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Jeff sits down with narrative historian Russel Shorto to discuss his eighth book, Taking Manhattan: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America. Taking Manhattan, available on Amazon – https://a.co/d/eQTNGWV https://www.newnetherlandinstitute.org/ Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton On Apple Podcasts: https://tr.ee/aTARALr9Gx On Spotify: https://tr.ee/09Ca21CCp- On iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-american-idea-119582945/
Send us a textRaj Vaidya is one of America's most respected sommeliers. He discovered his passion for wine while working in fine dining and went on to shape acclaimed programs at restaurants such as Cru, Per Se, and many others. He later oversaw Daniel Boulud's global restaurant empire, earning a reputation for excellence and precision.Renowned for his deep knowledge of Champagne, Riesling, Burgundy and Rhône wines, Raj now leads his own consulting company. Check out the website: www.drinkingonthejob.com for great past episodes. Everyone from Iron Chefs, winemakers, journalist and more.
The Airborne Mafia: The Paratroopers Who Shaped America's Cold War Army (Cornell UP, 2025) explores how a small group of World War II airborne officers took control of the US Army after World War II. This powerful cadre cemented a unique airborne culture that had an unprecedented impact on the Cold War US Army and beyond. Robert F. Williams reveals the trials and tribulations this group of officers faced in order to bring about their vision. He spotlights the relationship between organizational culture, operational behavior, and institutional change in the United States Army during the Cold War, showing that as airborne officers ascended to the highest ranks of the army they transmitted their culture throughout their service in four major ways—civil-military relations, preparation for potential atomic combat, helicopter airmobility, and strategic response forces. Experiences of training and commanding airborne divisions in World War II led these men to hold sway in army doctrine by the mid-1950s. Dominating institutional thought and imparting their values, beliefs, and norms throughout the service they enjoyed a special privilege within the group culture. Williams demonstrates this impact, privilege, and power by focusing on the paratrooper triumvirate of Matthew Ridgway, Maxwell Taylor, and James Gavin and the lasting impression they made on how the US Army fought. The Airborne Mafia illuminates the power subcultures can have in changing their parent cultures over time, particularly one as set in its ways and as large as the US Army. With a deft touch, deep research, and an unwavering eye for the human stories behind organizational change, Williams helps explain the existence and importance of the paratrooper mystique that remains within the military still today. Former paratrooper Robert F. Williams analyzes masterfully the origins, development, and impact of a small but very influential group of airborne leaders in the decades following WWII. I witnessed this dynamic in both peace and war, and Williams captures the subject superbly. The Airborne Mafia is a must-read for soldiers, scholars, policymakers, and history buffs who want to learn how culture can so significantly influence an organization. Cutting through the outsized myths of one of the US Army's most storied units, Williams delivers a groundbreaking study of the airborne and its soldiers. An incredibly well-told tale of operational innovation, institutional leadership, and cultural persuasion, The Airborne Mafia will no doubt be a go-to book for those interested in an organizational history of the US armed forces during the Cold War era. The Airborne Mafia is a significant contribution to military history. Williams has worked carefully with culture as a driving force in this book. He reveals and fully appreciates how the actions and thoughts of World War II airborne generals shaped the institution into the 21st century. Williams uses the analytical lens of airborne—as a warfighting concept and as individuals dedicated to it—to examine how military institutions change over time. The Airborne Mafia does a phenomenal job articulating how this particular subculture and its vital undercurrents first coalesced and then unified into a powerful force. General David Petraeus, US Army (Ret.)Gregory A. Daddis, author of Pulp VietnamIngo Trauschweizer, author of Maxwell Taylor's Cold WarWilliam A. Taylor, author of Every Citizen a Soldier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
The Airborne Mafia: The Paratroopers Who Shaped America's Cold War Army (Cornell UP, 2025) explores how a small group of World War II airborne officers took control of the US Army after World War II. This powerful cadre cemented a unique airborne culture that had an unprecedented impact on the Cold War US Army and beyond. Robert F. Williams reveals the trials and tribulations this group of officers faced in order to bring about their vision. He spotlights the relationship between organizational culture, operational behavior, and institutional change in the United States Army during the Cold War, showing that as airborne officers ascended to the highest ranks of the army they transmitted their culture throughout their service in four major ways—civil-military relations, preparation for potential atomic combat, helicopter airmobility, and strategic response forces. Experiences of training and commanding airborne divisions in World War II led these men to hold sway in army doctrine by the mid-1950s. Dominating institutional