C-SPAN Bookshelf
The C-SPAN Bookshelf podcast feed compiles episodes from various C-SPAN podcasts that focus on nonfiction books. Each week, it gathers discussions with authors about history, biography, current events, and culture, making it easy for listeners to discover and enjoy book-related content. If you enjoy nonfiction books, following this feed ensures you never miss an episode.
Episodes
BN+: John Ryan, "America's Trial"
Only nine men have been convicted, through military commissions at Guantanamo Bay, out of roughly 780 total detainees held there for some time since 2002. However, only 15 prisoners are currently housed at Gitmo. One of those is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed who allegedly said he was the mastermind of 9/11. Mohammed has spent the last 20 years incarcerated and is said to go on trial in June 2028. John Ry
Q&A: Brad Ryan, "Grandma Joy and Me"
Brad Ryan and his 96-year-old grandmother Joy recount their visits to all 63 U.S. National Parks. Completed over a 7-year period, the duo visited parks from Alaska to Florida, concluding with a visit to the National Park of American Samoa in 2023 when Joy Ryan was 93. In total they traveled over 100,000 miles together. Brad Ryan chronicled their adventures in real time on social media and now in a
Min Jin Lee on “Pachinko,” Her Literary Career & Meeting King Charles
Bestselling author Min Jin Lee joins David M. Rubenstein to discuss her literary career, early life in the United States, her award-winning novel "Pachinko," and meeting King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
AW: Dad Brain - The New Science of Fatherhood and How It Shapes Men's Lives
Neuroscientist Darby Saxbe describes how men's brains change with fatherhood. She was interviewed by journalist, Matthew Yglesias at the Politics and Prose bookstore in Washington, D.C., in June of 2026.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
BN+: Sam Roberts, "Are They Dead Yet?"
The name of the book is "Are They Dead Yet?: The Art of the Obit." The author, Sam Roberts, is a 50-year veteran of New York journalism. He says in his book: "I've buried 1,600 or so people during my improbable decade writing obituaries for the New York Times." Reporters who do his kind of reporting are called obituarists. Sam Roberts, in his book's prologue, says he "learned more on the job about
Q&A: Mitch Daniels, "Impatience Is a Virtue"
Purdue University President Mitch Daniels discusses his life in public service, including his time in Washington, DC, during the Reagan and George W. Bush administrations and his two-term governorship of Indiana. He also talks about his upbringing, his early years in Indiana politics, and his years as an executive at pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
ABC: Nathaniel Philbrick on the Mayflower, George Washington & the California Gold Rush
National Book Award winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist historian Nathaniel Philbrick joins David M. Rubenstein to discuss his bestselling books about the Mayflower, George Washington, and the California gold rush, as well as life on Nantucket.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
AW: "Technology, Politics, and the Fight for the Soul of San Francisco"
The 21st century saga of San Francisco's rise and fall -- paralleled by the arrival of tech entrepreneurs who remade the city's culture, politics, and economy - as told by journalist Jonathan Weber. In 1990, he became the first "Silicon Valley" reporter for the Los Angeles Times and later coordinated Reuters' reporting on West Coast technology. He sat down with former New York Times Technology Rep
BN+: Craig Whitlock, Washington Post Investigative Reporter
On Saturday, August 8, on the front page of the Washington Post was this headline: "Some Vets Went Along with Scams of the G.I. Bill." Leading the team of Post reporters was Craig Whitlock. His co-author was Andrew Ba Tran. The dateline on the story was San Diego. The first paragraph of the story was: "At Blue Star Learning, a vocational school that defrauded taxpayers of $29 million in GI Bill fu
Q&A: Zayd Ayers Dohrn, "Dangerous, Dirty, Violent, and Young"
Zayd Ayers Dohrn, author of "Dangerous, Dirty, Violent, and Young," spent the first three years of his life on the run from the law with his fugitive parents, Weather Underground founders Bernardine Dohrn and Bill Ayers. FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover once called his mother the "most dangerous woman in America." Zayd Ayers Dohrn talks about his parents' upbringing and revolutionary politics, the vio
ABC: Scott Turow on Legal Thrillers, Writing & Artificial Intelligence
Bestselling author and attorney Scott Turow joins David M. Rubenstein to discuss his career as a master of the legal thriller, his writing process, and the experiences that have inspired his novels. Turow also shares his concerns about artificial intelligence and its potential impact on writers, publishing, and the creative process.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
BN+: Andrew Burstein, "Being Thomas Jefferson"
