War Books

Ep 060 – Nonfiction. Author Douglas Waller discusses his book, “The Determined Spy: The Turbulent Life and Times of CIA Pioneer Frank Wisner.” ‘Frank Wisner was one of the most powerful men in 1950s Washington, though few knew it. Reporting directly to senior U.S. officials--his work largely hidden …

Ep 059 – Nonfiction. Author Zaakir Tameez discusses his book, “Charles Sumner: Conscience of a Nation.” ‘A landmark biography of Charles Sumner, the unsung hero of the American Civil War and Reconstruction. Charles Sumner is mainly known as the abolitionist statesman who suffered a brutal caning on …

Ep 058 – Nonfiction. Historian John Lisle discusses his new book, “Project Mind Control: Sidney Gottlieb, the CIA, and the Tragedy of MKULTRA.” ‘The inside story of the CIA’s secret mind control project, MKULTRA, using never-before-seen testimony from the perpetrators themselves. Sidney Gottlieb was…

Ep 057 – Nonfiction. New York Times Bestselling Author Garrett M. Graff discusses his book, “When the Sea Came Alive: An Oral History of D-Day.” ‘June 6, 1944—known to us all as D-Day—is one of history’s greatest and most unbelievable military triumphs. The surprise sunrise landing of more than 150,…

Ep 056 – Nonfiction. Historian Danielle Leavitt discusses her new book, “By the Second Spring: Seven Lives and One Year of the War in Ukraine” ‘An intimate, affecting account of life during wartime, told through the lives that have been shattered. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 202…

Ep 055 – Nonfiction. Environmental Historian Joshua Howe & Marine Corps veteran Alexander Lemons discuss their new book, “Warbody: A Marine Sniper and the Hidden Violence of Modern Warfare.” ‘A friendship between an environmental historian and a chronically ill US Marine yields a powerful exploratio…

Ep 054 – Nonfiction. Historian Stephen R. Platt discusses his new book, “The Raider: The Untold Story of a Renegade Marine and the Birth of U.S. Special Forces in World War II.” ‘The extraordinary life of forgotten World War II hero Evans Carlson, commander of America’s first special forces, secret …

Ep 053 – Nonfiction. On what date did the U.S. #CivilWar end? Most would say April 9, 1865, when Lee surrendered at Appomattox. But historian Michael Vorenberg argues that may not be the case in his new book “Lincoln’s Peace: The Struggle to End the American Civil War." Support local bookstores & bu…

Ep 052 – Nonfiction. As World War II ended, the United States stood as the dominant power on the world stage. In 1947, to support its new global status, it created the CIA to analyze foreign intelligence. Historian Hugh Wilford talks about the CIA’s imperial history in his new book, “The CIA: An Imp…

Ep 051 – Fiction. In 1941, a Soviet soldier witnesses Hitler's invasion of the USSR and must cope with its devastating consequences. Sasha Vasilyuk discusses her fantastic new novel, "Your Presence Is Mandatory," based on the real-life story of her grandfather’s experiences during and after the war.…

Ep 050 – Nonfiction. Are we already in a second Cold War? George S. Takach says yes, and joins me to discuss his fascinating new book, “Cold War 2.0: Artificial Intelligence in the New Battle between China, Russia, and America.” Support local bookstores and buy George’s book here: https://bookshop.o…

Ep 049 – Fiction. In August 1943, a fourteen-year-old is newly orphaned and flees Rome after surviving the American bombing raid that killed his parents. Author Derek B. Miller joins me to discuss his fascinating new #WWII novel, "The Curse of Pietro Houdini." Support local bookstores & buy Derek’s …

Ep 048 – Nonfiction. By July 1794, Robespierre was an outlaw, wanted for conspiracy against the French Republic. Historian Colin Jones chronicles Robespierre's finals hours & joins me to discuss his new book, "The Fall of Robespierre: 24 Hours in Revolutionary Paris." Support local bookstores & buy …

Ep 047 – Nonfiction. What's it like to grow up surrounded by Soviet propaganda? What lessons can we learn today? Magda Stroinska, Professor of Linguistics at McMaster University, joins me to discuss her fascinating new memoir, "My Life in Propaganda: Language and Totalitarian Regimes.” Support local…

Ep 046 – Nonfiction. Before 1862, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain had rarely left his home state of Maine, where he was a trained minister and professor. During the U.S. Civil War, he rose to fame as one of the North’s greatest heroes. Ronald C. White joins me to discuss his book, “On Great Fields: The …

Ep 045 – Nonfiction. How do the descendants of Nazis reckon with the pasts of their families? Burkhard Bilger joins me to discuss his memoir, a ten-year quest to uncover the truth about his grandfather— a Nazi party chief, “Fatherland: A Memoir of War, Conscience, and Family.” Support local bookstor…

Ep 044 – Nonfiction. From 1800-1860, America grappled with 4 major wars: the War of 1812, the Seminole Wars, the Mexican War, and the lead-up to the U.S. Civil War. Historian E joins me to discuss these wars & his new book, "American Visions: The United States, 1800-1860." Support local bookstores &…

Ep 043 – Nonfiction. For England, the decades leading up to 1066 were defined by bloody wars in which Vikings, Anglo-Saxons, and Normans vied for supremacy. Don Hollway joins me to discuss his new book, “Battle for the Island Kingdom: England's Destiny 1000–1066.” Support local bookstores & buy Don’…

Ep 042 – Nonfiction. Across both world wars, women ran spy networks and escape lines, parachuted behind enemy lines, and interrogated prisoners. Helen Fry joins me to discuss her fascinating new book, "Women in Intelligence: The Hidden History of Two World Wars." Support local bookstores & buy Helen…

Ep 041 – Nonfiction. The F-35 aircraft, which changed modern warfare, was one of the most expensive and controversial military programs in history. Tom Burbage joins me to discuss his new book, "F-35: The Inside Story of the Lightning II." Support local bookstores & buy Tom’s book here: https://book…