thought and imparting their values, beliefs, and norms throughout the service they enjoyed a special privilege within the group culture. Williams demonstrates this impact, privilege, and power by focusing on the paratrooper triumvirate of Matthew Ridgway, Maxwell Taylor, and James Gavin and the lasting impression they made on how the US Army fought. The Airborne Mafia illuminates the power subcultures can have in changing their parent cultures over time, particularly one as set in its ways and as large as the US Army. With a deft touch, deep research, and an unwavering eye for the human stories behind organizational change, Williams helps explain the existence and importance of the paratrooper mystique that remains within the military still today. Former paratrooper Robert F. Williams analyzes masterfully the origins, development, and impact of a small but very influential group of airborne leaders in the decades following WWII. I witnessed this dynamic in both peace and war, and Williams captures the subject superbly. The Airborne Mafia is a must-read for soldiers, scholars, policymakers, and history buffs who want to learn how culture can so significantly influence an organization. Cutting through the outsized myths of one of the US Army's most storied units, Williams delivers a groundbreaking study of the airborne and its soldiers. An incredibly well-told tale of operational innovation, institutional leadership, and cultural persuasion, The Airborne Mafia will no doubt be a go-to book for those interested in an organizational history of the US armed forces during the Cold War era. The Airborne Mafia is a significant contribution to military history. Williams has worked carefully with culture as a driving force in this book. He reveals and fully appreciates how the actions and thoughts of World War II airborne generals shaped the institution into the 21st century. Williams uses the analytical lens of airborne—as a warfighting concept and as individuals dedicated to it—to examine how military institutions change over time. The Airborne Mafia does a phenomenal job articulating how this particular subculture and its vital undercurrents first coalesced and then unified into a powerful force. General David Petraeus, US Army (Ret.)Gregory A. Daddis, author of Pulp VietnamIngo Trauschweizer, author of Maxwell Taylor's Cold WarWilliam A. Taylor, author of Every Citizen a Soldier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history
The Airborne Mafia: The Paratroopers Who Shaped America's Cold War Army (Cornell UP, 2025) explores how a small group of World War II airborne officers took control of the US Army after World War II. This powerful cadre cemented a unique airborne culture that had an unprecedented impact on the Cold War US Army and beyond. Robert F. Williams reveals the trials and tribulations this group of officers faced in order to bring about their vision. He spotlights the relationship between organizational culture, operational behavior, and institutional change in the United States Army during the Cold War, showing that as airborne officers ascended to the highest ranks of the army they transmitted their culture throughout their service in four major ways—civil-military relations, preparation for potential atomic combat, helicopter airmobility, and strategic response forces. Experiences of training and commanding airborne divisions in World War II led these men to hold sway in army doctrine by the mid-1950s. Dominating institutional thought and imparting their values, beliefs, and norms throughout the service they enjoyed a special privilege within the group culture. Williams demonstrates this impact, privilege, and power by focusing on the paratrooper triumvirate of Matthew Ridgway, Maxwell Taylor, and James Gavin and the lasting impression they made on how the US Army fought. The Airborne Mafia illuminates the power subcultures can have in changing their parent cultures over time, particularly one as set in its ways and as large as the US Army. With a deft touch, deep research, and an unwavering eye for the human stories behind organizational change, Williams helps explain the existence and importance of the paratrooper mystique that remains within the military still today. Former paratrooper Robert F. Williams analyzes masterfully the origins, development, and impact of a small but very influential group of airborne leaders in the decades following WWII. I witnessed this dynamic in both peace and war, and Williams captures the subject superbly. The Airborne Mafia is a must-read for soldiers, scholars, policymakers, and history buffs who want to learn how culture can so significantly influence an organization. Cutting through the outsized myths of one of the US Army's most storied units, Williams delivers a groundbreaking study of the airborne and its soldiers. An incredibly well-told tale of operational innovation, institutional leadership, and cultural persuasion, The Airborne Mafia will no doubt be a go-to book for those interested in an organizational history of the US armed forces during the Cold War era. The Airborne Mafia is a significant contribution to military history. Williams has worked carefully with culture as a driving force in this book. He reveals and fully appreciates how the actions and thoughts of World War II airborne generals shaped the institution into the 21st century. Williams uses the analytical lens of airborne—as a warfighting concept and as individuals dedicated to it—to examine how military institutions change over time. The Airborne Mafia does a phenomenal job articulating how this particular subculture and its vital undercurrents first coalesced and then unified into a powerful force. General David Petraeus, US Army (Ret.)Gregory A. Daddis, author of Pulp VietnamIngo Trauschweizer, author of Maxwell Taylor's Cold WarWilliam A. Taylor, author of Every Citizen a Soldier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies
