Person
Every book Antonio Villaraigosa recommended on podcasts
As a guest on The Ezra Klein Show alongside other prospective California political leaders, Antonio Villaraigosa addressed economic challenges, political strategy, and the concerns of everyday workers. During the episode's closing book recommendation segment, Antonio Villaraigosa recommended Ours Was the Shining Future by David Leonhardt. He noted that the book, written by the host's colleague, offers a critical perspective on the Democratic Party among other topics. Antonio Villaraigosa explained that the central thesis of the work argues that the party forgot to champion working people and failed to adequately fight for an economy that delivers widespread affordability and prosperity. His endorsement of this particular title highlights his focus on economic justice, labor issues, and the need for political movements to reconnect with the working class. By discussing David Leonhardt's book on a prominent policy podcast, Antonio Villaraigosa underscored the importance of reevaluating political priorities to better serve communities facing economic hardship. The recommendation reflected his deep concern with the practical realities of working families and the direction of modern political governance.
Books recommended by Antonio Villaraigosa
-
Ours Was the Shining Future
Ours Was the Shining Future by David Leonhardt is a sweeping economic and social history that investigates the erosion of the American dream, growing inequality, and the struggles of the working class.
Recommended“Ours was The Shining Future. Your colleague David Leonhardt wrote it about a year and a half, almost 2 years ago. It's a book that is critical of Democrats among other things. And what it says we forgot to be the party of working people. We forgot to fight for an economy that's not working for enough people.”
Where to get it
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ezra Klein Grills CA’s Possible Governors | The Ezra Klein Show | The Ezra Klein Show | 2026-05-09 | 1 |
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
“And it you know, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was one example, crazy, but the other example is that we there too many that would nobody goes to lock mental facilities.”