Episode · The Rubin Report · 2025-06-08
Books mentioned on Are These the Most Influential Murders of All Time? | Andrew Klavan
Dave Rubin of "The Rubin Report" talks to Andrew Klavan about his new book "The Kingdom of Cain: Finding God in the Literature of Darkness"; how classic literature explores murder, morality, and the l
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Crime and Punishment
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a psychological masterpiece following a troubled former student in St.
Discussed“This inspires Dostoevsky to write the book Crime and Punishment, one of the greatest novels ever written, which which essentially is about a guy who thinks that he is special and therefore he can commit a murder.”
Where to get it
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The Silence of the Lambs
The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris is a psychological thriller novel that pits FBI trainee Clarice Starling against the brilliant incarcerated serial killer Hannibal Lecter while tracking another killer known as Buffalo Bill.
Discussed“The book of of Silence of the Lambs is actually I think as good as or not if not when I got to that scene you're talking about I was lying in bed. I actually sat up in bed.”
Where to get it
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East of Eden
East of Eden by John Steinbeck is a sweeping, multi-generational epic novel set in the Salinas Valley that deeply explores profound themes of good and evil, free will, guilt, and human redemption through the parallel histories of the Trask and Hamilton families.
Discussed“Well, there's a line in John Steinbeck's East of Eden, which is basically the Cain and Abel story updated into California into 20th century California. There's a line in there where somebody says these verses in the Cain and Abel story is only like 16 verses long.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (3) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“Um this new book and let me get the title right and everything. We'll show the image for you. The Kingdom of Cain, Finding God in the Literature of Darkness.”
“All right. So, let's talk about the Kingdom of Cain, Finding God in the Literature of Darkness.”
“Well, the book is the kingdom of Cain finding God in the literature of darkness.”