#1775

Mentioned in 14 episodes

The Bluest Eye

Book • 1970

Set in Lorain, Ohio, during the Great Depression, 'The Bluest Eye' tells the story of Pecola Breedlove, an eleven-year-old African American girl who desperately wants blue eyes, believing they will make her more beautiful and accepted according to white cultural standards.

The novel explores themes of race, class, and beauty standards, highlighting the destructive impact of internalized racism and societal pressures on Pecola and her family.

Through a non-linear narrative and shifting perspectives, Morrison critiques the systemic racism and social stratification that contribute to Pecola's tragic downfall.

Mentioned by

Francisco Hernandez

Jose Antonio Vargas

Vinson Cunningham

Stephanie Studer

Mentioned in 14 episodes

Mentioned by

Kim Scott

as one of her favorite authors.

Radical Candor: From theory to practice with author Kim Scott

Mentioned by

Francisco Hernandez

as his most valuable and favorite book.

73. Used Bookstores

Mentioned by

Glenn Loury

as a book he plans to read.

John McWhorter – Liberal Panic over Trump

Recommended by

Kim Scott

to build empathy as a leader.

Kim Scott: Radical Candor Requires Radical Respect

Mentioned by Ismatu, stating that Beth Ann Hardison ensured she made this book read like a true work of fiction for her.

THE WAR IS NOT A METAPHOR: The Capitalist, the Defector, the Traitor, and the Revolutionaries

Mentioned by

Brooke Warner

as a famous example of an industry insider turned author, highlighting her work at Random House and her impact on publishing.

Write What You Know, featuring Betsy Lerner

Mentioned by

Vinson Cunningham

when discussing the themes of 'A Different Man'.

“The Substance” and the New Horror of the Modified Body

Mentioned by

Suzanne Nossel

as a book that has been banned in some schools and libraries.

The 12 Books of Christmas | Think Again: Is Free Speech Under Threat? with Suzanne Nossel and Charlotte Lydia Riley

Mentioned by

Stephanie Studer

as a frequently banned book in America due to depictions of sexual violence.

A cut above the West: America’s astounding economy

Mentioned by Stephanie Studer as one of the most banned books in America due to depictions of sexual violence.

A cut above the West: America’s astounding economy

Mentioned by

Suzanne Rust

, who describes a positive encounter with her at a luncheon.

The Moth Podcast: Meeting Your Idols

Mentioned in relation to her work at Random House and the publication of Black authors.

The Sunday Read: ‘Inside the Push to Diversify the Book Business’

Mentioned by

Tovia Smith

as a book that was recently banned in Florida and easily accessible online.

Authors Of Banned Books Are Fed Up – and Fighting Back

Mentioned by

Elsa Chang

as one of the books banned from various libraries and schools.

The Battle Over Book Bans Takes a Toll on Librarians and Comes at a Financial cost

Mentioned as Toni Morrison's work that is so naturally psychoanalytic.

Foluke Taylor, "Unruly Therapeutic: Black Feminist Writings and Practices in Living Room" (Norton, 2023)

Mentioned by

Kendall Deneen

and Amanda Greenwell to discuss the transactional gaze and its critique of ideologies.

Amanda M. Greenwell, "The Child Gaze: Narrating Resistance in American Literature" (UP of Mississippi, 2024)

Mentioned as one of the most challenged books of 2024.

NPR News: 04-07-2025 6PM EDT

Mentioned by

Jose Antonio Vargas

when talking about being pushed to the edge.

Zohran Mamdani STUNS With Victory Over Andrew Cuomo + The NIGHTMARE Of Living Undocumented In Trump’s America

Mentioned as one of the most challenged books of 2024.

NPR News: 04-08-2025 12AM EDT

Mentioned by

Jose Antonio Vargas

as a favorite writer whose book 'The Bluest Eye' challenged him to ask hard questions.

3 questions to ask yourself about US citizenship | Jose Antonio Vargas

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