Honestly with Bari Weiss
Book Recommendations

Honestly with Bari Weiss

The most interesting conversations in American life happen in private. This show brings them out of the closet. Stories no one else is telling and conversations with the most fascinating people in the country, every week from *The Free Press*, hosted by former *New York Times* and *Wall Street Journ...

Episodes 129
Books 87

Recently mentioned

Latest Recommendations

Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism cover

Careless People

Sarah Wynn-Williams

Mentioned 1 year ago

WATCH: Meet Sarah Wynn-Williams, Facebook’s Highest-Ranking Whistleblower

This was Sarah Wynn-Williams's memoir detailing her nearly seven years at Facebook, which served as a cautionary tale of power, greed, and lost idealism within the company. The book offered an insider's account revealing the gap between Facebook's stated ideals and its actual operations focused on growth at any cost.

The book is called Careless People, a cautionary tale of power, greed, and lost idealism.

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The Age of Entitlement: America Since the Sixties cover

The Age of Entitlement

Christopher Caldwell

Mentioned 1 year ago

LISTEN: The Best Reality TV Is Actually in the Oval Office

This book was mentioned as one of multiple books authored by the special guest, Christopher Caldwell.

and special guest Christopher Caldwell, author of multiple books, including The Age of Entitlement.

Buy on Amazon
Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World cover

Dominion

Tom Holland

Mentioned 1 year ago

How to Find Love in 2025

The guest mentioned this book in connection with tracing the origins of modern ideas about women's rights back to the first sexual revolution brought about by Christianity.

The, the, the argument that's made by Tom Holland in his book, Dominion, in many ways, Me Too, despite Me Too being a secular movement, traces its origins back to that first sexual revolution, right?

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The Case Against the Sexual Revolution cover

The Case Against the Sexual Revolution

Louise Perry

Mentioned 1 year ago

How to Find Love in 2025

This book formed the crux of the guest's argument regarding the breakdown of sexual relations, claiming the sexual revolution led to the triumph of the playboy.

It's a story about the triumph of the playboy. This is the crux of her book, The Case Against the Sexual Revolution, which has just been adapted for young adults.

Buy on Amazon
A New Guide to Sex in the 21st Century: The Young Adult Adaptation of 'The Case Against the Sexual Revolution' cover

A New Guide to Sex in the 21st Century

Louise Perry

Mentioned 1 year ago

How to Find Love in 2025

This is the recently adapted young adult version of Louise Perry's book, which the host felt was necessary to reach an impressionable generation before they made mistakes.

This is the crux of her book, The Case Against the Sexual Revolution, which has just been adapted for young adults--called A New Guide to Sex in the 21st Century.

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The All-or-Nothing Marriage: How the Best Marriages Work cover

The All-or-Nothing Marriage

Eli J Finkel

Mentioned 1 year ago

How to Find Love in 2025

The book was described as a great examination of the stages of marriage in American history, modeled loosely on Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

There's this, Eli Finkel wrote this book called The All or Nothing Marriage. Some years ago, it's a great book about the stages of marriage in terms of looking at American history specifically.

Buy on Amazon
Sex and Culture cover

Sex and Culture

Joseph Daniel Unwin

Mentioned 1 year ago

How to Find Love in 2025

This Edwardian anthropologist's work was revisited, hypothesizing that sexually permissive cultures tend not to be socially expansive ones, suggesting civilizational decline.

I revisited recently, um, for an essay, the work of, um, this Edwardian anthropologist, British anthropologist called J.D. Unwin. He wrote a book called Sex and Culture, which was published in the 1930s.

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Sex and the Single Girl cover

Sex and the Single Girl

Juli Slattery

Mentioned 1 year ago

How to Find Love in 2025

The guest was framed as an anti-Helen Gurley Brown, given that Brown famously advocated for casual sex being enjoyable for women in her 1962 book.

One thing I was thinking about coming into this conversation is Helen Gurley Brown, who famously wrote Sex and the Single Girl in 1962.

