Person
Ross Douthat's book recommendations
Ross Douthat appears on programs like The Ezra Klein Show and Honestly with Bari Weiss as a conservative cultural commentator, author, and public intellectual. As evident from these podcast appearances, Douthat frequently explores themes of religion, metaphysics, philosophy, and the limits of modern materialism. During his discussions, he has recommended and examined several books that grapple with spiritual experiences and existential questions. Douthat repeatedly recommended 'After' by Bruce Greyson, a psychiatrist and neuroscientist who surveys literature and data on near-death experiences, presenting it as a valuable resource for those exploring the boundaries of consciousness. He also recommended Stephen M. Barr's 'Modern Physics and Ancient Faith' for its exploration of the compatibility between scientific inquiry and religious belief, as well as Thomas Nagel's 'Mind and Cosmos,' highlighting Nagel's philosophical critique of strict materialist frameworks. Additionally, Douthat discussed Barbara Ehrenreich's 'Living with a Wild God' and William James's classic 'The Varieties of Religious Experience' to analyze how secular or skeptical individuals encounter profound spiritual phenomena. Through these recommendations and discussions, Douthat directs readers toward intellectual works that challenge purely materialist worldviews and seek to reconcile modern science with ancient faith and mystical inquiry.
Books Ross Douthat recommends
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After
Recommended“one recommendation would be a book called after by Bruce Grayson who's a I think psychiatrist or neur neuroscientist from the University of Virginia who just has a good overview”
Where to get it
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Mind and Cosmos
Recommended“a book by called Mind and Cosmos by Thomas Nagel who's a famous philosopher not religious but arguing for the fundamental limits and problems with a materialist framework on the world”
Where to get it
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Modern Physics and Ancient Faith
Recommended“The first one is a book called from about 20 years ago by a physicist named Steven Bar called ancient physics and modern faith.”
Where to get it
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Living with a Wild God
Discussed“someone like you know Barbara Aaron Reich who's famous I had her on for this book right famous left liberal writer wrote a whole book called and a famous atheist yes famous atheist called living with a wild god right”
Where to get it
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The Varieties of Religious Experience
Discussed“if you read William James varieties of religious experience, the famous, you know, the famous attempt to sort of catalog and analyze these experiences, I saw things like that happened to my parents and people I know.”
Where to get it
Books Ross Douthat wrote
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ross Douthat on Trump, Mysticism and Psychedelics | The Ezra Klein Show | The Ezra Klein Show | 2025-04-26 | 6 |
| Ross Douthat: Why It’s Logical to Believe in God | Honestly with Bari Weiss | 2025-04-17 | 2 |
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
“Shurmer in the end works out, you know, he he he wants to have a theory of the multiverse where in some different timeline much like in the movie Interstellar his wife's great uncle is capable of accessing our timeline.”