Person
Every book Nick Gillespie recommended on podcasts
Nick Gillespie is a journalist and commentator whose interview on The Rubin Report offered sharp insights into government overreach, historical censorship, and modern political dissent. During the discussion, Gillespie referenced several seminal literary works to frame his arguments about free speech and societal structures. He mentioned classic books that faced severe government censorship before the 1960s, including D.H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover, James Joyce's Ulysses, Henry Miller's Tropic of Cancer, and Allen Ginsberg's Howl, using them to highlight historical victories for free expression. In exploring political dissent and civic behavior, Gillespie cited political scientist Albert Hirschman's influential book Exit, Voice, and Loyalty, utilizing its framework to explain the fundamental ways individuals register dissatisfaction with the political and social status quo. Additionally, Gillespie touched upon Ayn Rand's famous novel Atlas Shrugged, candidly admitting that while he had never finished reading the book itself, he was well-acquainted with its core plot and themes through watching the film adaptations. Across these references, Gillespie used literature as a lens to evaluate individual liberty, historical censorship battles, and political theory.
Books recommended by Nick Gillespie
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Atlas Shrugged
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand is a sprawling philosophical novel that presents the author's objectivist worldview through a dystopian story about society's most productive individuals going on strike.
Discussed“Yeah, maybe, and I will admit that I've never read "Atlas Shrugged", I've never finished it. I've watched the movies, which I enjoyed and I know the basic plot”
Where to get it
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Exit, voice, and loyalty
Discussed“there's a guy named Albert Hirschman, a political scientist. In the early 70s, wrote a book called "Exit Voice and Loyalty". And he said, there were basically three ways to register descent from the status quo.”
Where to get it
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Lady Chatterley's Lover
Discussed“some time since the early 60s, we kicked free of all the dumbest restraints on free speech, government censorship, you could publish, you couldn't legally publish "Lady Chatterley's Lover" James Joyce's, "Ulysses", Henry Miller's, "Tropic of Cancer", Alan Ginsberg's, "Howl" before about 1960 without worrying about being dragged into court”
Where to get it
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Tropic of Cancer
Discussed“some time since the early 60s, we kicked free of all the dumbest restraints on free speech, government censorship, you could publish, you couldn't legally publish "Lady Chatterley's Lover" James Joyce's, "Ulysses", Henry Miller's, "Tropic of Cancer", Alan Ginsberg's, "Howl" before about 1960 without worrying about being dragged into court”
Where to get it
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Ulysses
Ulysses by James Joyce is a monumental modernist novel chronicling a single day in the life of Leopold Bloom in Dublin, celebrated for its stylistic experimentation and intricate parallels to Homer's Odyssey.
Discussed“some time since the early 60s, we kicked free of all the dumbest restraints on free speech, government censorship, you could publish, you couldn't legally publish "Lady Chatterley's Lover" James Joyce's, "Ulysses", Henry Miller's, "Tropic of Cancer", Alan Ginsberg's, "Howl" before about 1960 without worrying about being dragged into court”
Where to get it
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| After This Year, Do You Want More Govt. In Your Life? | Nick Gillespie Interview | The Rubin Report | 2021-04-18 | 7 |
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
“you couldn't legally publish "Lady Chatterley's Lover" James Joyce's, "Ulysses", Henry Miller's, "Tropic of Cancer", Alan Ginsberg's, "Howl" before about 1960 without worrying about being dragged into court”