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
Everything I Need I Get from You: How Fangirls Created the Internet as We Know It Cover

Kaitlyn Tiffany

Everything I Need I Get from You

How Fangirls Created the Internet as We Know It

He said the book argues that the whole internet was shaped by the One Direction fandom, a phenomenon that is underreported but actually drove much of internet culture.

"

Everything I Need I Get from You by Kaitlyn Tiffany

— Episode: Will A.I. Break the Internet? Or Save It...

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Episode: Will A.I. Break the Internet? Or Save It?

He said the book argues that the whole internet was shaped by the One Direction fandom, a phenomenon that is underreported but actually drove much of internet culture.

"

Everything I Need I Get from You by Kaitlyn Tiffany

Beyond Measure: The Hidden History of Measurement from Cubits to Quantum Constants Cover

James Vincent

Beyond Measure

The Hidden History of Measurement from Cubits to Quantum Constants

He described it as a history of measurement systems, urging readers to look at the things we take for granted and realize how deeply they shape our world.

"

Beyond Measure by James Vincent

— Episode: Will A.I. Break the Internet? Or Save It...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Will A.I. Break the Internet? Or Save It?

He described it as a history of measurement systems, urging readers to look at the things we take for granted and realize how deeply they shape our world.

"

Beyond Measure by James Vincent

The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction Cover

Walter Benjamin

The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction

He referred to Benjamin's 1935 essay, noting that as reproductions multiply, the aura of the original work withers, and that this idea still resonates today.

"

the Walter Benjamin essay it's called work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction

— Episode: Will A.I. Break the Internet? Or Save It...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Will A.I. Break the Internet? Or Save It?

He referred to Benjamin's 1935 essay, noting that as reproductions multiply, the aura of the original work withers, and that this idea still resonates today.

"

the Walter Benjamin essay it's called work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction

After Nationalism: Being American in an Age of Division (Radical Conservatisms) Cover

Samuel Goldman

After Nationalism

Being American in an Age of Division (Radical Conservatisms)

He suggested this shorter book as an alternative to a longer 900page volume, describing it as a look at what it means to be American today.

"

if you don't want to read a 900-page book I can offer something much shorter which is a book called After Nationalism Being American in Age of Division by Samuel Goldman.

— Episode: The Rise of ‘Middle-Finger Politics’

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Episode: The Rise of ‘Middle-Finger Politics’

He suggested this shorter book as an alternative to a longer 900page volume, describing it as a look at what it means to be American today.

"

if you don't want to read a 900-page book I can offer something much shorter which is a book called After Nationalism Being American in Age of Division by Samuel Goldman.

The Politics of Cultural Despair: A Study in the Rise of the Germanic Ideology Cover

Fritz R. Stern

The Politics of Cultural Despair

A Study in the Rise of the Germanic Ideology

He recommended this book, noting it explores the 19thcentury German ideas that later underpinned Nazism.

"

The third book I would recommend is The Politics of Cultural Despair by Fred Stern, where he talks about the kinds of people in Germany who prior in the 19th century kind of created t...

— Episode: The Rise of ‘Middle-Finger Politics’

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: The Rise of ‘Middle-Finger Politics’

He recommended this book, noting it explores the 19thcentury German ideas that later underpinned Nazism.

"

The third book I would recommend is The Politics of Cultural Despair by Fred Stern, where he talks about the kinds of people in Germany who prior in the 19th century kind of created the ideological underpinnings for what became Nazism.

The Age of Diminished Expectations: U.S. Economic Policy in the 1990's Cover

Paul R. Krugman

The Age of Diminished Expectations

U.S. Economic Policy in the 1990's

The host noted that Krugman wrote the book in the 1990s (originally in 1989) about how economic expectations have lagged behind technological advances, and that even during periods of broad growth the economy failed to deliver the progress Americans expected.

"

you wrote a book in the 90s called The Age of Diminished Expectations... which I read in graduate school

— Episode: Matter of Opinion: Paul Krugman on Infla...

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Episode: Matter of Opinion: Paul Krugman on Inflation, ‘Bad...

The host noted that Krugman wrote the book in the 1990s (originally in 1989) about how economic expectations have lagged behind technological advances, and that even during periods of broad growth the economy failed to deliver the progress Americans expected.

"

you wrote a book in the 90s called The Age of Diminished Expectations... which I read in graduate school

you wrote that even during periods of sort of broad economic expansion the economy is just not delivering the kind of progress that Americans had taken for granted in the past yet people feeling worse off than their parents

I wrote that book you know in 1989

when I was writing that book the big story was that we had all this fancy technology, personal computers were still new and trendy but it wasn't showing at all in economic performance

Making Motherhood Work: How Women Manage Careers and Caregiving Cover

Caitlyn Collins

Making Motherhood Work

How Women Manage Careers and Caregiving

The host introduced Caitlyn Collins as the author of Making Motherhood Work, noting it examines how women manage careers and caregiving.

