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New Books in Intellectual History

New Books Network
Colonialism
Democracy
Philosophy
Education
Nationalism
Capitalism
Slavery
Plato
Conservatism
Political Philosophy
Thomas Jefferson
Liberalism
Liang Qichao
Imperialism
Marxism
Neoliberalism
French Revolution
International Law
Climate Change
Ways Of Seeing International Organizations

This podcast is a channel on the New Books Network. The New Books Network is an academic audio library dedicated to public education. In each episode you will hear scholars discuss their recently published research with another expert in their field. Discover our 150+ channels and browse our 28,000+ episodes on our website: ⁠newbooksnetwork.com⁠ Subscribe to our free weekly Substack newsletter to ... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes1044Founded13 years ago
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Artwork for New Books in Intellectual History

Latest Episodes

In Empire and Liberty: The Tied Histories of Two American Landmarks (Beacon Press, 2026), historian Dr. Vaneesa Cook examines the history of the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty in order to consider, more broadly, the United States' r... more

In this episode of New Books Network, I speak with Mikhail Pelevin about his book Love, Honour and God: Pashto Writings of Early Modern Times (Iran and the Caucasus Monographs, vol. 5, Brill, 2025).

Love, Honour and God is a survey of three centurie... more

Today I'm speaking with Steven K. Green, Fred H. Paulus Professor of Law and Affiliated Professor of History and Religious Studies at Willamette University. We are discussing his book, American Infidelity: The Gilded Age Battle Over Freethought, Free... more

The opening of Iraq's Ba'th

Party archives revolutionized the study of Iraqi politics and history,

offering scholars unprecedented access to the inner workings of one of

the world's most impenetrable autocracies. Ba‘thist Iraq Through Archives: Re... more

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Recent Guests

Marek Tuszewicki
Ariel and Joshua Weiner Family Fellow at the Katz Center for Advanced Jewish Studies, University of Pennsylvania
Katz Center for Advanced Jewish Studies, University of Pennsylvania
Episode: Jewish Folk Medicine in Eastern Europe
Rokhl Kafrissen
Journalist, teacher, playwright; 2022 Adrian Cooper Dreaming in Yiddish Prize recipient
Tablet Magazine
Episode: Jewish Folk Medicine in Eastern Europe
Grégory Pierrot
Professor and author
University of Connecticut
Episode: Grégory Pierrot, "Fantômes de la révolution noire: Une histoire culturelle transatlantique" (Ròt-Bò-Krik, 2026)
Timothy Mitchell
Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at Columbia University
Columbia University
Episode: Timothy Mitchell, "The Alibi of Capital: How We Broke the Earth to Steal the Future on the Promise of a Better Tomorrow" (Verso, 2026)
Elad Lapidot
Author of State of Others, Levinas and Decolonial Israel
Author, Lecturer on Hebraic and Jewish Thought
Episode: Elad Lapidot, "State of Others: Levinas and Decolonial Israel" (Indiana UP, 2025)
Susanne Paola Antonetta
Author, poet, essayist; author of The Devil's Castle
Author; Catapult/University press outlet
Episode: Susanne Paola Antonetta, "The Devil's Castle: Nazi Eugenics, Euthanasia, and How Psychiatry's Troubled History Reverberates Today" (Catapult, 2025)
A. G. Hopkins
Emeritus Smuts Professor of Commonwealth History, University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
Episode: A. G. Hopkins, "The Land Where Nothing Works: How Britain Lost the Plot" (Princeton UP, 2026)
Monika Kirloskar-Steinbach
Author of Freedom to Know: Creating Community with Ambedkar, Du Bois, Iqbal, Ramabai and Tagore
Edinburgh University Press / Thinking Word Philosophy series
Episode: Monika Kirloskar-Steinbach, "Freedom to Know: Creating Community with Ambedkar, Du Bois, Iqbal, Ramabai and Tagore" (Edinburgh UP, 2025)
Mordecai Kurz
Joan Kenney Professor of Economics Emeritus at Stanford University
Stanford University
Episode: Are Capitalism and Democracy Fundamentally Incompatible? A Conversation with Mordecai Kurz

Host

Miranda Melcher
Host of The New Books Network; guides interviews and episode introductions; scholarly orientation.

Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars from 121 ratings
  • Excellent book selection, not always great interviews

    The concept was always unique. These books, mostly from academic presses and mostly in the humanities, have long failed to receive the attention they deserve. There are obviously limits to how many books in these areas can be reviewed in the NYT, NYRB and the LRB and other publications of that type. Yet in the field of intellectual history the quality of the interviewers is highly variable. One must be instantly suspicious of those such as Morteza Hajizadeh who are a fixture in this series, revi... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    sidneyhart
    United Statesa year ago
  • Such a great show

    Great discussions - thanks!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    C Rattat
    United Statesa year ago
  • Unqualified interviewers

    Not sure how a 'grants researcher' for medicine & science qualifies as an interviewer on issues dealing with intellectual & religious history. The bench at NB Network can't be that shallow can it?

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    t78tt.r
    United States4 years ago
  • Simon Critchley

    The host for that episode asked profoundly dumb question. He almost implied the program was about him and his questions.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Hardy5414
    United States4 years ago
  • Sound needs urgent attention

    Excellent material, but frustrating to have the sound phasing in and out and distorted. Is there a way to record both sound sources and edit together, rather than record a zoom call from just one end? It might help. I’ve had to abandon several tracks because I can’t follow what’s being said.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    JFPhil
    United Kingdom6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the depth of scholarly discussion and book-focused format.
Sound quality and interview skill vary across episodes, impacting accessibility.
The caliber of guests is strong, with notable critiques about some interviews missing deeper engagement with complex texts.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Grégory Pierrot, "Fantômes de la révolution noire: Une histoire culturelle transatlantique" (Ròt-Bò-Krik, 2026)
Q: So could you start off by telling us about the genesis of this project? What inspired it and how did you develop the text?
Pierrot explains two timelines shaping the project: long-term scholarly work and converging efforts with the Ròt-Bò-Krik team, plus a shift to make the book accessible to French readers by focusing on transatlantic Black history and reorganizing material around thematic chapters rather than a strict chronology.
The Once and Future Republic: On Cicero, Locke, and the Making of America with Michael C. Hawley
Q: How did Cicero influence Locke and the American founding?
Locke drew on Cicero's notions of natural law, property, and the social contract, with Locke's readings and epigraphs indicating Cicero's substantial impact on Locke's development of liberty, rights, and government by consent in shaping the American constitutional order.
The Once and Future Republic: On Cicero, Locke, and the Making of America with Michael C. Hawley
Q: What are Cicero's core political ideas that influenced later thinkers?
Cicero's core ideas include universal justice, the significance of cosmopolis and co-citizenship, the primacy of a mixed regime, and a practical, virtue-centered approach to public life that blends private morality with public duty; these themes deeply influenced later European political theory and the American founding.
Thomas Paine at the Semiquincentennial: A Conversation with Gregory Claeys
Q: I think that perfectly leads us actually into my next question, which was, if you could dig a little bit into Paine's political, philosophical ideas around republicanism, how did he conceive of republicanism in opposition to monarchy?
Paine envisions a democratic, universal approach where monarchy is rejected in favor of a system that combines universal male suffrage, a single-house legislature to prevent faction and concentration of power, and constant checks and balances through annual elections and limits on executive power, all grounded in the public good rather than private gain.
Monika Kirloskar-Steinbach, "Freedom to Know: Creating Community with Ambedkar, Du Bois, Iqbal, Ramabai and Tagore" (Edinburgh UP, 2025)
Q: How does Iqbal's pedagogy push against colonial educational models, and what does his metaphysics of love contribute to this project?
Iqbal argues for a pedagogy that combines ilm with ishq, where knowledge and divine love coexist to resist colonial epistemic domination and to enable active, ethical human flourishing.

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Frequently Asked Questions About New Books in Intellectual History

What is New Books in Intellectual History about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Scholarly interviews that center recently published books in intellectual history, philosophy, law, and cultural studies. Conversations tend to unpack the historical context, methodological approaches, and broader implications of the works, with careful attention to how ideas travel across borders and through time. Expect rigorous questions that illuminate conceptual shifts—ownership, nationalism, moral capitalism, and the role of literature, law, and culture in shaping modern societies. A notable strength is the blend of historical depth with topical relevance, plus a roster of guests who are leading researchers in their fields. This program is likely to appeal to academics, graduate students, and intellectually curious listeners who want ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to New Books in Intellectual History?

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1. New Books in Critical Theory
2. What's Left of Philosophy
3. The LRB Podcast
4. Jacobin Radio
5. Close Readings

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New Books in Intellectual History launched 13 years ago and published 1044 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on New Books in Intellectual History?

Recent guests on New Books in Intellectual History include:

1. Marek Tuszewicki
2. Rokhl Kafrissen
3. Grégory Pierrot
4. Timothy Mitchell
5. Elad Lapidot
6. Susanne Paola Antonetta
7. A. G. Hopkins
8. Monika Kirloskar-Steinbach

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