Person
Every book Ian Bremmer recommended on podcasts
Ian Bremmer appears as a guest on The Ezra Klein Show, where discussions focus heavily on global political risks, American society, and structural changes within communities. During his appearance, Bremmer shares several book recommendations that have resonated with him across different stages of his life. He begins by recommending Douglas Adams's classic science fiction novel The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, noting its cultural significance among groups of kids during his high school and college years. He also recommends Robert Charles Wilson's 2001 speculative science fiction novel The Chronoliths, which he revisited and read again recently. In addition to his formal recommendations, Bremmer engages deeply with other influential sociological works. He references Robert D. Putnam's Bowling Alone to discuss community displacement, arguing that discussions should focus more precisely on how specific geographic places have been hollowed out rather than speaking generally about the middle class. Through these recommendations and discussions, Bremmer highlights works that blend speculative fiction, cultural touchstones, and sociological analysis to understand modern societal shifts.
Books recommended by Ian Bremmer
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The Chronoliths
The Chronoliths by Robert Charles Wilson is a science fiction novel centered around the mysterious appearance of massive, monument-like structures that announce future military victories.
Recommended“And then finally I was going to say The Chronoliths by Robert Charles Wilson which was written back in 2001 but which I went back and I read recently.”
Where to get it
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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams is a beloved comedic science fiction franchise that follows the misadventures of the last surviving human and his alien friends as they travel absurdly through space after Earth is demolished.
Recommended“Well, first, I've got to start with the Hitchhiker's Guide. Um because when I was in high school and college, there were basically three kinds of kids.”
Where to get it
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Bowling Alone
Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community by Robert D.
Discussed“The Robert Putnam book I think is much more specific and I wish people would talk in this language. We didn't hollow out the middle class. We hollowed out places.”
Where to get it
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The American Thomistic Revival in the Philosophical Papers of R.J. Henle, S.J.
Discussed“The Robert Putnam book I think is much more specific and I wish people would talk in this language. We didn't hollow out the middle class. We hollowed out places.”
Where to get it
Books Ian Bremmer wrote
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ian Bremmer on the Risks America Poses to the World | The Ezra Klein Show | The Ezra Klein Show | 2026-06-02 | 4 |
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
“I had this the first big book that I wrote back in 2006 was called the J Curve. And I doubt you even remember it, right?”