Episode · The Ezra Klein Show · 2023-11-17
Books mentioned on The Sermons I Needed to Hear Right Now
Ezra Klein recommended The Amen Effect by Sharon Brous, and discussed The Much Too Promised Land by Aaron David Miller. Sharon Brous recommended The prophets by Abraham Joshua Heschel, To Bless the Space Between Us by John O'Donohue, and Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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The Much Too Promised Land
Discussed“in his great book The much too Promised Land Aaron David Miller points out that before the yor war in 1973 Israel ranked 24th in foreign aid from the US 24th within a few years of that war it ranked first as it typically has since”
Where to get it
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The Amen Effect
The Amen Effect by Rabbi Sharon Brous examines the power of communal connection, empathy, and resilience in navigating personal and collective trauma.
Recommended“she has a book coming out called the amen effect which you can and you should pre-order I've read some of it but I got to know her through these sermons which did something very few people have been able to do at least for me”
Where to get it
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The prophets
The Prophets by Abraham Joshua Heschel is a seminal theological and historical work exploring the moral urgency and social critique voiced by the ancient Hebrew prophets.
Recommended“the first is Abraham Joshua hessel's seminal work the prophets which for me in the course of my Rabin it was an absolutely transformative book to help me understand not only our prophetic tradition but really what's demanded of us in a time of moral crisis”
Where to get it
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To Bless the Space Between Us
To Bless the Space Between Us by John O'Donohue is a collection of poetic blessings and reflections designed to offer spiritual comfort, guidance, and a renewed appreciation for human connection.
Recommended“the second is John Odon Hugh's book to bless the space between us it is just Sublime and beautiful and enchanting and reminds me of my own humanity and of other people's of our ability to bless each other with love”
Where to get it
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Homegoing
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi is an epic, deeply moving debut novel that traces the divergent paths of two half-sisters from Ghana across three centuries, examining the devastating legacy of slavery, violence, and multigenerational trauma.
Recommended“and the third I would say is a novel written by yaji Assi homegoing which I really think is one of the best novels I've ever read it is this epic story of generations of the descendants of Two Sisters from Ghana the impact of violence and enslavement and multigenerational Trauma”
Where to get it
