Person
Every book Will Summer recommended on podcasts
Key facts
- Will Summer has recommended or discussed 4 books on podcasts, as of July 18, 2025.
- Will Summer has talked about books on 1 podcast, as of July 18, 2025.
- Those books came up in 1 episode, as of July 18, 2025.
- The 3 books Will Summer has mentioned in the most episodes, as of July 18, 2025: American Tabloid, Buckley and Low Life.
- The latest episode with a book mention from Will Summer aired on July 18, 2025.
Updated
Will Summer appeared on The Ezra Klein Show to discuss American political history, organized crime, and prominent cultural figures, offering a selection of recommended books for listeners interested in deep historical investigations. First, Summer recommended Sam Tanenhaus's biography of William F. Buckley, noting that while the volume is massive, it is thoroughly rewarding. Continuing with historical and political deep dives, Summer recommended Rick Perlstein's Nixonland series as an essential exploration of political polarization and American history. Shifting toward narrative fiction with historical and conspiratorial themes, Summer recommended James Ellroy's American Tabloid, praising it as an ideal novel for readers fascinated by the Kennedy assassination and political intrigue, especially given the ongoing public interest surrounding newly released JFK files. Finally, Summer recommended Lucy Sante's Low Life, commending its gritty and colorful history of organized crime and eccentric characters in New York City across the centuries as a consistently engaging read that successfully transports the reader to past eras of urban history.
Books recommended by Will Summer
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American Tabloid
American Tabloid by James Ellroy is a sprawling historical fiction novel that delves deep into the dark underbelly of American politics, organized crime, and the conspiracies surrounding the Kennedy assassination.
Recommended“Um, my second book uh would be James Elroyy's American Tabloid, a novel about uh the Kennedy assassination. If you've enjoyed, you know, thinking putting yourself in kind of conspiratorial mindset, uh, and obviously JFK is in the news with the release of these files, I mean, this book really cannot be beat.”
Where to get it
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Buckley
Buckley by Sam Tanenhaus is a comprehensive biographical work detailing the life, political ideology, and cultural impact of the prominent conservative figure William F.
Recommended“So, uh, first, uh, Sam Tannonous's new biography of William F. Buckley. It's big, uh, but it's it's it's worth it so far from as far as I've gotten.”
Where to get it
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Low Life
Low Life by Lucy Sante is a gritty historical chronicle documenting the underworld, vice, and marginalized populations of early New York City across multiple centuries.
Recommended“And then finally, I would say Lucy Sante's uh book, Low Life, about the history of organized crime and kind of skezy characters in New York over the centuries is always a good one to visit and, you know, again, kind of takes you back.”
Where to get it
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Nixonland
Nixonland by Rick Perlstein is a sweeping historical account that explores the turbulent political and cultural landscape of the United States during the Nixon era.
Recommended“You know, I think we would also think of, you know, Rick Pearlstein's Nixon Land series, stuff like that.”
Where to get it
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Why Trump Can’t Shake Jeffrey Epstein | The Ezra Klein Show | The Ezra Klein Show | 2025-07-18 | 4 |