"

Caitlin Collins is a sociologist and the author of Making Motherhood Work.

— Episode: The Deep Conflict Between Our Work and P...

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Episode: The Deep Conflict Between Our Work and Parenting I...

The host introduced Caitlyn Collins as the author of Making Motherhood Work, noting it examines how women manage careers and caregiving.

"

Caitlin Collins is a sociologist and the author of Making Motherhood Work.

Competing Devotions: Career and Family among Women Executives Cover

Mary Blair-Loy

Competing Devotions

Career and Family among Women Executives

Ezra highlighted Competing Devotions as a groundbreaking interview study of women executives that explores the moral weight of competing work and family devotions.

"

One already by Mary BlairLoy called Competing Devotions, career and family among women executives, this is a groundbreaking interview study with women executives in the financial serv...

— Episode: The Deep Conflict Between Our Work and P...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: The Deep Conflict Between Our Work and Parenting I...

Ezra highlighted Competing Devotions as a groundbreaking interview study of women executives that explores the moral weight of competing work and family devotions.

"

One already by Mary BlairLoy called Competing Devotions, career and family among women executives, this is a groundbreaking interview study with women executives in the financial services industry.

Mothering While Black: Boundaries and Burdens of Middle-Class Parenthood Cover

Dawn Marie Dow

Mothering While Black

Boundaries and Burdens of Middle-Class Parenthood

He described Mothering While Black as an essential complement that brings an intersectional perspective to the study of work and family, urging listeners to read it.

"

A second book is by Dawn Marie Dow called Mothering While Black, boundaries and burdens of middleclass parenthood... I adore Dow's book and encourage folks to read Mothering W...

— Episode: The Deep Conflict Between Our Work and P...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: The Deep Conflict Between Our Work and Parenting I...

He described Mothering While Black as an essential complement that brings an intersectional perspective to the study of work and family, urging listeners to read it.

"

A second book is by Dawn Marie Dow called Mothering While Black, boundaries and burdens of middleclass parenthood... I adore Dow's book and encourage folks to read Mothering While Black.

8 Billion and Counting: How Sex, Death, and Migration Shape Our World Cover

Jennifer D. Sciubba

8 Billion and Counting

How Sex, Death, and Migration Shape Our World

The guest was identified as the author of the book, which examines how sex, death, and migration shape the world's population.

"

Jennifer Shuba is a political scientist, a demographer and the author of the book 8 million in counting

— Episode: Birthrates Are Plummeting Worldwide. Why...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Birthrates Are Plummeting Worldwide. Why?

The guest was identified as the author of the book, which examines how sex, death, and migration shape the world's population.

"

Jennifer Shuba is a political scientist, a demographer and the author of the book 8 million in counting

The Bet, and Other Stories Cover

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov

The Bet, and Other Stories

He recommended the book for tracing the historical debate over environmental ideas between the left and right in the United States.

"

And it is called The Bet, Paul Ehrlich, Julian Simon and our gamble over Earth's future

— Episode: Birthrates Are Plummeting Worldwide. Why...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Birthrates Are Plummeting Worldwide. Why?

He recommended the book for tracing the historical debate over environmental ideas between the left and right in the United States.

"

And it is called The Bet, Paul Ehrlich, Julian Simon and our gamble over Earth's future

Reproductive States: Global Perspectives on the Invention and Implementation of Population Policy Cover

Rickie Solinger

Reproductive States

Global Perspectives on the Invention and Implementation of Population Policy

He highlighted the academic volume for its global perspectives on the invention and implementation of population policy.

"

it's a book called Reproductive States and it's edited by Ricky Solinger and Mia Nakachi

— Episode: Birthrates Are Plummeting Worldwide. Why...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Birthrates Are Plummeting Worldwide. Why?

He highlighted the academic volume for its global perspectives on the invention and implementation of population policy.

"

it's a book called Reproductive States and it's edited by Ricky Solinger and Mia Nakachi

The Population Bomb Cover

Paul R. Ehrlich

The Population Bomb

He referenced the 1968 book as a historical example of early overpopulation concerns.

"

Paul Erlich opened his 1968 book, Population Bomb

— Episode: Birthrates Are Plummeting Worldwide. Why...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Birthrates Are Plummeting Worldwide. Why?

He referenced the 1968 book as a historical example of early overpopulation concerns.

"

Paul Erlich opened his 1968 book, Population Bomb

Tip O' Neill and the Democratic Century: A Biography Cover

John A. Farrell

Tip O' Neill and the Democratic Century

A Biography

Klein highlighted the biography as an instructive account of a past era of bipartisan cooperation, noting its vivid depiction of Tip O'Neill's time as Speaker during the Reagan presidency.

