Person
Every book Isaac Butler recommended on podcasts
Isaac Butler appears on literary podcasts such as The Book Review to discuss culture, the history of the arts, and memorable artist memoirs. As a guest with a deep appreciation for creative biographies and historical narratives of cultural movements, Butler frequently recommends essential reads for anyone interested in art and politics. During his appearance, he recommended Jack Lowery's It Was Vulgar and It Was Beautiful, praising it as a moving story about the advocacy group Gran Fury. He also championed James Baldwin's The Devil Finds Work, highlighting it as a brilliant combination of film criticism, personal memoir, and political treatise. When asked for standout artist biographies, Butler pointed to C. Carr's Fire in the Belly, describing it as essential reading regarding the life of David Wojnarowicz. Turning to showbiz autobiographies, he praised Elia Kazan's A Life as potentially the greatest artist memoir of all time, comparing its scope to Paradise Lost. Additionally, Butler recommended Salka Viertel's memoir The Kindness of Strangers, noting that he has had great success giving it out as a thoughtful gift to readers interested in Hollywood history and artists' lives.
Books recommended by Isaac Butler
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A life
A Life by Elia Kazan is the sweeping autobiography of the legendary director detailing his artistic triumphs and controversies in theater and film.
Recommended“But the greatest, I think, artist memoir of all time might be Elia Kazan's A Life, which is, you know, it's like reading paradise It's like the Paradise Lost of showbiz autobiographies.”
Where to get it
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Fire in the belly
Fire in the Belly by C.
Recommended“Fire in the Belly, which is C Carr's biography of David Wojnarowicz, is essential reading. I mean, everything C Carr writes is essential reading.”
Where to get it
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It Was Vulgar and It Was Beautiful
It Was Vulgar and It Was Beautiful by Jack Lowery is a compelling chronicle documenting the impactful history of the AIDS activist group Gran Fury.
Recommended“Another is Jack Lowery's recent It Was Vulgar It Was Beautiful. Have you read that one Gilbert? It's a very beautiful beautiful book about telling the story of Gran Fury.”
Where to get it
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The Devil Finds Work
The Devil Finds Work by James Baldwin is a penetrating collection of essays examining the cultural impact of cinema through the lens of race, personal memory, and American politics.
Recommended“I'm going to go let's go James Baldwin The Devil Finds Work. His book of film criticism which is also a memoir which is also a great political treatise.”
Where to get it
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The Kindness of Strangers
The Kindness of Strangers by Salka Viertel is a memoir detailing the extraordinary life of a screenwriter and actress who became a central figure in the Hollywood émigré community.
Recommended“One that I've had really good luck with is this book that New York Review Books Editions put out reissued called The Kindness of Strangers by Sulka Vierteil. And it's a memoir.”
Where to get it
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art, Outrage and How the Culture Wars Began | The Book Review | 2026-06-19 | 5 |
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
“Uh, The Talmud, a biography by Barry Scott Wimpfheimer... And My Last Sigh, which is the memoir by uh, Luis Buñuel.”