Who were the Founding Fathers — and what is the education that shaped them? In this episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ , we explore the rigorous classical education that influenced America's founders and the birth of a nation. From learning Latin and Greek to studying history and literature, the Founders gained the wisdom and discipline to lead with courage and conviction. We discuss what their colonial education looked like, why it mattered, and how modern schools and families can recover the same focus and depth. Join the conversation and discover what classical learning can offer today's America! *What We're Reading* from This Episode: _The Hobbit_—J.R.R. Tolkien (Paul) _The Human Factor_—Graham Greene (Paul) _The Father's Tale_—Michael D. O'Brien (Tanya) _The Iliad_—Homer (Martin) _The Idiot_—Fyodor Dostoevsky (Martin) Vulgate Set - https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/latin/selections-from-the-vulgate-set/?utm_source=PodBean&utm_medium=CETC&utm_campaign=184 Martin's article - https://www.memoriapress.com/articles/classical-education-founding-fathers/?utm_source=PodBean&utm_medium=CETC&utm_campaign=184
UnErasing LGBTQ History and Identities: A Podcast for Teachers
Before there was k.d. lang, Janelle Monáe, or Brandi Carlile, there were queer women — bold, brilliant, and unapologetic — whose voices redefined music genres and challenged social norms. In this episode, you will meet three pioneers whose music and lives defied social norms and changed music forever.History UnErased is putting LGBTQ history in its rightful place — the classroom. UnErased.org
In this episode of Your History Your Story, we will be speaking with bestselling author Russell Shorto about his new book, “Taking Manhattan: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America”.Drawing on meticulous research, Shorto uncovers the riveting story behind the 1664 English takeover of Dutch New Amsterdam. The transition occurred not through violent conquest, but through a remarkable series of negotiations between two visionary leaders. Their efforts laid the foundation for a multi-ethnic, capitalistic society—one that would come to define the spirit of New York City and eventually, the nation that formed around it.Music: "With Loved Ones" Jay Man Photo(s): Courtesy of Russell ShortoThank you for supporting Your History Your Story!YHYS Patreon: CLICK HERE YHYS PayPal: CLICK HEREYHYS: Stay in the know, join our mailing list: CLICK HERE YHYS: Website, Blog & Social: CLICK HERE#yhys #yourhistoryyourstory #history #storytelling #podcast #njpodcast #youhaveastorytoo #jamesgardner #historian #storyteller #blogger To purchase "Taking Manhattan": CLICK HERE
Multilevel marketing is something of an American tradition. A new book tells the story of the money-making schemes that continue to ensnare people today.
From the publisher: "In 1664, England decided to invade the Dutch-controlled city of New Amsterdam on Manhattan Island. Charles II and his brother, the Duke of York, had dreams of empire, and their archrivals, the Dutch, were in the way. But Richard Nicolls, the military officer who led the English flotilla bent on destruction, changed his strategy once he encountered Peter Stuyvesant, New Netherland's canny director general.Bristling with vibrant characters, Taking Manhattan reveals the founding of New York to be an invention, the result of creative negotiations that would blend the multiethnic, capitalistic society of New Amsterdam with the power of the rising English empire. But the birth of what might be termed the first modern city is also a story of the brutal dispossession of Native Americans and of the roots of American slavery...Taking Manhattan tells the riveting story of the birth of New York City as a center of capitalism and pluralism, a foundation from which America would rise. It also shows how the paradox of New York's origins—boundless opportunity coupled with subjugation and displacement—reflects America's promise and failure to this day."Russell Shorto's website can be found at https://www.russellshorto.com/Information on his book can be found at https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393881172Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistoryAxelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at https://twitter.com/axelbankhistoryhttps://instagram.com/axelbankhistoryhttps://facebook.com/axelbankhistory
In this episode, Cole Smead speaks with author and historian Russell Shorto about his latest book, ”Taking Manhattan: The Extraordinary Events that Created New York and Shaped America,” discussing the birth of New York City, originally a Dutch-controlled settlement called New Amsterdam on Manhattan Island, until English takeover. Their conversation explores this pivotal transfer of power, and the key figures involved, explaining how it shaped the future of New York and the American identity.
In the new book “Play Harder: The Triumph of Black Baseball in America,” Washington University professor Gerald Early traces the powerful impact of Black Americans on the game from the post-Civil War era to today. Written in collaboration with the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the book highlights pivotal figures, defining moments, and the lasting influence of Black players.
