Why I Read Nonfiction with Kevin Walsh

Why is 30-year-old Michael Belkin new school and old fashioned?  Some of it has to do with his reading choices—biographies, how he prefers emails to be sent—a good subject line, and how one book and the author’s appearance at a conference reset his attitude about how business should be conducted.  Simon Sinek says Start with Why.  Michael didn’t just read it, he lives it and builds his professional and personal life around it. For links to the books discussed during this episode visit https://whyireadnonfiction.com/026-old-soul-millennial-with-michael-belkin/

Bedtime was reading time for author and Boston sports anchor and reporter Bob Halloran.   That reading inspired him to become a sportscaster and writer.  Along the way, he survived a health scare, lived to tell about it, and just appreciates the gift of another day to live and a book to read.  Visit https://whyireadnonfiction.com/025-i-didnt-have-a-bedtime-with-bob-halloran/ for links to the books discussed during this episode.  

Dan Boyne, author of The Seven Seat:  A True Story of Rowing, Revenge, and Redemption tells a story about his life that we can all relate to.  You’ll feel as if you’re in the boat, cheering him on, wishing all bully stories could end this way.  Experience or rekindle the typical college tales from life in the 1970s, laughing with friends and overindulgences.  Dan is a teacher and rowing coach at Harvard. For the episode webpage and links to books discussed, logon to https://whyireadnonfiction.com/024-bullies-lose-in-the-end-with-dan-boyne/

It’s too much fun. Why leave?  Sportswriter Gene Wojciechowski graduated from college 40 years ago, but never really left.  He’s a fixture on ESPN’s College GameDay, SportsCenter and other platforms.  At the heart of it all, Gene’s a serial reader and writer.  There was no bedtime hour as a child.  He fell asleep at whatever hour it was with a book in his hands.  Still does.  Gene is the author of 10 books, the most recent No Excuses: The Making of a Head Coach with former Oklahoma University coach Bob Stoops, a national championship winner, who painfully but lovingly told his wife he could no longer do it.  At the time of this airing, No Excuses is the #1 football book on Amazon.  To find books discussed during this episode, log onto https://whyireadnonfiction.com/023-oldest-college-kid-ever-with-gene-wojciechowski/

Part two with Nigel Travis, former CEO and current executive chairman of Dunkin’ brands.  Nigel loves a challenge.  He got it at Burger King, Blockbuster, Papa John’s and most recently in running Dunkin’ which he wrote a book about; The Challenge Culture: Why the Most Successful Organizations Run on Pushback.  His current challenge is owning and running Leyton Orient, a professional soccer team that he grew up rooting for in his native London.  For more a complete transcript of the podcast - visit https://whyireadnonfiction.com/022-nigel-runs-on-dunkin-with-nigel-travis-part-2/

Coffee and conversation with Nigel Travis, chairman of Dunkin’ Brands.  Hear how he got Dunkin’ brands back on track, took it public, and wrote a book about it.   His love of reading, leading, listening and questioning are all wrapped up in a cup with those familiar colors and taste.  Check out podcast webpage for links to books discussed during this episode - https://whyireadnonfiction.com/021-nigel-runs-on-dunkin-with-nigel-travis-part-1/

Author Tom Caraccioli is back, shedding tears with grown men over good books, including his own.  If you’ve ever wondered whether twins think alike, you can only imagine how it impacts their writing styles.  Tom doesn’t have to imagine.  He’s lived it with his identical twin brother and coauthor, Jerry.  We revisit Striking Silver and remember a difficult time in American history with Boycott:  Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Check out podcast webpage for links to books discussed during this episode - https://whyireadnonfiction.com/020-when-youre-an-identical-twin-with-tom-caraccioli/

Actually, they’re FootJoys, but a walk on the golf course with Tom Coyne is like walking a mile in his moccasins.   You won’t just know him, you’ll feel him; his pain, his joy and his sense of adventure. Much like his journey to find the secret to golf in Scotland, he does about the same in his home country.  His next book: A Course Called America is a journey worth taking with Tom shepherding the way.   Check out podcast webpage for links to books discussed during this episode. https://whyireadnonfiction.com/019-a-mile-in-his-moccasins-with-tom-coyne-part-2/  

Recognize that voice?  Josh Brogadir is a professional voiceover artist, actor, Boston TV newsman, former educator and a curious soul with a need to read.  If he’s not reading a book for pay or pleasure, he’s listening to one on audio.  The Dos Equis beer guy is not the most interesting man in the world; Josh is.  Check out the podcast website page for links to the books discussed during this episode. https://whyireadnonfiction.com/018-the-voice-the-book-part-2-with-josh-brogadir/

