Pachinko (National Book Award Finalist) Cover
Podcast Mentions

Pachinko (National Book Award Finalist)

Min Jin Lee

In this In the early 1900s, teenaged Sunja, the adored daughter of a crippled fisherman, falls for a wealthy stranger. When she discovers she is pregnant–and that her lover is married–she accepts an offer of marriage from a gentle, sickly minister passing through on his way to Japan. But her decisi...

Podcasts 6
Quotes 12
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The Ezra Klein Show

Podcast

The Ezra Klein Show

Warren called the novel amazing and expressed her love for it when it came up in the recommendation segment.

"

Oh, Pachinko is an amazing book. Oh, I love it.

— Episode: Elizabeth Warren on What We Get Wrong Ab...

Episode: Elizabeth Warren on What We Get Wrong About Inequa...

Warren called the novel amazing and expressed her love for it when it came up in the recommendation segment.

"

Oh, Pachinko is an amazing book. Oh, I love it.

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

Podcast

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

It was cited as the fourth title on the list of bestselling memoirs.

"

Number four is Pachinko by Minji Lee.

— Episode: Jedidiah Jenkins (author and memoirist)

Episode: Jedidiah Jenkins (author and memoirist)

It was cited as the fourth title on the list of bestselling memoirs.

"

Number four is Pachinko by Minji Lee.

The Journal.

Podcast

The Journal.

In the episode, the host referenced the book while discussing the emotional challenges of writing, noting that the author's experience with this title mirrored the intense personal toll of the creative process. No formal recommendation was given, and the mention served mainly as an illustrative example.

No quotes extracted yet.

Morning Brew Daily

Podcast

Morning Brew Daily

It was mentioned as a book that's also been adapted into a TV show, with no other details provided.

"

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee also a TV show

— Episode: Record Travel Can't Save Airline Earning...

Episode: Record Travel Can't Save Airline Earnings & TX Tow...

It was mentioned as a book that's also been adapted into a TV show, with no other details provided.

"

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee also a TV show

Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

Podcast

Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

It was briefly mentioned as a possible book that Bowen Yang's mother might have been reading, but there was no further information provided.

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Yeah, let's say I'm only referencing Pachinko because I have to read it.

— Episode: "Unknowns Revealed!" (w/ Franchesca Rams...

Episode: "Unknowns Revealed!" (w/ Franchesca Ramsey)

It was briefly mentioned as a possible book that Bowen Yang's mother might have been reading, but there was no further information provided.

"

Yeah, let's say I'm only referencing Pachinko because I have to read it.

Episode: "Pis Sussy Cis Pussy" (w/ Patti Harrison)

Pachinko was described as an 800-page book that Bowen had to read for an Asian book club meeting. He ultimately decided not to read it due to his busy schedule and other reading commitments.

"

The meeting is the first meeting is May 12th, which is two, two and a half weeks from now.

And I'm expected to read the 800 page monster brick that is Pachinko within that time period.

Episode: "Pis Sussy Cis Pussy" (w/ Patti Harrison)

Bowen mentioned being invited to an Asian book club and being expected to read the 800-page book 'Pachinko' within a short timeframe, which he found daunting.

"

I was foisted with this, you know, invitation to join this Asian book club, which I thought was a great idea would be a great idea.

But guess what? The meeting is the first meeting is May 12th, which is two, two and a half weeks from now.

And I'm expected to read the 800 page monster brick that is Pachinko within that time period.

Stay Tuned with Preet

Podcast

Stay Tuned with Preet

The book was highlighted as a 2017 National Book Award finalist and praised for its deep exploration of Asian‑American identity and the immigrant experience, with Min Jin Lee discussing it directly and Ezra Klein referencing it in conversation. The hosts noted its critical acclaim and the author’s status as a leading voice on Asian‑American issues, even mentioning a poorly attended reading as an anecdote about author experiences. Overall, the podcast presented the title as a highly regarded work.

Highly Recommended

Episode: Explaining, Explained (with Ezra Klein)

It was mentioned in the context of a book reading that was poorly attended, highlighting that even established authors can experience setbacks and lack of audience engagement.

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I did a book reading where only my husband's cousin showed up.

Episode: The Immigrant Experience (with Min Jin Lee)

It was mentioned as a National Book Award Finalist in 2017, and Min Jin Lee often writes about Asian American identity and the immigrant experience in her work.

"

She wrote free food for millionaires and Pachinko, which was a 2017 National Book Award finalist.

Author Min Jin Lee who wrote Pachinko, a National Book Award finalist, is one of the most outspoken voices on issues affecting the Asian-American community.

Note: The book recommendations on this page are discovered automatically from podcast transcripts, and may be incorrect or incomplete.