Episode · The Ezra Klein Show · 2023-12-22

Books mentioned on Best Of: The ‘Quiet Catastrophe’ Brewing in Our Social Lives

4 books · With Sheila Lim · Watch on YouTube

Books mentioned, in the order they came up

  1. Full Surrogacy Now

    Sophie Lewis · at 4:59

    Full Surrogacy Now by Sophie Lewis is a provocative examination of reproductive labor, family structures, and alternative approaches to domestic life and caretaking.

    Discussed
    “now in that book Lewis talks about the family unit as a hostage situation that there are certain compulsions and expectations that come with our life as part of a nuclear family unit that are actually impossible to satisfy”
    Where to get it
  2. Black Paper

    Teju Cole · at 11:19

    Black Paper by Teju Cole is a compelling collection of articles, essays, and lectures by the author that investigates visual culture, politics, and the ways in which human beings perceive and record history.

    Recommended
    “so my first recommendation is a book by taju Cole it's called black paper and it's actually a collection of Articles and essays by taju Cole combined with some lectures”
    Where to get it
  3. On the Inconvenience of Other People

    Lauren Berlant · at 11:29

    On the Inconvenience of Other People by Lauren Berlant is a philosophical exploration of social friction and human relational dynamics.

    Recommended
    “the title of it is on the inconvenience of other people and in that book Lauren Berlant um from a philosophical angle basically tries to unpack the phrase from SAR that hell is other people”
    Where to get it
  4. Regarding the Pain of Others

    Susan Sontag · at 43:32

    Regarding the Pain of Others is a critical essay collection and book by Susan Sontag that examines how visual and written representations of suffering shape human empathy and political consciousness.

    Discussed
    “which reminds me actually um of an idea from the essay of Susan sag um in her book regarding the pain of others a long essay that she wrote she talks about how compassion is an unstable emotion”
    Where to get it