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Every book Paul Gillingham recommended on podcasts
Paul Gillingham appears on interview programs like Conversations with Tyler to discuss Mexican history, politics, and the underlying social cohesion that keeps the nation together. When discussing Mexican literature and culture, Gillingham enthusiastically recommends recent and classic novels that capture the spirit and humor of Mexico City. He highlights Álvaro Enrigue's Decencia as a modern spiritual successor to classic literature, noting how it resonates with anyone attuned to Mexican humor. Gillingham also praises Enrigue's You Dreamed of Empires, describing its fresh retelling of the historical conquest as a glorified heist executed by fortunate thugs, complete with stunning narrative twists. When prompted by Tyler Cowen to name a great classic Mexican novel, Gillingham immediately points to Carlos Fuentes's La Muerte de Artemio Cruz. Through these literary recommendations, Gillingham demonstrates how fiction can mirror historical realities, offering deep cultural context and critical perspectives on the complex identity and enduring social structures of Mexico.
Books recommended by Paul Gillingham
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Decencia
Decencia by Álvaro Enrigue is a contemporary novel that offers a sharp, satirical, and culturally grounded look into Mexican society and politics.
Recommended“One is like a modern Muerte de Artemio Cruz; it’s called Decency, Decencia, which anybody who likes Mexican humor, likes Mexico City, will just get.”
Where to get it
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You Dreamed of Empires
You Dreamed of Empires by Álvaro Enrigue, translated by Natasha Wimmer, is a brilliant and unconventional novel offering a stunningly original reimagining of the Spanish conquest of Mexico as a glorified heist executed by a group of fortunate thugs.
Recommended“The other is You Dreamed of Empires in English, which is a retelling of the conquest as this glorified heist by a bunch of fortunate thugs, which I think most historians would agree with, and has some twists in it which are stunning.”
Where to get it
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La muerte de Artemio Cruz
Discussed“It has to be La Muerte de Artemio Cruz, The Death of Artemio Cruz.”
Where to get it
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Gillingham on Why Mexico Stays Together | Conversations with Tyler | 2026-03-25 | 3 |