Bedrosian Bookclub Podcast

This edition of the book club features the astounding Pulitzer Prize winning novel, The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen. The narrator, a communist double agent, is a "man of two minds," whom we meet through a confession that we know to be some time after the Fall of Saigon. Our unnamed spy narrator is a half-French, half-Vietnamese army captain who was educated in America and returned to Vietnam during the conflict, spying on his American and army confederates. Things fall apart after the Fall of Saigon, as he tries to build a new life with other refugees in Los Angeles all the while secretly reporting back to his communist allies. We were lucky enough to be joined by three sympathizing souls to discuss the nature of identity and empathy in the aftermath of war and how conflicts of sympathy shape the lives of refugees and the new cultures they join.

Wade Graham's latest book Dream Cities: Seven Urban Ideas That Shape the World is ostensibly about the architects and the seven big ideas that have shaped contemporary cities across the world. Our discussion centers on whether Graham has fulfilled that mission or whether he's trapped in the confines of an under 350 page book for this massive introduction to urban planning and city history. The answer may lie in the reader rather than the book, listen to the conversation for a lively jaunt through recent architectural history. Find links to some of the things we discuss on our showpage: http://bedrosian.usc.edu/podcast/dream-cities-seven-urban-ideas-that-shape-the-world/

Sponsored by the USC Bedrosian Center
http://bedrosian.usc.edu/ 

Recorded at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy
http://priceschool.usc.edu 

This month's book is both poetry and criticism, Citizen: An American Lyric. Rankine's piece is a revolution. A political, a poetic, complex revolution in 169 pages. We look at it through an unusual lens - what should we take away from works of art as we think about governance in America? Featuring Raphael Bostic, Aubrey Hicks, Lisa Schweitzer, David Sloane, and Donnajean Ward.

Sponsored by the USC Bedrosian Center
http://bedrosian.usc.edu/ 

Recorded at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy
http://priceschool.usc.edu 

The Nine is Jeffrey Toobin's reveals the lives of post-WWII Supreme Court Justices. He explores the notion of ideology and politics within the role of the judicial branch. We've chosen this 2007 title as a general look at the Supreme Court in order to discuss rule of law, personal politics, and the judicial branch more broadly. Featuring Steve Cooley (former Los Angeles County District Attorney), Jody David Armour (USC Gould School of Law), Pamela Clauser McCann (USC Price School of Public Policy), and Raphael Bostic (USC Price School of Public Policy).

Sponsored by the USC Bedrosian Center
http://bedrosian.usc.edu/ 

Recorded at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy
http://priceschool.usc.edu 

Audio book club discussion of THE RISE AND FALL OF URBAN ECONOMIES: LESSONS FROM SAN FRANCISCO AND LOS ANGELES for links to some of the things we talk about, see the show page: https://bedrosian.usc.edu/podcast/the-rise-and-fall-of-urban-economies/ Michael Storper, co-author of our latest book club pick, The Rise and Fall of Urban Economies said recently in an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times: "To succeed in the new economy ... Southern California has to face its mistakes over the last 30 years." The claim is that the Bay Area has been "better" at doing business than we have in SoCal. The book makes the claim that San Francisco has succeeded where Los Angeles has failed over the last 30 years. Experts from USC discuss the merits and faults of this comparison of the two regions. Featuring Raphael Bostic, Elizabeth Currid-Halkett, Liz Falletta, Chris Redfearn, and Mott Smith.

Sponsored by the USC Bedrosian Center
http://bedrosian.usc.edu/ 

Recorded at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy
http://priceschool.usc.edu 

This podcast features *spoilers – so, please listen after you’ve read the book unless you are okay with hearing about major plot details and the ending of this amazing novel. Listen on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-water-knife/id897258118?i=1000367510106&mt=2

Paolo Bacigalupi's The Water Knife looks at our use and manipulation of water and water rights in the US and brings us to an ultimate conclusion. In a Southwest decimated by climate change, with the Colorado River a trickle, local and state governments in the Southwest are employing any means necessary to secure water rights. Following several main characters in a desperate search for recently discovered senior water rights for the city of Phoenix. Is #PhoenixRising or is #PhoenixDownTheTubes? NPR, All Things Considered called the novel, “A noir-ish, cinematic thriller set in the midst of a water war between Las Vegas and Phoenix. . . . Think Chinatown meets Mad Max.” Join us as we discuss the plausibility of this near-future Phoenix and the dire straits it’s characters find themselves in. This discussion features Raphael Bostic, Omar Brownson, Lisa Collins, and Justine Dodgen. For links to some of the things we talk about on today's podcast, check out the showpage at: https://bedrosian.usc.edu/podcast/the-water-knife