Send us a textLet's do some renaming! Russell Shorto joins me to talk his book Taking Manhattan: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America. Buy Taking ManhattanCheck out Russell's websiteSupport the show
5/8: Taking Manhattan: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America Hardcover – March 4, 2025 by Russell Shorto (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Taking-Manhattan-Extraordinary-Created-America/dp/0393881164/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0 The author of The Island at the Center of the World offers up a thrilling narrative of how New York―that brash, bold, archetypal city―came to be. In 1664, England decided to invade the Dutch-controlled city of New Amsterdam on Manhattan Island. Charles II and his brother, the Duke of York, had dreams of empire, and their archrivals, the Dutch, were in the way. But Richard Nicolls, the military officer who led the English flotilla bent on destruction, changed his strategy once he encountered Peter Stuyvesant, New Netherland's canny director general. Bristling with vibrant characters, Taking Manhattan reveals the founding of New York to be an invention, the result of creative negotiations that would blend the multiethnic, capitalistic society of New Amsterdam with the power of the rising English empire. But the birth of what might be termed the first modern city is also a story of the brutal dispossession of Native Americans and of the roots of American slavery. The book draws from newly translated materials and illuminates neglected histories―of religious refugees, Indigenous tribes, and free and enslaved Africans. Taking Manhattan tells the riveting story of the birth of New York City as a center of capitalism and pluralism, a foundation from which America would rise. It also shows how the paradox of New York's origins―boundless opportunity coupled with subjugation and displacement―reflects America's promise and failure to this day. Russell Shorto, whose work has been described as “astonishing” (New York Times) and “literary alchemy” (Chicago Tribune), has once again mined archival sources to offer a vibrant tale and a fresh and trenchant argument about American beginnings. 1671 NEW AMSTERDAM
6/8: Taking Manhattan: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America Hardcover – March 4, 2025 by Russell Shorto (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Taking-Manhattan-Extraordinary-Created-America/dp/0393881164/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0 The author of The Island at the Center of the World offers up a thrilling narrative of how New York―that brash, bold, archetypal city―came to be. In 1664, England decided to invade the Dutch-controlled city of New Amsterdam on Manhattan Island. Charles II and his brother, the Duke of York, had dreams of empire, and their archrivals, the Dutch, were in the way. But Richard Nicolls, the military officer who led the English flotilla bent on destruction, changed his strategy once he encountered Peter Stuyvesant, New Netherland's canny director general. Bristling with vibrant characters, Taking Manhattan reveals the founding of New York to be an invention, the result of creative negotiations that would blend the multiethnic, capitalistic society of New Amsterdam with the power of the rising English empire. But the birth of what might be termed the first modern city is also a story of the brutal dispossession of Native Americans and of the roots of American slavery. The book draws from newly translated materials and illuminates neglected histories―of religious refugees, Indigenous tribes, and free and enslaved Africans. Taking Manhattan tells the riveting story of the birth of New York City as a center of capitalism and pluralism, a foundation from which America would rise. It also shows how the paradox of New York's origins―boundless opportunity coupled with subjugation and displacement―reflects America's promise and failure to this day. Russell Shorto, whose work has been described as “astonishing” (New York Times) and “literary alchemy” (Chicago Tribune), has once again mined archival sources to offer a vibrant tale and a fresh and trenchant argument about American beginnings. 1671 NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA
7/8: Taking Manhattan: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America Hardcover – March 4, 2025 by Russell Shorto (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Taking-Manhattan-Extraordinary-Created-America/dp/0393881164/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0 The author of The Island at the Center of the World offers up a thrilling narrative of how New York―that brash, bold, archetypal city―came to be. In 1664, England decided to invade the Dutch-controlled city of New Amsterdam on Manhattan Island. Charles II and his brother, the Duke of York, had dreams of empire, and their archrivals, the Dutch, were in the way. But Richard Nicolls, the military officer who led the English flotilla bent on destruction, changed his strategy once he encountered Peter Stuyvesant, New Netherland's canny director general. Bristling with vibrant characters, Taking Manhattan reveals the founding of New York to be an invention, the result of creative negotiations that would blend the multiethnic, capitalistic society of New Amsterdam with the power of the rising English empire. But the birth of what might be termed the first modern city is also a story of the brutal dispossession of Native Americans and of the roots of American slavery. The book draws from newly translated materials and illuminates neglected histories―of religious refugees, Indigenous tribes, and free and enslaved Africans. Taking Manhattan tells the riveting story of the birth of New York City as a center of capitalism and pluralism, a foundation from which America would rise. It also shows how the paradox of New York's origins―boundless opportunity coupled with subjugation and displacement―reflects America's promise and failure to this day. Russell Shorto, whose work has been described as “astonishing” (New York Times) and “literary alchemy” (Chicago Tribune), has once again mined archival sources to offer a vibrant tale and a fresh and trenchant argument about American beginnings. 1655 REMBRANDT "CHRISTENING"
