Episode · Modern Wisdom · 2026-06-22
Chris Williamson & Ezra Klein: books mentioned on Modern Wisdom #1114
The Collapse of American Politics - Ezra Klein - #1114
Ezra Klein is a journalist & political commentator. What’s actually happening in politics?
Chris Williamson discussed Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart and Superintelligence by Nick Bostrom. Ezra Klein recommended Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman, and discussed Abundance by Ezra Klein and others.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Super Sad True Love Story
Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart is a satirical, near-term dystopian novel set in an America dominated by a social media-driven, crypto-fascist regime.
Discussed“You ever read Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart?”
Where to get it
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Amusing Ourselves to Death
Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman is a media critique arguing that the shift from a print-based culture to a television-dominated society degrades public discourse by turning serious political and intellectual subjects into mere entertainment.
Recommended“There's a great uh it's not a controversy, it's it's a Neil Postman argument that he makes in Amusing Ourselves to Death, which is always one of my books I recommend to people.”
Where to get it
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Abundance
Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson is a widely debated political manifesto that challenges progressive orthodoxy by arguing that liberals must embrace economic growth, regulatory reform, and actual physical building to achieve their goals.
Discussed“And I think that the book that Derek Thompson I wrote released us here abundance which it was one of these things.”
Where to get it
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Superintelligence
Superintelligence by Nick Bostrom is an influential examination of the potential paths, scenarios, and existential risks associated with the emergence of artificial superintelligence.
Discussed“I had Nick Bostrom on the show and Superintelligence 10 more more than 10 years ago now 2014 15 something like that when that came out was kind of my introduction to holy [ __ ] like there are a lot of ways that this could go very very wrong”
Where to get it
