The History of Literature 740 Mel Brooks and Other Eminent Jews (with David Denby) | War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (#13 GBOAT)
Oct 13, 2025
In a fascinating conversation, David Denby, a New York Times bestselling author and film critic, delves into his book Eminent Jews, showcasing iconic figures like Leonard Bernstein, Mel Brooks, Betty Friedan, and Norman Mailer. He highlights how these personalities transformed American culture post-World War II. Brooks's unique blend of humor and Holocaust satire is discussed, along with Mailer's complex legacy and literary brilliance. Denby also reflects on the challenge of writing concise biographies that capture such impactful lives.
01:03:56
Celebratory Reversal Of Strachey
- Denby frames his book as a celebratory reversal of Strachey's exposure, profiling four Jewish figures who unapologetically embodied themselves.
- He argues their assertiveness reflects a postwar American moment where Jews felt newly welcome and free to shape public life.
Media Enabled Cultural Ascent
- Denby links the four figures' rise to new mass media like LP records, television, and cheap paperbacks after WWII.
- These technologies amplified their voices and let Jewish Americans shape national culture in ways previously impossible.
Postwar Acceptance Changed Behavior
- The postwar shift from anti-Semitism to relative philo-Semitism created space for assertive Jewish public figures.
- Denby sees that security and acceptance let them act boldly 'for good and for ill.'
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Intro
00:00 • 4min
Virginia Woolf on Tolstoy's Genius
04:30 • 9min
Denby's Project: Celebrating Eminent Jews
13:51 • 5min
Ad break
18:22 • 35sec
Why Bernstein, Brooks, Friedan, and Mailer?
18:57 • 3min
Writing Four Short Biographies
21:54 • 1min
Shared Era: Postwar Jewish Assertiveness
23:13 • 8min
Why Mel Brooks Represents the Era
31:38 • 3min
Brooks's Use of Holocaust Satire
34:54 • 4min
Brooks's Conciseness and Childhood Influence
38:27 • 3min
Norman Mailer as America's Reporter
41:17 • 2min
Mailer’s Violence, Family, and Literary Ambition
43:30 • 2min
Mailer’s Nonfiction Mastery
45:36 • 41sec
Mailer’s Executioner's Song and Narrative Technique
46:17 • 8min
Reconciling Art and Moral Failings
53:54 • 4min
Chapter Themes: Ends of Past Constraints
58:21 • 3min
Bernstein and American Musical Ambition
01:01:06 • 2min
Book Recommendation and Closing
01:03:21 • 30sec
Outro
01:03:51 • 3min
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Oswald's Tale
Norman Mailer
"Oswald's Tale: An American Mystery", penned by Norman Mailer, presents a unique exploration into the life and mind of Lee Harvey Oswald, the man accused of assassinating President John F. Kennedy.
Mailer delves into Oswald's experiences in the Soviet Union, as well as his relationships and motivations.
Drawing upon extensive research and interviews, Mailer constructs a narrative that attempts to understand the enigmatic figure.
The book examines themes of alienation, political radicalism, and the search for identity.
It offers a thought-provoking, though controversial, perspective on one of the most scrutinized events in American history.
#9130
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
The Naked and the Dead
Norman Mailer
The Naked and the Dead, published in 1948, is Norman Mailer's debut novel.
It is set on the fictional island of Anopopei in the South Pacific during World War II and follows the experiences of a fourteen-man infantry platoon as they engage in a campaign to drive out the Japanese.
The novel is divided into four parts: 'Wave,' 'Argil and Mold,' 'Plant and Phantom,' and 'Wake,' and includes chorus sections of dialogue and 'Time Machine' sections that provide background and flashbacks.
The story explores themes of power, victimization, and the naturalistic view of human experience, highlighting the brutal and often futile nature of war.
Key characters include General Cummings, Lieutenant Hearn, and Sergeant Croft, whose actions and interactions drive the plot and explore the psychological and social dynamics of the soldiers.
#2474
• Mentioned in 13 episodes
The Feminine Mystique
Betty Friedan
Published in 1963, 'The Feminine Mystique' by Betty Friedan critiques the societal expectations that confined women to roles as housewives and mothers, arguing that these roles denied women their basic human need to grow and achieve personal fulfillment.
Friedan coined the term 'feminine mystique' to describe the belief that women could find complete fulfillment in domestic duties alone.
Through extensive research, including interviews with housewives, college students, and experts in psychology and education, Friedan exposed the widespread unhappiness among women and the detrimental effects of these societal norms on their mental and physical health.
The book played a pivotal role in sparking the second-wave feminist movement, encouraging women to seek careers and personal achievements outside the home.
#21537
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Voyage Out
Virginia Woolf
#3319
• Mentioned in 10 episodes
Genius
The Life and Science of Richard Feynman
James Gleick
This sweeping biography by James Gleick integrates Richard Feynman’s work and life, making it accessible to both laymen and scientists.
It details Feynman’s quick mastery of quantum mechanics, his role in the Manhattan Project, and his contributions to particle physics and quantum electrodynamics.
The book also explores Feynman’s eccentric and irreverent personality, his interactions with other notable physicists, and his impact on the scientific community.
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Eminent Jews
David Demby
#14554
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Eminent Victorians
Lytton Strachey
Published in 1918, 'Eminent Victorians' is a groundbreaking work by Lytton Strachey that challenged the traditional Victorian biographical style.
