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Every book Cornel West recommended on podcasts
Cornel West appears as a guest on The Joe Rogan Experience, bringing a deep historical and philosophical perspective to discussions on culture, civil rights, and literature. During his time on the show, West recommends a variety of classic literary works and historical texts. He highlights several plays and stories by Anton Chekhov, specifically praising the short story 'A Classical Student' as Chekhov's personal favorite. West also directs listeners toward C. Vann Woodward's 'The Strange Career of Jim Crow', describing it as the foundational historical text and the literal bible of the American civil rights movement. In addition, he praises 'The Autobiography of Malcolm X' as an essential American classic that transcends standard historical accounts. West also touches upon international literature and culture by mentioning Euny Hong's 'The Birth of Korean Cool', and he references classical Greek comedy by discussing Aristophanes' play 'Clouds'. Through these recommendations, West emphasizes the enduring power of classic literature, historical truth, and moral storytelling in understanding the human condition.
Books recommended by Cornel West
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A Classical Student
A Classical Student by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov is a poignant short story that explores themes of tradition, generational continuity, and the emotional weight of human history.
Recommended“Man the greatest one is called a student it's only two and a half pages It's his favorite short story”
Where to get it
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The Autobiography of Malcolm X
The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X and Alex Haley is a monumental memoir that chronicles the life, intellectual evolution, and profound impact of the prominent civil rights activist.
Recommended“the great stories he tells in the autobiography of malcolm x one of the great classics really i mean more than history of american civilization”
Where to get it
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The Cherry Orchard
The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov is a classic play that explores the socio-economic decline of the Russian aristocracy and the rise of the merchant class at the turn of the twentieth century.
Recommended“you read three sisters uncle vanya you read the cherry orchard or any of the short stories”
Where to get it
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The Sister of Mercy. A Tale for the Times We Live in
The Sister of Mercy.
Recommended“yo mind i'm just reading the book called the birth of a korean cool by sister wong”
Where to get it
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The Strange Career of Jim Crow
The Strange Career of Jim Crow by The late C.
Recommended“jim crow for example by the great c van woodward uh history of jim crow which is the bible uh martin luther king said was the bible the civil rights movement”
Where to get it
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Three Sisters
Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov is a celebrated dramatic play that explores the yearning, disillusionment, and mundane struggles of the Prozorov family living in a provincial Russian town while dreaming of returning to Moscow.
Recommended“you read three sisters uncle vanya you read the cherry orchard or any of the short stories”
Where to get it
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Uncle Vanya
Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov is a celebrated tragicomedy that portrays the mundane and often frustrating realities of rural Russian life through the experiences of its disillusioned characters.
Recommended“you read three sisters uncle vanya you read the cherry orchard or any of the short stories”
Where to get it
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An Appeal in Favor of that Class of Americans Called Africans
Discussed“she wrote a book in 1834 called an appeal for that class of americans called africans it was deeply influenced by one of the greatest works ever written at that time by david walker appealed the colored citizens of the world”
Where to get it
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An appeal in favour of that class of Americans called Africans
Discussed“lydia maria child she wrote a book in 1834 called an appeal for that class of americans called africans it was deeply influenced by one of the greatest works ever written at that time by david walker appealed the colored citizens of the world”
Where to get it
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Clouds
Clouds is a famous comedic play by the ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes that satirizes Athenian intellectual culture, Sophistry, and contemporary education systems.
Discussed“but it was aristophanes at least in the west who initiated this with the clouds and and frogs and so on”
Where to get it
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David Walker's Appeal to the Coloured Citizens of the World
Discussed“it was deeply influenced by one of the greatest works ever written at that time by david walker appealed the colored citizens of the world”
Where to get it
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Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulation
Discussed“that's the question thomas more was wrestling with in the tower of london before he was executed in his dialogues on tribulation”
Where to get it
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Korean Cool
Discussed“yo mind i'm just reading the book called the birth of a korean cool by sister wong”
Where to get it
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Love and Theft
Discussed“and you see what was going on with blackface where eric lott and others have talked about the love and theft”
Where to get it
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Moral Man and Immoral Society
Discussed“ryan holnieber the greatest christian thinker of the 20th century democratic socialist moral man and moral society”
Where to get it
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The Assembly of Women
The Assembly of Women is a classic comedic play by Aristophanes that satirizes radical politics, gender roles, and utopian egalitarianism through a fictional scenario where Athenian women take over the government and institute a collective society.
Discussed“but it was aristophanes at least in the west who initiated this with the clouds and and frogs and so on”
Where to get it
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The Autobiography of Malcolm X
The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X and Alex Haley stands as a monumental chronicle of the civil rights leader's life, tracing his transformation from a troubled youth to a ministerial voice of the Nation of Islam and, ultimately, to his later human rights advocacy.
Discussed“the great stories he tells in the autobiography of malcolm x one of the great classics really i mean more than history of american civilization”
Where to get it
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The Dialogues of Plato
The Dialogues of Plato by Plato is a foundational collection of classical Greek philosophical texts utilizing conversational formats to explore ethics, politics, and metaphysics.
Discussed“you know the first plato's text itself you know the republic was grounded in an imitation of the comic writers who were the first to really delve into everyday people's experiences”
Where to get it
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The Jungle
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair is a classic 1906 muckraking novel that exposed the appalling working conditions, exploitation of laborers, and unsanitary practices within the American meatpacking industry.
Discussed“that's that's the jungle that's up to sinclair he's a socialist tried to be governor of california”
Where to get it
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Worstward Ho
Discussed“you know the great samuel beckett number great another great comic writer try again fail again fail better that's the story of our lives”
Where to get it
Books Cornel West wrote
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1325 - Dr. Cornel West | The Joe Rogan Experience | 2019-07-24 | 21 |