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Every book Ocean Vuong recommended on podcasts
Ocean Vuong appears on writing and education podcasts as a university professor and prominent literary figure, offering insights into the creative process, poetic language, and the emotional resonance of storytelling. Through his discussions on craft, he demonstrates a deep appreciation for works that use striking metaphors and explore complex human experiences. While talking about writing on How I Write, Vuong examined several literary works to illustrate broader artistic and historical concepts. He brought up Isaac Babel's "Red Cavalry" to highlight the masterful use of strong metaphors and poetic language within early twentieth-century war writing. He also referenced Hirokazu Miyazaki's "The Method of Hope" to share an anecdote about searching for novel possibilities rather than relying on preconceived notions of utility. To discuss the power of imagery regarding queer loss and desire, Vuong mentioned Richard Siken's poetry collection "Crush." Finally, he brought up Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" to explore the rare and profound moments in history when literature succeeds in shifting social consciousness and driving massive political change.
Books recommended by Ocean Vuong
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Crush
Discussed“And you don't need to know that this is in the book Crush, which is about queer loss and and desire in the '90s in the wake of the AIDS epidemic.”
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Red Cavalry
Red Cavalry by Isaac Babel is a classic collection of short stories depicting the brutal, chaotic, and kaleidoscopic experiences of the Soviet-Polish War through the eyes of a Jewish intellectual serving in a Cossack cavalry unit.
Discussed“So, let's take a line from Isaac Babel, one of my favorite short story writers. Babel writing in the early 1920s, um during the Soviet-Polish War in Red Cavalry.”
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The Method of Hope
Discussed“It is in a book called The Method of Hope. And he says, "Well, I don't go into the rainforest looking for what looks like medicine."”
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Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe is an influential anti-slavery novel published in 1852 that profoundly shaped public attitudes toward slavery in the United States prior to the Civil War.
Discussed“You know, Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin created the Civil War according to Lincoln. Which freed millions of people. So it happens but I don't wake up um counting on that because there are examples on both sides historically.”
Where to get it
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean Vuong: NYU Professor Teaches the Art of Writing | How I Write | How I Write | 2026-03-25 | 4 |