Person
Every book David French recommended on podcasts
Across 2 podcasts. Every show David French appears on, in one place — not just one.
David French’s most recommended books
- 12 Rules for Life by Jordan B. Peterson
- American Democracy by Robert Kenneth Carr
- Into the Heart of Romans by N. T. Wright
- Los Seductores / the Enchanters by James Ellroy
- Manhunt by James L. Swanson
- Operation Pedestal by Max Hastings
- Pax by Tom Holland
- Ring of Steel by Alexander Watson
- The Napoleonic Wars by Alexander Mikaberidze
- We the Fallen People by Robert Tracy McKenzie
David French is a podcast guest who frequently appears on programs like The Ezra Klein Show, where he regularly offers closing book recommendations spanning military history, theology, true crime, and fiction. For military history enthusiasts, French recommended Max Hastings's Operation Pedestal, praising its storytelling regarding the 1942 siege of Malta, as well as Alexander Mikaberidze's comprehensive global history, The Napoleonic Wars. Delving into historical true crime and political design, he suggested James L. Swanson's Manhunt, comparing its gripping pace to a television crime drama, and Robert Tracy McKenzie's We the Fallen People, which examines the concept of human fallenness in the creation of American democracy. For readers interested in classical history and popular fiction, French recommended Tom Holland's Pax, detailing the peak of the Roman Empire, and James Ellroy's novel The Enchanters, noting the author's distinct pessimistic perspective. Finally, addressing theology buffs, he recommended N.T. Wright's Into the Heart of Romans, highlighting its unique theological arguments regarding the pivotal New Testament book of Romans.
Books recommended by David French
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12 Rules for Life
Jordan B.
Discussed“And he talked about um this must have been right after your book um 12 rules came out.”
Where to get it
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American Democracy
American Democracy by Robert Kenneth Carr is a comprehensive study examining the principles, structures, and functions of the American political system.
Recommended“so here's a good one that I read not long ago called we the Fallen people the founders and the future of American democracy by a professor named Robert Tracy McKenzie it really looks at the role of sort of the view of the fallenness of human nature in the design of the country”
Where to get it
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Into the Heart of Romans
Into the Heart of Romans by N.
Recommended“the next one is a brand new book by NT Wright who's a theologian and it's called Uh Into the Heart of Romans and this is for your theology Buffs who are Ezra who listened to to your show Ezra and it really is making a really interesting argument that the book of Romans this pivotal book in the New”
Where to get it
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Los Seductores / the Enchanters
Los Seductores / The Enchanters is a novel by James Ellroy known for its gritty narrative and distinct authorial voice.
Recommended“his news book is the enchanters he's got this infectiously pessimistic down on everything voice”
Where to get it
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Manhunt
Manhunt by James L.
Recommended“and then the next book is um back to your history Buffs and it's called Manhunt uh 12-day Chase for Lincoln's killer and it's by James Swanson and if you pick it up you start reading it and you realize it feels like I'm reading almost like a a script for a television crime drama it sort of takes the”
Where to get it
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Operation Pedestal
Operation Pedestal by Max Hastings is a military history account detailing the dangerous 1942 naval convoy mission to deliver vital supplies to the besieged island of Malta.
Recommended“it's a Max Hastings book he's one of my favorite military historians it's called operation pedestal and for you military history Buffs who uh listen to Ezra really phenomenal storytelling about a pivotal Convoy to save Malta in 1942 when it was under siege just incredible cast of characters and remarkable level of heroism and it's a really tremendous book”
Where to get it
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Pax
Pax is a historical nonfiction book by Tom Holland that explores the historical and political dynamics of the Roman Empire.
Recommended“one is Pax p-a-x by Tom Holland not Spider-Man uh the British popular historian writing about the peak of the Roman Empire”
Where to get it
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Ring of Steel
Ring of Steel by Alexander Watson is a 2017 historical work that explores the First World War from the perspective of the Central Powers, focusing particularly on Germany and Austria-Hungary.
Recommended“and uh the other one which is fascinating and it's a 2017 book by Alexander Watson called Ring Of Steel Germany and Austria Hungary in World War one and is written from sort of the Central Powers view of world war one”
Where to get it
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The Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars by Alexander Mikaberidze is a comprehensive global history examining the vast geopolitical conflicts that reshaped Europe and the wider world during the early nineteenth century.
Recommended“and the next two are just if you'd like to absolutely nerd out on military history uh which I basically do on a daily basis and I'm two-thirds of the way through a book called Napoleonic Wars a global history and I'm going to really I apologize to the author Alexander Mika brids wonderful book”
Where to get it
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We the Fallen People
We the Fallen People by Robert Tracy McKenzie is a historical examination of the founding of the United States and the theological concept of human nature that influenced the nation's political design.
Recommended“so here's a good one that I read not long ago called we the Fallen people the founders and the future of American democracy by a professor named Robert Tracy McKenzie it really looks at the role of sort of the view of the fallenness of human nature in the design of the country”
Where to get it
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The Coddling of the American Mind
The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt explores how well-intentioned ideas and bad pedagogical approaches are setting a generation up for failure, with a strong focus on the mental health impacts of social media.
Discussed“And you know, not to refer too much to Jonathan, but there's in in his book, The Coddling of the American Mind with my dear friend Greg Lucanoff was really important in and one of the ways that I that really helped open my eyes and helped me put a finger on what was happening was offering this contrast like”
Where to get it
