Life and Fate
Vasily Grossman
Mentioned 1 day ago
Platner’s Top Campaign Strategist on What Went Wrong
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...
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The Shame
Makenna Goodman
Mentioned 1 day ago
Platner’s Top Campaign Strategist on What Went Wrong
The Fourth Branch
Daniel Squadron
Mentioned 1 day ago
Platner’s Top Campaign Strategist on What Went Wrong
The Avoidable War
Kevin Rudd
Mentioned 1 week ago
What Xi Jinping Wants
The Party's Interests Come First
Joseph Torigian
Mentioned 1 week ago
What Xi Jinping Wants
The Souls of China
Ian Johnson
Mentioned 1 week ago
What Xi Jinping Wants
The Beginning Comes After the End
Rebecca Solnit
Mentioned 2 weeks ago
The Very Good and Very Bad News on Climate
Here Comes the Sun
Bill McKibben
Mentioned 2 weeks ago
The Very Good and Very Bad News on Climate
The Glorians
Terry Tempest Williams
Mentioned 2 weeks ago
The Very Good and Very Bad News on Climate
The Carbon Wave
Leah C. Stokes
Mentioned 2 weeks ago
The Very Good and Very Bad News on Climate
Brought to You By
Amy Westervelt
Mentioned 2 weeks ago
The Very Good and Very Bad News on Climate
The Holocaust and the Nakba
Bashir Bashir
Mentioned 2 weeks ago
A Radical Vision for Israelis and Palestinians
Most Recommended
Wealth and Power
China's Long March to the Twenty-first Century
Ezra praised the book as a comprehensive primer on China, covering its history from the Opium Wars through the Beijing Olympics.
"
A book called Wealth and Power by Orville Schell and John Delury, both great China scholars, both great China watchers. And it's really the story of China from 1850 to the present.
— Episode: Fareed Zakaria on Where Russia’s War in...
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Episode: Fareed Zakaria on Where Russia’s War in Ukraine St...
Ezra praised the book as a comprehensive primer on China, covering its history from the Opium Wars through the Beijing Olympics.
"
A book called Wealth and Power by Orville Schell and John Delury, both great China scholars, both great China watchers. And it's really the story of China from 1850 to the present.
The Idea of India
20th Anniversary Edition
Ezra called this short book wonderfully written, saying it captures the feeling of a newly decolonized India finding its own path.
"
And for India, there's a wonderful short book called The Idea of India by Sunil Khilnani, a young academic, ... it just gives you a feeling for what it felt like to be this newly deco...
— Episode: Fareed Zakaria on Where Russia’s War in...
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Episode: Fareed Zakaria on Where Russia’s War in Ukraine St...
Ezra called this short book wonderfully written, saying it captures the feeling of a newly decolonized India finding its own path.
"
And for India, there's a wonderful short book called The Idea of India by Sunil Khilnani, a young academic, ... it just gives you a feeling for what it felt like to be this newly decolonized country.
Why Europe? The Rise of the West in World History 1500-1850
Klein recommended the book as a way to learn more about Europe.
"
I really like Why Europe by Michael Mitterrand.
— Episode: If You’re Reading This, You’re Probably...
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Episode: If You’re Reading This, You’re Probably ‘WEIRD’
Klein recommended the book as a way to learn more about Europe.
"
I really like Why Europe by Michael Mitterrand.
![By Maristella Botticini The Chosen Few: How Education Shaped Jewish History, 70-1492 (Princeton Economic History of the West [Hardcover] Cover](https://media.podcastbookpicks.com/books/40352.jpg)
By Maristella Botticini The Chosen Few
How Education Shaped Jewish History, 70-1492 (Princeton Economic History of the West [Hardcover]
Klein highlighted the book for its analysis of how education shaped Jewish history.
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I really like this book A Chosen Few, How Education Shaped Jewish History because it really emphasizes how early changes in a religion of a particular group had big longterm consequences.
— Episode: If You’re Reading This, You’re Probably...
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Episode: If You’re Reading This, You’re Probably ‘WEIRD’
Klein highlighted the book for its analysis of how education shaped Jewish history.
"
I really like this book A Chosen Few, How Education Shaped Jewish History because it really emphasizes how early changes in a religion of a particular group had big longterm consequences.
Psychoanalytic Diagnosis
Understanding Personality Structure in the Clinical Process
The guest highlighted Psychoanalytic Diagnosis as a clinicianoriented text that is clear and insightful enough for anyone interested in psychology.
"
As a psychologist, a book I go back to again and again was written by another psychologist, Nancy McWilliams. It's called Psychoanalytic Diagnosis.
— Episode: The Teen Mental Health Crisis, Part 2
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Episode: The Teen Mental Health Crisis, Part 2
The guest highlighted Psychoanalytic Diagnosis as a clinicianoriented text that is clear and insightful enough for anyone interested in psychology.
"
As a psychologist, a book I go back to again and again was written by another psychologist, Nancy McWilliams. It's called Psychoanalytic Diagnosis.
Generations
Klein introduced Twenge's new book Generations, which described a fullblown mental health crisis among young people that predated COVID19.
