Norman, Conqueror

In this episode of "Against the Grain," Julia Joost and Matthew Schmitz delve into the life and career of Norman Podhoretz, the influential magazine editor who journeyed from Brooklyn to Manhattan and shifted from left to right in the political spectrum. They discuss Podhoretz's memoir "Making It," examining his ambition, the literary world's reception of his work, and his evolving views on Jewish identity and Americanism. The hosts explore Podhoretz's relationships with key figures like Lionel Trilling and Norman Mailer, his role in the rise of neoconservatism, and his complex relationship with both the left and the right. The conversation also touches on Podhoretz's editorial style and his impact on American intellectual discourse, ultimately questioning whether his vision of a harmonious American and Jewish identity remains viable today.