Philipp Meyer Picks Songs That Pick Sides

Tackling big themes about the American West, race relations and oil, Philipp Meyer's epic novel The Son follows multiple generations of the McCullough family starting in the mid-1800s. The book wound up on best-of-2013 lists from the New York Times, USA Today, and the Washington Post. 

Today, Meyer -- who once worked as a derivatives trader -- tells us how two songs by The Clash and the union anthem “Which Side Are You On?” got him thinking about a creative life beyond Wall Street. That path led him to write two acclaimed novels and a Guggenheim Fellowship. 

Pick One: The Clash, "Guns of Brixton," from London Calling (1979)

Pick Two: The Dropkick Murphys, "Which Side Are You On?" from Sing Loud, Sing Proud (2001)

Pick Three: The Clash, "Straight to Hell," from Combat Rock (1982)