Matters of Policy & Politics

Area 45: Politics And Good Books With Barton Swaim

Why campaigning and quality literature don’t necessarily go hand-in-hand.

Matters of Policy & Politics•April 24, 2019
Area 45: Politics And Good Books With Barton Swaim

A rash of presidential candidates also means a rash of candidates’ books – some biographical, some more policy-oriented, and very few all that notable. Barton Swaim, who pens a politics-books column for the Wall Street Journal, explains why campaigning and quality literature don’t necessarily go hand-in-hand.

Did you like the show? You can rate, review, subscribe, and download the podcast on the following platforms:
Podbean | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | RadioPublic | Overcast | Google Play | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

Cast

Barton Swaim

Barton Swaim

Related

Videos

The Great Fertility Collapse With Jesús Fernández-Villaverde

For the first time in human history, we're not having enough children to keep the world's population from falling. 

October 12, 2026

Articles

Proposition 5: Will California’s Boa Constrictor Strike Again?

One seemingly innocent ballot initiative which would change California’s recall process—if voters approve it, hasta la vista, future governators!—fits into a pattern of repeat efforts to guarantee that the Golden State remains under one-party, one-mentality dominance.

October 8, 2026

Videos

Peru: Politics, Power, And The Challenge Of Governing

H.R. McMaster and Francisco Sagasti discuss the lessons of Sagasti's presidency, political and economic trends in Latin America, and his new book, Knowledge is Power, which explores the life and legacy of Sir Francis Bacon.

October 7, 2026