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Sam Freedman

Recommended Books

CEO of Education Partnerships Group
29 books on the list
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An Empire of Their Own book cover
An Empire of Their Own
How the Jews Invented Hollywood
Neal Gabler - 1989-09-08 (first published in 1988)
Goodreads Rating
Discover the Jewish immigrants who shaped America's movie industry in this award-winning group biography. "An Empire of Their Own" highlights the fascinating individuals who were the driving force behind the golden age of Hollywood. Richly entertaining and original, this book brings to life the captivating history of the movie moguls.
Sam Freedman
2022-12-19T19:15:08.000Z
Probably my favourite book on cinema is Neil Gabler's An Empire of Their Own - but Jews and the entertainment industry is a niche interest of mine so not sure it will have such a wide appeal...      source
Cinema Speculation book cover
Cinema Speculation
Quentin Tarantino - 2022-10-25
Goodreads Rating
Cinema Speculation is an intellectually rigorous and insightful book focused on key American films from the 1970s. Written by the celebrated filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, the book is a unique and creative exploration of cinema that is both entertaining and informative. Organized around movies that Tarantino saw as a young moviegoer, Cinema Speculation combines film criticism, theory and personal history in a delightful and infectious way.
Sam Freedman
2022-12-16T17:45:56.000Z
Transfixed by Quentin Tarantino's book "Cinema Speculation" - a sort of mix of memoir and criticism. If you have any interest in Hollywood history it's a must.      source
Recommended by
Sonny Bunch
In Memory of Memory book cover
In Memory of Memory
Maria Stepanova - 2021-02-09 (first published in 2017)
Goodreads Rating
Uncover a century of life in Russia as you sift through faded photographs, old postcards, diaries, and letters in this poetic memoir. In Memory of Memory retells the story of an ordinary family's survival during a time of persecution and repression, highlighting their pursuit of a peaceful and civilized life. This book combines elements of essay, memoir, travelogue, history, and fiction and is filled with intellectual curiosity and soft-spoken prose. Engage with ideas and personalities as you explore cultural and personal memory with this bold and thought-provoking read.
Sam Freedman
2022-11-14T17:31:48.000Z
@mrchrisaddison @FitzcarraldoEds Try Joshua Cohen and Mathias Enard too. On the non-fiction side I'd recommend Maria Stepanova "In Memory of Memory": Vriginie Despentes "King Kong Theory"; and my all time favourite book "Second Hand Time" by Svetlana Alexievich.      source
King Kong Theory book cover
King Kong Theory
Virginie Despentes - 2007-10-03 (first published in 2006)
Goodreads Rating
This powerful book explores modern beauty myths and challenges common attitudes about sex and gender. The author uses her own experiences in the porn industry and with rape and prostitution to create a space for those who refuse to obey societal norms. With humor and candor, the author provides a highly charged and thought-provoking account of women's lives today.
Sam Freedman
2022-11-14T17:31:48.000Z
@mrchrisaddison @FitzcarraldoEds Try Joshua Cohen and Mathias Enard too. On the non-fiction side I'd recommend Maria Stepanova "In Memory of Memory": Vriginie Despentes "King Kong Theory"; and my all time favourite book "Second Hand Time" by Svetlana Alexievich.      source
The Morbid Age book cover
The Morbid Age
Richard Overy - 2009-10-29
Goodreads Rating
Explore the golden age of British intellectual life between the wars, featuring Arnold Toynbee, Aldous and Julian Huxley, H.G. Wells, Marie Stopes, and other public intellectuals and scientists. Author Richard Overy expertly showcases the emergence of ideas like eugenics, pacifism, and world government, as well as the common fear of societal dystopia. Enjoy a vivid portrayal of the time through BBC radio lectures, public debates, psychoanalysts, and more. This insightful read offers a thought-provoking glimpse into a world both different from and similar to our own.
