The Ezra Klein Show
Book Recommendations

The Ezra Klein Show

Ezra Klein invites you into a conversation on something that matters. How do we address climate change if the political system fails to act? Has the logic of markets infiltrated too many aspects of our lives? What is the future of the Republican Party? What do psychedelics teach us about consciousne...

Episodes 550
Books 1,781
The Leader's Guide to Unconscious Bias: How To Reframe Bias, Cultivate Connection, and Create High-Performing Teams Cover

Pamela Fuller

The Leader's Guide to Unconscious Bias

How To Reframe Bias, Cultivate Connection, and Create High-Performing Teams

It was highlighted as a statistical book about racial bias.

"

And this one is by somebody who lives out near you called Jennifer Eberhardt. And it's called Bias. And it's got the statistics. So for people who want to know, well, actually, how does this skew life...

— Episode: Best Of: Margaret Atwood on American Myt...

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Episode: Best Of: Margaret Atwood on American Myths and Aut...

It was highlighted as a statistical book about racial bias.

"

And this one is by somebody who lives out near you called Jennifer Eberhardt. And it's called Bias. And it's got the statistics. So for people who want to know, well, actually, how does this skew life in real time in the actual world? Here's the book that talks about that.

We: A Dystopian Novel That Inspired 1984 by George Orwell, Newly Translated with an Introduction by Margaret Atwood and an Afterword by Ursula K. Le Guin Cover

Yevgeny Zamyatin

We

A Dystopian Novel That Inspired 1984 by George Orwell, Newly Translated with an Introduction by Margaret Atwood and an Afterword by Ursula K. Le Guin

It was listed among early dystopian novels mentioned in the discussion.

"

We get 1984. We get Fahrenheit 451. It's not great. So We get We by Evgeny Zamyatin.

— Episode: Best Of: Margaret Atwood on American Myt...

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Episode: Best Of: Margaret Atwood on American Myths and Aut...

It was listed among early dystopian novels mentioned in the discussion.

"

We get 1984. We get Fahrenheit 451. It's not great. So We get We by Evgeny Zamyatin.

The Wheelwright's Shop Cover

George Sturt

The Wheelwright's Shop

The guest described the book as a beautiful 1920s work about traditional wheelmaking, noting its detailed guidance on selecting wood and the craftsmanship needed to create lasting wheels.

"

So there's a book my grandpa gave me, The Wheelwright Shop. It was written in the 1920s by George Strutt, whose family had been building wooden wheels in England for 200 years. And like the specifics...

— Episode: How a Red-District Democrat Is Navigatin...

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Episode: How a Red-District Democrat Is Navigating Trump

The guest described the book as a beautiful 1920s work about traditional wheelmaking, noting its detailed guidance on selecting wood and the craftsmanship needed to create lasting wheels.

"

So there's a book my grandpa gave me, The Wheelwright Shop. It was written in the 1920s by George Strutt, whose family had been building wooden wheels in England for 200 years. And like the specifics of it, it was just beautiful. Like he's like, you know, you had to know that that grove, the elm grove is too rich. It's not good for specific uses to build a wheel that will last and that your name is attached to. And that's useful to your community. You have to know how the SAP is running that year. You have to know when to quarter and when split.

Experiences in Visual Thinking, 2nd edition Cover

Robert H. McKim

Experiences in Visual Thinking, 2nd edition

The guest praised the book as a 1970sstyle guide that helps train the brain to solve problems by drawing, using fingers, and visual manipulation of ideas.

"

There's another one, Experiences in Visual Thinking. It's like kind of a hippie, like, you know, 70s. But it is really brilliant at helping exercise the other parts of your brain that analyze problems...

— Episode: How a Red-District Democrat Is Navigatin...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: How a Red-District Democrat Is Navigating Trump

The guest praised the book as a 1970sstyle guide that helps train the brain to solve problems by drawing, using fingers, and visual manipulation of ideas.

"

There's another one, Experiences in Visual Thinking. It's like kind of a hippie, like, you know, 70s. But it is really brilliant at helping exercise the other parts of your brain that analyze problems. Like drawing and using your fingers. Like it's, I think, does it a necessary part of rebuilding parts of your brain that are not just the rote correct answer.

