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
Ezra Klein discussed In Defense of Politics by Bernard Crick, The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai, and The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt. Also mentioned: Palaces for the People by Eric Klinenberg, The Other Significant Others by Rhaina Cohen, On Repentance and Repair by Danya Ruttenberg, and The Politics of Ritual by Molly Farneth.
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 an exploration of social infrastructure and the vital role that public spaces play in fostering community resilience.
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“One of my favorite books by far this year was the loneliness of sunny and Sonia. It's so beautiful. It's so I mean it sits in my heart like I think about it a couple times a week. Me too. But it's all about It is this dance.”
Where to get it
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The Origins of Totalitarianism
The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt is a foundational political science text that examines the historical roots, psychosocial conditions, and structural mechanisms that allowed Nazism and Stalinism to rise in the twentieth century.
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
Why people recommend it: On Repentance and Repair by Danya Ruttenberg is a thoughtful examination of accountability, transformation, and the specific framework required to make genuine amends for harm caused.
Recommended“And one of the books that I think is a powerful book in this new bookshelf that we're going to call group help is Da Rutenberg's on repair and repentance. It's a beautiful book.”
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
