Person
Every book Francis Ford Coppola recommended on podcasts
Key facts
- Francis Ford Coppola has recommended or discussed 11 books on podcasts, as of September 14, 2024.
- Francis Ford Coppola has talked about books on 1 podcast, as of September 14, 2024.
- Those books came up in 1 episode, as of September 14, 2024.
- The 3 books Francis Ford Coppola has mentioned in the most episodes, as of September 14, 2024: The swerve, Tyrant and Will in the World.
- The latest episode with a book mention from Francis Ford Coppola aired on September 14, 2024.
Updated
Francis Ford Coppola’s most recommended books
- The swerve by Stephen Greenblatt
- Tyrant by Stephen Greenblatt
- Will in the World by Stephen Greenblatt
Francis Ford Coppola appeared on The Daily Stoic podcast to discuss how philosophy, history, and classical literature have profoundly shaped his life and cinematic career. Throughout the conversation, Coppola demonstrated a deep appreciation for scholarly works that bridge ancient wisdom with modern understanding, offering enthusiastic recommendations to listeners. He strongly advocated for Stephen Greenblatt's books, describing The Swerve as an incredible read that introduced him to Epicurean philosophy, and praising Will in the World and Tyrant for their brilliant exploration of Shakespearean themes and historical context. Coppola also discussed how his artistic vision for his films was influenced by epic historical literature, noting that reading the 16th-century Chinese classic The Story of the Stone, also known as Dream of the Red Mansion, directly inspired changes in his creative projects by emphasizing the profound significance of characters' dream lives. Furthermore, he referenced Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship and the ancient Persian epic Shahnameh by Ferdowsi to illustrate how great artists continually draw inspiration, adapt old stories, and build upon the cultural legacies of their predecessors in new contexts.
Books Francis Ford Coppola recommended or discussed
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The swerve
Recommended“there's a wonderful book that I recommend to you that you'll thank me a million times that it's a good read it's called the swerve have you ever heard of it yes Incredible Book oh you read it yes Ste stepen Steven greenblood is a is a is a treasure yeah he he wrote he's a Shakespearean scholar but he”
Where to get it
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Tyrant
Recommended“He has a book called "Tyrant" as well, which I loved, but I was thinking there's a common theme between this movie and Apocalypse Now, as well as the theme of Shakespeare: the ability to find old stories and place them in a new context while preserving the arcs, characters, and morals.”
Where to get it
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Will in the World
Recommended“All right, let's talk because you mentioned Shakespeare. Greenblatt wrote this amazing book called "Will in the World" that I found incredible.”
Where to get it
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A Skeleton Key to Finnegans Wake
Discussed“And maybe a period where it's an apparent disaster, but over time, you know, I once read an article that James Joyce was talking about 'Finnegans Wake.' And he said, 'I'm going to put so much interesting stuff in this that it's going to take, you know, uh, 50 years for people to figure out what's in it and it'll”
Where to get it
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Antkind
Discussed“he wrote a book a novel called ant antind uh a seven 800 page book called antkind and that's what Google said you know if you want to read something about being a so I got it”
Where to get it
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De Bello Gallico Libri Vii.
Discussed“Well, the schoolboys in the founding of our nation were reading Caesar and the Gallic Wars. They knew it all by heart.”
Where to get it
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Ideal and Actual in the Story of the Stone
Discussed“For example, one time I chose a great Chinese book called "The Story of the Stone" or "Dream of the Red Mansion" written in the 16th century. I found myself trying to change Megalopolis to be more like that, which I actually did, because that was one of the few books I ever read where the dream life of the”
Where to get it
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Shahnameh
Discussed“Have you ever read that beautiful Persian book called the Shahnameh by Ferdowsi? No, that's like Gilgamesh! It's an early Persian epic, and it's great—a tale of kings!”
Where to get it
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Tender is the Night
Discussed“That it wasn't successful at first, so he and his editor straightened out something, I guess, I don't know which version I have. But I think what's unusual is that in the original 'Tender Is the Night,' there's a huge flashback in the middle of it that goes back and tells the story of Nicole and Dick Diver.”
Where to get it
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Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship
Discussed“He wrote a book called "Wilhelm Meister" and that was him stealing from Shakespeare. That is Goethe saying, "I want to be as much like Shakespeare as I can be," while Shakespeare was stealing from Plutarch, from Montaigne, from Danish legends, and from other plays—everyone has been stealing from one another.”
Where to get it
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Francis Ford Coppola Opens Up About How Philosophy Has Inspired His Life and Career | The Daily Stoic | 2024-09-14 | 13 |