8/8: Taking Manhattan: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America Hardcover – March 4, 2025 by Russell Shorto (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Taking-Manhattan-Extraordinary-Created-America/dp/0393881164/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0 The author of The Island at the Center of the World offers up a thrilling narrative of how New York―that brash, bold, archetypal city―came to be. In 1664, England decided to invade the Dutch-controlled city of New Amsterdam on Manhattan Island. Charles II and his brother, the Duke of York, had dreams of empire, and their archrivals, the Dutch, were in the way. But Richard Nicolls, the military officer who led the English flotilla bent on destruction, changed his strategy once he encountered Peter Stuyvesant, New Netherland's canny director general. Bristling with vibrant characters, Taking Manhattan reveals the founding of New York to be an invention, the result of creative negotiations that would blend the multiethnic, capitalistic society of New Amsterdam with the power of the rising English empire. But the birth of what might be termed the first modern city is also a story of the brutal dispossession of Native Americans and of the roots of American slavery. The book draws from newly translated materials and illuminates neglected histories―of religious refugees, Indigenous tribes, and free and enslaved Africans. Taking Manhattan tells the riveting story of the birth of New York City as a center of capitalism and pluralism, a foundation from which America would rise. It also shows how the paradox of New York's origins―boundless opportunity coupled with subjugation and displacement―reflects America's promise and failure to this day. Russell Shorto, whose work has been described as “astonishing” (New York Times) and “literary alchemy” (Chicago Tribune), has once again mined archival sources to offer a vibrant tale and a fresh and trenchant argument about American beginnings. 1640 NEW AMSTERDAM
1/8: Taking Manhattan: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America Hardcover – March 4, 2025 by Russell Shorto 1689 PENN AND CHARLES II https://www.amazon.com/Taking-Manhattan-Extraordinary-Created-America/dp/0393881164/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0 The author of The Island at the Center of the World offers up a thrilling narrative of how New York―that brash, bold, archetypal city―came to be. In 1664, England decided to invade the Dutch-controlled city of New Amsterdam on Manhattan Island. Charles II and his brother, the Duke of York, had dreams of empire, and their archrivals, the Dutch, were in the way. But Richard Nicolls, the military officer who led the English flotilla bent on destruction, changed his strategy once he encountered Peter Stuyvesant, New Netherland's canny director general. Bristling with vibrant characters, Taking Manhattan reveals the founding of New York to be an invention, the result of creative negotiations that would blend the multiethnic, capitalistic society of New Amsterdam with the power of the rising English empire. But the birth of what might be termed the first modern city is also a story of the brutal dispossession of Native Americans and of the roots of American slavery. The book draws from newly translated materials and illuminates neglected histories―of religious refugees, Indigenous tribes, and free and enslaved Africans. Taking Manhattan tells the riveting story of the birth of New York City as a center of capitalism and pluralism, a foundation from which America would rise. It also shows how the paradox of New York's origins―boundless opportunity coupled with subjugation and displacement―reflects America's promise and failure to this day. Russell Shorto, whose work has been described as “astonishing” (New York Times) and “literary alchemy” (Chicago Tribune), has once again mined archival sources to offer a vibrant tale and a fresh and trenchant argument about American beginnings.
2/8: Taking Manhattan: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America Hardcover – March 4, 2025 by Russell Shorto (Author) 1696 PENN AND CALLOWHILL https://www.amazon.com/Taking-Manhattan-Extraordinary-Created-America/dp/0393881164/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0 The author of The Island at the Center of the World offers up a thrilling narrative of how New York―that brash, bold, archetypal city―came to be. In 1664, England decided to invade the Dutch-controlled city of New Amsterdam on Manhattan Island. Charles II and his brother, the Duke of York, had dreams of empire, and their archrivals, the Dutch, were in the way. But Richard Nicolls, the military officer who led the English flotilla bent on destruction, changed his strategy once he encountered Peter Stuyvesant, New Netherland's canny director general. Bristling with vibrant characters, Taking Manhattan reveals the founding of New York to be an invention, the result of creative negotiations that would blend the multiethnic, capitalistic society of New Amsterdam with the power of the rising English empire. But the birth of what might be termed the first modern city is also a story of the brutal dispossession of Native Americans and of the roots of American slavery. The book draws from newly translated materials and illuminates neglected histories―of religious refugees, Indigenous tribes, and free and enslaved Africans. Taking Manhattan tells the riveting story of the birth of New York City as a center of capitalism and pluralism, a foundation from which America would rise. It also shows how the paradox of New York's origins―boundless opportunity coupled with subjugation and displacement―reflects America's promise and failure to this day. Russell Shorto, whose work has been described as “astonishing” (New York Times) and “literary alchemy” (Chicago Tribune), has once again mined archival sources to offer a vibrant tale and a fresh and trenchant argument about American beginnings.
