Person
Every book Raina Cohen recommended on podcasts
Raina Cohen appeared on The Ezra Klein Show to explore complex relational dynamics, alternative family structures, and cultural attitudes toward intimacy. During the episode, Cohen offered thoughtful book recommendations that explored the depths of human experience and societal norms. She highlighted Andrew Solomon's Far From the Tree, explaining that the profound work made a massive impact on her perspective. Additionally, she recommended Gay Talese's Thy Neighbor's Wife, pointing out that the decades-old book brilliantly examines the persistent twin impulses in American culture to be simultaneously sex-obsessed and deeply puritanical. To further illustrate her points on relationships during the discussion, Cohen brought up several other notable titles. She mentioned Brad Wilcox's Get Married to touch upon traditional center-right perspectives aiming to prevent divorce and promote conventional family structures. She also referenced Sheila Heti's novel How Should a Person Be to articulate specific relational concepts, collectively using these works to map out a wide spectrum of modern and historical human connections.
Books recommended by Raina Cohen
-
Far From the Tree
Far From the Tree is a comprehensive nonfiction book by Andrew Solomon that explores how parents navigate raising children who are profoundly different from them in identity, ability, or background.
Recommended“so my first book Is by Andrew Solomon it's called far from the tree and it made a huge impact on me”
Where to get it
-
Thy Neighbor's Wife
Thy Neighbor's Wife is a non-fiction book by Gay Talese that explores the changing sexual landscape and cultural attitudes toward sex in the United States through immersive reporting on various communities and figures.
Recommended“my third book is thy neighbor's wife by gay Tois which is about 40 years old and it's a book that's looking at these twin impulses in American culture to be both sex obsessed and also very puritanical”
Where to get it
-
Get Married
Get Married by Brad Wilcox is a sociological exploration of family structures and marriage that examines the benefits of traditional marital arrangements and offers strategies to prevent divorce.
Discussed“and then on the flip side there were people you know more on the right or the center like Brad Wilcox who literally has a book called get married that's coming out and he really is trying to prevent divorce and so on”
Where to get it
-
How should a person be?
How Should a Person Be? by Sheila Heti is a semi-autobiographical novel that blends fiction, memoir, and philosophical inquiry as its protagonist navigates art, friendship, ambition, and the messy pursuit of an authentic life.
Discussed“yeah this is from Sheila H's novel how should a person be”
Where to get it
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| What Relationships Would You Want, if You Believed They Were Possible? | The Ezra Klein Show | 2024-02-06 | 4 |