War Books

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 its relevance to their concerns. Meanwhile, even as scores of Americans rally to the Ukrainian cause and adopt Volodymyr Zelensky as a hero, the lives of Ukrainians remain opaque and mostly anonymous. In By the Second Spring, the historian Danielle Leavitt goes beyond familiar portraits of wartime heroism and victimhood to reveal the human experience of the conflict. An American who grew up in Ukraine, Leavitt draws on her deep familiarity with the country and a unique trove of online diaries to track a diverse group of Ukrainians through the first year of Russia's full-scale invasion. Among others, we meet Vitaly, whose plans to open a coffee bar in a Kyiv suburb come to naught when the Russian army marches through his town and his apartment building is split in two by a rocket; Anna, who drops out of the police academy and begins a tumultuous relationship with a soldier she meets online; and Polina, a fashion-industry insider who returns home from Los Angeles with her American husband to organize relief. To illuminate the complex resurgence of Ukraine's national spirit, Leavitt also tells the story of Volodymyr Shovkoshitniy―a nuclear engineer at Chernobyl who went on to lead a daring campaign in the late 1980s to return the bodies of three Ukrainian writers who'd died in a Soviet gulag. Writing with closeness and compassion, Leavitt has given us an interior history of Europe's largest land war in seventy-five years.'Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

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 sniper who, after serving multiple tours during the Iraq War, returned home seriously and mysteriously ill. Joshua Howe is an environmental historian who met Lemons as a student in one of his classes. Together they have crafted a vital book that challenges us to think beyond warfare's acute violence of bullets and bombs to the “slow violence” of toxic exposure and lasting trauma.In alternating chapters, Lemons vividly describes his time in Fallujah and elsewhere during the worst of the Iraq War, his descent into a decade-long battle with mysterious and severe sickness, and his return to health; Howe explains, with clarity and scientific insight, the many toxicities to which Lemons was exposed and their potential consequences. Together they cover the whirlwind of toxic exposures military personnel face from the things they touch and breathe in all the time, including lead from bullets, jet fuel, fire retardants, pesticides, mercury, dust, and the cocktail of toxicants emitted by the open-air “burn pits” used in military settings to burn waste products like paint, human waste, metal cans, oil, and plastics. They also consider PTSD and traumatic brain injury, which are endemic among the military and cause and exacerbate all kinds of physical and mental health problems. Finally, they explore how both mainstream and alternative medicine struggle to understand, accommodate, and address the vast array of health problems among military veterans.Warbody challenges us to rethink the violence we associate with war and the way we help veterans recover. It is a powerful book with an urgent message for the nearly twenty million Americans who are active military or veterans, as well as for their families, their loved ones, and all of us who depend on their service.'Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

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 dedicated his life to bridging the cultural divide between the United States and China“He was a gutsy old man.” “A corker,” said another. “You couldn't find anyone better.” They talked about him in hushed tones. “This Major Carlson,” wrote one of the officers in a letter home, “is one of the finest men I have ever known.”These were the words of the young Marines training to be among the first U.S. troops to enter the Second World War—and the Major Carlson they spoke of was Evans Carlson, a man of mythical status even before the war that would make him a military legend.By December of 1941, at the age of forty-five, Carlson had already faced off against Sandinistas in the jungles of Nicaragua and served multiple tours in China, where he embedded with Mao's Communist forces during the Sino-Japanese War. Inspired by their guerilla tactics and their collaborative spirit—which he'd call “gung ho,” introducing the term to the English language—and driven by his own Emersonian ideals of self-reliance, Carlson would go on to form his renowned Marine Raiders, the progenitors of today's special operations forces, who fought behind Japanese lines on Makin Island and Guadalcanal, showing Americans a new way to do battle.In The Raider, Cundill Prize–winning historian Stephen R. Platt gives us the first authoritative account of Carlson's larger-than-life exploits: the real story, based on years of research including newly discovered diaries and correspondence in English and Chinese, with deep insight into the conflicted idealism about the Chinese Communists that would prove Carlson's undoing in the McCarthy era.Tracing the rise and fall of an unlikely American war hero, The Raider is a story of exploration, of cultural (mis)understanding, and of one man's awakening to the sheer breadth of the world.'Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