Buy on Amazon
The Perfect Police State: An Undercover Odyssey into China's Terrifying Surveillance Dystopia of the Future cover

The Perfect Police State

Geoffrey Cain

Mentioned 1 year ago

Can America Win the AI War with China?

This book was mentioned as being written by guest Jeffrey Kane, an expert on China. The book appears to detail his undercover experience within China's surveillance dystopia.

He is joined today by Jeffrey Kane, an expert on China and the author of The Perfect Police State, an undercover odyssey into China's terrifying surveillance dystopia of the future.

Buy on Amazon
Demons (Everyman's Library, 182) cover

Demons (Everyman's Library, 182)

Fyodor Dostoevsky

Mentioned 1 year ago

Can America Win the AI War with China?

The host read this novel by Dostoevsky, which was about what happens when a society tries to replace the idea of God with ideologies, specifically communism.

So I'm actually - I just finished reading this book right here, which is Dostoevsky. It's Demons.

Buy on Amazon
Jerusalem: The Biography cover

Jerusalem

Simon Sebag Montefiore

Mentioned 1 year ago

Simon Sebag Montefiore: History Is Not Over

Described as a biography of a city spanning 3,000 years of history, this book was noted as a must-read that had sold over a million copies and was recently reissued in paperback.

But Jerusalem is a biography of a city--a city, as he writes, that is "the house of the one God, the capital of two peoples, the temple of three religions, and the only city to exist twice in heaven and on earth."

Buy on Amazon
Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar cover

Stalin

Simon Sebag Montefiore

Mentioned 1 year ago

Simon Sebag Montefiore: History Is Not Over

This book was mentioned as one of Simon Sebag Montefiore's essential works for understanding power, politics, revolution, dictatorships, and human nature.

Most Recommended

The Firm: A Novel (The Firm Series) Cover

John Grisham

The Firm

A Novel (The Firm Series)

The Speaker mentioned rereading this book about a year and a half prior for leisure, noting it was one of his favorites from early in his career.

"

I reread The Firm about a year and a half ago. I have no time for leisure reading at all. But it was one of my favorites when I was early in my career.

— Episode: Inauguration Day with the Speaker of the...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Inauguration Day with the Speaker of the House

The Speaker mentioned rereading this book about a year and a half prior for leisure, noting it was one of his favorites from early in his career.

"

I reread The Firm about a year and a half ago. I have no time for leisure reading at all. But it was one of my favorites when I was early in my career.

Atlas Shrugged (Centennial Ed.) Cover

Ayn Rand

Atlas Shrugged (Centennial Ed.)

The speaker described this book as an extraordinary one when asked about the book that had the biggest impact on his life.

"

I will say Atlas Shrugged is an extraordinary book.

— Episode: Sen. Ted Cruz on TikTok, China, the Ceas...

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Episode: Sen. Ted Cruz on TikTok, China, the Ceasefire Deal...

The speaker described this book as an extraordinary one when asked about the book that had the biggest impact on his life.

"

I will say Atlas Shrugged is an extraordinary book.

Jerusalem: The Biography Cover

Simon Sebag Montefiore

Jerusalem

The Biography

Described as a biography of a city spanning 3,000 years of history, this book was noted as a must-read that had sold over a million copies and was recently reissued in paperback.

"

But Jerusalem is a biography of a city--a city, as he writes, that is "the house of the one God, the capital of two peoples, the temple of three religions, and the only city to exist...

— Episode: Simon Sebag Montefiore: History Is Not O...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Simon Sebag Montefiore: History Is Not Over

Described as a biography of a city spanning 3,000 years of history, this book was noted as a must-read that had sold over a million copies and was recently reissued in paperback.

"

But Jerusalem is a biography of a city--a city, as he writes, that is "the house of the one God, the capital of two peoples, the temple of three religions, and the only city to exist twice in heaven and on earth."