The book consists of four biographical essays that use literary devices such as paradox, antithesis, hyperbole, and irony to portray its subjects.
Strachey's approach was irreverent and witty, aiming to puncture the myths surrounding these Victorian icons.
While Florence Nightingale is treated more sympathetically, the other subjects are depicted in a less-than-flattering light, revealing their flaws and human frailties.
The book was a significant departure from the conventional biographies of the time and had a profound impact on the genre.
#2056
• Mentioned in 15 episodes
In Cold Blood
Truman Capote
In 'In Cold Blood', Truman Capote chronicles the brutal murder of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas, on November 15, 1959.
The book follows the lives of the victims, Herb Clutter, his wife Bonnie, and their children Nancy and Kenyon, as well as the perpetrators, Perry Smith and Dick Hickock.
Capote uses a nonfiction novel approach, blending factual reporting with narrative techniques to create a deeply human and emotionally engaging story.
The book explores the psychological states of the murderers, the community's reaction to the crime, and the investigative efforts led by Alvin Dewey of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
It delves into themes of innocence, evil, and the complexities of human nature, particularly through the empathetic portrayal of Perry Smith.
The novel was first published serially in 'The New Yorker' in 1965 and later in book form in 1966, marking a significant contribution to the 'new journalism' genre.
#12250
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Sexual politics
Kate Millett
In 'Sexual Politics', Kate Millett critiques the patriarchal structures and heteronormativity reflected in Western literature.
She argues that the power imbalance between the sexes is a social construct rather than a biological fact.
The book analyzes works by authors such as Henry Miller, Norman Mailer, and D.H.
Lawrence, highlighting how their writings perpetuate patriarchal views and the subjugation of women.
Millett also explores the historical context of the sexual revolution and its failure to overthrow patriarchal rule, as well as the role of social sciences, particularly Freudian ideas, in legitimizing traditional sex roles.
The book is a central text of second-wave feminism, emphasizing the political nature of personal relationships and the need for gender equality and sexual liberation.
#79
• Mentioned in 148 episodes
War and Peace
Leo Tolstoy
Set during the Napoleonic Wars, 'War and Peace' follows the lives of several Russian aristocratic families, including the Bezukhovs, the Rostovs, and the Bolkonskys.
The novel spans from 1805 to 1820 and is known for its realistic detail and psychological analysis.
It explores the impact of Napoleon's invasion of Russia on the characters and society, delving into themes of love, family, war, and personal growth.
The novel includes historical events such as the Battle of Austerlitz, the Treaties of Tilsit, and the French invasion of Russia, intertwining historical and fictional elements.
#51227
Jacob's Room
Virginia Woolf
Jacob's Room is a novel by Virginia Woolf that innovatively portrays the life of Jacob Flanders through fragmented narratives and the observations of others.
The book explores themes of identity, loss, and the passage of time, reflecting on the impact of the First World War on a generation.
Woolf's experimental style in this work laid the groundwork for her later novels, such as 'Mrs.
Dalloway'.
#854
• Mentioned in 30 episodes
Madame Bovary
Gustave Flaubert
Published in 1857, 'Madame Bovary' is a seminal work of literary realism that tells the story of Emma Bovary, a beautiful and intelligent young woman who marries Charles Bovary, a dull and unambitious doctor.
Emma's life is marked by boredom, romantic fantasies, and a series of ill-fated love affairs with men like Rodolphe and Léon.
Her inability to distinguish between her romantic ideals and the harsh realities of her life leads to financial ruin, public scandal, and ultimately, her tragic demise.
The novel is renowned for its masterful writing, detailed psychological insights, and its critique of bourgeois provincial life.
#62612
The Cossacks
Leo Tolstoy
The Cossacks is a novella by Leo Tolstoy, published in 1863, which explores themes of identity, culture, and the search for meaning.
The story follows Dmitry Olenin, a disillusioned Russian nobleman who joins the army and finds himself in a Cossack village during the Caucasian War. There, he becomes enamored with the simplicity and beauty of Cossack life, contrasting it with his own sophisticated but empty existence.
The novella delves into the complexities of cultural identity and the clash between traditional and modern ways of life.
In this episode, Jacke talks to author David Denby about his new book, Eminent Jews: Bernstein, Brooks, Friedan, Mailer, a group biography (loosely inspired by Lytton Strachey's Eminent Victorians) that describes how four larger-than-life figures upended the restrained culture of their forebears and changed American life. PLUS in honor of War and Peace, which lands at #13 on the list of the Greatest Books of All Time, Jacke takes a look at an early essay by Virginia Woolf that explains what made Tolstoy's works so great.
Join Jacke on a trip through literary England (signup closing soon)! The History of Literature Podcast Tour is happening in May 2026! Act now to join Jacke and fellow literature fans on an eight-day journey through literary England in partnership with John Shors Travel. Scheduled stops include The Charles Dickens Museum, Dr. Johnson's house, Jane Austen's Bath, Tolkien's Oxford, Shakespeare's Globe Theater, and more. Find out more by emailing jackewilsonauthor@gmail.com or masahiko@johnshorstravel.com, or by contacting us through our website historyofliterature.com. Or visit the History of Literature Podcast Tour itinerary at John Shors Travel.
The music in this episode is by Gabriel Ruiz-Bernal. Learn more at gabrielruizbernal.com.
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