Person
Walter Kirn's books and book recommendations
Across 2 podcasts. Every show Walter Kirn appears on, in one place — not just one.
Walter Norris Kirn is an American novelist, literary critic, and essayist. He is the author of eight books, most notably Up in the Air, which was made into a film of the same name starring George Clooney. Appearing on podcasts such as The Tucker Carlson Show and The Megyn Kelly Show, Kirn has discussed literature, historical patterns, and cultural dynamics. He recommended Paul Fussell's Class, encouraging everyone to read it to better understand the subtle and complex signifiers of the American class system. In discussing criminal psychology, modern media figures, and cultural narratives, Kirn brought up several classic literary works. He referenced James Comey's A Higher Loyalty while analyzing how prosecutors are built up by the media, compared modern violent events to themes found in Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, and discussed F. Scott Fitzgerald's novels This Side of Paradise and The Great Gatsby to critique romanticized myths of the American establishment, elite institutions, and the tragic fates of outsiders seeking acceptance. Additionally, Kirn provided a detailed literary analysis of George Orwell's 1984, focusing on its core themes of memory suppression, totalitarian control, and the continuous alteration of history.
Books by Walter Kirn
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Blood Will Out
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My hard bargain
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Up in the Air
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Thumbsucker
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Lost in the meritocracy
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She Needed Me
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Mission to America
Books recommended by Walter Kirn
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Class
Class by Paul Fussell is a satirical and sociological exploration of the hidden hierarchies, tastes, and status signifiers that define social standing in the United States.
Recommended“there's a great book by a writer named Paul Fussell who used to hang out at Princeton and who I knew a little called Class. I recommend that everyone read it.”
Where to get it
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1984
George Orwell's classic dystopian novel 1984 presents a grim totalitarian future defined by perpetual surveillance, historical denial, and thought control.
Discussed“More than anything else, 1984 is a book about time, about a society which doesn't have access to the past, in which the past is constantly rewritten to celebrate the current leaders.”
Where to get it
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A Higher Loyalty
A Higher Loyalty by James Comey is a high-profile political memoir by the former FBI director that chronicles his career in public service, his handling of sensitive investigations, and his interactions with political leaders including Donald Trump.
Discussed“how Leticia James, you know, the the the the the uh icon of New York justice, James Comey, the the the prince of proety, the man who who wrote a, you know, a higher calling.”
Where to get it
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Encyclopedia of Crime and Punishment
Discussed“I mean, this is like a theme in Crime and Punishment, too. Um I think there's nothing particularly artistic about shooting strangers on the sidewalk.”
Where to get it
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Everlasting Punishment Not Everlasting Pain
Discussed“I mean, this is like a theme in Crime and Punishment, too. Um I think there's nothing particularly artistic about shooting strangers on the sidewalk.”
Where to get it
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The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby by F.
Discussed“The Great Gatsby is actually, you know, a kid from North Dakota who wants Exactly. and a and a and a gun runner and a you know, gangster basically who wants to get in and they go to his parties.”
Where to get it
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This Side of Paradise
This Side of Paradise by F.
Discussed“He wrote a novel, this side of paradise, you know, which Princeton still sort of exalts over as its most romantic portrayal.”
Where to get it
Appearances
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
“Blood Will Out. Uh it's about a man who propit”
“It's starting to remind me of 1960s thrillers like uh Seven Days in May uh about a coup.”