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/92235/9781524733179Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

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/92235/9781541645912Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

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/92235/9781639731534Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

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/92235/9781639365630Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

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/92235/9781639365630Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

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/92235/9781668020883Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

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/92235/9780198715955Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

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/92235/9781990735332Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

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 book here: https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9780525510086Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/War Books Podcast is a podcast dedicated to exploring history by interviewing today's best authors writing about war-related topics. War Books Podcast aims to spotlight the profound historical moments that have shaped war and conflict throughout history, and highlight today's best writers in the fields of military history, war studies, war writing, current events, politics, fiction, literature, history, and more. This podcast is tailored to a broad audience, from general interest to war enthusiasts to teachers and history professors. The objective is to inform, educate, and think deeply about the nature of conflict and the stories that define human beings at their most perilous, harrowing moments.#history #war #warbooks #authorinterviews #book #newbook #historyteacher #historyprofessor #bookstagram #instabooks #reels #reelsvideo #bookreels #library #historybook #reading #conflict #bookshelf #bookstore #shortsclip #shortscraft #shortsbook #shortshistory #historyfacts #historychannel #historybuff #historyofwar #militaryhistory #warwriting

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/92235/9780385353984Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

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/92235/9780393881264Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

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/92235/9781472858931Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

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/92235/9780300260779Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

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/92235/9781510777576Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

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/92235/9780008562786Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

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/92235/9780593133613Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

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 & buy Samuel's translation here:https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781399089753Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

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/92235/9781647123505Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

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:https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781541604094Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

Ep 035 – Nonfiction. In 1990, East Germany, a country born from war, ceased to exist. Katja Hoyer joins me to discuss East Germany's evolution during the Cold War & her fantastic new book, "Beyond the Wall: A History of East Germany."Support local bookstores & buy Katja's book here:https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781541602571Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

Ep 034 – Fiction. There aren't many books that give the perspective of the fight against ISIS from an Iranian perspective. Salar Abdoh joins me to discuss his extraordinary new novel, "Out of Mesopotamia."Support local bookstores & buy Salar's book here:https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781617758607Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

Ep 033 – Nonfiction. Why did Putin opt for regime change in Ukraine, rather than a smaller-scale intervention in Donbas? Samuel Ramani joins me to discuss his new book, "Putin's War on Ukraine: Russia's Campaign for Global Counter-Revolution."Support local bookstores & buy Samuel's book here:https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781787388512Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

Ep 032 – Nonfiction. What is the importance of Eastern Europe, and how has it been defined by warfare? Jacob Mikanowski joins me to discuss his insightful new book, "Goodbye, Eastern Europe: An Intimate History of a Divided Land."Support local bookstores & buy Jacob's book here: https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781524748500Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

Ep 031 – Nonfiction. As a journalist, Christopher Miller was on the ground in Ukraine when the first Russian missiles struck and troops crossed the border. He joins me to discuss his fascinating new book, "The War Came To Us: Life and Death in Ukraine."Support local bookstores & buy Christopher's book here: https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781399406857Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

Ep 030 – Nonfiction. What do America's modern wars say about us as a country, and how should we respond as citizens? Phil Klay joins me to discuss his incredible new book, "Uncertain Ground: Citizenship in an Age of Endless, Invisible War."Support local bookstores & buy Phil's book here: https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9780593299241Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

Ep 029 – Nonfiction. 500 years ago, a Spanish flotilla reached the Yucatán under the command of Hérnan Cortés, leading to the fall of Tenochtitlan. Stefan Rinke joins me to discuss his new book, "Conquistadors and Aztecs: A History of the Fall of Tenochtitlan."Buy Stefan's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Conquistadors-Aztecs-History-Fall-Tenochtitlan/dp/0197552463Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

Ep 028 – Nonfiction. Why aren't ordinary Russians more outraged by Putin's invasion of Ukraine? Jade McGlynn joins me to discuss why & to talk about her fascinating new book, "Memory Makers: The Politics of the Past in Putin's Russia."Support local bookstores & buy Jade's book here: https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781350280762Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