"
So in your new book Generations, you write, quote, that there's a full-blown mental health crisis among young people, and it was building long before the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Episode: The Teen Mental Health Crisis, Part 1
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Episode: The Teen Mental Health Crisis, Part 1
Klein introduced Twenge's new book Generations, which described a fullblown mental health crisis among young people that predated COVID19.
"
So in your new book Generations, you write, quote, that there's a full-blown mental health crisis among young people, and it was building long before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Problem with Everything
My Journey Through the New Culture Wars
Klein said Meghan Daum's The Problem With Everything, which he frequently cites in Generations, offered insights into cultural shifts starting in the mid2010s.
"
The first is The Problem with Everything by Megan Daum. I quote that a lot in Generations.
— Episode: The Teen Mental Health Crisis, Part 1
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Episode: The Teen Mental Health Crisis, Part 1
Klein said Meghan Daum's The Problem With Everything, which he frequently cites in Generations, offered insights into cultural shifts starting in the mid2010s.
"
The first is The Problem with Everything by Megan Daum. I quote that a lot in Generations.
Nine Ladies
A Pride and Prejudice Variation
Klein mentioned Heather Moll's fiction novel Nine Ladies, likening it to a blend of Pride and Prejudice and Outlander.
"
The third is for fun. It's a fiction book called Nine Ladies, and it is Pride and Prejudice meets Outlander.
— Episode: The Teen Mental Health Crisis, Part 1
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Episode: The Teen Mental Health Crisis, Part 1
Klein mentioned Heather Moll's fiction novel Nine Ladies, likening it to a blend of Pride and Prejudice and Outlander.
"
The third is for fun. It's a fiction book called Nine Ladies, and it is Pride and Prejudice meets Outlander.
King George's Army, British Regiments and the Men Who Led Them 1793-1815
Volume 3
He recommended the book for its historical analysis of antiimmigration arguments, noting it demonstrates how those arguments repeat across different immigrant groups.
"
And my last book is a book called Led Them In by Jason Reilly. He makes the case for much, much more immigration and shows that antiimmigration rhetoric repeats across different waves of newcomers.
— Episode: A Libertarian and I Debate the Debt Ceil...
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Episode: A Libertarian and I Debate the Debt Ceiling
He recommended the book for its historical analysis of antiimmigration arguments, noting it demonstrates how those arguments repeat across different immigrant groups.
"
And my last book is a book called Led Them In by Jason Reilly. He makes the case for much, much more immigration and shows that antiimmigration rhetoric repeats across different waves of newcomers.
Design for the Real World
Human Ecology and Social Change
The book was cited as a seminal 1970s work on appropriate technology and thoughtful design, praised as a very good reference for sustainable design.
"
appropriate technology ... is a very good book by Victor Papenek from the 1970s
— Episode: Best Of: A Weird, Wonderful Conversation...
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Episode: Best Of: A Weird, Wonderful Conversation with Kim...
The book was cited as a seminal 1970s work on appropriate technology and thoughtful design, praised as a very good reference for sustainable design.
"
appropriate technology ... is a very good book by Victor Papenek from the 1970s
The Dawn of Everything
A New History of Humanity
Robinson highlighted this thoughtprovoking book as an archaeological sciencefiction that challenges deterministic narratives of the past.
"
then I think it's interesting to read this last book by David Graeber with David Wengrow called The Dawn of Everything
— Episode: Best Of: A Weird, Wonderful Conversation...
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Episode: Best Of: A Weird, Wonderful Conversation with Kim...
Robinson highlighted this thoughtprovoking book as an archaeological sciencefiction that challenges deterministic narratives of the past.
"
then I think it's interesting to read this last book by David Graeber with David Wengrow called The Dawn of Everything
Metazoa
Animal Life and the Birth of the Mind
Ezra mentioned he was reading this wonderful book, which discusses the octopus and its unusual brain structure.
"
Peter Godfrey Smith's wonderful book I've just been reading, Metazoa, talks about the octopus.
— Episode: Best Of: Why Adults Lose the ‘Beginner’s...
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Episode: Best Of: Why Adults Lose the ‘Beginner’s Mind’
Ezra mentioned he was reading this wonderful book, which discusses the octopus and its unusual brain structure.
"
Peter Godfrey Smith's wonderful book I've just been reading, Metazoa, talks about the octopus.
The Children of Green Knowe
Ezra introduced this more obscure title, noting it features a grandmother, her grandson, and a house filled with ghosts and history.
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the third book ... there's a book called The Children of Green Knowe ... about a grandmother and her grandson ... the house is full of spirits and ghosts and traditions.
— Episode: Best Of: Why Adults Lose the ‘Beginner’s...
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Episode: Best Of: Why Adults Lose the ‘Beginner’s Mind’
Ezra introduced this more obscure title, noting it features a grandmother, her grandson, and a house filled with ghosts and history.
"
the third book ... there's a book called The Children of Green Knowe ... about a grandmother and her grandson ... the house is full of spirits and ghosts and traditions.