Sam Freedman
2022-09-18T20:58:23.000Z
@tj_arnold Great book. Loved it.      source
The Stand book cover
The Stand
Stephen King - 2021-10-07 (first published in 1978)
Goodreads Rating
A chilling tale of a world decimated by plague, where dreams foretell the rise of a sinister figure known as the Dark Man. As fear grips society, the Prince of Evil's domain flourishes, and an inevitable battle for the fate of humanity looms.
Sam Freedman
2022-07-24T17:21:44.000Z
@cian_west The Stand is one of my favourite books so I am very much doing this.      source
The Meritocracy Trap book cover
The Meritocracy Trap
How America's Foundational Myth Feeds Inequality, Dismantles the Middle Class, and Devours the Elite
Daniel Markovits - 2019-09-10
Goodreads Rating
This book by esteemed Yale Law professor Daniel Markovits challenges the notion of meritocracy in American society. Markovits argues that the meritocratic ideal - that social and economic rewards should follow achievement rather than breeding - is a sham, perpetuating inequality and consolidating wealth and privilege across generations. The author draws from his personal experiences to expose the inner workings of the meritocratic machine and suggests steps towards a new world that values dignity and prosperity for all Americans.
Sam Freedman
2022-07-23T08:47:19.000Z
@JSkeaping Both great books      source
The Crisis of the Meritocracy book cover
The Crisis of the Meritocracy
Britain's Transition to Mass Education since the Second World War
Peter Mandler - 2020-11-10
Goodreads Rating
Discover how the landscape of education has drastically changed in the past century. From only 2% of the population attending university pre-WWII, to now where half of all young people go to university. The Crisis of the Meritocracy explores the revolution in attitudes and expectations that caused this shift. As society places greater importance on education and upward mobility, the tension between meritocracy and democracy grows. This book is an essential read for those seeking to understand the larger forces at play in the education system.
Sam Freedman
2022-07-19T20:54:20.000Z
@Sleek_Otter Best book on the politics of education is Crisis of the Meritocracy by Peter Mandler; on how things work + constitutional stuff Peter Hennessy's Whitehall is a classic; Nick Timmins Five Giants is brilliant on the welfare state.      source
The Fiery Trial book cover
The Fiery Trial
Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery
Eric Foner - 2010-10-04
Goodreads Rating
Explore Lincoln's lifelong fight against American slavery in this definitive account of his pragmatic principles and political navigation. Master historian Eric Foner expertly balances Lincoln's personal journey with the broader history of the period, highlighting the president's unparalleled capacity for moral and political growth.
Sam Freedman
2022-05-05T18:05:47.000Z
This is a great book but my favourite book about Lincoln is the Gore Vidal novel which is amazing. Also v much like Eric Foner's "Fiery Trial".      source
Recommended by
Errol Morris
Lincoln book cover
Lincoln
A Novel (The American Chronicle Series)
Gore Vidal - 2000-02-15 (first published in 1984)
Goodreads Rating
Experience an alternative view of Abraham Lincoln in the novel from Gore Vidal's Narratives of Empire series. Delve into the political and personal struggles of the president during the Civil War, as he grapples with making decisions and facing loss. With Vidal's signature knowing and ironic style, Lincoln is portrayed as more than just a monolithic figure, but a complex and human character.
Sam Freedman
2022-05-05T18:05:47.000Z
This is a great book but my favourite book about Lincoln is the Gore Vidal novel which is amazing. Also v much like Eric Foner's "Fiery Trial".      source
The Scout Mindset by Julia Galef
The Biggest Bluff by Maria Konnikova
Light that Failed by Stephen Holmes Ivan Krastev
The Border by Don Winslow
Kill All Normies by Angela Nagle
The Cicero Trilogy by Robert Harris
Secondhand Time by Svetlana Alexievich
The Cartel by Don Winslow
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
Ship of Theseus by J. J. Abrams
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell
Why Don't Students Like School? by Daniel T. Willingham
The Kindly Ones by Jonathan Littell
I Am a Strange Loop by Douglas R. Hofstadter
The Power of the Dog by Don Winslow
The Book of Disquiet by Fernando Pessoa
King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild
The Quincunx by Charles Palliser