Best Part of the Book

You've probably seen a sand art bottle in a tourist souvenir shop but Andrew Clemens' work is nothing like that. Mark talks with author Roy Sucholeiki about his book "The Sand Art Bottles of Andrew Clemens (2d ed)," the story of a deaf, 19th-century artist from McGregor, Iowa who built impossibly detailed eagles, locomotives, and flowers inside glass bottles using nothing but naturally colored san...

If you think you know everything about General Custer, Brian Patrick Duggan is about to prove you wrong—and he's going to do it through the dogs. Duggan's book "General Custer, Libbie Custer and Their Dogs" traces the remarkable story of the Custers through their lifelong passion for hounds and one very sheet-wrecking English greyhound named Byron. Mark Perzel and Brian dig into how Libby Custer (...

If you ever wondered how a plastic barbarian with a battle axe became a pop culture phenomenon and somehow led to one of Hollywood's most chaotic movie productions—Brian C. Baer has done the research. Mark Perzel talks with Brian about "How He-Man Mastered the Universe: Toy to Television to Big Screen," tracing the wild journey of Masters of the Universe from a recycled toy mold to a billion-dolla...

Mark Perzel has a confession: he's been hitting his head on doorframes his entire life, and Don Doxsie finally gave him a book to explain why. In this episode, Mark talks with Don about "How Tall Are You? The Pros and Cons of Exceptional Height"—a decades-in-the-making look at what it's actually like to move through a world that wasn't built for you. They cover everything from shrinking airplane l...

Mark Perzel talks with author Don M. Fox about his book, "Welcome to Firehouse! Building a Billion Dollar Brand in America’s Most Competitive Industry." Turns out, building a successful restaurant chain isn’t just about the food—it’s branding, culture, timing, and a fair amount of learning things the hard way. Done gets into the early days of Firehouse Subs, what separates a good brand from a grea...

Mark Perzel talks with author Whitney Harris Wallace about her book, "North Carolina Day Hiking for Every Body: What to Know and Where to Go from the Blue Ridge to the Beaches." Turns out, hiking doesn’t have to involve extreme gear, expert knowledge, or a personality change. They get into what actually counts as a hike, how to get started without overcomplicating it, and a few great places to wan...

In this episode, Mark Perzel talks with author Robert T. Tally Jr. about his book, The Mismeasure of Orcs, and what it means to rethink one of fantasy’s most familiar “enemy” figures. What begins as a discussion of Tolkien’s orcs becomes a deeper conversation about perspective, dehumanization, and the ways stories shape how we see both heroes and villains. Drawing from Tolkien’s letters and texts,...

Mark Perzel explores Clues: A Journal of Detection , McFarland’s scholarly journal devoted to mystery and detective fiction. Joined by Executive Editor Caroline Reitz and Managing Editor Elizabeth Foxwell, the conversation examines why crime narratives continue to resonate and how academic scholarship deepens our understanding of the genre. From Victorian detective stories to contemporary crime fi...

Mark Perzel talks with Matthew Wilhelm Kapell about his book, "Broadening Horizon: Essays on Environment, Culture, Identity and Myth in the Game Franchise." What begins with robot dinosaurs and post-apocalyptic storytelling becomes a deeper conversation about ecology, theology, and the cultural power of the stories we play. From “ludic eschatology” to the hero’s journey, Kapell reflects on how gam...

Zak Ford shares the most memorable, and sometimes hilarious, stories of athletes reaching the big leagues in his book, Called Up: Ballplayers Remember Becoming Major Leaguers. From receiving a call up via registered mail to the sensory overload of a 1,000-watt stadium, to the debut home run on a freezing day in Toronto, and a pitcher who finished his career with a perfect 1.000 batting average. Yo...

Author Carla Lesh joins Mark Perzel to discuss her book, " Wheels of Her Own: American Women and the Automobile, 1893–1929, " uncovering how the early automobile became a powerful tool for liberation and social justice. Explore the stories of women—including Black and Indigenous drivers—who navigated prejudice and broken-down roads to claim their independence. Check out this inspiring look at the...

CONTENT DISCLAIMER: This episode touches on alcoholism and suicide [20:10, 32:15, 34:02–35:15, 36:09]. Listener discretion is advised. EPISODE SUMMARY: In this very candid and insightful conversation, host Mark Perzel chats with acclaimed composer Daron Hagen about his memoir, "Duet with the Past." The episode explores the "lineage of family" that knits together music history, moving from Hagen’s...