Andrew Burstein recently retired as a professor of history at Louisiana State University. "Being Thomas Jefferson: An Intimate History" is his 16th book about the early years of the United States. In the introduction, Prof. Burstein writes: "This book is about extraordinary drama that punctuated the life of a famous man who had an unusual need to control his environment." Andrew Burstein continu
Q&A: Andrea Mitchell, NBC Chief Washington Correspondent
NBC News Chief Washington and Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell talks about some of the big stories and important people – including U.S. presidents and world leaders – she has covered during her nearly 50 years with the network. Mitchell also talks about her upbringing, her early years in radio and TV in Philadelphia, and her marriage to the late Alan Greenspan, who served as chair of
ABC: David Maraniss on Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Vince Lombardi & Jim Thorpe
Pulitzer Prize winner and longtime Washington Post reporter David Maraniss joins David M. Rubenstein to discuss his biographies of Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Vince Lombardi, and Jim Thorpe.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
AW: The American Way of Welfare
Chris Pope argued for policies that he believes would improve the current welfare system in the United States. The Competitive Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C., hosted this event.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
BN+: Jonathan Jordan, "Ike and Winston
Jonathan Jordan devotes 544 pages and 57 chapters of his book "Ike and Winston" to telling the story of the friendship between Dwight David Eisenhower and Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill. President Eisenhower lived to be 78 and died in 1969. Sir Winston died four years before that, in 1965, at age 90. Author Jonathan Jordan says: "Churchill could have had his pick of friendship, but he wante
Q&A: Kenneth Feinberg, "What Is Life Worth?"
Eleven days after the attacks on September 11, 2001, Congress passed a law establishing the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund to compensate families who lost loved ones on 9/11. Attorney Kenneth Feinberg, author of "What Is Life Worth?," was chosen to head up the taxpayer-funded effort and was solely responsible for determining how much each family would get paid. In all, 5,500 people receiv
ABC: Susan Page on Queen Elizabeth’s Relationships With 13 U.S. Presidents
Best-selling author and USA Today Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page joins David M. Rubenstein to discuss her book about Queen Elizabeth's relationships with 13 U.S. presidents and her biographies of Barbara Bush, Nancy Pelosi and Barbara Walters.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
AW: Stories of Patriotism and Purpose with Martha Raddatz
Longtime ABC News war correspondent Martha Raddatz profiled American military service members and their families who have served in the 25 years since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. She was interviewed by San Francisco ABC7 News Anchor, Dan Ashley, at the Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California in May of 2026.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoic
BN+: Scott Greenberger, "The Forsaken Founder"
In the beginning of Scott Greenberger's new book, "The Forsaken Founder," Dawn Davis, publisher of the Simon & Schuster imprint 37 Ink, introduces us to this new history of a mostly unfamiliar name. Davis writes: "Hamilton, Franklin, Washington, Madison. These are names we know." However, she writes that "there was another man in the room at the founding, a prodigy whose contributions were just as
Q&A: 9/11 Oral Histories
To mark the 25th anniversary of the attacks on September 11, 2001, we present first-hand accounts of that day from first responders, journalists, political figures, and others. You'll hear from New York City firefighter Tim Brown, World Trade Center owner Larry Silverstein, photographer Doug Mills, reporters Ann Compton and Andrea Mitchell, President Bush assistant Anita McBride, Rear Admiral Davi
ABC: Kai Bird on Roy Cohn, American Scoundrel & American Prometheus
Pulitzer Prize winner Kai Bird joins David M. Rubenstein to discuss his biography of Roy Cohn, American Scoundrel, and his Pulitzer Prize-winning biography American Prometheus, which inspired the film Oppenheimer.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
AW: Amazon Labor Union Co-Founder, Chris Smalls
Chris Smalls told his story of becoming the co-founder of the Amazon Labor Union. He was interviewed by Journalist & Author Karen Attiah at the Politics and Prose bookstore in Washington, D.C.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
BN+: Joby Warrick, "The Jackal"
Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, better known as Carlos the Jackal, has been in prison for 32 years in France. He was captured in Sudan on August 14, 1994. In his book titled "The Jackal," Washington Post correspondent Joby Warrick reports on his 2025 meeting with the jailed terrorist in Paris. Carlos told him: "I killed 83 people with my own hand." Reporter Warrick writes that: "Carlos mattered. He was the
New York Times Photographer Doug Mills on Covering the White House
