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Every book Alexandra Jacobs recommended on podcasts
Key facts
- Alexandra Jacobs has recommended or discussed 38 books on podcasts, as of October 16, 2026.
- Alexandra Jacobs has talked about books on 1 podcast, as of October 16, 2026.
- Those books came up in 13 episodes, as of October 16, 2026.
- The 3 books Alexandra Jacobs has mentioned in the most episodes, as of October 16, 2026: The Betrayal of Anne Frank, All About All About Eve and Academy and the Award.
- The latest episode with a book mention from Alexandra Jacobs aired on October 16, 2026.
Updated
Alexandra Jacobs’s most recommended books
- The Betrayal of Anne Frank by Rosemary Sullivan
- All About All About Eve by Sam Staggs
- Academy and the Award by Bruce Davis
- Money by Martin Amis
- Adventures in the screen trade by William Goldman
- Betsy-Tacy (Betsy-Tacy #1) by Maud Hart Lovelace
- Betsy-Tacy and Tib by Maud Hart Lovelace
- Conversations with Wilder by Cameron Crowe
- Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli by Mark Seal
- Notes to John by Joan Didion
Alexandra Jacobs appears on The Book Review podcast to discuss literature, memoirs, and cinematic history, frequently sharing her favorite reads and recommendations with listeners. Jacobs recommended Gayle Feldman's Nothing Random as a standout biography and publishing history, and she praised Susan Cheever's When All the Men Wore Hats for blending memoir, literary criticism, and biography to detail her father John Cheever's life and fiction. She also discussed Joan Didion's posthumous Notes to John, expressing admiration for the controversy and interest surrounding its publication. Looking back at foundational reading, Jacobs highlighted Maud Hart Lovelace's Betsy-Tacy series, including Betsy-Tacy and Tib, as beloved children's books that deeply inspired her. In addition to literary memoirs and fiction, Jacobs frequently recommends books about cinema and Hollywood history, such as Sam Staggs's All About All About Eve, which explores the making of a classic film, and Julie Salamon's The Devil's Candy, detailing the tumultuous adaptation of The Bonfire of the Vanities. Through her selections, Jacobs highlights compelling biographies, classic children's series, and detailed chronicles of the entertainment industry.
Books recommended by Alexandra Jacobs
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The Betrayal of Anne Frank
The Betrayal of Anne Frank by Rosemary Sullivan is a gripping cold case investigation that reexamines the historical mystery surrounding the famous diary and the betrayal that led to the arrest of Anne Frank and her family.
Discussed“I reviewed a fascinating new book called the Betrayal of Anne Frank which is a cold as its subtitle indicates is a Cold Case investigation”
Where to get it
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All About All About Eve
All About All About Eve by Sam Staggs is a comprehensive and engaging nonfiction book that takes a deep dive into the making, cultural impact, and behind-the-scenes history of the classic Hollywood film.
Recommended“it's funny I was going to mention another book about the movies that I really like which is a book by a guy named Sam Stags called all about All About Eve”
Where to get it
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Academy and the Award
Discussed“well it is an it's an Insider view but interestingly Bruce Davis I thought he he did an amazing job he really stepped outside he the the book is about the the he calls it a buildings Raman about the Oscars”
Where to get it
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Money
Money by Martin Amis is a satirical 1984 novel that skewers the excesses, crass consumerism, and moral bankruptcy of 1980s celebrity culture through the chaotic perspective of protagonist John Self.
Discussed“there's a book by Martin Amos on here 1984 book called money”
Where to get it
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Adventures in the screen trade
Adventures in the Screen Trade by William Goldman is a widely celebrated memoir and instructional guide detailing the author's experiences as a prominent Hollywood screenwriter.
Recommended“he wrote a book called adventures in the screen trade which is I think one of the probably one of the best books about screenwriting ever”
Where to get it
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Betsy-Tacy (Betsy-Tacy #1)
Betsy-Tacy (Betsy-Tacy #1) by Maud Hart Lovelace and Lois Lenski is a beloved children's classic that chronicles the enduring friendship of its young protagonists.
