Episode · The Ezra Klein Show · 2026-07-14
Books mentioned on What Americans Need to Understand About China | The Ezra Klein Show
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Nineteen Eighty-Four
Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell is a classic dystopian novel depicting a totalitarian society characterized by perpetual surveillance, historical denial, and absolute government control.
Discussed“In fact, he reminds me of that last scene in Orwell's novel with Winston, where he realizes as he disappears into oblivion that he loved Big Brother all along and the party always comes first.”
Where to get it
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The prince
The Prince is a classic sixteenth-century political treatise by Niccolò Machiavelli that offers a pragmatic, unsentimental guide on how political leaders can acquire, maintain, and wield power.
Discussed“If we've looked at our Machaveli carefully in the prince, Machaveli often speaks of the need to mask one's own ambitions and to mask one's own ideas while being a loyal servant of the prince of the time before you yourself end up in power.”
Where to get it
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The Party's Interests Come First
The Party's Interests Come First by Joseph Torigian is a historical biography examining the turbulent life and political career of Xi Zhongxun, a prominent revolutionary leader and the father of current Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Recommended“So there's a great book by Joseph Tigian the party's interests come first the life of Xi Jong Shin father of Xiinping. It's a great book and a great read.”
Where to get it
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The Souls of China
The Souls of China by Ian Johnson is a comprehensive non-fiction work that explores the profound resurgence of religious faith and spiritual life across mainland China following decades of suppression under Mao.
Recommended“The second is um Ian Johnson uh the souls of China, the return of religion after Mao. Um and it's about uh what is occurred on the grounds in the grassroots with the rise of various forms of Dowoism, Buddhism, Protestant Christianity”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (2) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“He's published that in a book on Xiinping. He's also the author of the avoidable war.”
“He's published that in a book on Xiinping. He's also the author of the avoidable war.”