Sponsored by the USC Bedrosian Center
http://bedrosian.usc.edu/   

Recorded at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy
http://priceschool.usc.edu

Evicted is written by Harvard sociologist and MacArthur "Genius" Award winner Matthew Desmond. It is being hailed as a "landmark work of scholarship and reportage that will forever change the way we look at poverty in America." In this engaging, heartbreaking book, Matthew Desmond follows families in poorest neighborhoods of Milwaukee to tell the story their lives depths of poverty. According to Desmond, evictions used to be rare - even in the most poorest areas of American cities. Today, most poor renting families are spending more than half of their income on housing. Evictions are ordinary, landlords buy the forms by the carton-full. As we see families forced into shelters, squalid apartments, or more dangerous neighborhoods, readers bear witness to the human cost of poverty—and the utter resiliency people in these situations must have to live each day. This discussion features Raphael Bostic, Liz Falletta, Aubrey Hicks, and Chris Redfearn. For links to some of the things we talk about on today's podcast, check out the showpage at: https://bedrosian.usc.edu/podcast/evicted/

Sponsored by the USC Bedrosian Center
http://bedrosian.usc.edu/ 

Recorded at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy
http://priceschool.usc.edu 

Sunil Yapa's debut novel, Your Heart is a Muscle the Size of a Fist, returns us to 1999 during the WTO protests in Seattle. Taking on multiple perspectives during the first day of the meeting/protests, Yapa brings us stories that get to the nature of power versus empathy in democracy, in civil society. He said in an interview with Bethanne Patrick, "Empathy is a profound act of imagination and human connection. In fiction, we imagine ourselves into other people’s experiences. Of course, another word for that is 'reading.'" This fascinating book imagines what it means to be empathetic within the institutional violence of our system and the violence humans can commit against each other. Listen to our discussion about power and the necessity of protest within our democratic structure, and how protests should, and can, peacefully engage to solve the world's "wicked problems." This discussion features Raphael Bostic, Matt Gainer, William G. Resh, and Danielle Williams. For links to some of the things we talk about on today's podcast, check out the showpage at: https://bedrosian.usc.edu/podcast/your-heart-is-a-muscle-the-size-of-a-fist

Sponsored by the USC Bedrosian Center
http://bedrosian.usc.edu/ 

Recorded at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy
http://priceschool.usc.edu 

Richard II, the first of four Shakespeare plays known as the "Henriad," is the tale of strife between Richard II, the rightful but terrible king, and his cousin Henry Bolingbroke. Followed by Henry IV Part 1, Henry IV Part 2, and Henry V, Shakespeare explores the question of political legitimacy and accountability. We meet Richard soon after he has commissioned the assassination of one of his uncles, a rash decision which brings him into conflict with his cousin Henry. Richard banishes Henry. But Richard's seizure of Henry's land and wealth after the death of Henry's father, brings Henry back to England to restore his rightful estate. Henry rallies nobles and common folk alike, forcing Richard to abdicate the throne. What is the great tragedy in The Tragedy of Richard II? What makes a good leader - a king, a president? Can Shakespeare inform political discussions today? Featuring Raphael Bostic, Carla Della Gatta, Lisa Schweitzer, and Donnajean Ward For links to some of the things we talk about on today's podcast, check out the showpage at: https://bedrosian.usc.edu/podcast/richard-ii/

Sponsored by the USC Bedrosian Center
http://bedrosian.usc.edu/ 

Recorded at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy
http://priceschool.usc.edu 

Alan Ehrenhalt begins THE GREAT INVERSION by taking a tour of 19th century European cities - 5-story Paris and Vienna. He argues that the demographics of the urban and suburban landscape are in the midst of a grand change. After the great sprawl of the 50s, the affluent are reclaiming urban spaces while minorities and immigrants are moving to the edges. New urbanism is winning and Ehrenhalt uses several examples to prove his point. Find out if our readers agreed with the thesis. Featuring: Raphael Bostic, Liz Falletta, Chris Redfearn, and Mott Smith For links to some of the things we talk about on this podcast, check out the show page: https://bedrosian.usc.edu/blog/podcast/the-great-inversion

Sponsored by the USC Bedrosian Center
http://bedrosian.usc.edu/ 

Recorded at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy
http://priceschool.usc.edu