Person
Every book Marilynne Robinson recommended on podcasts
Marilynne Robinson appeared on The Ezra Klein Show and Conversations with Tyler to engage in deep discussions concerning biblical interpretation, human evil, Calvinist thought, and the idea of Israel. When asked for recommendations by Ezra Klein, Robinson named William Langland's fourteenth-century poem Piers Plowman and the anonymous fourteenth-century German theological work Theologia Germanica among her favorites. Throughout her podcast discussions, she frequently drew upon foundational philosophical and religious texts to illuminate theological concepts. She referenced Thomas Aquinas's Summa Theologiae and Summa Contra Gentiles when discussing predestination and the nature of an omnipotent God. Furthermore, Robinson compared Moses's actions in the Bible to Plato's Republic, noting that both involved creating an ideal culture or community with ancient features. She also invoked John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion to critique how modern individuals often misinterpret or fail to read Calvin's actual writings. Through these literary and theological references, Robinson revealed herself as a deeply learned author rooted in historical Christian theology and classical philosophy.
Books recommended by Marilynne Robinson
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The Republic
The Republic by Plato is a foundational philosophical text exploring justice, the ideal political state, the nature of reality through the allegory of the cave, and the evolution of various political regimes including democracy.
Discussed“he's doing kind of like Plato in the Republic he's saying this is this is how we develop the idea of a community”
Where to get it
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Piers Plowman
Piers Plowman by William Langland is a monumental 14th-century English allegorical poem that explores Christian themes of truth, honesty, and the quest for a righteous life through a series of dream visions.
Recommended“and one of my favorite books is Pier Plowman William langland coming out of the 14th century I just finished reading the Theology of germanica which is an anonymous work 14th century written in German”
Where to get it
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Theologia Germanica
Theologia Germanica is an anonymous late fourteenth-century mystical treatise written in German that explores the union of the human soul with God through self-abandonment and pure love.
Recommended“and one of my favorite books is Pier Plowman William langland coming out of the 14th century I just finished reading the Theology of germanica which is an anonymous work 14th century written in German”
Where to get it
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Institutes of the Christian Religion
Discussed“you know I mean every these people that call themselves Calvinists you there's no no great likelihood that they will have read the the institutes or anything else that he wrote”
Where to get it
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Summa contra gentiles
Discussed“Thomas aquinus believed in it for example wrote about it you know in Sim country dulis and also in the Suma theologia”
Where to get it
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Summa Theologiae
Discussed“Thomas aquinus believed in it for example wrote about it you know in Sim country dulis and also in the Suma theologia”
Where to get it
Books Marilynne Robinson wrote
Appearances
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
“well my first book is actually the novel housekeeping nuclear pollution came after I'm sorry okay it was my second book”