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 from Congress and the public-- Wisner masterminded some of the CIA’s most daring and controversial o...

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 the Senate floor by the proslavery congressman Preston Brooks in 1856. This violent episode has obsc...

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 the CIA’s most cunning chemist. As head of the infamous MKULTRA project, he oversaw an assortment o...

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 150,000 Allied troops on the beaches of occupied northern France is one of the most consequential days o...

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 2022, many Americans have identified deeply with the Ukrainian cause, while others have cast doubt on i...

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 exploration into the toxic effects of war on the human body. Alexander Lemons is a Marine Corps scout snip...

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 confidant of FDR, and one of the most controversial officers in the history of the Marine Corps, who...

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 & buy Michael’s book here: https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781524733179 Subscribe to the War Books pod...

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 Imperial History” Support local bookstores & buy Hugh’s book here: https://bookshop.org/a/92235/978...

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. Support local bookstores & buy Sasha’s book here: https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781639731534 Su...

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.org/a/92235/9781639365630 Subscribe to the War Books podcast here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@...

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 book here: https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781668020883 Subscribe to the War Books podcast here: Y...

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 Colin’s book here: https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9780198715955 Subscribe to the War Books pod...

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 bookstores & buy Magda’s book here: https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781990735332 Subscribe to the...

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 Life and Unlikely Heroism of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain.” Support local bookstores & buy Ron’s...

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 bookstores & buy Burkhard’s book here: https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9780385353984 Subscribe to the War B...

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 & buy Ed’s book here: https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9780393881264 Subscribe to the War Books p...

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’s book here: https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781472858931 Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:...

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’s book here: https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9780300260779 Subscribe to the War Books podcast here...

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://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781510777576 Subscribe to the War Books podcast here: YouTube: https://www.you...

Ep 040 – Nonfiction. The Russia-Ukraine War is the most serious crisis in Europe since World War II. At the heart of the conflict is a mystery: why did Putin put his entire regime at risk of destruction? Owen Matthews joins me to discuss his new book, "Overreach: The Inside Story of Putin’s War Against Ukraine." Support local bookstores & buy Owen’s book here: https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9780...

Ep 039 – Nonfiction. Tecumseh’s military stand against William Henry Harrison was a last chance to protect Indigenous people from U.S. expansion. Peter Stark joins me to discuss his new book, "Gallop Toward the Sun: Tecumseh and William Henry Harrison's Struggle for the Destiny of a Nation." Support local bookstores & buy Peter’s book here: https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9780593133613 Subscribe...

Ep 038 – Nonfiction. In 1812 the French emperor Napoleon invaded Russia. For this purpose, he gathered an army of half a million, including C.J. Wagevier, a Dutch officer who was captured and spent nearly 2 years in Russian captivity. Samuel de Korte joins me to discuss his translation of C.J.’s memoir of that time, “Fighting for Napoleon's Army in Russia: A POW's Memoir.” Support local bookstores...

Ep 037 – Nonfiction. The War of 1812 was disastrous for the U.S., the lowest moment being the capture and burning of Washington, D.C. Historian Robert Watson talks about his new book, "When Washington Burned: The British Invasion of the Capital and a Nation's Rise from the Ashes." Support local bookstores & buy Robert’s book here: https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781647123505 Subscribe to the War...

Ep 036 – Nonfiction. Deliberately engineered by Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, the Franco-Prussian War toppled the French Empire, unified Germany, and set Europe on the path to World War I. Historian Rachel Chrastil joins me to discuss her fascinating new book, "Bismarck's War: The Franco-Prussian War and the Making of Modern Europe." Support local bookstores & buy Rachel’s book here:...