You can take the boy out of Philly, but you can’t take Philly out of the boy.  Tom Coyne, author of A Course Called Scotland, makes friends out of strangers on the golf course, while searching for the secret to golf. He finds the secret within, confronting his own demons and changing attitudes about golf being a good walk spoiled. Golf is time well spent with friends, even if you just met them.  Tom’s a gifted writer and talented talker.  And if you want to argue about cheesesteaks, hit him up on Twitter.  And bring your attytude! Check out podcast webpage for links to books discussed during this episode. https://whyireadnonfiction.com/017-yo-philly-attytude-with-tom-coyne/

He gets paid to read, one of his greatest passions!  This audiobook narrator of 34 books is a long-time colleague of mine. Josh Brogadir is a professional broadcaster for WCVB TV in Boston, voice-over talent, actor, former teacher, coach, husband, and father.  Is there anything this guy can't do? His love of reading and sports started with Sports Illustrated and the quizzes his teacher mom would pop on him as a child. Check out the podcast website page for links to the books discussed during this episode.  https://whyireadnonfiction.com/016-jack-of-all-trades-master-of-plenty-with-josh-brogadir/

Get it right and be 10 Percent Happier.  Tom read that too.  Author, sportswriter and TV host Tom E. Curran reads and writes a lot.  He’s Relentless.  Wait, he wrote Relentless.  Tom is relentlessly fascinating about deep things, mundane things, everything.  245 books on his Kindle.  Whew!  Check out the podcast transcript for the books mentioned during this episode https://whyireadnonfiction.com/015-thats-tom-e-not-tommy-with-tom-e-curran/

And it’s all Howard Stern’s fault.  My pal in Hawaii, Chuck Little, hooked me on books with Howard Stern’s Private Parts. Fortunately, the two ha’ole boys graduated to more mature reading and discussion.  You know those old friends who you don’t talk to for years, but then you pick up right where you left off?  That’s me and Chuck.  Mahalo nui loa Chuck!  Ultimately theWhy I Read NonfictionPodcast started with you.        Check out the books discussed during this episode at https://whyireadnonfiction.com/014-embarrassing-but-true-with-chuck-little/ 

More than a love, it’s a need.  Reading story, writing story, telling story.  This really is Author Drew Yanno’s life story. At the core of it is a love of reading that started in a small town in Upstate New York.  And it’s that same town, where Drew turned a murder/mystery into a page-turner with In the Matter of Michael Vogel.  Check out the episode page for the books mentioned during the show and for the full transcript https://whyireadnonfiction.com/013-i-love-story-with-drew-yanno/

True story with author John Steinbeck on other end of the leash. TV meteorologist Chris Gloninger talks about his uncle’s bar in Sag Harbor, NY; growing up there before it was chic, and how his love of air, land and sea shapes so much of what he reads. Check out the episode page for the books mentioned during the show and the full transcript  https://whyireadnonfiction.com/dog-walks-into-a-bar

Ugly cover, treasure inside. Good thing she read that ugly book because it set fire to a little girl’s reading life. And another book put Kate Cunnane on the path to becoming a high school English teacher, where reading, writing and curiosity are a way of life. If you like storytelling, you’ll love my cousin Kate. View the full transcript at https://whyireadnonfiction.com/011-cousin-kate/

Dr. John Gnap is a family practice and behavioral medicine specialist in suburban Chicago.  A medical doctor for more than 50 years, much of what he reads influences what he teaches his patients as they try to lose weight, quit smoking, handle stress and simply live their lives better.  Dr. Gnap is a big fan of hypnosis, using it alongside traditional medical practices.  He’s a big fan of French Philosopher Gustave Le Bon.  Even more so, Ivan Sechenov, the father of Russian physiology.  Before there was Ivan Pavlov and his salivating dogs, there was Ivan Sechenov. Dr. Gnap is 81 years old, still practicing medicine, loving life and loving reading.  He is also the author of Easy Sleep, a book that made a good night sleep as simple as flipping a switch. View the full transcript at https://whyireadnonfiction.com/were-all-born-with-attention-deficit/

