Person
Every book Jeremi Suri recommended on podcasts
Jeremi Suri’s most recommended books
- Buddenbrooks by Thomas Mann
- War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
- Animal Farm by George Orwell
- Complete Works of Thomas Brooks by Alexander B. Grosart, Thomas Brooks
Jeremi Suri appeared on the Lex Fridman Podcast to discuss the history of American power, civil war, slavery, freedom, and democracy, while also sharing several literary works that shaped his academic and personal perspective. Among his recommended readings, Suri recalled reading Thomas Mann's Buddenbrooks during graduate school, noting it as one of his favorite novels. He also expressed being very moved by Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace, mentioning that he assigns the classic to his students every year. Additionally, Suri referenced several of his own written works during the podcast discussions. He talked about his book Civil War by Other Means to illustrate the false reverence for institutions found within American democracy, the importance of maintaining an outsider perspective, the necessity of opposing consensus, the power of storytelling and leadership, and the historical role of more than one hundred thousand former slaves who became Union soldiers during the Civil War. Furthermore, Suri connected these themes to his previous book on Henry Kissinger, using it alongside his newer publications to emphasize how crucial it is for individuals working within established institutions to preserve an iconoclastic and independent viewpoint.
Books recommended by Jeremi Suri
-
Buddenbrooks
Buddenbrooks by Thomas Mann is a sweeping historical novel that chronicles the decline of a prosperous merchant family across four generations in northern Germany.
Recommended“one of my favorite novels that i read actually when i was in graduate school is thomas mons button brooks”
Where to get it
-
War and Peace
Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace is a monumental historical novel blending grand military strategy with intimate domestic life against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars.
Recommended“i'm very moved by tolstoy's war and peace”
Where to get it
-
Animal Farm
Animal Farm by George Orwell is a classic allegorical novella that uses a farmyard setting to satirize the corruption of socialist ideals and the rise of totalitarianism following the Russian Revolution.
Discussed“so it's like animal farm all animals are equal”
Where to get it
-
Complete Works of Thomas Brooks
Discussed“so one of my favorite novels that i read actually when i was in graduate school is thomas mons button brooks and it's the story of a family in lubeck in northern germany living through the 19th century and the rise and fall of families cycles of life”
Where to get it
-
Henry Kissinger and the American Century
Henry Kissinger and the American Century by Jeremi Suri is a detailed historical examination of the prominent diplomat and his influence on foreign policy within the framework of modern American history.
Discussed“so what I've written about in this book and in other books my book on Henry Kissinger for example is how it's important when in an institution to still bring an outsider perspective”
Where to get it
Books Jeremi Suri wrote
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremi Suri: Civil War, Slavery, Freedom, and Democracy | Lex Fridman Podcast #354 | Lex Fridman Podcast | 2023-01-25 | 14 |
| #180 – Jeremi Suri: History of American Power | Lex Fridman Podcast | 2021-04-30 | 3 |