"

I would not call it a book that will tell you everything you need to know about what's happening now but it's really interesting and instructive, and then it's this biography by John Farrell of Tip O'...

— Episode: What a Second Biden Term Would Look Like

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: What a Second Biden Term Would Look Like

Klein highlighted the biography as an instructive account of a past era of bipartisan cooperation, noting its vivid depiction of Tip O'Neill's time as Speaker during the Reagan presidency.

"

I would not call it a book that will tell you everything you need to know about what's happening now but it's really interesting and instructive, and then it's this biography by John Farrell of Tip O'Neill that I just read that has many incredible things in it.

It represents a world where Tip O'Neill, when he was Speaker of the House and Ronald Reagan was president, were able to function and even slashing each other all day, yet they could still get things done.

It's Not Her: A Twisty Thriller about Two Families and a Chilling Lake Resort Crime from the Author of Local Woman Missing Cover

Mary Kubica

It's Not Her

A Twisty Thriller about Two Families and a Chilling Lake Resort Crime from the Author of Local Woman Missing

The host recommended it because it illustrates how complicated the abortion issue is in the lived experiences of Americans.

"

I would recommend Josh Prager's The Family Row, in part because it speaks to how complicated this issue is in the lived experiences of Americans.

— Episode: How America’s Two Abortion Realities Are...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: How America’s Two Abortion Realities Are Clashing

The host recommended it because it illustrates how complicated the abortion issue is in the lived experiences of Americans.

"

I would recommend Josh Prager's The Family Row, in part because it speaks to how complicated this issue is in the lived experiences of Americans.

Tiny You: A Western History of the Anti-Abortion Movement Cover

Jennifer L. Holland

Tiny You

A Western History of the Anti-Abortion Movement

The host suggested it as one of two complementary books to understand the origins of the antiabortion movement.

"

Jennifer Holland did a book called Tiny You, a Western History of the AntiAbortion.

— Episode: How America’s Two Abortion Realities Are...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: How America’s Two Abortion Realities Are Clashing

The host suggested it as one of two complementary books to understand the origins of the antiabortion movement.

"

Jennifer Holland did a book called Tiny You, a Western History of the AntiAbortion.

Defenders of the Unborn: The Pro-Life Movement before Roe v. Wade Cover

Daniel K. Williams

Defenders of the Unborn

The Pro-Life Movement before Roe v. Wade

The host recommended it as the partner to Tiny You, describing the origins of the antiabortion movement.

"

Daniel K. Williams did a book called Defenders of the Unborn.

— Episode: How America’s Two Abortion Realities Are...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: How America’s Two Abortion Realities Are Clashing

The host recommended it as the partner to Tiny You, describing the origins of the antiabortion movement.

"

Daniel K. Williams did a book called Defenders of the Unborn.

Before Roe v. Wade: Voices that Shaped the Abortion Debate Before the Supreme Court's Ruling Cover

Linda Greenhouse

Before Roe v. Wade

Voices that Shaped the Abortion Debate Before the Supreme Court's Ruling

The host praised it as a polyphonic collection of primarysource documents from before Roe, giving voices to the people involved in the struggle.

"

I also really love a book called Before Roe v. Wade that was put together by Linda Greenhouse and Reva Siegel. And it's primarily a kind of polyphonic collection of primary source doc...

— Episode: How America’s Two Abortion Realities Are...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: How America’s Two Abortion Realities Are Clashing

The host praised it as a polyphonic collection of primarysource documents from before Roe, giving voices to the people involved in the struggle.

"

I also really love a book called Before Roe v. Wade that was put together by Linda Greenhouse and Reva Siegel. And it's primarily a kind of polyphonic collection of primary source documents from before Roe came down.

Lila (Oprah's Book Club): A Novel Cover

Marilynne Robinson

Lila (Oprah's Book Club)

A Novel

The host mentioned Lila as another of Robinson's beautiful books.

"

But she has all these other beautiful books, Housekeeping, Lila, Jack, many, many more.

— Episode: Marilynne Robinson on Biblical Beauty, H...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Marilynne Robinson on Biblical Beauty, Human Evil...

The host mentioned Lila as another of Robinson's beautiful books.

"

But she has all these other beautiful books, Housekeeping, Lila, Jack, many, many more.

Reading Genesis Cover

Marilynne Robinson

Reading Genesis

The host introduced Reading Genesis as Robinson's latest book that directly reads the biblical book of Genesis.

"

It is called Reading Genesis.

— Episode: Marilynne Robinson on Biblical Beauty, H...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Marilynne Robinson on Biblical Beauty, Human Evil...

The host introduced Reading Genesis as Robinson's latest book that directly reads the biblical book of Genesis.

"

It is called Reading Genesis.

And it is exactly that.

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