It has sold more than a million copies, many of them in China, which we're going to learn about. And it has just been reissued in paperback.

Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters Cover

Abigail Shrier

Irreversible Damage

The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters

In the episode, Megyn Kelly referenced the book as evidence that the rapid increase in young girls identifying as transgender was a social contagion. She noted its 2020 publication and highlighted its central argument supporting that view.

Highly Recommended
Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Megyn Kelly on Life After Mainstream Media

Published in 2020, it supports the idea that the rapid increase in young girls identifying as transgender is a social contagion.

"

you had abigail schreyer's book in 2020 Irreversible Damage which showed it's a social contagion

Lives from Plutarch Cover

Plutarch

Lives from Plutarch

The podcast mentioned Plutarch's "Lives" as a source for information about Tiberius Gracchus, quoting his descriptions of Gracchus's speeches and the events surrounding his death. It was referenced several times to support claims made about Gracchus.

"

quote on his return to Rome. The whole transaction was greatly blamed as dishonorable and disgraceful end quote

— Episode: How Republics Unravel: From Rome to . ....

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: How Republics Unravel: From Rome to . . . America?

The podcast mentioned Plutarch's "Lives" as a source for information about Tiberius Gracchus, quoting his descriptions of Gracchus's speeches and the events surrounding his death. It was referenced several times to support claims made about Gracchus.

"

quote on his return to Rome. The whole transaction was greatly blamed as dishonorable and disgraceful end quote

The wild beasts of Italy had their dens and holes in hiding places. While the men who fought and died in defensive Italy enjoyed indeed the air and the light, but nothing else. Houseless and without a spot of ground to rest upon, they wander about with their wives and children while their commanders with a lie in their mouths exhort the soldiers in battle to defend their tombs and temples against the enemy. For out of so many Romans, not one has a family altar or ancestral tomb. But they fight to maintain the luxury and wealth of others and they die with the title of Lords of the Earth without possessing a single patch of earth to call their own.

the kinsfolk and friends of the soldiers who were a large part of the people crowded about Tiberius charging the general with a disgraceful part of what had happened and declaring that Tiberius had been the savior of so many citizens end quote

well then, as the Council betrays the state, to those who wish to maintain the laws, follow me.

The Age of Entitlement: America Since the Sixties Cover

Christopher Caldwell

The Age of Entitlement

America Since the Sixties

This book was mentioned as one of multiple books authored by the special guest, Christopher Caldwell.

"

and special guest Christopher Caldwell, author of multiple books, including The Age of Entitlement.

— Episode: LISTEN: The Best Reality TV Is Actually...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: LISTEN: The Best Reality TV Is Actually in the Ova...

This book was mentioned as one of multiple books authored by the special guest, Christopher Caldwell.

"

and special guest Christopher Caldwell, author of multiple books, including The Age of Entitlement.

The Case Against the Sexual Revolution Cover

Louise Perry

The Case Against the Sexual Revolution

This book formed the crux of the guest's argument regarding the breakdown of sexual relations, claiming the sexual revolution led to the triumph of the playboy.

"

It's a story about the triumph of the playboy. This is the crux of her book, The Case Against the Sexual Revolution, which has just been adapted for young adults.

— Episode: How to Find Love in 2025

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: How to Find Love in 2025

This book formed the crux of the guest's argument regarding the breakdown of sexual relations, claiming the sexual revolution led to the triumph of the playboy.

"

It's a story about the triumph of the playboy. This is the crux of her book, The Case Against the Sexual Revolution, which has just been adapted for young adults.

In 2022, she wrote for the Free Press, quote, The sexual revolution isn't only a story of women freed from the burdens of chastity and motherhood.

Witness Cover

Whittaker Chambers

Witness

Sarah Longwell mentioned reading *Witness* by Whittaker Chambers when she was younger and exploring conservative politics.

"

I was reading Witness or I went to her chambers and these were things that just really for me,

— Episode: The Republicans Voting for Kamala

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: The Republicans Voting for Kamala

Sarah Longwell mentioned reading *Witness* by Whittaker Chambers when she was younger and exploring conservative politics.

