Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 12 hours ago
How did a group of notoriously difficult French philosophers become intellectual rock stars on American college campuses — and are their ideas to blame for today’s culture wars?
In this episode, author Emily Eakin and guest host Michael Kovnat discuss how French philosophy became one of the most unlikely forces in American intellectual life. Emily explains why thinkers like Michel Foucault and Jacques Derrida became so influential on college campuses, how postmodernism helped reshape debates about language, power, identity, and politics, and why these ideas still echo through today’s culture wars. Emily’s new book is The Frenchmen.
Chapters:
(00:00) The Curious Allure of French Theory
(11:51) French Philosophy’s American Reinvention
(16:57) When Literary Criticism Turned Political
(23:25) The Invisible Forces Shaping Our Thoughts
(30:20) Can Language Ever Capture the Truth?
(35:51) Foucault’s Radical Theory of Power
(45:57) The French Theory–AI Connection
(49:10) The Crisis That Changed Emily’s Path
(57:19) What Remains of French Theory Today?
About the Guest:
Emily Eakin is a senior editor at The New York Times Book Review and the author of The Frenchmen: Or, My Life in Theory, which traces how French thinkers — including Michel Foucault, Jacques Derrida, Roland Barthes, and Jacques Lacan — helped transform American campuses and shape the culture wars that followed.
🔗 SPONSORED BY:
Northwest Registered Agent — Helping small business owners and entrepreneurs launch and grow businesses for nearly 30 years. Learn more at northwestregisteredagent.com/nbifree
Momentous — If you want to try Momentous Signature Spec Creatine, head to livemomentous.com and use code IDEA for up to 35% off your entire first order
Quince — Find your next fall favorites at Quince. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns at quince.com/nbi
Upwork — Find freelancers for any project. Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free
📩 Transform your day in 10 minutes. Enjoy daily, bite‑sized insights from breakthrough nonfiction books—audio or text—straight from the authors. Trusted by 90K+ learners, our editors choose only the books that matter.
🔗 bookoftheday.nextbigideaclub.com
💡Discover the books that matter with the Next Big Idea Club. Curated by Adam Grant, Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, and Daniel Pink. Beyond just reading, the Next Big Idea Club is a journey. It’s where thought leaders converge, where ideas transform into action, and where books become a gateway to a brighter future.
✨JOIN US✨
nextbigideaclub.com
🗣️FIND YOUR NEXT READ🗣️ – Listen to thousands of audio insights (by the authors) in the Next Big Idea App
Apple App Store: apps.apple.com/us/app/next-big-idea-books-in-15min/id1502959151
Google Play: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.heleo.nbic
OUR CURATORS
💡 Malcolm Gladwell: Renowned journalist, author, and speaker.
💡 Susan Cain: TED speaker, introvert advocate, bestselling author.
💡 Adam Grant: Noted psychologist, author, and Wharton School professor.
💡 Daniel Pink: Expert author on business, work, and behavior.
If you enjoy the content on our official YouTube channel, please like, subscribe, and thank you for watching!
CONNECT WITH US
Next Big Idea Podcast: pod.link/nextbigidea
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/10026818
Twitter: twitter.com/nextbigideaclub
Instagram: instagram.com/nextbigideaclub
Facebook: facebook.com/nextbigideaclub
Contact: info@nextbigideaclub.com
Subscribe for more insights:
youtube.com/NextBigIdeaClub?sub_confirmation=1
#NextBigIdeaClub
How did a group of notoriously difficult French philosophers become intellectual rock stars on American college campuses — and are their ideas to blame for today’s culture wars?
In this episode, author Emily Eakin and guest host Michael Kovnat discuss how French philosophy became one of the most unlikely forces in American intellectual life. Emily explains why thinkers like Michel Foucault and Jacques Derrida became so influential on college campuses, how postmodernism helped reshape debates about language, power, identity, and politics, and why these ideas still echo through today’s culture wars. Emily’s new book is The Frenchmen.
Chapters:
(00:00) The Curious Allure of French Theory
(11:51) French Philosophy’s American Reinvention
(16:57) When Literary Criticism Turned Political
(23:25) The Invisible Forces Shaping Our Thoughts
(30:20) Can Language Ever Capture the Truth?
(35:51) Foucault’s Radical Theory of Power
(45:57) The French Theory–AI Connection
(49:10) The Crisis That Changed Emily’s Path
(57:19) What Remains of French Theory Today?
About the Guest:
Emily Eakin is a senior editor at The New York Times Book Review and the author of The Frenchmen: Or, My Life in Theory, which traces how French thinkers — including Michel Foucault, Jacques Derrida, Roland Barthes, and Jacques Lacan — helped transform American campuses and shape the culture wars that followed.
🔗 SPONSORED BY:
Northwest Registered Agent — Helping small business owners and entrepreneurs launch and grow businesses for nearly 30 years. Learn more at northwestregisteredagent.com/nbifree
Momentous — If you want to try Momentous Signature Spec Creatine, head to livemomentous.com and use code IDEA for up to 35% off your entire first order
Quince — Find your next fall favorites at Quince. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns at quince.com/nbi
Upwork — Find freelancers for any project. Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free
📩 Transform your day in 10 minutes. Enjoy daily, bite‑sized insights from breakthrough nonfiction books—audio or text—straight from the authors. Trusted by 90K+ learners, our editors choose only the books that matter.
🔗 bookoftheday.nextbigideaclub.com
💡Discover the books that matter with the Next Big Idea Club. Curated by Adam Grant, Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, and Daniel Pink. Beyond just reading, the Next Big Idea Club is a journey. It’s where thought leaders converge, where ideas transform into action, and where books become a gateway to a brighter future.
✨JOIN US✨
nextbigideaclub.com
🗣️FIND YOUR NEXT READ🗣️ – Listen to thousands of audio insights (by the authors) in the Next Big Idea App
Apple App Store: apps.apple.com/us/app/next-big-idea-books-in-15min/id1502959151
Google Play: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.heleo.nbic
OUR CURATORS
💡 Malcolm Gladwell: Renowned journalist, author, and speaker.
💡 Susan Cain: TED speaker, introvert advocate, bestselling author.
💡 Adam Grant: Noted psychologist, author, and Wharton School professor.
💡 Daniel Pink: Expert author on business, work, and behavior.
If you enjoy the content on our official YouTube channel, please like, subscribe, and thank you for watching!
CONNECT WITH US
Next Big Idea Podcast: pod.link/nextbigidea
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/10026818
Twitter: twitter.com/nextbigideaclub
Instagram: instagram.com/nextbigideaclub
Facebook: facebook.com/nextbigideaclub
Contact: info@nextbigideaclub.com
Subscribe for more insights:
youtube.com/NextBigIdeaClub?sub_confirmation=1
#NextBigIdeaClub