Ep 027 – Nonfiction. Russia's invasion of Ukraine, when considering history, shouldn't have been such a surprise. Harvard Professor of Ukrainian History, Serhii Plokhy, joins me to discuss his new book, "The Russo-Ukrainian War: The Return of History."Support local bookstores & buy Serhii's book here: https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781324051190Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

Ep 026 – Fiction. In wartime Berlin, intelligence & spying was anything if not complicated— both morally and in practice. Peter Mann's excellent new novel, “The Torqued Man,” explores the contorted lives of two German spies in the final years of World War II.Support local bookstores & buy Peter's book here:https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9780063072114Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

Ep 025 – Nonfiction. Before the outbreak of World War II, the U.S. military was about the same size as Bulgaria's-- far too small to take on Hitler's Germany. Craig Nelson discusses how FDR set out to change this in his new book, "V Is For Victory: Franklin Roosevelt's American Revolution & the Triumph of World War II."Support local bookstores & buy Craig's book here:https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781982122911Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

Ep 024 – Fiction. In 2003, a postcard arrived at Anne's home with 4 names written on it, all of them family members who died at Auschwitz. In a fascinating English-language interview, acclaimed French author Anne Berest discusses her new World War II autobiographical novel, "The Postcard."Support local bookstores & buy Anne's book here:https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781609458386Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

Ep 023 – Nonfiction. Is there a uniquely German way of war? Oxford historian Peter H. Wilson joins me to challenge this notion & discuss 500 years of German military history in his new book, "Iron and Blood: A Military History of the German-Speaking Peoples since 1500."Support local bookstores & buy Peter's book here:https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9780674987623Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

Ep 022 - Nonfiction. “If we understand the violence of reconstruction, we can understand the violence of today.” Kidada E. Williams joins me to discuss her illuminating new book, 'I Saw Death Coming: A History of Terror and Survival in the War Against Reconstruction.'Support local bookstores & buy Kidada's book here:https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781635576634Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

Ep 021 - Nonfiction. No engines, no guns, and no second chances. For our U.S. Memorial Day episode, Scott McGaugh joins me to talk about the American glider pilots of World War II & his terrific new book, "Brotherhood of the Flying Coffin: The Glider Pilots of World War II."Support local bookstores & buy Scott's book here:https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781472852946Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

Ep 020 - Nonfiction. 20 years later, the Iraq War still lingers. "All the civil wars in Iraq & Syria had the spark from that chaos." Ghaith Abdul-Ahad joins me to discuss his fantastic new book, 'A Stranger in Your Own City: Travels in the Middle East's Long War.'Support local bookstores & buy Ghaith's book here:https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9780593536889Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

Ep 019 - Nonfiction. How dangerous are things right now? In a first for the War Books Podcast, we discuss the future of war. Andrew Hoehn and Thom Shanker join me to chat about their terrific new book, "Age of Danger: Keeping America Safe in an Era of New Superpowers, New Weapons, and New Threats."Support local bookstores & buy Andrew and Thom's book here:https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9780306829109Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

Ep 018 - Fiction. What can World War One, one of the world's most destructive conflicts, teach us about language, love, & same-sex partnerships? Aleksandar Hemon joins me to discuss his incredible new novel, "The World and All That It Holds."Support local bookstores & buy Aleksandar's book here:https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9780374287702Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

Ep 017 - Nonfiction. “Ukraine is very different from all the other wars... it's one in which Putin involves himself much more personally.” Mark Galeotti demystifies Russia's wars since the 1990s & discusses his incredible new book, "Putin's Wars: From Chechnya to Ukraine."Support local bookstores & buy Mark's book here:https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781472847546Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

Ep 016 - Nonfiction. The Bangladesh Liberation War is sometimes called the world's first climate war. How did a mild cyclone lead to a violent genocide? Scott Carney talks about his book, co-written with Jason Miklian, "The Vortex: A True Story of History's Deadliest Storm, an Unspeakable War, and Liberation."Support local bookstores & buy Scott and Jason's book here:https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9780062985415Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

