ezra Klein: A Path to Defeat
It was described as an astonishing memoir about raving and drug culture, with a darker turn that the speaker did not want to spoil. It was recommended as an escape read.
Health and Wellness by Emily Witt.
It is the most astonishing memoir about raving and drug culture. Like I did not know anybody could write about this this way ever.
Now there's a darker turn it takes at some point. I'm not going to ruin it for me. This is my escapism.
Health and Wellness a Breakdown I think it's called by Emily Witt. Wonderful.
Episode: Bill Kristol: Weird and Extreme
It was recommended as an escape from the political world, but the first part talks about doing drugs, the second part is about George Floyd, COVID, and a relationship breaking down during the Trump era.
He recommended *Health and Safety* by Emily Witt, which is not out yet, it's out in September, you can pre-order.
The book was great, Emily Witt writes for the *New Yorker*, she's awesome, but I gotta tell you, it's not an escape.
The first third of the book's about doing drugs, that was a nice escape. The second part of it is about, like, George Floyd and COVID and a relationship breaking down during the Trump era.
I'm going, Ezra, I needed a real escape. I need, I need something, you know, I need like a book about a coming-of-age story in the 1700s, you know, I need like a young Mozart, like give me, give me something totally different, totally away.
Health and Safety I still recommend, but not if you're looking for an escape from politics.