Book Reviews Episodes

April 18, 2025

The Sisterhood of Ravensbruck. How an Intrepid Band of Frenchwomen Resisted the Nazis in Hitler's all Female Concentration Camp. Talking with author Lynne Olson.

How four young French women who were in the Resistance made a huge impact on the all female concentration camp in Germany.
Guest: Lynne Olson
April 9, 2025

Jim: The Life and Afterlives of Huckleberry Finn's Comrade. Talking with author, Professor Shelley Fisher Fishkin.

Jim teams up with Huckleberry Finn to raft down the Mississippi to freedom: the runaway slave and irreverent scamp are an unlikely duo. But 140 years after the publication of Twain’s greatest novel, Jim continues to be misunderstood.
Jan. 15, 2025

The Holy Land at War. A journey through Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. Speaking with author Mark Patinkin.

Two months after the October 7th attack by Hamas on a Music Festival and Kibbutz in Israel, Mark Patinkin, a veteran journalist for the Providence Journal, went to Israel to cover firsthand the attack and Gaza War. Unlike major networks or newspapers, Mark’s resources were his experience, persisten…
Guest: Mark Patinkin
Jan. 9, 2025

Freeman's Challenge: The murder that shook America's original prison for profit. Talking with Professor Robin Bernstein.

Auburn Correctional Facility, a Max Security Prison, was originally founded in 1816 as a for profit prison. To this day, it still manufactures all the license plates for New York State.
Dec. 14, 2023

Our American Experiment: In conversation with Byron Williams

A collection of short stories that illustrate the differences in the African American and White life experience.
July 27, 2023

Centers of Progress: 40 cities that changed the World. Talking to Chelsea Follett of the Cato Institute

When our hunter gatherer ancestors settled in communities they were at their creative, innovative and productive best. Chelsea Follett features 40 cities where human development began.
June 24, 2023

The Struggle for the people's King: How politics transforms the memory of the Civil Rights Movement. Talking with Dr. Hajar Yazdiha

Over the last 40 years political movements have appropriated the Legitimacy of the Civil Right Movement for their own ends. What effect does it have on our collective memory ?
June 13, 2023

The Siberia Job: In conversation with John Kleinheinz

When Russia privatized the 45,000 state owned corporations when Communism and the USR collapsed, every man, woman and child received a privatization voucher. The book recounts the story of a young American investment manager who participated in the process.
June 2, 2023

Pakistan: Origins, Identity and Future. In conversation with Professor Pervez Hoodbhoy

A sweeping review of history, culture and politics of the Muslim people on the Indian Subcontinent.
May 31, 2023

Becoming the Ex-Wife: The Unconventional Life and Forgotten Writings of Ursula Parrott. Talking with author, Professor Marsha Gordon.

Ursula Parrott a famous author from 1929 to the late 1940s and a member of the Lost Generation was largely forgotten but Marsha Gordon is bringing Parrott’s works back to readers.
May 25, 2023

Who killed Jerusalem ? Talking with author George Albert Brown

1970s San Francisco whodunit full of colorful characters with an homage to 18th century poet William Blake.
May 10, 2023

Everyday War: talking with author Greta Uehling.

An intervention how we think about war. War from the civilian perspective. Conscious ways non combatants participate in war.
Guest: Greta Uehling
April 13, 2023

The Rage of Innocence: How America criminalizes Black Youth. Talking with author, Professor Kristin Henning.

The disparate treatment of black versus white youth in the juvenile Justice system is highlighted.
April 5, 2023

Suppressed: Confessions of a former New York Times Washington Correspondent. Talking with author Robert M. Smith.

Bob Smith relates his experience with the Washington Bureau of The New York Times during the Nixon Administration including Watergate.