Ep 015 - Nonfiction. An incredible story of Vietnam, Agent Orange, & the post-war experience for veterans. My interview with George Black on his fantastic new book, "The Long Reckoning: A Story of War, Peace, and Redemption in Vietnam."Support local bookstores & buy George's book here:https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9780593534106Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

Ep 014 - Nonfiction. In 1776, rumors abounded that George Washington would rather burn New York City than let it fall. The British invaded. Then, the city burned. My chat with Prof. Benjamin Carp about his captivating new book, "The Great New York Fire of 1776: A Lost Story of the American Revolution."Support local bookstores & buy Benjamin's book here:https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9780300246957Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

Ep 013 - Nonfiction. Glowing foxes, bat bombs, explosive baking flour, and more. My fascinating interview with John Lisle on his new book, "The Dirty Tricks Department: Stanley Lovell, the OSS, and the Masterminds of World War II Secret Warfare." We dive deep into the creative ways American intelligence sought to win World War II.Support local bookstores & buy John's book here:https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781250280244Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

Ep 012 - Nonfiction. Jeff's latest book, “The Mercenary: A Story of Brotherhood and Terror in the Afghanistan War,” is a nonfiction novel about his time in Afghanistan as a war correspondent & the friendship he forms with his Afghani driver. This book is a page-turner, and Jeff does a terrific job exploring what it means to be a reporter, but also a human being, in a war zone.Support local bookstores & buy Jeff's book here:https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781541702455Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

Ep 011 - Nonfiction. “He might've been of the youngest generation in that war.” At the age of 13, Heidi Langbein-Allen's father was forced from his home to become a child soldier in Hitler's army. A fascinating discussion from her extraordinary new book, "Save the Last Bullet: Memoir of a Boy Soldier in Hitler's Army."Support local bookstores & buy Heidi's book here:https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781399072397Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

Ep 010 - Nonfiction. In September 1942, one of the fiercest battles of WW2 began: Stalingrad. The battle is one of the most written-about of WW2, and I was so glad to pick up Iain MacGregor's new book, "The Lighthouse of Stalingrad," which adds a new layer to the history & chronicles an event crucial to the defeat of the Nazis. In Iain's words, "I wanted to write a very human story." What a great interview.Support local bookstores & buy Iain's book here:https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781982163587Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: https://apple.co/3FP4ULbSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

Ep 009 - Nonfiction. In 1861, the Confederacy sent a devious Southern agent abroad to build a Navy. The Union sent an agent to stop him. My interview with Alexander Rose on his thrilling new book, "The Lion And The Fox: Two Rival Spies and the Secret Plot to Build a Confederate Navy." Support local bookstores & buy Alexander's book here:https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9780358393252Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: http://bit.ly/3ZCL0duSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

Ep 008 - Nonfiction. My fascinating conversation about the Vietnam War with Prof. Carolyn Woods Eisenberg, author of the new book "Fire and Rain: Nixon, Kissinger, and the Wars in Southeast Asia."Prof. Eisenberg's book is a re-examination of Nixon and Kissinger during the Vietnam War. Our conversation touched on the origins of the war, Nixon's shrew political maneuvering, and how the U.S. made major concession to both the Soviet Union and China.Support local bookstores & buy Carolyn's book here: https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9780197639061Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: http://bit.ly/3ZCL0duSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/

Ep 007 - Nonfiction. My interview with Karen Baum Gordon on her new book, “The Last Letter: A Father's Struggle, a Daughter's Quest, and the Long Shadow of the Holocaust.”Karen's book is the first of memoir-style work featured on the show, and man was I glad to talk to her. Karen's story is an incredible chronicle of her father's life—from his time growing up in a German-Jewish family, to emigrating to America, to returning to Germany to fight as an American soldier against Hitler. Karen's father attempted suicide later in life, and this incredible book is her answer to the question “Why?”Support independent bookstores & buy Karen's book here: https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781621907039Subscribe to the War Books podcast here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warbookspodcastApple: http://bit.ly/3ZCL0duSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3kP9scZFollow the show here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/warbookspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/warbookspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/warbookspodcast/