Person
Every book Judith Shulevitz recommended on podcasts
Judith Shulevitz appears on The Ezra Klein Show to explore the history, philosophy, and modern relevance of the Sabbath and the art of rest. Drawing heavily from sociological and literary traditions, Shulevitz offers listeners a curated selection of books that examine the pressures of modern labor and the historical frameworks of time and community. Her primary recommendations include George Eliot's first novel, Adam Bede, which she highlights for its rich depiction of a pre-industrial Sabbath. She also recommends Eviatar Zerubavel's The Seven-Day Circle, praising it as a definitive history of the week and noting how foundational the sociologist's work on the sociology of time is to her own writing. To address the harsh realities of contemporary labor, Shulevitz recommends Emily Guendelsberger's On the Clock: What Low-Wage Work Did to Me and How It Drives America Insane, pointing to the book as a stark portrait of the pressures inherent in the modern just-in-time economy. In addition to these titles, she frequently recommends Abraham Joshua Heschel's classic book The Sabbath, viewing it as an essential text on the subject. Throughout the discussion, Shulevitz also references Martin Buber's I and Thou, using its philosophical concepts to illustrate the idea of flowing outward toward others. By weaving together Victorian literature, sociological history, contemporary investigative journalism, and philosophy, Shulevitz provides a comprehensive literary foundation for rethinking how society approaches work, time, rest, and human connection.
Books recommended by Judith Shulevitz
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Adam Bede
Adam Bede by George Eliot is an acclaimed 1859 novel exploring moral responsibility, community dynamics, and social change in an English village at the turn of the nineteenth century.
Recommended“so I would say that the first book I recommend is by George Elliott so that's the gnome de plume of Maryann Evans and her most famous novel you've probably heard of it is middl March but her first novel was called Adam beid”
Where to get it
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On the Clock
On the Clock by Emily Guendelsberger is a harrowing investigative journey into the grueling reality of low-wage work and the relentless pressures of the modern on-demand economy.
Recommended“and the third book I would recommend is uh by a young journalist named Emily gwend elberger and it's called on the clock what low AG work did to me and how it drives America insane”
Where to get it
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The Seven Day Circle
The Seven Day Circle by Eviatar Zerubavel is a fascinating sociological study that provides a definitive history and analysis of the seven-day week.
Recommended“the second book I would recommend is called the seven-day Circle and it's by a sociologist who actually invented something I draw on heavily in my book called The sociology of time his name is evat zerubavel”
Where to get it
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The Sabbath
The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel is a classic spiritual work exploring the Jewish day of rest and the meaning of sacred time in a modern, material world.
Recommended“well I was going to recommend heschel but I am going to skip that because we've talked about it a lot I recommend heschel”
Where to get it
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I and Thou
Discussed“you are able to sort of achieve that flowing outward towards others that Martin buber talks about in his book I thou”
Where to get it
Books Judith Shulevitz wrote
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Of: Sabbath and the Art of Rest | The Ezra Klein Show | 2024-12-27 | 3 |
| Sabbath and the Art of Rest | The Ezra Klein Show | 2023-02-17 | 6 |
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
“so I would say that the first book I recommend is by George Elliott so that's the gnome de plume of Maryann Evans and her most famous novel you've probably heard of it is middl March”
“so I would say that the first book I recommend is by George Eliot so that's the nom de plume of Marianne Evans and her most famous novel you've probably heard of it is Middle March”