The Random House Book of Poetry for Children Cover

Jack Prelutsky

The Random House Book of Poetry for Children

The guest highlighted the joy of reading Prelutsky's poetry collections with her young son, emphasizing the fun, rhythmic language that makes poetry accessible to children.

"

And the other thing, you know, I've got a three and a half year old son at home. ... So any of the children's poetry anthologies from Jack Proletsky, just that reading and language is fun. It is not a...

— Episode: How a Red-District Democrat Is Navigatin...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: How a Red-District Democrat Is Navigating Trump

The guest highlighted the joy of reading Prelutsky's poetry collections with her young son, emphasizing the fun, rhythmic language that makes poetry accessible to children.

"

And the other thing, you know, I've got a three and a half year old son at home. ... So any of the children's poetry anthologies from Jack Proletsky, just that reading and language is fun. It is not academic. It is not for getting a good grade. It is joy. It is joy. And like the rhythm and the cadence and like moving it from a strictly like absolute, like rote ABCs to like the pleasure of rhyming things and just like having fun.

Muppets in Moscow: The Unexpected Crazy True Story of Making Sesame Street in Russia Cover

Natasha Lance Rogoff

Muppets in Moscow

The Unexpected Crazy True Story of Making Sesame Street in Russia

The guest described it as his wife's book about the making of Sesame Street in Russia during the 1990s, noting the involvement of hundreds of artists and the period's tremendous instability.

"

I have a few books to recommend, but I have to start out with my wife's book, Muppets in Moscow, which I've given you as a present about the making of Sesame Street in the 1990s, whic...

— Episode: Trump vs. the Dollar

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Episode: Trump vs. the Dollar

The guest described it as his wife's book about the making of Sesame Street in Russia during the 1990s, noting the involvement of hundreds of artists and the period's tremendous instability.

"

I have a few books to recommend, but I have to start out with my wife's book, Muppets in Moscow, which I've given you as a present about the making of Sesame Street in the 1990s, which she oversaw hundreds of artists. The making of it in Russia ... It's an amazing book.

The Promise of Politics Cover

Hannah Arendt

The Promise of Politics

Zephyr Teachout mentioned the book as one of two titles that got her onto the path she is on.

"

One is The Promise of Politics by Hannah Arendt.

— Episode: Abundance and the Left

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Episode: Abundance and the Left

Zephyr Teachout mentioned the book as one of two titles that got her onto the path she is on.

"

One is The Promise of Politics by Hannah Arendt.

The Populist Moment: A Short History of the Agrarian Revolt in America Cover

Lawrence Goodwyn

The Populist Moment

A Short History of the Agrarian Revolt in America

Zephyr Teachout listed the book as another recommendation that shaped her thinking.

"

And the other is The Populist Moment by Lawrence Goodwyn.

— Episode: Abundance and the Left

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Abundance and the Left

Zephyr Teachout listed the book as another recommendation that shaped her thinking.

"

And the other is The Populist Moment by Lawrence Goodwyn.

Listen, Liberal: Or, What Ever Happened to the Party of the People? Cover

Thomas Frank

Listen, Liberal

Or, What Ever Happened to the Party of the People?

Zephyr Teachout added Thomas Frank's book to her list of influential reads.

"

And then Listen Liberal by Thomas Frank, who wrote What's the Matter with Kansas.

— Episode: Abundance and the Left

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Abundance and the Left

Zephyr Teachout added Thomas Frank's book to her list of influential reads.

"

And then Listen Liberal by Thomas Frank, who wrote What's the Matter with Kansas.

Destructive Creation: American Business and the Winning of World War II (American Business, Politics, and Society) Cover

Mark R. Wilson

Destructive Creation

American Business and the Winning of World War II (American Business, Politics, and Society)

Saikat Chakrabarti said it was the most detailed book he read about World WarII mobilization and found it shocking and amazing.

"

Destructive Creation by Mark Wilson is probably the most detailed book I read about the actual mobilization during World WarII. When you read what they did, it is shocking. It's amazi...

— Episode: Abundance and the Left

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Abundance and the Left

Saikat Chakrabarti said it was the most detailed book he read about World WarII mobilization and found it shocking and amazing.

"

Destructive Creation by Mark Wilson is probably the most detailed book I read about the actual mobilization during World WarII. When you read what they did, it is shocking. It's amazing. It's really amazing.

