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Every book Leon Kass recommended on podcasts

Key facts

  • Leon Kass has recommended or discussed 3 books on podcasts, as of June 16, 2025.
  • Leon Kass has talked about books on 1 podcast, as of June 16, 2025.
  • Those books came up in 2 episodes, as of June 16, 2025.
  • The 3 books Leon Kass has mentioned in the most episodes, as of June 16, 2025: Emile, Nicomachean Ethics and The Confessions of Jean Jacques Rousseau.
  • The latest episode with a book mention from Leon Kass aired on June 16, 2025.

Updated

Guest on EconTalk · 3 books · 2 episodes across 1 podcast

Leon Kass discussed the philosophical works and educational theories of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Aristotle during his appearances on EconTalk with Russ Roberts. Providing a biographical overview during a discussion on Rousseau, Kass listed the philosopher's extensive works, noting his contributions as a political philosopher of the social contract, a composer of seven operas, a theater critic, and the author of The Confessions, recognized as the first modern autobiography. Kass also highlighted Rousseau's educational writing in Emile, focusing on how to cure people from an improper sense of amour-propre and noting that this treatment remains one of Rousseau's greatest contributions to psychology and social psychology. Furthermore, Kass discussed Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, explaining how the philosopher invites readers into the text to explore the richest ways to live well and achieve human flourishing. Through these analyses, Kass examined foundational texts in political philosophy and ethics.

Books Leon Kass recommended or discussed

Who said what is our best reading of each episode. In hand-checked samples, at least 6% of mentions were credited to the wrong speaker, sometimes an interviewer’s line recorded as the guest’s, sometimes the reverse. Every entry below quotes the words and links to the episode, so you can check it.

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  1. Emile

    Jean-Jacques Rousseau · Discussed · 1 episode

    Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Emile is an influential eighteenth-century treatise exploring the philosophy of education and human development.

    Discussed
    “Look, his he he's concentrates on this in his educational writing in a meal on how to cure people from an improper sense of amo and and it is his treatment of this subject is perhaps one of his greatest contributions to to psychology and to social psychology.”
    Where to get it
  2. Nicomachean Ethics

    Aristotle · Discussed · 1 episode

    The Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle is a foundational work of ancient Greek philosophy that examines virtue, human flourishing, moral character, and the ultimate pursuit of the good life.

    Discussed
    “so he's not going to condemn the life that you that that you choose but um he's inviting people into this book and saying look um do you want to do you want to live the richest”
    Where to get it
  3. The Confessions of Jean Jacques Rousseau

    Jean-Jacques Rousseau · Discussed · 1 episode

    Jean-Jacques Rousseau's foundational autobiography details the philosopher's life, thoughts, and personal development with unprecedented candor.

    Discussed
    “A prolific political philosopher known for the social contract. A philosopher of education, famous for his a meal, author of a romantic novel, composer of seven operas, a theater critic, an author of the first modern autobiography, The Confessions, and even a scientist writing an elements of botany.”
    Where to get it

Appearances

EpisodePodcastDateBooks
Leon Kass on the Wisdom of RousseauEconTalk2025-06-162
Leon Kass on Human Flourishing, Living Well, and AristotleEconTalk2021-03-081