Mark Perzel welcomes author Ellen Williams to discuss her book, "Raven and Crow: The Mythology, Art, and Science of Our Favorite Black Birds." Hear about the extensive global mythology surrounding these birds, exploring their fascinating roles as creators and tricksters. Williams also shares amazing scientific insights, noting that crows and ravens are great communicators, toolmakers and rank amon...

This episode is for Christmas horror fans, featuring host Mark Perzel and author Matthew C. Dupée with his book, "A Scary Little Christmas: A History of Yuletide Horror Films, 1972–2020." Dupée discusses the origins of Christmas horror during the silent film era and examines how filmmakers blend the holiday's sacred traditions with horror, touching on controversies like "Silent Night, Deadly Night...

Vampires, demons, the undead, oh my! This episode features a conversation with author Theresa Bane, focusing on her latest book, " The Undead in World Mythology and Folklore: An Encyclopedia ," alongside her previous works like " Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology  and  Encyclopedia of Demons in World Religions and Cultures ." Theresa talks about the universal fear of death that gives rise to undea...

Featuring an engaging interview with Peter Cammann, author of "The Flies Are Too Damn Small: Adventures of a Deeply Flawed Angler." Cammann shares his journey from newspaper reporter to fishing writer and the evolution of his unique storytelling approach that embraces humor and self-deprecation. Discover Cammann's philosophies on fishing, his humorous observations on anglers and the pursuit of fis...

Dive into the captivating story of the "Star Wars" radio dramas, exploring their creation and the significant impact they had on NPR. Authors Maria Jose Tenuto and John Tenuto highlight the crucial role of writer Brian Daley, whose talent and connection to the "Star Wars" universe were instrumental in the success of these audio productions. Find out how the radio dramas masterfully translated the...

Author Donna Tesiero shares insights into her book, "A Revolutionary Woman: Elizabeth Freeman and the Abolition of Slavery in the North." Tesiero details Freeman's journey from enslavement in New York to her pivotal role in abolishing slavery in Massachusetts through a groundbreaking court case. The conversation explores the stark differences in the treatment of slaves between New York and Massach...

In this compelling episode, author Susan Herrick shares her deeply personal journey and insights from her book, "Slow Dancing with the Devil: A Son's Substance Use Disorder, A Mother's Anguish." Susan bravely discusses her son Luke's battle with substance use disorder, stemming from prescribed pain medication after a severe accident, and the lack of understanding and support they faced. This episo...

In this episode, Barry David Horowitz and Jason Norman discuss their 2024 book, 'Wrestling Is My Gimmick: My Life on the Wrong Side of the Three-Count.' They delve into the book's creation and share entertaining stories from Barry's career as a professional wrestler, particularly his experiences as a 'jobber.'" LISTENER DISCOUNT CODE: BESTPART Receive a 25% discount on this title when purchased fr...

In this episode, Mark Perzel speaks with J.C. Bernthal, the author of "Agatha Christie: A Companion to the Mystery Fiction," a comprehensive guide to the life and work of the world's most famous mystery writer. In this interview, Bernthal discusses Agatha Christie's life, work, and her enduring popularity. He shares his experiences as a Christie fan, how he came to write the book as well as the ch...

Mark Perzel hosts a conversation with Elizabeth Blackstock and Alanis King about their book, "Racing with Rich Energy." Delve into the wild world of Formula One racing and its intersection with a controversial energy drink company. The authors, drawn to motorsports through vastly different paths, share how they uncovered the questionable dealings of Rich Energy's enigmatic CEO, William Storey, and...

This episode features a conversation with David McKay and Kate St. Vincent Vogl about the book, "Iron Horse Cowgirls," which chronicles the lives of Louise Scherbyn and other women motorcyclists in the 1930s and 40s. Find out how the discovery of a collection of photographs inspired the book and shaped the narrative. McKay and Vogl detail Scherbyn's influence on women's motorcycling, including her...

Host Mark Perzel sits down with Josiah Lebowitz to discuss his book, "So You’ve Landed in a Fantasy World: How to Survive and Thrive." Do you know what a Fantasy Verse is? Basically, it's like a huge, interconnected universe where all your favorite fantasy stories and worlds live! From Tolkien's Middle-earth to the world of Final Fantasy, Lebowitz breaks down how these worlds are linked by similar...

In this episode, host Mark Perzel interviews Phil Roycraft, author of The Plot to Perpetuate Slavery: How George McClellan, Southern Spies and a Confidence Man Nearly Derailed Emancipation. Roycraft reveals how General McClellan, despite leading the Union Army, secretly worked to undermine President Lincoln's efforts to end slavery. The conversation explores McClellan's covert operations, the role...