3/8: Taking Manhattan: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America Hardcover – March 4, 2025 by Russell Shorto (Author) 1854 PENN'S GRAVE https://www.amazon.com/Taking-Manhattan-Extraordinary-Created-America/dp/0393881164/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0 The author of The Island at the Center of the World offers up a thrilling narrative of how New York―that brash, bold, archetypal city―came to be. In 1664, England decided to invade the Dutch-controlled city of New Amsterdam on Manhattan Island. Charles II and his brother, the Duke of York, had dreams of empire, and their archrivals, the Dutch, were in the way. But Richard Nicolls, the military officer who led the English flotilla bent on destruction, changed his strategy once he encountered Peter Stuyvesant, New Netherland's canny director general. Bristling with vibrant characters, Taking Manhattan reveals the founding of New York to be an invention, the result of creative negotiations that would blend the multiethnic, capitalistic society of New Amsterdam with the power of the rising English empire. But the birth of what might be termed the first modern city is also a story of the brutal dispossession of Native Americans and of the roots of American slavery. The book draws from newly translated materials and illuminates neglected histories―of religious refugees, Indigenous tribes, and free and enslaved Africans. Taking Manhattan tells the riveting story of the birth of New York City as a center of capitalism and pluralism, a foundation from which America would rise. It also shows how the paradox of New York's origins―boundless opportunity coupled with subjugation and displacement―reflects America's promise and failure to this day. Russell Shorto, whose work has been described as “astonishing” (New York Times) and “literary alchemy” (Chicago Tribune), has once again mined archival sources to offer a vibrant tale and a fresh and trenchant argument about American beginnings.
4//8: Taking Manhattan: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America Hardcover – March 4, 2025 by Russell Shorto (Author) 1883 https://www.amazon.com/Taking-Manhattan-Extraordinary-Created-America/dp/0393881164/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0 The author of The Island at the Center of the World offers up a thrilling narrative of how New York―that brash, bold, archetypal city―came to be. In 1664, England decided to invade the Dutch-controlled city of New Amsterdam on Manhattan Island. Charles II and his brother, the Duke of York, had dreams of empire, and their archrivals, the Dutch, were in the way. But Richard Nicolls, the military officer who led the English flotilla bent on destruction, changed his strategy once he encountered Peter Stuyvesant, New Netherland's canny director general. Bristling with vibrant characters, Taking Manhattan reveals the founding of New York to be an invention, the result of creative negotiations that would blend the multiethnic, capitalistic society of New Amsterdam with the power of the rising English empire. But the birth of what might be termed the first modern city is also a story of the brutal dispossession of Native Americans and of the roots of American slavery. The book draws from newly translated materials and illuminates neglected histories―of religious refugees, Indigenous tribes, and free and enslaved Africans. Taking Manhattan tells the riveting story of the birth of New York City as a center of capitalism and pluralism, a foundation from which America would rise. It also shows how the paradox of New York's origins―boundless opportunity coupled with subjugation and displacement―reflects America's promise and failure to this day. Russell Shorto, whose work has been described as “astonishing” (New York Times) and “literary alchemy” (Chicago Tribune), has once again mined archival sources to offer a vibrant tale and a fresh and trenchant argument about American beginnings.
