Person
Every book John Mearsheimer recommended on podcasts
Key facts
- John Mearsheimer has recommended or discussed 5 books on podcasts, as of April 10, 2026.
- John Mearsheimer has talked about books on 3 podcasts, as of April 10, 2026.
- Those books came up in 4 episodes, as of April 10, 2026.
- The 3 books John Mearsheimer has mentioned in the most episodes, as of April 10, 2026: The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy, Who are We? and Exodus.
- The latest episode with a book mention from John Mearsheimer aired on April 10, 2026.
Updated
Across 3 podcasts. Every show John Mearsheimer appears on, in one place, not just one.
John Mearsheimer discussed several influential books during his podcast appearances. On Breaking Points, he brought up his own book The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy, which he co-authored with Stephen M. Walt, to analyze the long-term history and impact of the Israel lobby in United States politics, and to explain his view that Prime Minister Netanyahu could use the lobby to force Donald Trump to back off from a confrontation. Speaking on The Tucker Carlson Show, Mearsheimer discussed Leon Uris's novel Exodus, explaining how the book and its film adaptation portrayed Israelis in a favorable light and shaped his youthful perspective before he learned more history. During an interview on the Lex Fridman Podcast, Mearsheimer referenced Thomas Hobbes's Leviathan while discussing political philosophy, anarchy, and the necessity of creating a state to resolve human conflict. On the same podcast, he also discussed Francis Fukuyama's The End of History to explain the liberal optimistic perspective on democratic triumph, and praised Samuel P. Huntington's Who are We? while discussing demographics and American immigration.
Books John Mearsheimer recommended or discussed
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The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy
Discussed“As I like to say, when Stephen I wrote the original article on the lobby in 2006 and then we wrote the book in 2007, I don't think either one of us ever imagined that we would be at the point we are now at today.”
Where to get it
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Who are We?
Recommended“Sam Huntington's book, "Who are We?" Which in many ways, I love that book.”
Where to get it
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Exodus
Discussed“When I grew up as a kid, I was heavily influenced by Leon Urus's book Exodus and then the subsequent movie with I think Paul Newman and Eva Marie Saint & and that of course that Exodus story portrayed the Israelis in the most favorable light and the Arabs or Palestinians in the most negative light.”
Where to get it
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Leviathan
Discussed“It's what he calls the Leviathan. And that, of course is the title of his famous book.”
Where to get it
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The end of history
Discussed“And this basic argument is inherent in Francis Fukuyama's "The End of History." He argues that democracy triumph first over fascism”
Where to get it
Books John Mearsheimer wrote
Appearances
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
“And that brings us back to the two-state solution, but is you and I were talking about a few minutes ago, it's hard to see how you get a two-state solution. And the end result of this conversation is utter despair.”