Recommended“the book or books that made me certainly the first one that come comes to mind is actually a series and that was the Betsy Tacy series by Mod Hurt Love Lace. Uh, the Betsy Tacy series. One of the things that's so beautiful about it is it starts out as children's books, Betsy, Tacy, and then it's Betsy, Tacy,”
Where to get it
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Betsy-Tacy and Tib
Betsy-Tacy and Tib is a beloved children's novel by Maud Hart Lovelace that continues the charming chronicle of early twentieth-century childhood friendship.
Recommended“One of the things that's so beautiful about it is it starts out as children's books, Betsy, Tacy, and then it's Betsy, Tacy, and Tib.”
Where to get it
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Conversations with Wilder
Conversations with Wilder by Cameron Crowe is a full-length book featuring dialogue with the legendary filmmaker Billy Wilder.
Recommended“but then there is one called conversations with wilder and this is Cameron Crow wow full book length conversation with Billy Wilder”
Where to get it
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Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli
Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli by Mark Seal is a nonfiction book that details the dramatic behind-the-scenes history of the making of the iconic film The Godfather.
Recommended“it's called leave the gun take the canoli by Mark seal which is about the making of The Godfather”
Where to get it
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Notes to John
Notes to John is a posthumous collection of personal writings by Joan Didion that offers intimate glimpses into her thoughts and life.
Recommended“Another memoir that captivated me, although I don't even know if it could correctly fit into the memoir category, is Joan Ddian's Notes to John because when this this book came out, this is the kind of book that lights me a fire when there's a controversy preceding its publication or around its publication”
Where to get it
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Nothing Random: Bennett Cerf and the Publishing House He Built
Nothing Random: Bennett Cerf and the Publishing House He Built by Gayle Feldman is a historical chronicle documenting the life of legendary publisher Bennett Cerf and the rise of Random House.
Recommended“I want to put on reader radar, Nothing Random by Gail Feldman. This is one of the first books I reviewed this year.”
Where to get it
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On Consolation
On Consolation is a reflective work of nonfiction by Michael Ignatieff that examines how historical figures, artists, and thinkers throughout the centuries have found solace and meaning during times of personal crisis, grief, and political turmoil.
Recommended“but what I'd love to talk about delightful as Smith Memoir was was on consolation by Michael IGN and I hope I'm pronouncing that correctly the professor and former Canadian politician”
Where to get it
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People Collide
People Collide is a sophomore fiction novel by Isle McElroy that examines modern relationships through an imaginative and disruptive body-swapping premise involving a married couple.
Recommended“and the one that sticks out in my memory most recently is isle McElroy who did a sophomore fiction called people Collide and it's about a married couple that switch bodies”
Where to get it
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Pictures At A Revolution Five Movies And The Birth Of The New Hollywood
Pictures at a Revolution: Five Movies and the Birth of the New Hollywood by Mark Harris is a detailed cultural history examining the five films nominated for Best Picture in 1967 and the sweeping cinematic transformations of that era.
Recommended“I also I love pictures out a Revolution by Mark Harris who's a wonderful writer that may know let's just put for our former colleague Mark Harris is a a wonderful who who contributes to the time sometimes he he is one of the greatest writers on Show Business”
Where to get it
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Solid Ivory
Solid Ivory is a memoir by acclaimed filmmaker and screenwriter James Ivory that collects his personal essays, reflections, and reminiscences about his extraordinary life in the arts and his landmark collaborations with Ismail Merchant.
Recommended“I reviewed solid Ivory Memoirs by James Ivory”
Where to get it
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The Country of the Blind
The Country of the Blind is a compelling book by Andrew Leland that investigates the multifaceted experience of vision loss, weaving together personal memoir, historical context, and philosophical inquiry.
Recommended“one excellent book that I think was a contender for top whatever was the country of the Blind by and Leland”
Where to get it
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The devil's candy
The Devil's Candy by Julie Salamon is a detailed work of non-fiction that chronicles the notoriously disastrous Hollywood adaptation of Tom Wolfe's bestselling novel The Bonfire of the Vanities.
Recommended“another great book is Devil's candy the bonfire of the vanities goes to Hollywood by Julie Solomon who I think recently did a podcast on it”
Where to get it
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The Founders
The Founders by Jimmy Soni is the gripping chronicle of PayPal and the ambitious entrepreneurs who ultimately shaped the modern technology landscape of Silicon Valley.
