Why people recommend it
Ask the Dust by John Fante is a classic 1930s novel set in Los Angeles that chronicles the struggles of young writer Arturo Bandini and serves as a major literary inspiration for authors like Charles Bukowski. The book was enthusiastically endorsed by Neil Strauss on the How I Write podcast, where he called it one of his absolute favorite books ever written and strongly urged listeners to read it. Timothy Denevi and Ryan Holiday discussed the novel extensively on The Daily Stoic, praising it as one of the great novels of all time while exploring its turbulent publishing history, initial sales performance, and background. Additionally, Felipe Esparza brought up Ask the Dust on The Joe Rogan Experience when discussing notable Los Angeles authors and the adventures of Arturo Bandini. During the same episode, Joe Rogan discussed the distribution hurdles and publisher troubles that affected the book's early circulation. Across these podcast conversations, the speakers celebrated the novel's raw depiction of depression-era Los Angeles, its vivid protagonist, and its lasting influence on American literature, cementing its status as an enduring masterpiece appreciated by modern writers and readers alike.
Who recommended it
- Timothy Denevi Discussed
- Felipe Esparza Discussed
- Joe Rogan Discussed
- Neil Strauss Recommended
- Ryan Holiday Discussed
Timothy Denevi — 5 mentions
“have you read any of the other ones no I'm going to read uh uh the in the dust ask the dust I have that in the story one of the great novels of all time”
“uh uh the in the dust ask the dust”
“so fonte he writes ass the dust”
“but the legend is aidus sells out its first printing or is selling through its first printing”
“but as the dust is fascinating in that”
Felipe Esparza — 2 mentions
“he wrote a he wrote a book called ask the dust and um The Adventures of vuro Bandini”
“he wrote a book called ask the dust and um The Adventures of vuro Bandini”
Joe Rogan — 1 mention
“the financial Dr on the publisher hampered the distribution of ask the dust”
Neil Strauss — 1 mention
“I love John Fante's Ask the Dust. It's one of my favorite books ever. Do you know that book? No. It's great. You've got to read it.”
Ryan Holiday — 1 mention
“these are all these are all themes that I of course missed when I read as the dusk at like 20”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
- Brotherhood Of The Grape
- 1933 was a Bad Year
- Arturo Bandini
- Dreams from Bunker Hill
- Fear and Loathing at Rolling Stone
- Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
“because California books are so much more then the day of the locusts and ask the dust”