Book · 1600 · Nobleza
A Distant Mirror
The Calamitous 14th Century
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If you want to know what that's like, read Barbara Tuchman's about the 14th century calamity and the black plague.
Rand Paul · All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg · Sep 2025 Listen at 54:35 What they say about it
- Discussed in relation to the pandemic“because of the pandemic”2
- References the calamitous 14th century“the calamitous 14th century”2
The best things said about it
One book I've been reading recently that I really love is called A Distant Mirror, the Calamitous 14th Century by Barbara Tuchman.
She wrote a book that I found really fun that I'm not sure it's not her most famous book, but it's called A Distant Mirror.
It's so funny because the Barbara tuckman that everyone's been talking about most recently has been the distant mirror because of the pandemic.
As Barbara Tuchman writes in A Distant Mirror, the Calamitous 14th Century, Clement VI found it necessary to grant remission of sin to all who died of the plague because so many were unattended by priests.
Where and when it comes up
Most mentions, by podcast
5 people who brought it up
Why people recommend it
A Distant Mirror by Barbara Tuchman is a historical narrative that examines the calamitous 14th century in Europe, focusing heavily on the devastation of the Black Death and the Hundred Years' War. The book received high praise and frequent citations across several podcasts. On All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg, Senator Rand Paul recommended the book to illustrate the historical horror of severe pandemics with high lethality rates. On The Ezra Klein Show, Zeke Fox also recommended the volume as a favorite read detailing life in medieval France following the plague. On My First Million, Lloyd Blankfein discussed how much he enjoyed reading Tuchman's history twice, appreciating its vivid portrayal of fourteenth-century life. On The Book Review, Jeffrey Toobin noted that Tuchman's work had recently surged in public discussions largely because of renewed interest sparked by modern global pandemics. Additionally, on Behind the Bastards, Robert Evans drew upon Tuchman's research across multiple episodes to describe historical realities, such as Pope Clement VI granting the remission of sins to those who died of the plague because so many victims lacked attendance by priests. Across these discussions, Tuchman's book was celebrated as a masterclass in narrative history and a vital lens for understanding societal collapse during catastrophic health crises.
Every mention
Rand Paul some of these viruses start with 50% lethality. And if you want to know what that's like, read Barbara Tukm… 1
“some of these viruses start with 50% lethality. And if you want to know what that's like, read Barbara Tukman's about the 14th century calamity and the black plague.”
Zeke Fox So one book I've been reading recently that I really love is called uh a distant mirror, the calamitous 14t… 1
“So one book I've been reading recently that I really love is called uh a distant mirror, the calamitous 14th century by Barbara Tukman. It's about France in the 14th century, but during the like hundred years war after the black plague.”
Robert Evans as Barbara tuckman writes in a distant mirror the calamitous 14th century Clement VI found it necessary to… 2
“as Barbara tuckman writes in a distant mirror the calamitous 14th century Clement VI found it necessary to Grant remission of sin to all who died of the plague because so many were unattended by priests”
“As Barbara Tuckman writes in a distant mirror, the calamitous 14th century, Clement V 6th found it necessary to grant remission of sin to all who died of the plague because so many were unattended by priests.”
Jeffrey Toobin it's so funny because the Barbara tuckman that everyone's been talking about most recently has been the dis… 1
“it's so funny because the Barbara tuckman that everyone's been talking about most recently has been the distant mirror because of the pandemic”
Lloyd Blankfein But she wrote a book that I found really fun that I'm not sure it's not her most famous book, but it's call… 1
“But she wrote a book that I found really fun that I'm not sure it's not her most famous book, but it's called a distant mirror. And it's a history of a life that was led in the 14th century.”