Why people recommend it
Palimpsest by Gore Vidal is a candid, witty, and often vicious memoir by one of America's most celebrated and acerbic literary figures. Michael Scherer discussed the book on The Ezra Klein Show in the episode Inside Trump's Royal Court, released on February 20, 2026. Scherer shared that he had recently read the memoir even though it came out quite a while ago, expressing disbelief that he had lived in Washington D.C. for so long without picking it up. He praised Vidal's writing as deeply hilarious, recommending it to listeners interested in sharp political observations and entertaining historical anecdotes from inside the capital's elite circles.
Who recommended it
- Michael Scherer Recommended
Michael Scherer — 1 mention
Recommended
“"Palimpsest" by Gore Vidal came out a while ago. I just read it recently. I can’t believe I’ve been in DC so long and not read it. It’s hilarious.”