Mentioned in Podcasts

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Every book Joe Weisenthal recommended on podcasts

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

Joe Weisenthal appears on The Ezra Klein Show to discuss economics, modern communication environments, and how traditional economic models fail to capture contemporary societal shifts. Throughout the conversation, Weisenthal enthusiastically shares several foundational book recommendations that heavily influence his perspective on media and culture. He begins with a passionate endorsement of Herman Melville's classic novel, Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, noting that reading it changed his life and prompting listeners to immediately pick up a copy if they have not already done so. Moving into sociological and media theory, Weisenthal recommends Walter J. Ong's Orality and Literacy, utilizing the text to discuss how modern communication environments increasingly resemble an oral society. Finally, he recommends Joshua Meyrowitz's No Sense of Place, praising the book for its deep and enduring analysis of how electronic media and television dissolve traditional social norms, boundaries, and behaviors across public and private life.

Books recommended by Joe Weisenthal

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  1. MOBY-DICK; or, THE WHALE

    Herman Melville · Recommended · 1 episode

    Moby-Dick by Herman Melville is an epic American novel that chronicles the obsessive, self-destructive quest of Captain Ahab to hunt down the giant white whale that maimed him.

    Recommended
    “I read Moby Dick this year and it changed my life and I've read a bunch of sort of whaling related books... Just read Moby Dick people if you haven't.”
    The Ezra Klein Show ‘This is Something that Traditional Economics Isn’t Prepared to Deal W… 2025-12-23 Listen at 1:16:17
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  2. No sense of place

    Joshua Meyrowitz · Recommended · 1 episode

    No Sense of Place is a media theory book by Joshua Meyrowitz that explores how electronic media, particularly television, alters social behavior by dissolving traditional physical boundaries and redefining public and private spheres.

    Recommended
    “So yeah, no sense of place by Josh Myroitz is my last one.”
    The Ezra Klein Show ‘This is Something that Traditional Economics Isn’t Prepared to Deal W… 2025-12-23 Listen at 1:18:09
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  3. Orality and Literacy

    Walter J. Ong · Recommended · 1 episode

    Orality and Literacy by Walter J.

    Recommended
    “Walter's orality and literacy which I've been talking about a lot which is basically the way like our communication environment is such that we're like an oral society increasingly”
    The Ezra Klein Show ‘This is Something that Traditional Economics Isn’t Prepared to Deal W… 2025-12-23 Listen at 1:17:26
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

Appearances

EpisodePodcastDateBooks
‘This is Something that Traditional Economics Isn’t Prepared to Deal With’ | The Ezra Klein ShowThe Ezra Klein Show2025-12-233