New York Times staff photographer Doug Mills has won 3 Pulitzer Prizes for his work covering the White House & Washington, Super Bowls, Olympics, and many other major events. He tells us that he's taken over one million photographs of President Trump alone. In our conversation, he talks about some of the events he's covered going back to the Reagan administration. He talks about being in the Oval
AW: Joanna Stern's Year Using AI to Do (Almost) Everything
Technology reporter Joanna Stern describes the year she spent using artificial intelligence and robots in all aspects of her life. The Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California, provided this event.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
BN+: Paul Taylor, "This Is Getting Old"
Paul Taylor tells his readers: "For the first 25 years, I was a newspaper reporter. For the next 25, a political reformer, a demographer, a pollster, an author, and a public speaker." He's now 77 and has written a memoir titled "This Is Getting Old: Two Boomers and Their Generation at Dusk." Besides Paul Taylor, the other boomer in his book refers to his wife of 57 years, Stefanie. He asked his fr
Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch Discusses Heroes of 1776
From the Supreme Court of the United States, Justice Neil Gorsuch discusses his children's book, "Heroes of 1776," about the signers of the Declaration of Independence and other, lesser known, revolutionaries who put their life, liberty, and property on the line to gain independence from the British.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
After Words: A Woman's-Eye View of the Revolutionary Era
Historian Molly Beer took a woman's-eye view of the revolutionary era through the life of Angelica Schuyler Church, Alexander Hamilton's sister-in-law. Thomas Jefferson's Monticello hosted this event.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
BN+: JD Vance, "Hillbilly Elegy"
In the political history of the United States, books have had a big impact on who the public follows in elections. In 1956, John F. Kennedy published "Profiles in Courage," which sold 2.8 million copies by his death in 1963. Jimmy Carter released his title "Why Not the Best?" in 1975, the year before he was elected president. When Barack Obama first released his life story in 1995, he only sold ap
Q&A: Historian & Biographer Robert Caro
This week on Q&A, it's a rare interview with one of America's leading historians. We tour the New York City office and home library of Pulitzer Prize-winning bestselling biographer Robert Caro, who is currently working on the final volume of his 5-volume biography of Lyndon Johnson. During the tour, Mr. Caro talks about his research and writing process on the LBJ series, and the impact of "The Pow
BN+: John Jenkins, "Summer of '71" – Part 2
This is the second of a two-part interview with journalist John A. Jenkins. His book is "Summer of '71: Five Months That Changed America." Jenkins writes in the introduction: "[I]t is hard to overstate the importance of the events that defined the American experience during the fateful five months of May through September 1971." A good portion of the first part of the interview with John Jenkins f
Jennifer Levasseur, Space History Curator
The Smithsonian Institution National Air & Space Museum's Jennifer Levasseur discusses the history of the 135-mission Space Shuttle program (1981-2011), its accomplishments, and two tragic failures that led to the deaths of 14 shuttle astronauts. Ms. Levasseur, the curator in charge of the Space Shuttle Discovery at the Air & Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia, where this interview took
BN+: John Jenkins, "Summer of '71" – Part 1
John A. Jenkins has been a journalist most of his life in the city of his birth, Washington, DC. He says he's never known another summer like the one 55 years ago. His book, "Summer of '71: Five Months That Changed America," focuses on well-known names from that era: Daniel Ellsberg, Neil Sheehan, Henry Kissinger, Sarah Weddington, and Angela Davis. John Jenkins writes that "each main character ha
Q&A: Mark Harmon & Leon Carroll, Jr., "Ghosts of Sicily"
Actor Mark Harmon and retired NCIS special agent Leon Carroll, Jr., discuss their book "Ghosts of Sicily," the latest in their series about real-life Naval intelligence operations. "Ghosts of Sicily" tells the story of the U.S. government's use of the American mafia to fight the Nazis and Italians during World War II.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
BN+: Christine Kuehn, "Family of Spies"
The author's name is Christine Kuehn. The book is titled "Family of Spies: A World War II Story of Nazi Espionage, Betrayal, and the Secret History Behind Pearl Harbor." Christine Kuehn worked on her family's story for over 30 years. According to the publisher's note, it began with a letter from a screenwriter asking about a story. It was the first time she had ever heard about the secrets of the
Q&A: Tad Devine, "How the Democrats Screwed Bernie"
Tad Devine, former chief campaign strategist for Bernie Sanders and the author of "How the Democrats Screwed Bernie," argues that Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Committee used dirty tricks, dark money groups, and the mainstream media to thwart Sen. Sanders' presidential run in 2016.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