"

I was reading Witness or I went to her chambers and these were things that just really for me,

American Covenant: How the Constitution Unified Our Nation―and Could Again Cover

Yuval Levin

American Covenant

How the Constitution Unified Our Nation―and Could Again

The book was highlighted as a newly released work on the U.S. Constitution, and Yuval Levin was interviewed about its argument that the Constitution can once again unify the nation. Bari Weiss introduced the discussion and referenced Levin’s perspective on the title.

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: The Palestinian ‘Traitor’ Risking Everything to Sp...

It was mentioned as a recently published book by Yuval Levin, who was also interviewed on the podcast about the book.

"

about his new book on the US Constitution called American Covenant,

The Right: The Hundred-Year War for American Conservatism Cover

Matthew Continetti

The Right

The Hundred-Year War for American Conservatism

The book was described as phenomenal for chronicling the fusionist era of the conservative movement.

"

Matthew Continetti wrote a book recently, The Right. Yeah, it's phenomenal. Yeah. And he chronicled a lot of that, but there are others who have.

— Episode: Inauguration Day with the Speaker of the...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Inauguration Day with the Speaker of the House

The book was described as phenomenal for chronicling the fusionist era of the conservative movement.

"

Matthew Continetti wrote a book recently, The Right. Yeah, it's phenomenal. Yeah. And he chronicled a lot of that, but there are others who have.

The Message Cover

Ta-Nehisi Coates

The Message

It is a book about a 10-day trip Coates took to what he calls Palestine; it was said that for many young people, this would be the only thing they read about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"

Today is the publication day of Tanahasi Coates's new book, "The Message", which is based on a 10-day trip that he took to what he calls Palestine.

— Episode: Douglas Murray: A Time of War

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Episode: Douglas Murray: A Time of War

It is a book about a 10-day trip Coates took to what he calls Palestine; it was said that for many young people, this would be the only thing they read about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"

Today is the publication day of Tanahasi Coates's new book, "The Message", which is based on a 10-day trip that he took to what he calls Palestine.

Hitting Wall Street's "FAT PITCH": Secrets from a 35 Year Stock Market Insider Cover

Charles Mizrahi

Hitting Wall Street's "FAT PITCH"

Secrets from a 35 Year Stock Market Insider

It was cited as an influential work that exposed collusion between Wall Street and the government, aligning with the host's investigative focus. Matt Taibbi highlighted the book’s insights into insider market tactics. The discussion emphasized its relevance for understanding financial power dynamics.

Highly Recommended
Listen on Audible 7-day free trial
Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar Cover

Simon Sebag Montefiore

Stalin

The Court of the Red Tsar

In the episode, the host highlighted the book as one of Montefiore’s essential works for grasping power, politics, revolution, dictatorships, and human nature. They noted it offered deep insight into how dictators operate and why those dynamics matter. The overall tone was strongly endorsing its value for listeners interested in political history.

Highly Recommended
Listen on Audible 7-day free trial
The Storm Before the Storm: The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic Cover

Mike Duncan

The Storm Before the Storm

The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic

In the episode discussing how republics unravel, the host cited the book as a historical source to provide context for the events surrounding Tiberius Gracchus, quoting its description of the Senate's furious denouncement of him as a reckless demagogue. The mention highlighted the book's usefulness for understanding Roman political dynamics.

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: How Republics Unravel: From Rome to . . . America?

The book, "The Storm Before the Storm," by Michael Duncan, was cited as a historical source providing context for the events surrounding Tiberius Gracchus. A quote from the book described the Senate's reaction to Gracchus's actions.

"

quote, the Senate met in a furious session to denounce Tiberius as a reckless demagogue aiming to make himself a tyrannical despot, end quote

The Romanovs: 1613-1918 Cover

Simon Sebag Montefiore

The Romanovs

1613-1918

In the episode, the host highlighted the title as one of the author’s essential historical works, noting its comprehensive coverage of the Romanov dynasty. It was presented as a key recommendation for listeners interested in deep, well‑researched history.

