Why people recommend it
MAIN STREET by Sinclair Lewis is a satirical novel about provincial American life that exposes the narrow-mindedness and cultural conformity of small-town existence. On The Book Review episode Robert Gottlieb on Garbo and Babbitt, guest Bob Gottlieb discussed the explosive impact of the book, recalling how it hit the world like a cyclone and became arguably the most successful novel of the early twentieth century both in America and abroad. Gottlieb also reflected on the Pulitzer Prize controversy surrounding the work, noting that it had been hailed as the major book of its moment before the trustees famously rejected the jury's selection. Furthermore, Gottlieb listed the title alongside other enduring classics by the author, such as Babbitt, Arrowsmith, Elmer Gantry, It Can't Happen Here, and Dodsworth, emphasizing their lasting literary legacy. Concluding the segment, host Pamela Paul recommended that listeners dive into Main Street and the author's other major works to understand his sharp critique of American society, cementing the book's status as a foundational pillar of modern national literature.
Who recommended it
- Bob Gottlieb Discussed
- Pamela Paul Recommended
Bob Gottlieb — 3 mentions
“somehow in between them they are closest in this to my mind in the sense that both of them hit the world like a cyclone when they emerged when Sinclair Lewis wrote Main Street overnight probably the most successful novel of the early part of the 20th century in America and abroad”
“but when you think about the books that are still read today babbit Main Street Aros Smith Elmer Gantry it can't happen here dodsworth”
“well he was the center of a a Scandal really when Main Street which had been hailed as the major book of its moment and of its time was chosen by the PO surprise judges to win the award for its year which was 1920 and then the trustees of the pit surprise rejected it and instead gave the award”
Pamela Paul — 1 mention
“then they can go on to read Main Street and babbit and dodsworth and Aerosmith”