ABC: Ben Mezrich on The Social Network, 21, and Turning True Stories into Hollywood Hits
Bestselling author Ben Mezrich joins David Rubenstein to discuss his writing career and the real-life stories behind several of his bestselling books, including Bringing Down the House and The Accidental Billionaires, which were adapted into the hit films 21 and The Social Network.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
After Words: Managing Chronic Pain with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
Neurosurgeon and medical journalist Sanjay Gupta discussed strategies for preventing and managing pain and promoting wellness. This event took place at the 2026 New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
BN+: Ted Widmer, "The Living Declaration"
The commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence has now gone beyond the Fourth of July. Many books have been published about the Declaration in the first half of 2026. The question for Americans is: "Have you read the Declaration in full?" A recent study says that only 3 in 10 U.S. citizens have read the Declaration in its entirety. Author Ted Widmer ha
Q&A: Mike Leinbach, Former Space Shuttle Launch Director & Co-Author, "Bringing Columbia Home"
On February 1, 2003, Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas and Louisiana while re-entering Earth's atmosphere, killing all seven astronauts on board. Former Space Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach, who led debris recovery and reconstruction efforts following the accident, talks about the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster and the investigation into its causes. Mr. Leinbach is the co-aut
ABC: Michael Beschloss Explores the Revolutionary War, Civil War & 20th Century America
Bestselling presidential historian Michael Beschloss joins David M. Rubenstein for a wide-ranging conversation on American history. They discuss the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and the pivotal events and presidents that shaped the United States in the twentieth century.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
AW: Political Realignment and the "New Right"
The John Locke Institute's Stephen Davies argued that the world is witnessing the emergence a permanent new form of "right-wing" politics. He spoke at the Competitive Enterprise Institute in Washington, DC.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
BN+: Valerie Fridland, "Why We Talk Funny"
After 47 years of C-SPAN televising the Congress of United States, we feel there is no better place to hear accents and dialects of the American people 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In her book "Why We Talk Funny: The Real Story Behind Our Accents," Valerie Fridland promises to unlock "the secrets of what linguistic science, psychology and history tell us about the evolution of human speech."
ABC: Geraldine Brooks on Memoir, Fiction & War Reporting
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks joins David M. Rubenstein to discuss her memoir, acclaimed novels, and early career as a war correspondent. She reflects on the experiences that shaped her writing, the intersection of history and fiction, and the personal stories behind her work.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
AW: The Politicization of the Justice Department
Reporter Aaron Davis argued the Trump administration has politicized the Justice Department. This was part of Maryland's 2026 Gaithersburg Book Festival.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Claudia Rowe, "Wards of the State"
Claudia Rowe is the author of "Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care." Rowe has been writing about the hallways and courtrooms, where kids and government clash, for 30 years. "Every person in this book," according to Claudia Rowe, "agreed to talk to me for one of two reasons, or both: They wanted to be seen, to be understood. And they wanted to change foster care." Rowe point
Q&A: David McKean and M. Todd Bennett, "The Flag Was Still There"
As the nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, former U.S. ambassador David McKean and former State Department historian M. Todd Bennett, co-authors of "The Flag Was Still There," look back at the 1776 founding and the four previous semi-centennial celebrations of America in 1826, 1876, 1926, and 1976.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit m
ABC: Danielle Allen & Walter Isaacson on the Declaration of Independence
Historians Danielle Allen and Walter Isaacson join David M. Rubenstein at the U.S. Capitol to discuss the Declaration of Independence and how America celebrates its founding.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
AW: American Struggle with Jon Meacham
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham told America's complicated story through the words of those who have shaped our national debates from 1619 into the early 21st century. To read highlights from those accounts, he was joined by Academy Award actor Ellen Burstyn and Stephen Lang, best known for his roles in the movie Gettysburg and the Avatar series. The Roosevelt House Public Policy Inst
BN+: Richard Brookhiser, "The Hero Returns"