Ron takes a look at the island of Manhattan. He also tries to convince you that he is not a robot.... Guest: Author Russell Shorto "Taking Manhattan-The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America"
SPEAKING SOON TO RUSSELL SHORTO FOR HIS NEW "TAKING MANHATTAN: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America:" 1/4: Smalltime: A Story of My Family and the Mob. by Russell Shorto https://www.amazon.com/Smalltime-Story-My-Family-Mob/dp/0393245586/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= Family secrets emerge as a best-selling author dives into the history of the mob in small-town America. The best-selling author Russell Shorto, praised for his incisive works of narrative history, never thought to write about his own past. He grew up knowing his grandfather and namesake was a small-town mob boss but maintained an unspoken family vow of silence. Then an elderly relative prodded: You're a writer―what are you gonna do about the story? Smalltime is a mob story straight out of central casting―but with a difference, for the small-town mob, which stretched from Schenectady to Fresno, is a mostly unknown world. The location is the brawny postwar factory town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The setting is City Cigar, a storefront next to City Hall, behind which Russ and his brother-in-law, “Little Joe,” operate a gambling empire and effectively run the town. Smalltime is a riveting American immigrant story that travels back to Risorgimento Sicily, to the ancient, dusty, hill-town home of Antonino Sciotto, the author's great-grandfather, who leaves his wife and children in grinding poverty for a new life―and wife―in a Pennsylvania mining town. It's a tale of Italian Americans living in squalor and prejudice, and of the rise of Russ, who, like thousands of other young men, created a copy of the American establishment that excluded him. Smalltimedraws an intimate portrait of a mobster and his wife, sudden riches, and the toll a lawless life takes on one family. 1940 Pittsburgh
SPEAKING SOON TO RUSSELL SHORTO FOR HIS NEW "TAKING MANHATTAN: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America:" 2/4: Smalltime: A Story of My Family and the Mob. by Russell Shorto https://www.amazon.com/Smalltime-Story-My-Family-Mob/dp/0393245586/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= Family secrets emerge as a best-selling author dives into the history of the mob in small-town America. The best-selling author Russell Shorto, praised for his incisive works of narrative history, never thought to write about his own past. He grew up knowing his grandfather and namesake was a small-town mob boss but maintained an unspoken family vow of silence. Then an elderly relative prodded: You're a writer―what are you gonna do about the story? Smalltime is a mob story straight out of central casting―but with a difference, for the small-town mob, which stretched from Schenectady to Fresno, is a mostly unknown world. The location is the brawny postwar factory town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The setting is City Cigar, a storefront next to City Hall, behind which Russ and his brother-in-law, “Little Joe,” operate a gambling empire and effectively run the town. Smalltime is a riveting American immigrant story that travels back to Risorgimento Sicily, to the ancient, dusty, hill-town home of Antonino Sciotto, the author's great-grandfather, who leaves his wife and children in grinding poverty for a new life―and wife―in a Pennsylvania mining town. It's a tale of Italian Americans living in squalor and prejudice, and of the rise of Russ, who, like thousands of other young men, created a copy of the American establishment that excluded him. Smalltimedraws an intimate portrait of a mobster and his wife, sudden riches, and the toll a lawless life takes on one family. 1941 Pittsburgh
SPEAKING SOON TO RUSSELL SHORTO FOR HIS NEW "TAKING MANHATTAN: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America:" 3/4: Smalltime: A Story of My Family and the Mob. by Russell Shorto https://www.amazon.com/Smalltime-Story-My-Family-Mob/dp/0393245586/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= Family secrets emerge as a best-selling author dives into the history of the mob in small-town America. The best-selling author Russell Shorto, praised for his incisive works of narrative history, never thought to write about his own past. He grew up knowing his grandfather and namesake was a small-town mob boss but maintained an unspoken family vow of silence. Then an elderly relative prodded: You're a writer―what are you gonna do about the story? Smalltime is a mob story straight out of central casting―but with a difference, for the small-town mob, which stretched from Schenectady to Fresno, is a mostly unknown world. The location is the brawny postwar factory town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The setting is City Cigar, a storefront next to City Hall, behind which Russ and his brother-in-law, “Little Joe,” operate a gambling empire and effectively run the town. Smalltime is a riveting American immigrant story that travels back to Risorgimento Sicily, to the ancient, dusty, hill-town home of Antonino Sciotto, the author's great-grandfather, who leaves his wife and children in grinding poverty for a new life―and wife―in a Pennsylvania mining town. It's a tale of Italian Americans living in squalor and prejudice, and of the rise of Russ, who, like thousands of other young men, created a copy of the American establishment that excluded him. Smalltimedraws an intimate portrait of a mobster and his wife, sudden riches, and the toll a lawless life takes on one family. 1889 Johnstown Flood
