Person
Every book Ray Madoff recommended on podcasts
Ray Madoff appears on interview programs to discuss taxation, public policy, and systemic challenges in the modern economy. As a guest on discussion platforms, she engages with complex socioeconomic structures, evaluating how contemporary institutions operate and affect broader public welfare. At the conclusion of her appearance on The Ezra Klein Show, Madoff shared three distinct book recommendations that reflect her broad intellectual interests spanning public extraction and political history. She recommended Tim Wu's "The Age of Extraction," highlighting the text for its critical examination of how prominent companies have shifted away from producing general wealth toward engaging in wealth extraction. Additionally, she recommended Gary Gerstle's "The Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order," endorsing it alongside Wu's work as a vital contemporary study. Bringing a literary dimension to her list, Madoff also recommended Jonathan Franzen's novel "Crossroads." She explained her appreciation for fiction by noting that narrative literature offers a fantastic and necessary space to live in and explore alternative perspectives, particularly during challenging historical and political times.
Books recommended by Ray Madoff
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The Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order
The Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order by Gary Gerstle is a historical analysis tracking the rise of neoliberalism as a dominant political and economic paradigm in the United States and its eventual fracturing in the twenty-first century.
Recommended“The other is the book, "The Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order" by Gary Gerstle. And I like this. All past guests of the show Tim Wu, Gary Gerstle Yeah, I love yeah, these are great books.”
Where to get it
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Crossroads
Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen is a sweeping contemporary novel that delves into the complex dynamics of a suburban American family navigating faith, morality, and personal crisis during the turbulent 1970s.
Recommended“And the last book is a book of fiction, the book "Crossroads" by Jonathan Franzen, fiction at any time, and particularly in these times, is just a fantastic place to live, to explore other things than the world that we’re living in.”
Where to get it
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The Age of Extraction
The Age of Extraction by Tim Wu is an incisive examination of how major technology companies and modern corporations have shifted from generating genuine wealth and public good to extracting value from the economy at the expense of societal prosperity.
Recommended“The first book is "The Age of Extraction" by Tim Wu. This is a fantastic book that talks about how many of our companies that used to do a lot of good for the world are now, rather than producing wealth, they are doing wealth extraction”
Where to get it
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our Tax System Should Make You Furious | The Ezra Klein Show | The Ezra Klein Show | 2026-04-17 | 4 |