Richard Brookhiser is an American journalist, biographer, historian, and senior editor at National Review. He has appeared on C-SPAN for many years as the author of biographies of America's founders. His latest book features a Frenchman and is titled "The Hero Returns." His focus is on Lafayette (LAH-fee-et) and the legacy of revolution. Mr. Brookhiser's particular attention is on 1824, the year t
Q&A: Maggie Haberman & Jonathan Swan, "Regime Change"
New York Times White House Correspondents Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan discuss their just-published bestseller about the first year of the second Trump administration. They discuss his inner circle, decision-making process on some of the major issues, and what they found inside the Oval Office and the Situation Room.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mollie Hemingway, "Alito"
Mollie Hemingway, editor-in-chief of The Federalist and author of "Alito," discusses the life, career, and legal opinions of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, who joined the Court in 2006. She talks about Justice Alito's role in overturning Roe v. Wade, the flag controversy involving his wife Martha-Ann, and the backlash that he and other justices on the Court have received in response to their
ABC: Pulitzer Winner Doris Kearns Goodwin on America’s Greatest Presidents
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin joins David M. Rubenstein to discuss her acclaimed biographies of Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt, as well as the life and legacy of her late husband, Richard Goodwin, who served as a speechwriter for Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
AW: Screen People - How We Entertained Ourselves into a State of Emergency
Atlantic Staff Writer Megan Garber argued that screens and social media have changed how we relate to each other. Politics and Prose in Washington, D.C., hosted this event.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
BN+: Michael Cullinane, "Theodore Roosevelt and the Tennis Cabinet"
In July of this year, 2026, the new, multi-million-dollar Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library opens to the public in Medora (muh-"DOOR"-uh), North Dakota, population 121. The senior historian for the T.R. Library is a man named Michael Patrick Cullinane, a professor of history at Dickinson State University in North Dakota, 36 miles from Medora. To coincide with the opening of T.R.'s Library, P
Q&A: Sarah Isgur, "Last Branch Standing" – Part Two
As the Supreme Court's term winds down, with some notable cases still to be decided, we take a behind the scenes look at the Supreme Court and how it operates with SCOTUSblog editor Sarah Isgur (IHS-ger). Her new book on the topic is titled "Last Branch Standing." In part two of our discussion, we talk to Sarah Isgur about the power of Chief Justice John Roberts, the personalities and influence of
Kara Swisher on the Future of Technology and Journalism
Journalist Kara Swisher joins David M. Rubenstein to discuss the future of artificial intelligence and technology, human longevity, and her interviewing style.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
AW: Defending Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War with China
The Hoover Institution's Eyck Freymann argues that the United States can deter a war with China by strengthening its defense of Taiwan. He spoke at the Hoover Institution in Washington, DC.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
David Garrow on Martin Luther King, Jr. & Barack Obama
David J. Garrow is a prize-winning historian. Since graduating from Wesleyan University in 1975 and completing his law degree at Duke in 1981, he has spent most of his time writing about civil rights. His best selling and most praised book is titled "Bearing the Cross: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference," published in 1986. We last talked to David Garrow in M
Q&A: Sarah Isgur, "Last Branch Standing"
As the Supreme Court's term comes to an end, with decisions on birthright citizenship, transgender athletes, and gun rights still to be rendered, we take a behind the scenes look at the Supreme Court and how it operates with SCOTUSblog editor Sarah Isgur. Her new book on the topic is titled "Last Branch Standing." In part one of our discussion, we talk to Sarah Isgur about the current court, the c
ABC: Lois Romano on Mary Todd Lincoln's Life, Legacy and Mental Health
Bestselling Mary Todd Lincoln biographer Lois Romano joins David M. Rubenstein at Ford's Theatre to discuss Lincoln's early life, time in the White House and mental health.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
AW: The Future is Peace with Palestinian Aziz Abu Sarah and Israeli Maoz Inon
Aziz Abu Sarah, a Palestinian whose brother was killed by the IDF, and Maoz Inon, an Israeli whose parents were killed by Hamas on October 7, 2023, talked about their friendship and efforts to figand I Historic Synagogue in Washington, D.C.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
BN+: Lerone Bennett Jr., "Forced Into Glory"
Dr. Lerone Bennett Jr. was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, on October 17, 1928. He spent over 50 years with Johnson Publishing, ultimately became executive editor of its Ebony magazine. Bennett died at age 89 on February 14, 2018, in Chicago, his home base of many years.
