What do a memoir about fatherhood, a dive into the theological roots of liberalism, a reflection on the travails of the EU, and a Baltimore murder mystery all have in common? Each is one of our favorite books of 2019.

In this end-of-year episode, Richard Aldous invites four TAI staff members—executive editor Damir Marusic, assistant editor Aaron Sibarium, associate editor Sean Keeley, and associate publisher Danielle Desjardins—to discuss their favorite books of the year.

Damir’s choice is Alarums and Excursion: Improvising Politics on the European Stage by Luuk Van Middelaar. Aaron’s pick is The Theology of Liberalism: Political Philosophy and the Justice of God by Eric Nelson. Sean’s favorite is My Father Left Me Ireland: An American Son’s Search From Home by Michael Brendan Dougherty. Danielle’s pick is Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippmann. And Richard looks back on a year full of author interviews to select his favorite: Christopher Clark’s Time and Power: Visions of History in German Politics, from the Thirty Years’ War to the Third Reich. 

Thanks for being loyal listeners, and do tune in again in 2020! In the meantime, be sure to follow @aminterest on Twitter and subscribe to the show on your podcast provider.