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Every book Nadia Schadlow recommended on podcasts
Nadia Schadlow appears on analytical interview programs to discuss foreign policy, diplomatic history, and international relations from the perspective of a former government official. As evident from her appearance on The Ezra Klein Show, she engages with complex geopolitical developments, historical precedents of statecraft, and ongoing domestic challenges within Western nations. At the conclusion of her interview, Schadlow offered a thoughtful curated selection of book recommendations spanning diplomatic history, economic theory, political biography, and fiction. She recommended Robert B. Zoellick's "America in the World" for its comprehensive exploration of American diplomatic history. She also recommended Hernando de Soto's "The Mystery of Capital," noting its enduring relevance in illuminating perpetual Western hemisphere tensions surrounding property rights, socialism, and capitalism. Furthermore, she recommended Will Inboden's biography, "Leadership Lessons: Ronald Reagan," explaining how it helps readers contextualize modern political slogans and the historical evolution of phrases like peace through strength. Finally, Schadlow shared a bonus fiction recommendation, highlighting Barbara Kingsolver's novel "Demon Copperhead" as a work of fiction she deeply enjoyed.
Books recommended by Nadia Schadlow
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America in the World
America in the World by Robert B.
Recommended“O.K, well, they’re not in any order of not in terms of publication, although I am reading right now a book, I think, published two years ago by Robert Zoellick called "America in the World" A great book about America’s diplomatic history.”
Where to get it
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Demon Copperhead
Barbara Kingsolver's acclaimed novel Demon Copperhead is a contemporary reimagining of Charles Dickens's David Copperfield, set against the grim backdrop of the opioid crisis in modern-day Appalachia.
Recommended“And then a fourth fiction book that I loved this summer was is "Demon Copperhead" by Barbara Kingsolver. I loved that book.”
Where to get it
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Leadership Lessons: Ronald Reagan
Leadership Lessons: Ronald Reagan by Will Peters is a biographical examination focusing on the leadership style, political strategies, and historical impact of the fortieth United States president.
Recommended“And then third, the Reagan biography by Will Inboden, because also just to understand, Trump invokes Reagan a lot. Peace through strength, although actually peace through strength was, I learned first a Nixon phrase which then Reagan used and now Trump is using.”
Where to get it
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The Mystery of Capital
The Mystery of Capital by Hernando de Soto examines the economic structures of developing nations and the foundational importance of property rights for escaping poverty.
Recommended“A second book I just took back from my bookshelf because of Peru, but "The Mystery of Capital" by Hernando de Soto, and I think it’s also interesting to remind us of some perpetual problems in the Western hemisphere, the tension between socialism and capitalism, and Hernando de Soto specifically speaks about the importance of titles to land.”
Where to get it
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| I Asked a Former Trump Official to Justify This War | The Ezra Klein Show | The Ezra Klein Show | 2026-03-10 | 4 |
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
“I wrote a book about that, about called "War and the Art of Governance," which looked at about 15 case studies of America’s military interventions and how we always had to deal with problems of political instability and stabilization or not.”