Person
Every book David Brooks recommended on podcasts
David Brooks emerges from his podcast appearances as a thoughtful commentator deeply engaged in political philosophy, history, and the moral fabric of American society. Discussing broad themes of civilization, public life, and reform, Brooks frequently connects contemporary ideas to classic texts. He recommended James Q. Wilson's The Moral Sense, praising it as a great work while reflecting on neoconservatism. Throughout his discussion on Conversations with Tyler, Brooks invoked several notable books to illustrate historical points and personal anecdotes. He mentioned Tom Wolfe's The Bonfire of the Vanities to show how a novel could capture the public life of New York City in the 1980s, and brought up William F. Buckley's memoir Overdrive to recount a collegiate parody he once wrote. To explore the intersection of progressivism and populism, he cited Richard Hofstadter's The Age of Reform. Furthermore, Brooks referenced Walter Lippmann's The Public Philosophy to support arguments regarding objective morality, Irving Kristol's Two Cheers for Capitalism to examine early neoconservative views, and Alice Schroeder's biography of Warren Buffett, The Snowball, to highlight the enduring value of finding mentors.
Books recommended by David Brooks
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The moral sense
The Moral Sense by James Q.
Recommended“And so there was a guy named James Q Wilson who wrote a great book called the moral sense which I highly recommend.”
Where to get it
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Overdrive
Discussed“Back then I was funnier. And um, and Buckley comes to campus and he just published a book called Overdrive which was one of his memoirs of name- dropping the Pope and David Nven and all these people.”
Where to get it
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The age of reform
Discussed“And the one thing I'd say about the political reform piece I just reread a book I hadn't read since college called the age of of reform by Richard Hoffsteader a very great historian.”
Where to get it
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The Bonfire of the Vanities
The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe is a satirical novel that exposes the intense social stratification, financial greed, and urban dysfunction of 1980s New York City.
Discussed“It wasn't that long ago that a Tom Wolf novel said in this city of New York in I don't know what year Bonfire the Vanities was published, but I think sometime in the 80s, all of New York got that because all of New York was represented.”
Where to get it
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The public philosophy
Discussed“And back in 1955, Walter Litman, a great columnist, wrote a a book called The Public Philosophy.”
Where to get it
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The Snowball
Alice Schroeder's The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life is widely regarded as the most comprehensive and definitive biography of the legendary investor.
Discussed“One of the I I read this book Snowball about Warren Buffett and what's remarkable about him was his ability to grab onto whoever could teach him.”
Where to get it
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Two cheers for capitalism
Discussed“Reinstall wrote a book two cheers for capitalism.”
Where to get it
Books David Brooks wrote
- The Second Mountain
- The Road to Character
- Radical Chic and Mau-Mauing the Flak Catchers
- How to Know a Person
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Brooks on Audacity, AI, and the American Psyche (Live at 92NY) | Conversations with Tyler | 2025-08-20 | 7 |