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Podcast: New Books in Popular Culture
Episode: 82* Zadie Smith in Focus (JP)
Description: In this 2019 episode, John interviews the celebrated British writer Zadie Smith. The conversation quickly moves through Brexit (oh, the inhumanity!) and what it means to be a Londonâno, a Northwest Londonâwriter before arriving at her case against identity politics. That case is bolstered by a discussion of Hannah Arendt on the difference between who and what a person is.Zadie and John also touch on the purpose of criticism and why it gets harder to hate as you (middle) age. She reveals an affection for âtalkiesâ (as a â90âs kid,â she canât help her fondness for Quentin...