Bad Samaritans: The Myth of Free Trade and the Secret History of Capitalism Cover

Ha-Joon Chang

Bad Samaritans

The Myth of Free Trade and the Secret History of Capitalism

Saikat Chakrabarti described the book as telling how developed countries entered mission mode to develop their economies.

"

Bad Samaritans by HaJoon Chang, which tells a story of how a bunch of developed countries managed to go into mission mode and develop their countries.

— Episode: Abundance and the Left

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Abundance and the Left

Saikat Chakrabarti described the book as telling how developed countries entered mission mode to develop their economies.

"

Bad Samaritans by HaJoon Chang, which tells a story of how a bunch of developed countries managed to go into mission mode and develop their countries.

The Defining Moment: FDR's Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope Cover

Jonathan Alter

The Defining Moment

FDR's Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope

Saikat Chakrabarti said the book covers FDR's first hundred days and shows how he achieved a great deal without new legislation.

"

The Defining Moment by Jonathan Alter. It's about FDR's first hundred days and really paints a picture of his style of leadership and how he was able to do so much without legislation...

— Episode: Abundance and the Left

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Abundance and the Left

Saikat Chakrabarti said the book covers FDR's first hundred days and shows how he achieved a great deal without new legislation.

"

The Defining Moment by Jonathan Alter. It's about FDR's first hundred days and really paints a picture of his style of leadership and how he was able to do so much without legislation.

Invisible Hands: The Making of the Conservative Movement from the New Deal to Reagan Cover

Kim Phillips-Fein

Invisible Hands

The Making of the Conservative Movement from the New Deal to Reagan

Ezra Klein mentioned the book as a great source on the historical shift toward neoliberal ideology over four decades.

"

There's a great book called Invisible Hands by Kim PhillipsFein, which really details the push of that ideology over 40 years.

— Episode: Abundance and the Left

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Abundance and the Left

Ezra Klein mentioned the book as a great source on the historical shift toward neoliberal ideology over four decades.

"

There's a great book called Invisible Hands by Kim PhillipsFein, which really details the push of that ideology over 40 years.

Living with a Wild God: A Nonbeliever's Search for the Truth about Everything Cover

Barbara Ehrenreich

Living with a Wild God

A Nonbeliever's Search for the Truth about Everything

The hosts described it as a book about a secular person who had many religious experiences, noting its relevance to the conversation about mysticism.

"

And a famous atheist called Living with a Wild God, right? And it was just a book about a very secular person who had a lot of religious experiences, like experiences that if you went...

— Episode: Ross Douthat on Trump, Mysticism and Psy...

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Episode: Ross Douthat on Trump, Mysticism and Psychedelics

The hosts described it as a book about a secular person who had many religious experiences, noting its relevance to the conversation about mysticism.

"

And a famous atheist called Living with a Wild God, right? And it was just a book about a very secular person who had a lot of religious experiences, like experiences that if you went and read William James or read like a medieval Catholic mystic or something would be totally familiar.

Modern Physics and Ancient Faith by Stephen M. Barr (2003-03-31) Cover

Stephen M. Barr

Modern Physics and Ancient Faith by Stephen M. Barr (2003-03-31)

Ezra recommended the book as a still-relevant survey of how modern physics relates to religion, describing it as openminded and not dogmatic.

"

from about 20 years ago by a physicist named Stephen Barr, called Ancient Physics and Modern Faith. That is, I think despite being a little bit dated, is still really the best overall survey of sort o...

— Episode: Ross Douthat on Trump, Mysticism and Psy...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Ross Douthat on Trump, Mysticism and Psychedelics

Ezra recommended the book as a still-relevant survey of how modern physics relates to religion, describing it as openminded and not dogmatic.

"

from about 20 years ago by a physicist named Stephen Barr, called Ancient Physics and Modern Faith. That is, I think despite being a little bit dated, is still really the best overall survey of sort of where arguments in modern physics that relate to religion stand and how a reasonable person might think about it.

After: A Doctor Explores What Near-Death Experiences Reveal about Life and Beyond Cover

Bruce Greyson M.D.

After

A Doctor Explores What Near-Death Experiences Reveal about Life and Beyond

The book was recommended as a good overview from a physician's perspective on neardeath experiences and why they challenge materialist worldviews.

