#119 - Jim Kunstler

In this episode of The Eric Metaxas Show, host Eric Metaxas welcomes back longtime friend and acclaimed writer Jim Kunstler to discuss his new novel, Look, I'm Gone—a hilarious, poignant comedy set in New York City during the week following President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in November 1963. The story follows 12-year-old Jeff Greenaway, a misfit prep school student sent home for the Thanksgiving break, who finds himself with a small fortune and a newfound sense of freedom. As he navigates the city, he develops a romantic infatuation with a teenage Broadway ingenue, dines at iconic restaurants like Luchow’s, and embarks on a surreal quest to track down the reclusive J.D. Salinger in rural New Hampshire, inspired by his obsession with The Catcher in the Rye. Metaxas praises Kunstler’s masterful recreation of 1960s Manhattan and his ability to blend humor, nostalgia, and emotional depth. The conversation expands into a broader critique of the current state of American fiction, with Kunstler lamenting the decline of literary culture, the collapse of traditional publishing and review systems, and the rise of identity-driven, politically curated literary gatekeeping. Despite these challenges, Kunstler remains committed to storytelling, now publishing through boutique presses and continuing to write novels that prioritize plausibility and emotional truth over ideology. The episode closes with Metaxas expressing deep admiration for Kunstler’s enduring talent and the rare joy of reading a novel that feels both real and deeply entertaining.