Highly Recommended
Listen on Audible 7-day free trial
Fugitive Days: A Memoir Cover

Bill Ayers

Fugitive Days

A Memoir

In the episode, Eli Lake referenced the memoir and noted that it portrayed the Weather Underground as fundamentally opposed to killing civilians, a claim he said was inaccurate. He highlighted the discrepancy between the book's depiction and the historical record, effectively critiquing its portrayal.

Critiqued
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Episode: When Students Become Terrorists

It was described as painting the Weather Underground as fundamentally opposed to killing civilians, but that was not true, according to the speaker.

"

In Bill Ayers' memoir, Fugitive Days, he paints weather as fundamentally opposed to killing civilians and, well, that's simply not true.

US Foreign Policy in the Middle East: From American Missionaries to the Islamic State (Routledge Studies in US Foreign Policy) Cover

Geoffrey F. Gresh

US Foreign Policy in the Middle East

From American Missionaries to the Islamic State (Routledge Studies in US Foreign Policy)

It was mentioned that Rashid Khalidi thanked Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn personally in the dedication for persuading him to write the book and for letting him use their family's dining room table to do some of the writing.

"

In the dedication to his 2004 book Attacking American Foreign Policy in the Middle East he thanks Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dorn personally.

— Episode: When Students Become Terrorists

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Episode: When Students Become Terrorists

It was mentioned that Rashid Khalidi thanked Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn personally in the dedication for persuading him to write the book and for letting him use their family's dining room table to do some of the writing.

"

In the dedication to his 2004 book Attacking American Foreign Policy in the Middle East he thanks Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dorn personally.

First chronologically and in other ways comes Bill Ayers he persuaded me a little over a year ago that I should write this book. Bill was particularly generous in letting me use his family's dining room table to do some of the writing for this project.

Underground Cover

David MacAulay

Underground

The book was highlighted as an excellent memoir that clarified the events at the War Gasm, including the intense debates among students about radical revolutionary ideas. Eli Lake recommended it for its clear account of those controversial discussions.

Highly Recommended
Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: When Students Become Terrorists

It was described as an excellent memoir that explained what went down at the War Gasm, including discussions on whether killing white babies was inherently revolutionary.

"

Mark Rudd's excellent memoir Underground explained what went down at the War Gasm.

There were crazy discussions at Flint over whether killing white babies was inherently revolutionary, since all white people are the enemy.

Deception: The Great Covid Cover-Up Cover

Rand Paul

Deception

The Great Covid Cover-Up

This book, also written by Senator Paul, is mentioned as being highly critical of the Chinese Communist government and its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the cover-up of the lab leak.

"

I've written two books, The case against socialism and Deception, the great COVID cover up.

— Episode: Why Senator Rand Paul Hasn’t Endorsed Tr...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Why Senator Rand Paul Hasn’t Endorsed Trump

This book, also written by Senator Paul, is mentioned as being highly critical of the Chinese Communist government and its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the cover-up of the lab leak.

"

I've written two books, The case against socialism and Deception, the great COVID cover up.

The Second World Wars: How the First Global Conflict Was Fought and Won Cover

Victor Davis Hanson

The Second World Wars

How the First Global Conflict Was Fought and Won

It was discussed as a critically acclaimed book that details how the first global conflict was fought and won. The author, Victor Davis Hanson, also discussed his own views on World War II and its complexities.

"

The Second World Wars: How the first global conflict was fought and won.

— Episode: World War II and the Rise of Anti-Histor...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: World War II and the Rise of Anti-History

It was discussed as a critically acclaimed book that details how the first global conflict was fought and won. The author, Victor Davis Hanson, also discussed his own views on World War II and its complexities.

"

The Second World Wars: How the first global conflict was fought and won.

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