Dr. Bennett's mother worked as a maid, his father a chauffeur. Their son graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta. His Book
Jonathan Wilson, "The Power and the Glory"
From June 11th to July 19th, the United States, Mexico, and Canada will be hosting the FIFA World Cup, the most popular sporting event in the world, with billions of viewers expected worldwide. To provide an overview and history of the World Cup we talk to Guardian (UK) soccer columnist Jonathan Wilson, author of "The Power and the Glory," which tells the history, politics, and corruption behind t
David Baldacci on Writing Thrillers and Becoming a Bestselling Author
Bestselling author David Baldacci joins David M. Rubenstein for a wide-ranging conversation about his journey from practicing law in Washington to becoming one of the world's most successful thriller writers. He discusses his approach to crafting suspenseful stories, seeing his novel Absolute Power adapted into a film by Clint Eastwood, and the evolving relationship between technology and publishi
AW: Suing the NSA and Fighting Digital Surveillance
Electronic Frontier Foundation Executive Director Cindy Cohn recalled her career fighting for digital privacy. Harvard Book Store hosted this event.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Lois Romano, "An Inconvenient Widow"
Lois Romano, formerly of the Washington Post, re-examines the legacy of Mary Todd Lincoln. In the promotion of the book, Simon & Schuster, the publisher, claims that Mrs. Lincoln "was failed at nearly every turn in her widowhood by her family, by her government, by medical professionals ill-equipped to diagnose her mental illness, and finally failed by history." In her prologue, Lois Romano writes
Q&A: Gayle Feldman, "Nothing Random"
Every week in the 1950s and 60s, 30 million Americans watched the congenial Bennett Cerf on Sunday nights on "What's My Line?" But he was much more than a game show panelist. In 1927, he co-founded the publishing giant Random House and brought to the public authors such as James Joyce, Ayn Rand, Truman Capote, Dr. Suess, and William Faulkner. Author Gayle Feldman spent 30 years researching and wri
Ann Patchett on Writing, Bookstores & Storytelling with David Rubenstein
Bestselling author Ann Patchett joins David M. Rubenstein to discuss her novels, children's books, nonfiction work, and what it's like to own her own bookstore.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
AW: "Poisoned Ivies" with R-NY Rep. Elise Stefanik
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) argued that elite universities in America have embraced a culture of antisemitism, leftist groupthink, and censorship. She spoke at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda, California.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Danny Funt, "Everybody Loses"
Danny Funt is the author of the book "Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling." In May 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in a 6-3 decision that legalized sports betting nationally by declaring the federal prohibition unconstitutional. According to Danny Funt, sports leagues oversight went from the position that
Q&A: Lamar Alexander, "Education of a Senator"
Former Republican Senator and Governor of Tennessee Lamar Alexander, author of "The Education of a Senator," talks about his personal life and nearly six-decade career in politics. As a public servant Sen. Alexander worked with ten presidents, from JFK to Trump.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
AW: The Pilots who Evacuated Ebola Patients in 2014
Journalist Kevin Hazzard talked about Phoenix Air, a private, air ambulance service that transports patients with highly infectious diseases when governments refuse to get involved. This event was hosted by Politics and Prose Bookstore in Washington, DC.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
BN+: Theo Baker, "How to Rule the World"
Theo Baker will graduate from Stanford University on June 14th, 2026. About one month prior, his first book, "How to Rule the World: An Education in Power at Stanford University," is being published by Penguin Press. Praise for his book, gathered by Penguin Press, is plentiful. Author William D. Cohen writes: "[Theo Baker's] astounding reporting as a Stanford freshman led to the downfall of the un
Q&A: Adam Szetela, "That Book Is Dangerous!"
Adam Szetela, author of "That Book Is Dangerous!," discusses his investigation into the rise of self-censorship in the publishing industry, which he argues is being negatively transformed by social media and the culture wars in the United States. Mr. Szetela talks about the role played by the Big Five publishers, literary agents, sensitivity readers, and online pressure groups in the process.
ABC: Candice Millard Discusses Theodore Roosevelt, James A. Garfield & Winston Churchill
Bestselling Historian Candice Millard joins David M. Rubenstein at the U.S. Capitol to discuss her books about Theodore Roosevelt, James Garfield, and Winston Churchill.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
AW: Modern Russian History through the Experiences of its Women
A journalist looked at modern Russia through the eyes and experiences of its women. The 2026 San Antonio Book Festival hosted this program.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Harvey Mansfield, "Where Harvard Went Wrong"
Harvey Mansfield arrived as an undergrad at Harvard in 1949, 77 years ago. He hardly left the university until he retired as research professor in 2023. Professor Mansfield, at age 94, is still writing. Encounter Books has just published a 136-page book by him titled "Where Harvard Went Wrong." Prof. Mansfield says he's one of the conservative faculty members of his university, one of three. His b
Q&A: Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch Discusses Heroes of 1776
From the Supreme Court of the United States, Justice Neil Gorsuch discusses his children's book, "Heroes of 1776," about the signers of the Declaration of Independence and other, lesser known, revolutionaries who put their life, liberty, and property on the line to gain independence from the British.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