Metazoa
Animal Life and the Birth of the Mind
Ezra mentioned that he had just been reading Peter Godfrey Smith's wonderful book Metazoa, which discusses the octopus and its unusual brain structure.
"
Peter Godfrey Smith's wonderful book I've just been reading, Metazoa, talks about the octopus.
— Episode: Best Of: Why Adults Lose the ‘Beginner’s...
Listen on Audible
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Episode: Best Of: Why Adults Lose the ‘Beginner’s Mind’
Ezra mentioned that he had just been reading Peter Godfrey Smith's wonderful book Metazoa, which discusses the octopus and its unusual brain structure.
"
Peter Godfrey Smith's wonderful book I've just been reading, Metazoa, talks about the octopus.
The Children of Green Knowe
Ezra highlighted this more obscure book, describing it as a story about a grandmother and grandson visiting a strange old house filled with ghosts and history.
"
There's a book called The Children of Green Knowe ... it's a book about a grandmother and her grandson ... he comes to visit her in this strange old house ... ghosts of the history of...
— Episode: Best Of: Why Adults Lose the ‘Beginner’s...
Listen on Audible
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Episode: Best Of: Why Adults Lose the ‘Beginner’s Mind’
Ezra highlighted this more obscure book, describing it as a story about a grandmother and grandson visiting a strange old house filled with ghosts and history.
"
There's a book called The Children of Green Knowe ... it's a book about a grandmother and her grandson ... he comes to visit her in this strange old house ... ghosts of the history of this house.
TechGnosis
Myth, Magic, and Mysticism in the Age of Information
The book explored a Gnostic mindset and was cited as an early work that shaped Davis's thinking about technology and mysticism.
"
He's written books like Technosis and High Weirdness.
— Episode: The Culture Creating A.I. Is Weird. Here...
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Episode: The Culture Creating A.I. Is Weird. Here’s Why Tha...
The book explored a Gnostic mindset and was cited as an early work that shaped Davis's thinking about technology and mysticism.
"
He's written books like Technosis and High Weirdness.
One of your early books was called Technosis about the Gnostic mindset.
AI and Generative AI for Pharma
The authors described reading Pharmaco AI, a book cowritten with GPT3, which blended shamanic themes with AI commentary.
"
When I finally read this book, Pharmaco AI by Kaylotta McDowell, which was cowritten with GPT3, ...
— Episode: The Culture Creating A.I. Is Weird. Here...
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Episode: The Culture Creating A.I. Is Weird. Here’s Why Tha...
The authors described reading Pharmaco AI, a book cowritten with GPT3, which blended shamanic themes with AI commentary.
"
When I finally read this book, Pharmaco AI by Kaylotta McDowell, which was cowritten with GPT3, ...
TechGnosis
Myth, Magic, and Mysticism in the Age of Information
The host noted that Davis had authored Technosis, a work exploring Gnostic mindsets within countercultural contexts.
"
He's written books like Technosis and High Weirdness.
— Episode: The Culture Creating A.I. Is Weird. Here...
Listen on Audible
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Episode: The Culture Creating A.I. Is Weird. Here’s Why Tha...
The host noted that Davis had authored Technosis, a work exploring Gnostic mindsets within countercultural contexts.
"
He's written books like Technosis and High Weirdness.
One of the points that I made in Technosis is not unlike Giblin's book, where there are these religious structures and metaphors that recur with such intensity that we have to look at them as such.
AI and Generative AI for Pharma
Davis explained that he read Pharmaco AI, a book cowritten with GPT3 that blends shamanic themes with AI discussion.
"
When I finally read this book, Pharmaco AI by Kaylotta McDowell, which was cowritten with GPT3, and Kay has a really - they are interested in shamanism and ayahuasca and the future of humanity and all...
— Episode: The Culture Creating A.I. Is Weird. Here...
Listen on Audible
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Episode: The Culture Creating A.I. Is Weird. Here’s Why Tha...
Davis explained that he read Pharmaco AI, a book cowritten with GPT3 that blends shamanic themes with AI discussion.
"
When I finally read this book, Pharmaco AI by Kaylotta McDowell, which was cowritten with GPT3, and Kay has a really - they are interested in shamanism and ayahuasca and the future of humanity and all these kind of very, very Bay Area topics all woven together in this bizarre braid.
God, Human, Animal, Machine
Technology, Metaphor, and the Search for Meaning
The conversation praised O'Gieblyn's book for its insightful look at Calvinist influences on American technology and culture.
"
Megan O'Geeblin's great book, God, Human, Animal, Machine, is sort of all about a lot of the Christian mythology operating in a subverse way here.
— Episode: The Culture Creating A.I. Is Weird. Here...
Listen on Audible
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Episode: The Culture Creating A.I. Is Weird. Here’s Why Tha...
The conversation praised O'Gieblyn's book for its insightful look at Calvinist influences on American technology and culture.
"
Megan O'Geeblin's great book, God, Human, Animal, Machine, is sort of all about a lot of the Christian mythology operating in a subverse way here.
Note: The book recommendations on this page are discovered automatically from podcast transcripts, and may be incorrect or incomplete.