Episode · The Ezra Klein Show · 2025-08-13
Books mentioned on Is Israel Committing Genocide in Gaza? | The Ezra Klein Show
Ezra Klein discussed East West Street by Philippe Sands. Philippe Sands recommended Janet Flanner's world by Janet Flanner, Commonwealth by Ann Patchett, and By Night in Chile by Roberto Bolaño.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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East West Street
East West Street by Philippe Sands is a deeply researched and deeply personal book that traces the origins of international human rights law, genocide, and crimes against humanity through the lens of a single European city.
Discussed“And he's the author of among other books, East West Street, which is about how the idea of genocide was developed and written into international law.”
Where to get it
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Janet Flanner's world
Janet Flanner's World: Uncollected Writings 1932-1975 by Janet Flanner is a rich compilation of sharp journalistic dispatches written by the legendary New Yorker European correspondent during decades of profound historical upheaval.
Recommended“One book that I would take is called Janet Flanner's World uncolcted writings 1932 to 1975. Janet Flanner was the New Yorker correspondent in Europe and she wrote extraordinary letters from Europe including on Nuremberg and they are so pertinent for what we've been talking about today in terms of the historic um aspect.”
Where to get it
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Commonwealth
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett is a sweeping novel that explores the complex dynamics of two intertwined families over several decades following an unexpected kiss at a christening party.
Recommended“A second book by Anne Patchet called Commonwealth which is about relationships. I did not expect that book to come up here. I love that book. Yeah, it's a wonderful book. It's a wonderful book and it draws the connections between the personal and the broader political in a way that really resonated with me.”
Where to get it
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By Night in Chile
By Night in Chile by Roberto Bolaño is a fictionalized novel by the late Chilean writer that delves into dark historical themes and complex political settings.
Recommended“Um, and the third book that I'm going to take is by a Chilean writer called Roberto Bologano and it is called Nights in Chile. And I love this book because it is a fictionalized account of tales that are central to a book I'm publishing shortly called 38 Londre Street which is a sequel to East West Street and”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (1) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“There was a piece in Time magazine about a well a few five six years ago uh profile of Benjamin Netanyahu and the piece included a photograph of him reading East West Street and I have to say it's astonishing.”