Book · 2004 · Fiction
The Secret History
A Novel
- mentions
- 16
- people
- 11
- podcasts
- 5
- episodes
- 14
- recommendations
- 9
So I’m going to say "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt, which is just fantastic.
What they say about it
- Recommends the book“which is just fantastic”8
- Discusses reading the book“reading the secret history”5
The best things said about it
Secret History is if you just want great writing and feel like you're in a different world, because Donna takes her 10 years to meticulously create a world that the characters feel so real that you're there.
I love uh The Secret History by Donna Tartt. And And funnily my It's one of the best.
Patrick Radden Keefe The Book Review · Apr 2026 I've been feeling like I should reread The Secret History which I probably read 15 years ago for the first and only time and which was one of the most satisfying months of my life.
So there's this category of book that I can recommend to anybody who comes to me and says, "What book should I read?" I always tell them Secret History by Donna Tartt, A Little Life by Hanya, Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney.
She wrote The Secret History and it was this giant commercial and critical success.
Where and when it comes up
Mentions per year
1
3
1
5
2
4
How it comes up
Most mentions, by podcast
11 people who brought it up
- Soman Chainani3 mentions · 2 recs
- Joumana Khatib2 mentions · 1 rec
- Sarah Lyall2 mentions · 1 rec
- Ashley Parker1 mention · 1 rec
- Ben Bowlin1 mention · 1 rec
- Derek Thompson1 mention · 1 rec
- Gilbert Cruz1 mention · 1 rec
- Patrick Radden Keefe1 mention · 1 rec
Bill Burr2 mentions- Dwight Garner1 mention
- Tina Jordan1 mention
Why people recommend it
The Secret History by Donna Tartt is a gripping psychological thriller following a tightly knit circle of eccentric classics students at an elite New England college whose intellectual arrogance leads to moral decay and murder. The novel is frequently celebrated by authors, journalists, and podcast hosts as a modern masterpiece of suspense and atmospheric fiction. On The Ezra Klein Show, Derek Thompson mentioned recently rereading the novel, while Patrick Radden Keefe praised it on The Book Review as one of his absolute favorite books to return to. Ashley Parker recommended the title during her appearance on The Ezra Klein Show, and Ben Bowlin discussed gifting the book on Stuff They Don't Want You To Know. During a summer reading preview on The Book Review, Joumana Khatib shared that she was experiencing the novel for the first time, Sarah Lyall hailed it as a prime example of psychological fiction, and Gilbert Cruz reflected on the lasting satisfaction of his initial reading experience years prior. Additionally, Soman Chainani named the novel on The Tim Ferriss Show as a primary recommendation for anyone seeking emotionally compelling, beautifully crafted storytelling that resonates deeply with readers long after the final page.
Every mention
Soman Chainani So there's this category of book that I can recommend to anybody who comes to me and says, "What book shoul… 3
Discussed
“And Donna Tartt wrote Goldfinch, Secret History. She's only written three books. She writes one every 10 years, and she's due for exactly 10 years.”
Recommended
“So there's this category of book that I can recommend to anybody who comes to me and says, "What book should I read?" I always tell them Secret History by Donna Tartt, A Little Life by Hanya, Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney.”
Recommended
“Secret History is if you just want great writing and feel like you're in a different world, because Donna takes her 10 years to meticulously create a world that the characters feel so real that you're there.”
Joumana Khatib this time I'm reading the secret History For the First Time by Donna tart I'm in the middle of reshuffling… 2
Discussed
“well there is still a threat of a severe illness in this book that I'm reading and dedicated listeners of the book review podcast will remember that I am reading tremendously out ofd books between the secret history and The Last Samurai”
Recommended
“this time I'm reading the secret History For the First Time by Donna tart I'm in the middle of reshuffling my books and this came into my hands right before I was going to the beach”
Sarah Lyall and it reminded me a lot of the secret history where if I'm also getting this right one of the characters c… 2
Discussed
“and it reminded me a lot of the secret history where if I'm also getting this right one of the characters comes in out of a crazy experience with someone else's blood in her hair and no one ever figures out whose blood it is”
Recommended
“the secret history by Donna tart”
Ashley Parker So I’m going to say "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt, which is just fantastic. 1
Recommended
“So I’m going to say "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt, which is just fantastic.”
Ben Bowlin It's called Secret History. 1
Recommended
“It's called Secret History.”
Derek Thompson Um, The Emperor's Children by Cla Massud, The Interestings by Me Witzer, and The Secret History by Donna Tart. 1
Recommended
“Um, The Emperor's Children by Cla Massud, The Interestings by Me Witzer, and The Secret History by Donna Tart.”
Gilbert Cruz and then I try a reread and I've been feeling like I should reread the secret history which I probably read… 1
Recommended
“and then I try a reread and I've been feeling like I should reread the secret history which I probably read 15 years ago for the first and only time and which was one of the most satisfying months of my life”
Patrick Radden Keefe I love uh The Secret History by Donna Tartt. And And funnily my It's one of the best. 1
Recommended
“I love uh The Secret History by Donna Tartt. And And funnily my It's one of the best.”
Bill Burr Look at this editor's pick. The secret history of Tiger Woods. Now, how how much do you think they actually… 2
Discussed
“Look at this editor's pick. The secret history of Tiger Woods. Now, how how much do you think they actually talked to Tiger Woods? Said the death of his father set a battle raging inside the world's greatest golfer. Dish. Dish. How the [__] do you know? Why? Cuz you talked to his gardener.”
Critiqued
“Look at this editor's pick. The secret history of Tiger Woods. Now, how how much do you think they actually talked to Tiger Woods? Said the death of his father set a battle raging inside the world's greatest golfer. Dish. Dish. How the [ __ ] do you know?”
Dwight Garner but for a while you know she wrote The Secret history and it was this giant commercial and critical success 1
Discussed
“but for a while you know she wrote The Secret history and it was this giant commercial and critical success”
Tina Jordan Kyle, let's go back to even further say to a favorite book like Secret History, which I think we've all rea… 1
Discussed
“Kyle, let's go back to even further say to a favorite book like Secret History, which I think we've all read. Gilbert, tell me you've read that.”