Bob Walsh is old school and proud of it.  He doesn’t read a lot, but when he finds a book he likes, he reads it over and over again. “I’ve read the same book about a half-dozen times and I’m listening to it now on audiobook.” Bob is talking about The Perfect Catch, a book written by a man, for a man, and one that every woman would want her husband to read.  “It brings back wonderful memories,” he says. Written by his son and host of this podcast, Kevin, The Perfect Catch is more than a long car ride and a fly fishing trip.  It’s about the tricky balance of what it means to be a good father, son, and brother. As much as he loves to fly fish and build bamboo rods, Bob loves the institution that is the family dog. It was a book he read years ago that planted a seed that eventually led him to become an author, co-authoring Follow the Dog Home with Kevin and granddaughter, Samantha.  Hearing Kevin and Bob will probably make you make you think of your dad, or your son, and that’s what makes it a good listen.  View the full transcript at https://whyireadnonfiction.com/its-like-comfort-food-with-bob-walsh/

It’s a good thing he could see it in his head because the tears about blinded his eyes.    Tom Caraccioli’s visit to Normandy and Omaha Beach were inspired by reading D-Day, June 6, 1944. Tom loves history.  Loves to read about history, loves to write about history and loves to talk about history.  A conversation with Tom sounds like a history lesson you longed for, not one that was forced upon you.  Tom and his identical twin brother, Jerry, coauthored Striking Silver, the Untold Story of America’s Forgotten Hockey Team and Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the Moscow Olympic Games.  Their description of Olympic sporting events come to life because he weaves in intricate details, including the foul smell of the former Soviet Union Hockey Team and a darling flirtation between the coach of US Men’s Hockey Team and Olympic figure skater JoJo Starbuck. More than anything, Tom’s storytelling of his reading roots, when he cracked open a book on the porch in Upstate New York as a child, will remind you of your best reading memories. View the full transcript at https://whyireadnonfiction.com/008-movie-playing-in-my-head-with-tom-caraccioli/

Driven, curious, generous, and most definitely her mother's daughter.  Wendy Bornstein sees reading as a vacation.  If that's true, she's almost always on vacation because almost always she's reading, or thinking about it. When she actually takes a vacation, she'll probably read about where she's going, and then read about the same place afterward.  Reading puts more meaning into everything. The daughter of a Jewish history teacher, there were always plenty of books around.  When her father passed away, he left behind 10,000 books.  Rarely does Wendy pass along an opportunity to talk about books. On airlines with open seating, she'll often cheery pick a seat next to someone with a book in their hands and strike up a conversation.  Same is true with coffee shops.  Wendy loves to read, loves to talk and loves to share.  That makes for a good listen. View the full transcript at https://whyireadnonfiction.com/007-there-were-10000-books-with-wendy-bornstein/

Andrea Giroux is that person the next table over at a coffee shop engaged in a fabulous conversation. You want an ear on it.  Now you can.  The daughter of an educator and one of five siblings, reading and conversation are a way of life. If there’s anyone with a zest of life greater than Andrea, we don’t know who that is.  She’s hardly kidding when she says she makes love to a book emotionally.  What’s really interesting is how difficult reading is for her.  She’s dyslexic, and not at all afraid to talk about it.   No wonder she reads The Road Less Traveled over and over again.  Life is hard.  Embracing the struggle can bring great joy and reward.  It’s Andrea’s love of the written word, and a desire to share the treasures within the text that will make you love your reading experience even more.  The married mother of six children lives in the Desert Southwest but returns to her Boston roots each summer to crack open a book, and dig her feet into the sand of Nantucket.  View the full transcript at https://whyireadnonfiction.com/006-i-make-love-to-books-with-andrea-giroux/

Oh, you forgot to bring a book?  If you’re on a long flight or a drive, and you didn’t bring something to help pass the time, you could only wish you had sportswriter Joe McDonald sitting next to you. Joey Mac, as he’s known to readers, is forever interesting. His reading life story started in Providence, Rhode Island.  Want a guy who’s equal parts grit, polish and Irish humor?  Joey Mac’s your guy.  He weaves stories about professional athletes, cops, corrupt politicians and renegade writers together as if they’ll all a part of his life’s story, which of course they are! McDonald’s reading life was born on the 4th of July after reading Ron Kovic’s Born on the Fourth of July.  Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson didn’t just read well, in many ways it taught him how to write with guts. You’ll bust a gut laughing while listening to Joe.  And really, about that car ride… you’re about to take one with him behind the wheel, and you riding shotgun. View the full transcript at https://whyireadnonfiction.com/005-i-have-a-real-life-version-of-that-with-joe-mcdonald/

