The Five Books: Jewish Authors on the Books That Shaped Them

Rob Kutner on Writing for The Daily Show, Conan, and How Comedy and Judaism Overlap


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Rob Kutner’s new irreverent book on Jewish history, The Jews: 5000 Years and Counting covers every major moment in Jewish history from Adam and Eve to Tuesday’s rerun of Seinfeld. This book will make you laugh, it might inadvertently make you learn, and it might just be a balm for our times that you didn’t know you needed (Simon & Schuster).


Rob Kutner is an Emmy, Peabody, Grammy, and TCA-winning writer for late-night TV including The Daily Show and TBS’ Conan. He is also the author of the humor books including Apocalypse How (Running Press, 2008) and the kids’ comedy-horror graphic novel Snot Goblins and Other Tasteless Tales (First Second, 2023). 


He has also written material for the Oscars, Emmys, and two White  House Correspondents Dinners, and was named a “SuperJew” by Time Out New York


In our conversation, Rob will tell us about how going to a Christian school reinforced his own Judaism, how he made sure that the diversity of stories were included in his Jewish history, and his story about ordering a lulav and etrog to the Daily Show office.

Rob Kutner’s Five Books:


1. The Big Book of Jewish Humor by Moshe Waldoks and William Novak

2. As a Driven Leaf by Milton Steinberg

3. Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo

4. Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake

5. The Jews by Rob Kutner


Find us on Instagram @fivebookspod 


For feedback or author recommendations please email us at [email protected]


Find us online at www.fivebookspod.org 


The Five Books has the advisory and promotional support of the Jewish Book Council. Jewish Book Council is a nonprofit dedicated to amplifying and celebrating Jewish literature and supporting authors and readers. Stay up to date on the latest in Jewish literature! https://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/events/celebrate


The Five Books is fiscally sponsored by FJC, a 501c3 public charity. 


Hosted by Tali Rosenblatt Cohen


Produced by Odelia Rubin


Editorial and website support by Sarah Waring


Artwork by Dena Friedman


Music by Dov Rosenblatt and Blue Dot Sessions.

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The Five Books: Jewish Authors on the Books That Shaped ThemBy Tali Rosenblatt Cohen

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