"

there's a book called After by Bruce Grayson, who's a, I think, psychiatrist or neuroscientist from the University of Virginia, who just has a good overview, I would say, from a persp...

— Episode: Ross Douthat on Trump, Mysticism and Psy...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Ross Douthat on Trump, Mysticism and Psychedelics

The book was recommended as a good overview from a physician's perspective on neardeath experiences and why they challenge materialist worldviews.

"

there's a book called After by Bruce Grayson, who's a, I think, psychiatrist or neuroscientist from the University of Virginia, who just has a good overview, I would say, from a perspective of a practicing physician, of why people take these strange stories seriously and why it might unsettle a materialist worldview.

Donald Trump is Not My Savior Cover

Michael L Brown PhD

Donald Trump is Not My Savior

The conversation referenced Douthat's earlier column titled "Donald Trump, Man of Destiny," noting that he still stood by his reading of Trump as a figure touched by destiny.

"

So last year, after the first assassination attempt on Donald Trump, you wrote about Trump as a man of destiny. That he was, quote, a figure touched by the gods of fortune in a way that transcends the...

— Episode: Ross Douthat on Trump, Mysticism and Psy...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Ross Douthat on Trump, Mysticism and Psychedelics

The conversation referenced Douthat's earlier column titled "Donald Trump, Man of Destiny," noting that he still stood by his reading of Trump as a figure touched by destiny.

"

So last year, after the first assassination attempt on Donald Trump, you wrote about Trump as a man of destiny. That he was, quote, a figure touched by the gods of fortune in a way that transcends the normal rules of politics. How are you thinking about that now?

Illiberal America: A History Cover

Steven Hahn

Illiberal America

A History

The host introduced Stephen Hahn's book as a work that tracks the historical threat of illiberalism in America, tracing it from the nation's founding onward. It was presented as the central focus of the episode's discussion.

"

My guest today is Stephen Hahn, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian at NYU. His book, Illiberal America, tracks this threat of American politics back to our founding and even before.

— Episode: The Very American Roots of Trumpism

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Episode: The Very American Roots of Trumpism

The host introduced Stephen Hahn's book as a work that tracks the historical threat of illiberalism in America, tracing it from the nation's founding onward. It was presented as the central focus of the episode's discussion.

"

My guest today is Stephen Hahn, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian at NYU. His book, Illiberal America, tracks this threat of American politics back to our founding and even before.

Troubled Memory: Anne Levy, the Holocaust, and David Duke's Louisiana Cover

Lawrence N. Powell

Troubled Memory

Anne Levy, the Holocaust, and David Duke's Louisiana

The host described Powell's Troubled Memory as an extraordinary story about a survivor of the Lotz ghetto whose testimony helped expose David Duke's Nazi past, linking American and European fascism. The book was presented as a compelling narrative of resistance.

"

And the third book is a book by Lawrence Powell called Troubled Memory and Levy, The Holocaust and David Duke's Louisiana. It's an extraordinary story about a woman who was part of th...

— Episode: The Very American Roots of Trumpism

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: The Very American Roots of Trumpism

The host described Powell's Troubled Memory as an extraordinary story about a survivor of the Lotz ghetto whose testimony helped expose David Duke's Nazi past, linking American and European fascism. The book was presented as a compelling narrative of resistance.

"

And the third book is a book by Lawrence Powell called Troubled Memory and Levy, The Holocaust and David Duke's Louisiana. It's an extraordinary story about a woman who was part of the only whole family to make it out of the Lotz ghetto and they end up in New Orleans and when Duke runs for governor she plays an incredibly important role in outing his Nazi past and helping to undermine his claims to power so it kind of links fascism on both sides of the Atlantic with an incredibly inspiring and welltold story.

Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future Cover

Jason Stanley

Erasing History

How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future

The guest said it explains how fascists rewrite the past to control the future, a theme relevant to current politics.

"

And then Jason Stanley's Erasing History, how fascists rewrite the past to control the future, which is very prescient in terms of what the Trump administration is trying to do to uni...

— Episode: The Emergency Is Here

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: The Emergency Is Here

The guest said it explains how fascists rewrite the past to control the future, a theme relevant to current politics.

"

And then Jason Stanley's Erasing History, how fascists rewrite the past to control the future, which is very prescient in terms of what the Trump administration is trying to do to universities right now.

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