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Every book Jill Lepore recommended on podcasts
Jill Lepore appears on The Book Review as a historian and writer deeply engaged in American history, political critique, and literature that reflects contemporary cultural anxieties. Offering recommendations for historical reading around the Fourth of July, Lepore recommends Pauline Maier's 'American Scripture', praising it as a highly readable history of the Declaration of Independence that she learned a great deal from. Turning to fiction that captures the current political and social moment, she recommends Ali Smith's 2024 novel 'Glyph', noting its setting in the United States. In other discussions on the podcast, Lepore places contemporary works within broader historical contexts. She references Howard Zinn's 'A People's History of the United States' as a prominent single-volume history that reached a wide audience with a very particular point of view. Additionally, she cites Hannah Arendt's 'The Human Condition', written immediately after Sputnik in 1958, to discuss historical critiques and societal transitions surrounding the space race. Through these recommendations and references, Lepore bridges past historical narratives with contemporary literary and political analysis.
Books recommended by Jill Lepore
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American scripture
American Scripture by Pauline Maier is a rigorous and accessible historical examination tracking the creation and historical evolution of the Declaration of Independence.
Recommended“So, if you want to have a good readable history of the Declaration of Independence, there are some fantastic books out there, but the one that I love best is Pauline Maier's American Scripture. I learned a lot from that book when I read it at the time.”
Where to get it
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Glyph
Glyph by Ali Smith is a contemporary novel that captures the complexities of the modern sociopolitical landscape.
Recommended“So, in answer to the problem of what book explains the moment that we're in, I thought of Ali Smith's Glyph. Glyph with two F's is from 2024. It's It's even set in the United States, right?”
Where to get it
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A People's History of the United States
Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States is a highly influential historical critique that retells the American story from the perspective of marginalized groups, labor movements, and ordinary citizens rather than traditional political and economic elites.
Discussed“the one that I think people know about there have been many but the one that reached a wide audience and I think still does as Howards 's people's History of the United States which is a very very particular point of view”
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The Human Condition
Discussed“this is you know Han in The Human Condition which she writes right after Sputnik in in 1958 talks about this transition after Sputnik”
Where to get it
Books Jill Lepore wrote
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jill Lepore on What to Read This Fourth of July | The Book Review | 2026-07-03 | 2 |
| The End of the ‘Struggle’ | The Book Review | 2024-07-18 | 1 |
| Jill Lepore on the 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing | The Book Review | 2024-07-18 | 1 |