Episode · EconTalk · 2020-05-25
Books mentioned on Martin Gurri on the Revolt of the Public
Author Martin Gurri, Visiting Fellow at George Mason University's Mercatus Center, talks about his book The Revolt of the Public with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Gurri argues that a digital tsunami--the increase in information that the web provides--has destabilized authority and many institutions.
Russ Roberts discussed A Time to Build by Yuval Levin, Ball Four by Jim Bouton, and Tribe by Sebastian Junger.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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A Time to Build
A Time to Build by Yuval Levin is a political science book that examines the decline of institutional duty and how modern citizens increasingly use public platforms for self-aggrandizement rather than upholding communal norms.
Discussed“Now, we had Yuval Levin on the program recently. That episode hasn't aired. Um but in his book, A Time to Build, uh which is ironically titled relative to your book, which is Your Book's about the urge of the public to tear down institutions.”
Where to get it
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Ball Four
Ball Four by Jim Bouton is a candid and groundbreaking sports memoir that chronicles a season in the author's life as a major league baseball pitcher, exposing the raw, unpolished reality of professional clubhouse culture.
Discussed“Don't you think there's some sense in which we've fooled ourselves before to, you know, that our presidents of the past, which were certainly viewed much less cynically, our athletes, you know, there was a famous uh uh memoir Ball Four written by Jim Bouton, a baseball player, where he peeled back the curtain from sports players who were we”
Where to get it
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Tribe
Tribe by Sebastian Junger is a non-fiction book that explores the psychological need for community, human connection, and the challenges veterans face when reintegrating into modern society.
Discussed“I think about Sebastian Junger's book Tribe which we we talked about on this program and how um if it's all us and them, you the way he said it, which I think is spectacular, is if you think that the other side is betraying your country, which I think right now is the world we're in, both”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (3) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“He is a former CIA analyst and the author of The Revolt of the Public.”
“At the same time, you know, after I wrote my book on Adam Smith, uh which I think came out in 2014, if I remember correctly, which is in the middle of this this un-motoring of the world turned upside down. I I used to joke with friends, I'd say, "You know, I think I I feel like going back”
“My guest today has been Martin Gurri. His book is The Revolt of the Public.”