Episode · The Ezra Klein Show · 2026-02-03
Books mentioned on Is Your Social Life Missing Something? This Is For You. | The Ezra Klein Show
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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In Defense of Politics
In Defense of Politics by Bernard Crick is a political science classic that defines politics as a distinct, precious activity involving genuine relationships among diverse people rather than treating them as mere objects of philanthropy.
Discussed“I've become obsessed with this quote over the the past year from Bernard Crick. It's in this book called In Defense of Politics, and he says that politics involves genuine relationships with people who are genuinely other people, not objects for our philanthropy or tasks for our redemption.”
Where to get it
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Palaces for the People
Palaces for the People by Eric Klinenberg is a sociological study examining how vital social infrastructure, particularly public libraries and community spaces, fosters civic engagement and combats social isolation.
Recommended“Palaces for the people, Eric Kleinenberg's beautiful book about how libraries serve as this, you know, really important social third space.”
Where to get it
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The Other Significant Others
Discussed“I remember Raina Cohen who you've had on the show I know her her beautiful book um the other significant others one of the things I loved about that book was she went back you know in lots of different societies and I remember many religious traditions where attainlessness of God was actually through the other person.”
Where to get it
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The Inheritance of Loss
Discussed“And it's by Kieran Desai and and the opening scene is the the grandparents are sitting on this balcony and they're sort of like worrying in the morning in Alahabad like in northern Uttar Pradesh in India in the '90s”
Where to get it
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The Origins of Totalitarianism
The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt is a foundational political science study exploring the historical convergence of anti-Semitism, imperialism, and mass society that gave rise to twentieth-century totalitarian regimes.
Discussed“It's a very famous quote from Hana Ren's the origins of totalitarianism which when I read it out on the show I got a bunch of emails from political scientists be like we've disproven that”
Where to get it
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On Repentance and Repair
On Repentance and Repair by Danya Ruttenberg is an insightful and methodical book that outlines traditional and practical steps for accountability, making amends, and seeking true forgiveness.
Recommended“So I I would really recommend Repentance and Repair by Da Rutenberg. It's a beautiful careful book in which she takes she basically lays out the these five steps of repair”
Where to get it
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The Politics of Ritual
The Politics of Ritual by Molly Farneth is an academic exploration of how religious and social practices shape communal values and political life.
Recommended“So the politics of ritual by Molly Farnath. It is a book that came out a few years ago and she from I think Princeton University Press and she looks at we think about ritual as a way to basically keep solidifying older values”
Where to get it
