Mentioned in Podcasts

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Every book Frank Foer recommended on podcasts

Guest on The Ezra Klein Show · 3 books · 1 episode across 1 podcast

Frank Foer appears on The Ezra Klein Show sharing a trio of literary recommendations that probe history, national character, and the depths of human despair. He begins with George Packer's Our Man, a biography of diplomat Richard Holbrook that Foer counts among his favorite biographies and praises for being written in the compelling style of a novel. Turning to fiction, Foer suggests David Grossman's expansive novel See Under: Love, viewing it as a profound literary response to Theodor Adorno's famous question concerning whether art is possible after the Holocaust. For his final suggestion, he recommends Rita Dove's Collected Poems, highlighting the work of a Black poet who fearlessly writes about history at its most brutal and despair-making. These selections demonstrate Foer's engagement with complex historical narratives, diplomatic history, and the emotional resonance of artistic expression in the face of immense tragedy.

Books recommended by Frank Foer

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  1. Collected Poems

    Rita Dove · Recommended · 1 episode

    Collected Poems by Rita Dove brings together the lyrical works of a prominent Pulitzer Prize-winning author who frequently engages with difficult historical realities.

    Recommended
    “and then uh the final suggestion I was uh is Rita Dove's Collective poems she's uh a black poet who writes about history at its most brutal and despair making”
    The Ezra Klein Show How Biden’s Middle East Policy Fell Apart 2024-10-08 Listen at 1:29:20
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  2. Our Man

    George Packer · Recommended · 1 episode

    Our Man by George Packer is an acclaimed biography detailing the life and career of the prominent American diplomat Richard Holbrooke.

    Recommended
    “one of my favorite biographies full stop is George Packer's biography of the Diplomat Richard Holbrook the book is written in the style of a novel”
    The Ezra Klein Show How Biden’s Middle East Policy Fell Apart 2024-10-08 Listen at 1:27:53
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  3. See Under: LOVE

    David Grossman · Recommended · 1 episode

    See Under: LOVE by David Grossman is a sprawling, multi-layered postmodern novel that examines the legacy of the Holocaust and its profound psychological impact on subsequent generations of Israelis.

    Recommended
    “um it's going to suggest also David Grossman's novel see under love which it's a spraing novel that kind of responds to the Theodore adorno's question about whether Art Is Possible after the Holocaust”
    The Ezra Klein Show How Biden’s Middle East Policy Fell Apart 2024-10-08 Listen at 1:28:26
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

Appearances

EpisodePodcastDateBooks
How Biden’s Middle East Policy Fell ApartThe Ezra Klein Show2024-10-083