Gary Shteyngart‘s Book Recommendations | The Ezra Klein Show

As a final question, what are a few As a final question, what are a few books you recommend to the audience? books you recommend to the audience? books you recommend to the audience? >> So, I'm going to start with a book by >> So, I'm going to start with a book by >> So, I'm going to start with a book by one of my students. I love my students. one of my students. I love my students. one of my students. I love my students. Such good work. Such good work. Such good work. Columbia graduate a couple years ago. Columbia graduate a couple years ago. Columbia graduate a couple years ago. The book is called Men Like Ours. Her The book is called Men Like Ours. Her The book is called Men Like Ours. Her name is Bindu Bansinath. I hope I name is Bindu Bansinath. I hope I name is Bindu Bansinath. I hope I pronounce that correctly. pronounce that correctly. pronounce that correctly. Set in New Jersey. I love anything set Set in New Jersey. I love anything set Set in New Jersey. I love anything set in New Jersey. Talk about dystopia, in New Jersey. Talk about dystopia, in New Jersey. Talk about dystopia, right? That is the best. right? That is the best. right? That is the best. Really dark humor, but as dark as it is Really dark humor, but as dark as it is Really dark humor, but as dark as it is funny. I can't say enough about it. funny. I can't say enough about it. funny. I can't say enough about it. A second book was coming out I think in A second book was coming out I think in A second book was coming out I think in August and that's by my mentor, August and that's by my mentor, August and that's by my mentor, Chang-rae Lee, the wonderful Chang-rae Lee, the wonderful Chang-rae Lee, the wonderful Korean-American writer. A Tender Age, I Korean-American writer. A Tender Age, I Korean-American writer. A Tender Age, I think is the name of the book. There was think is the name of the book. There was think is the name of the book. There was an excerpt in the New Yorker. This I an excerpt in the New Yorker. This I an excerpt in the New Yorker. This I think is his most think is his most think is his most memoiristic novel. I think a lot of his memoiristic novel. I think a lot of his memoiristic novel. I think a lot of his own background goes into this. He meant own background goes into this. He meant own background goes into this. He meant so much to me so much to me so much to me both as a both as a both as a teacher and as a friend and as a teacher and as a friend and as a teacher and as a friend and as a sensualist. He is as sensual as one gets sensualist. He is as sensual as one gets sensualist. He is as sensual as one gets living in Northern California. He's living in Northern California. He's living in Northern California. He's incredible. incredible. incredible. And the third book is Julia Yoffee's And the third book is Julia Yoffee's And the third book is Julia Yoffee's Motherland, which was a National Book Motherland, which was a National Book Motherland, which was a National Book Award finalist, an old friend of mine, Award finalist, an old friend of mine, Award finalist, an old friend of mine, also Soviet-born, also Soviet-born, also Soviet-born, Moscow to my Leningrad, and it's a book Moscow to my Leningrad, and it's a book Moscow to my Leningrad, and it's a book about about about what the Soviet, you know, the Soviet what the Soviet, you know, the Soviet what the Soviet, you know, the Soviet Union was ostensibly this feminist Union was ostensibly this feminist Union was ostensibly this feminist progressive society, but guess what? It progressive society, but guess what? It progressive society, but guess what? It treated women like This book treated women like This book treated women like This book really helped me understand a lot of my really helped me understand a lot of my really helped me understand a lot of my own background and also about how own background and also about how own background and also about how what the Soviet Union did to people on what the Soviet Union did to people on what the Soviet Union did to people on every level.

every level. every level. Here through the prism of women, but Here through the prism of women, but Here through the prism of women, but also through Jewish women. It is a also through Jewish women. It is a also through Jewish women. It is a remarkable book.