Recommended“it's called the founders it's the story of PayPal and the entrepreneurs who shaped Silicon Valley”
Where to get it
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When All the Men Wore Hats
When All the Men Wore Hats by Susan Cheever is a multifaceted literary work that blends memoir, biography, and literary criticism to explore the life and legacy of the author's famous father, John Cheever.
Recommended“and she gives us new details from their life, the chiever's lives, but also sort of shows how she figured into his fiction and his diaries. It's just fascinating because it's, you know, it's two genres in one and it's literary criticism and it's memoir and it's a little bit of biography.”
Where to get it
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American Psycho
American Psycho is a controversial and satirical 1991 horror novel by Bret Easton Ellis that explores the hyper-materialistic, ultra-violent life of Wall Street yuppie and serial killer Patrick Bateman.
Discussed“I mean when Dwight said suggested American Psycho for this list and I'm not I think I was shocked into silence but then I read his very eloquent explanation and I was convinced”
Where to get it
The other 18 books Alexandra Jacobs recommended or discussed, ranked
- Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino
- Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding
- Christopher Isherwood Inside Out by Katherine Bucknell
- Easy Riders Raging Bulls by Peter Biskind
- Gypsy by Gypsy Rose Lee
- Heartburn by Nora Ephron
- Here's the Deal by Kellyanne Conway
- Hitchcock/Truffaut by Alfred Joseph Hitchcock
- Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
- Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
- My Beloved Monster by Caleb Carr
- Rabbit, Run by John Updike
- Seeing Through by Ricky Ian Gordon
- The Art and Craft of Motion Picture Editing by Michael Hoggan
- The Conversations by Michael Ondaatje
- The Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown
- The Grapes of Wrath - An Opera in 3 Acts by Ricky Ian Gordon
- The Palace Papers by Tina Brown
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Book Review Critics’ Roundtable | The Book Review | 2026-10-16 | 4 |
| Our Book Critics on Their 2025 in Reading | The Book Review | 2025-12-12 | 2 |
| It's Still Summer. Let's Talk Road Trip Books. | The Book Review | 2025-08-01 | 3 |
| Our Book Critics On Their Year in Reading | The Book Review | 2024-12-13 | 5 |
| Our Critics' Year in Reading | The Book Review | 2024-07-18 | 2 |
| Books That Make Our Critics Laugh | The Book Review | 2024-03-29 | 5 |
| Books About the Oscars | The Book Review | 2023-03-10 | 13 |
| One Island, Two Men and Lots of Big Questions | The Book Review | 2022-06-03 | 1 |
| Jennifer Egan Talks About 'The Candy House' | The Book Review | 2022-04-29 | 2 |
| Two New Memoirs About Affliction | The Book Review | 2022-03-04 | 1 |
| Imani Perry Talks About 'South to America' | The Book Review | 2022-01-28 | 3 |
| Ann Patchett on ‘These Precious Days’ | The Book Review | 2021-11-25 | 1 |
| Alan Cumming Talks About ‘Baggage’ | The Book Review | 2021-11-12 | 1 |
Other mentions (15: passing, ad reads, own books)
“about the photographer Peter Huer who took the famous photograph on the cover of Hanya Yanukahar's A Little Life and others”
“Susan Chver, who I really applaud. She's written memoirs before, most famously Home Before Dark and she's written other many other across genres.”
“And she's she becomes a major leftist activist and she wrote the American Way of Death. And she just was a fascinating sizzling creature.”
“I actually feel my my year was not intentionally but by coincidentally book bookended by these huge this Prince Harry's spare and then Barbara strien”
“and then Barbara strien my name is Barbara those were the book ends of my year practically”
“what about Kingsley what about lucky gym which you know was published before our cut off our arbitrary cut off”
“he wrote the books The Princess Bride and Marathon Man”
“he wrote the books The Princess Bride and Marathon Man”
“and he worked on The English Patient which is where the two met Mike gach wrote The English Patient”
“something like you know the power broker I don't know”
“considering that her her boss's famous her former boss's famous book is the art of the deal”
“he's best known perhaps for torch song Trilogy on stage”
“well the one the one I remember most was a room with view based on the EM Forster novel which I saw”
“and the fact is they really did a t they actually did TMA yit's slaves of New York”
“it's like a version of Feel the fear and do it anyway and Elaine was an early adopter of that as as she was of so many other things”