#1264

Mentioned in 19 episodes

Gilead

Book • 2004

In 'Gilead', Marilynne Robinson crafts a deeply personal and introspective narrative through the eyes of John Ames, a 76-year-old pastor writing to his seven-year-old son in 1956.

The novel explores themes of faith, forgiveness, and redemption as Ames recounts his life, his family's history, and the tensions between his abolitionist grandfather and his pacifist father.

The book is a meditation on the human condition, highlighting the beauty in everyday moments and the profound bond between fathers and sons.

It won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Critics Circle Award.

Mentioned by

Mentioned in 19 episodes

Mentioned by

Miri Rubin

as an example of an author who uses typology in their work.

227 snips

Typology

Recommended by

Maryanne Wolf

for understanding empathy in human relationships.

64 snips

196: Focus & The Reading Life, with Maryanne Wolf

Mentioned by

Tyler Cowen

as one of

Marilynne Robinson

's famous novels.

42 snips

Marilynne Robinson on Biblical Interpretation, Calvinist Thought, and Religion in America

Recommended by

Naomi Fry

as a novel offering a positive depiction of fatherhood through letters between a dying father and his son.

23 snips

I Need a Critic: May 2025 Edition

Mentioned by

Matthew Sitman

in the context of writing about religious faith in fiction.

16 snips

Political Fictions (w/ Vinson Cunningham)

Mentioned by

Barbara Kingsolver

as an example of a novel deeply embedded in a specific place.

13 snips

Writing Lessons Episode 4: Sense of Place Featuring Barbara Kingsolver

Mentioned by

John Anderson

as one of

Marilynne Robinson

's award-winning books.

12 snips

Marilynne Robinson, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Novelist And Author

Mentioned by

Collin Hansen

in comparison to

Allen Levi

's book.

11 snips

The Great Novel That Almost Wasn't

Mentioned by

Henry Oliver

as one of the best novels of the last few years, noted for its unique perspective and inclusion in the New York Times best books of the century list.

11 snips

Henry Oliver: The Literary Moment

Mentioned by

Jeanette Winterson

as a possible nightmare version of the 1950s.

Jeanette Winterson: 40 Years of Storytelling

Mentioned by

Mollie Hemingway

, who appreciates its high wisdom-to-sentence ratio and tender exploration of Calvinism.

'You're Wrong' With Mollie Hemingway And David Harsanyi, Ep. 161: Obamagate

Mentioned by

Jeff O'Neal

and

Rebecca Schinsky

during their power ranking of Pulitzer winners, placing it highly for its profound exploration of faith and family.

The 10 Best Winners of The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction of the Century So Far

Mentioned by

Gretchen Rubin

as one of her favorite books.

Ep. 527: What a Favorite Book Reveals, Photo Selection Tips & Family Secrets Explored

Mentioned by Barack Obama as an author whose writing process he found interesting.

President Barack Obama

Mentioned as the unique novel they are tackling in this episode.

The Everyday Ecstasy of Marilynne Robinsone's GILEAD

Mentioned by

Andrew Peterson

in relation to her ideas about the new creation and the enduring significance of earthly experiences.

Finding God in the Garden with Andrew Peterson

Mentioned by

Kaitlyn Schiess

in the closing remarks, referencing the pastor John Ames's perspective on the planet's beauty and worth.

Why did God make the other planets?

Mentioned by

Ryan Holiday

while discussing the importance of expressing love to children.

Let Them Know They Give You This

Mentioned by

Krista Tippett

in the introduction, highlighting her novels and their themes.

[Unedited] Marilynne Robinson and Marcelo Gleiser with Krista Tippett

Recommended by

Anne Applebaum

as a lovely, subtle book about the American Midwest, touching on various political issues.

The crisis isn’t Trump. It’s the Republican Party.

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