Episode · The Ezra Klein Show · 2026-02-06
Books mentioned on We Didn’t Ask for This Internet | The Ezra Klein Show
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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The Age of Extraction
The Age of Extraction by Tim Wu is an incisive examination of how major technology companies and modern corporations have shifted from generating genuine wealth and public good to extracting value from the economy at the expense of societal prosperity.
Discussed“He's a professor at Columbia Law School and author of influential books on technology, including his latest to The Age of Extraction, how tech platforms conquered the economy and threaten our future prosperity.”
Where to get it
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Essays of J.A. Schumpeter
Discussed“You know, Joseph Schumpeter back in 1911 wrote a book about entrepreneurs basically.”
Where to get it
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Small Is Beautiful
Small Is Beautiful by E.F.
Recommended“And And Tim, why don't we begin with you? Sure, I'd start with uh E.F. Schumacher's uh Small Is Beautiful, Economics As If People Mattered.”
Where to get it
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Manipulation
Manipulation by Cass R.
Recommended“A second book um is more recent. Cass Sunstein wrote a book on manipulation that uh I think has been um it is underrated and is really good for understanding what we have allowed to happen. It's called Manipulation: What It Is, How to Stop It.”
Where to get it
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The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers
The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers by Paul Kennedy is a widely recognized historical work that examines the interaction between economic strength and military power among major nations over several centuries.
Recommended“The last book, I guess this is where I got some ideas about uh tech platforms and the big picture is from Paul Kennedy, Rise and Fall of the Great Powers.”
Where to get it
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Rise and Fall of the Great Power
Rise and Fall of the Great Power by Paul Kennedy is a major historical analysis examining how great nations experience shifts in wealth and power over extended periods.
Recommended“The last book, I guess this is where I got some ideas about uh tech platforms and the big picture is from Paul Kennedy, Rise and Fall of the Great Powers.”
Where to get it
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Little Bosses Everywhere
Little Bosses Everywhere by Bridget Read is a contemporary nonfiction book examining modern work culture, labor dynamics, and the shifting power structures of employment.
Recommended“My second choice is a book by Bridget Read. It's a book called Little Bosses Everywhere.”
Where to get it
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Jules, Penny & the Rooster
Jules, Penny & the Rooster by Daniel Pinkwater is a whimsical children's book written by a celebrated author known for quirky and imaginative storytelling.
Recommended“And then the final book is a kids book by my favorite kids book author ever, this guy called Daniel Pinkwater. And last year he had a book out from Tachyon Press called let me find the title here, Jewels, Penny, and the Rooster.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (1) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“His new book is enshittification, why everything suddenly got worse and what to do about it.”