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Every book Tom Hanks recommended on podcasts
Tom Hanks appears on cultural interview podcasts as an acclaimed actor, novelist, and thoughtful observer of American history and society. During his comprehensive conversation on The Ezra Klein Show, Hanks shared deep reflections on literature and recommended several impactful books to the audience. Responding to a closing request for recommendations, Hanks highlighted Stephen Greenblatt's The Swerve, detailing how the modern world began with the 1417 discovery of a long-lost Latin book, a codex of Lucretius. He also recommended Fredrik Backman's Beartown, describing it as the first installment in a compelling trilogy centered around a youth hockey club in a small Swedish town. The third recommendation he offered was Hernan Diaz's Trust, praising its gorgeous structure and noting how it masterfully blurs the lines between fiction and historical entertainment. Beyond his direct recommendations, Hanks discussed John Steinbeck's Travels with Charley, bringing up the classic travelogue to explore themes of American identity, race, and societal division during the civil rights era, thereby showcasing a broad and historically grounded literary curiosity.
Books recommended by Tom Hanks
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The swerve
The Swerve by Stephen Greenblatt examines how the modern world began through the dramatic rediscovery in 1417 of a long-lost Latin codex by Lucretius.
Recommended“uh the swerve by Stephen Greenblatt how the modern world began it's about the discovery in 1417 of what had been a long lost Latin book a codex of lucretius”
Where to get it
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Beartown
Beartown by Fredrik Backman is a poignant novel that serves as the first installment in a compelling trilogy centered around a youth hockey club in a small, remote forestry town in Sweden, where the community's hopes and tragedies are inextricably bound to the sport.
Recommended“three books would be Bear Town by Frederick Bachmann it's the first in a Trilogy about a hockey Youth Hockey Club in a small town in Sweden”
Where to get it
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Trust
Trust by Hernan Diaz is a critically acclaimed, Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that explores wealth, power, ambition, and multiple conflicting perspectives on a Wall Street tycoon's life through four distinct literary texts within the book.
Recommended“and Trust by Hernandez which is a fabulous book the structure of which is just gorgeous and tells an awful lot about what I'd like to think of as non-fiction entertainment by way of a novel”
Where to get it
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Travels with Charley
Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck is a celebrated travelogue chronicling the author's cross-country road trip across America in a pickup truck accompanied by his standard poodle, Charley, in search of the country's national identity.
Discussed“I've read John Steinbeck's Travels With Charlie”
Where to get it
Books Tom Hanks wrote
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| What Tom Hanks Thinks of America | The Ezra Klein Show | 2023-07-14 | 5 |