Amalie Benjamin is not kidding when she talks about her need of reading.  She is hardly, if ever, without a book or access to one.  She has a goal this year to read 50 books.  That’s a noble goal for anyone, let alone the mother of a young, growing family, and a traveling sports columnist for NHL.com. Amalie’s life as a reader comes to life as she talks about growing up in a household with dedicated reading parents and having a best friend, a high school history teacher, who’s an endless resource of good book referrals. Amalie is just as comfortable talking about Hop on Pop and other children’s books as she is about real-life journalistic thrillers:  Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm, and Bad Blood.  She really shines when she makes herself vulnerable.  Her husband, fellow journalist and Dueling with Kings author Daniel Barbarisi, immersed himself deeply into the world of professional sports betting, sometimes putting more on the line than he let on.  For anyone who’s ever felt the intoxication of winning, and the despair of losing, you’ll identify with Amalie and Daniel. View the full transcript at https://whyireadnonfiction.com/004-to-me-reading-is-everything-with-amalie-benjamin/

Some people can’t move on from the past fast enough. Not Mike Petraglia. Not now, not ever. Mike is a well-read, highly respected sports journalist in Boston, Massachusetts, with Cincinnati roots and Midwestern sensibilities. As much as his work brings him into exceptionally loud and feverishly energetic arenas and stadiums, Trags, as the locals know him, is most at peace in a quiet place immersed in a book that captures themes of values and doing things the right way. A subscription to Sports Illustrated sparked his love of reading and writing, and not just about sports. Mike recalling his father’s urging to “read, read and read some more” are touching. So too is his honesty of fudging when his dad asked about his reading list. And his description of getting the “evil eye” from his high school librarian is laugh out loud funny. Listen to what Trags says, and read what he writes. He’s a reading, writing and talking treasure. View the full transcript at https://whyireadnonfiction.com/i-never-want-to-forget-about-the-past-with-mike-petraglia/

Admit it, you do it. So do we. What does that have to do with reading? Everything if you want to know what’s good to read next. If Eunice Groark sees a book in your hands, your chest heaving with laughter, or tears rolling down your cheeks, she might just come over and ask what it is you’re reading. Know this, that’s what happens to her when a book captures her spirit. And, yes, you’re welcome to ask the book title while she’s having a moment. Who is Eunice Groark? She’s my neighbor, and she could be yours too. Raised in New England, she recalls summers spent in Vermont in which half the fun was getting lost in the woods, or the stacks of local libraries, and checking out books to read in the shadows of trees. Eunice is a student of history who loves books that combine historical time periods with compelling stories of human interest. No wonder she loved Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, gave it to me as a birthday gift, and gushed over the details of why she thought I’d like it. Boy did I ever! The conversation with Eunice not only takes you into her reading world, it also takes you into her family life. She’s the oldest of three sisters. They all read, a lot, and they have their own reading club. And if it’s good enough for them, it’s probably good enough for you. View the full transcript at https://whyireadnonfiction.com/were-all-people-watchers-with-eunice-groark/

Who says? David McCullough, Jr., that’s who. He’s the guy who said ‘You Are Not Special’ over and over and over again to a graduating class of high school seniors in a wealthy Boston community, leaving some shocked, others puzzled, but most inspired. Why would you say such a thing to an accomplished group on their day to be feted? Because it needed it. And what David McCullough, Jr. said that day has been repeated millions of times, becoming a YouTube sensation and eventually leading to a book deal: You Are Not Special: And Other Encouragements. At the heart of it all David McCullough, Jr. is a modest man who lives simply and teaches high school English. His deep love of reading and discussing the books he’s read is captivating. Listening to a chat with him could very well influence your next book choice. Not long after recording, host Kevin Walsh went out and purchased Zorba the Greek. If the name sounds familiar, it should. He shares a name with his famous father, David McCullough Sr., perhaps America’s most accomplished author of American and Presidential history. David Jr shares wonderful stories of commandeering his father’s typewriter at a young age and bringing to his dad the typed version of chicken scratch. Well imagine a father’s pride when the same son presented him with the finished version of his own book years later. If anyone has a good handle on the struggles of today’s kids, you’d have to think David McCullough Jr. is more than qualified to speak about it. And he does so with a passion and zest that’s delightfully wise. View the full transcript at https://whyireadnonfiction.com/you-are-not-special-with-david-mccullough-jr/