#3175
Mentioned in 9 episodes

Slouching Towards Bethlehem

Book • 1968
Slouching Towards Bethlehem is a collection of essays by Joan Didion that captures the essence of 1960s America, especially in California.

The book includes twenty essays that cover a wide range of topics, from the counterculture movement in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district to personal narratives and character portraits.

Didion's essays explore themes such as the decline of traditional values, the disillusionment of the American Dream, and the tumultuous social changes of the era.

The title essay, 'Slouching Towards Bethlehem,' is a vivid portrayal of the hippie culture and its contrast with its idealized representations, drawing imagery from W.B.

Yeats' poem 'The Second Coming.

' The collection also includes essays like 'On Keeping a Notebook' and 'Goodbye to All That,' which reflect on Didion's personal life and writing habits.

Through her keen observations and vivid storytelling, Didion provides an unflinching and insightful overview of America during the 1960s.

Mentioned by

Mentioned in 9 episodes

Mentioned by
undefined
Cal Newport
as one of the many authors whose books are displayed in a Dartmouth College fellowship house.
776 snips
Ep. 254: The Laws of Less
Mentioned by
undefined
Ryan Holiday
in relation to journaling habits.
288 snips
Get Over This Bogus Notion | How To Journal Like A Stoic Philosopher
Mentioned by
undefined
Ryan Holiday
in relation to an essay on keeping a notebook.
55 snips
Paper Trails: How Notebooks Changed The World | Roland Allen
Mentioned by
undefined
Tim Miller
as a book that discusses the Santa Ana winds and their impact on Los Angeles.
35 snips
Derek Thompson and Elizabeth Weil: The Trend Toward Solitude
Mentioned by
undefined
Jack Beatty
in the context of her essay about visiting Pearl Harbor.
12 snips
The Jackpod: The past is a foreign country
Mentioned by
undefined
Evelyn McDonnell
as an essay that offers a view of Haight-Ashbury that goes against the mythology of the time.
11 snips
Author Evelyn McDonnell On Joan Didion’s Life and Legacy (Pt 1)
Mentioned by
undefined
Adrian Daub
and
undefined
Moira Donegan
as a seminal work on the counterculture in San Francisco.
Episode 77: San Francisco
Mentioned by
undefined
Griffin Dunne
in relation to the documentary he directed about her, "The Center Will Not Hold."
Storytelling, Family & Tragedy with Griffin Dunne
Mentioned by
undefined
Ryan Holiday
and
undefined
Timothy Denevi
in the context of their shared Sacramento roots and Didion's unique perspective on California.
Timothy Denevi on Hunter S Thompson and the Art of Journalism (Part 1)
Mentioned by
undefined
Ryan Holiday
as an incredible book.
Joan Didion's Parenting Strategies | Ryan Holiday & Evelyn McDonnell
Mentioned by
undefined
Mina Kim
; the book is discussed in relation to Didion's early work and her views on California.
Joan Didion and How Hollywood Shaped American Politics
Mentioned by
undefined
Alissa Wilkinson
as a book containing articles from 1961 to 1967, embodying her sense of things falling apart.
Alissa Wilkinson: Joan Didion and the American Dream Machine
Mentioned by
undefined
Ryan Holiday
as an example of how a parent's response to a child's boredom can foster creativity.
Show Them How To Use That Energy
Mentioned by
undefined
Dr. Dru Johnson
as a collection of essays containing one about a news story where a woman burned her husband alive.
Hollywood, Scripture, and Politics: Joan Didion and the Power of Story (Alissa Wilkinson) Ep. #207

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app