SPEAKING SOON TO RUSSELL SHORTO FOR HIS NEW "TAKING MANHATTAN: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America:" 4/4: Smalltime: A Story of My Family and the Mob. by Russell Shorto https://www.amazon.com/Smalltime-Story-My-Family-Mob/dp/0393245586/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= Family secrets emerge as a best-selling author dives into the history of the mob in small-town America. The best-selling author Russell Shorto, praised for his incisive works of narrative history, never thought to write about his own past. He grew up knowing his grandfather and namesake was a small-town mob boss but maintained an unspoken family vow of silence. Then an elderly relative prodded: You're a writer―what are you gonna do about the story? Smalltime is a mob story straight out of central casting―but with a difference, for the small-town mob, which stretched from Schenectady to Fresno, is a mostly unknown world. The location is the brawny postwar factory town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The setting is City Cigar, a storefront next to City Hall, behind which Russ and his brother-in-law, “Little Joe,” operate a gambling empire and effectively run the town. Smalltime is a riveting American immigrant story that travels back to Risorgimento Sicily, to the ancient, dusty, hill-town home of Antonino Sciotto, the author's great-grandfather, who leaves his wife and children in grinding poverty for a new life―and wife―in a Pennsylvania mining town. It's a tale of Italian Americans living in squalor and prejudice, and of the rise of Russ, who, like thousands of other young men, created a copy of the American establishment that excluded him. Smalltimedraws an intimate portrait of a mobster and his wife, sudden riches, and the toll a lawless life takes on one family. undated PA COAL BREAKERS
In celebration of Women's History Month, this week on the Access Hour, we are sharing two book launch events by amazing female historians that were held recently at the Filson Historical Society in Old Louisville! First up, we'll take you back to February 25, 2025, when the Filson hosted the book launch for Jessica K. Whitehead's insightful new text, "Driftwood: The Life of Harlan Hubbard." Jessica offers remarks on her comprehensive biography of the writer, artist, and sustainability pioneer Harlan Hubbard (1900-1988) and the deep impact Harlan and his wife, Anna, have had on Kentucky's culture. Whitehead's book delves into Hubbard's family background, education, and relationships, and into his theories on art, writing, music, and philosophy. Using journals, letters, paintings, manuscripts, and sketches, Whitehead pieces together the distinct phases of Hubbard's life, providing new insights into his character and legacy. Following the remarks, members of the NouLou Chamber Players, Heather Thomas (violin) and Cecilia Huerta-Lauf (cello), join with pianist Sebastian Chang in the world premiere of composer Daniel Gilliam's “Piano Trio No. 2: Payne Hollow.” This exciting new piece of music, written by Gilliam in conjunction with the book launch celebrates the Hubbards' vision of living and working on their own terms. The trio also honors the Harlan and Anna Hubbards' deep love of classical music performance—showcasing the instruments they once played: piano, cello, and violin. Jessica K. Whitehead, writer and curator of collections at the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville, is author of "The History of the Kentucky Derby in 75 Objects" and a contributor to "The Watercolors of Harlan Hubbard: From the Collection of Bill and Flo Caddell." Daniel Gilliam is a composer from Louisville, KY. He is also the program director, and an announcer, on 90.5 WUOL Classical Louisville. Watch a recording of the evening and see the musical performance and images referenced at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BucL0S6vD94. Following that, we'll hear from another amazing historian, Eliza McGraw, who spoke at the Filson Historical Society on March 6, 2025 about her brand new book, "Astride: Horses, Women, and a Partnership That Shaped America." In the book, Eliza weaves together stories of women who pioneered in worlds such as Thoroughbred breeding, the circus, and horse rescue at a time when American women in general internalized the lessons of horsewomen: take chances, take up more space, and learn to get back on. From tamers to caretakers and performers to teachers, all worked with horses to buck the status quo. Expressing the idea of femininity with athleticism and authority, these trailblazers changed the way America understood women. Richly illustrated with period photographs, Astride demonstrates that even small changes can advance the fight for progress. Eliza McGraw is the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award–winning author of "Here Comes Exterminator! The Longshot Horse, the Great War, and the Making of an American Hero" and a contributing writer for EQUUS magazine. Watch a full recording and see the slides at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1HKDSSs3-4 The Access Hour airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Wednesday at 2pm and repeats Thursdays at 11am and Fridays at 1pm. Find us at https:/forwardradio.org If you've got something you'd like to share on community radio through the Access Hour, whether it's a recording you made or a show you'd like to do on a particular topic, community, artistic creation, or program that is under-represented in Louisville's media landscape, just go to https:/forwardradio.org, click on Participate and pitch us your idea. The Access Hour is your opportunity to take over the air waves to share your passion.
One consequences of Trump's anti-DEI initiatives is the disbanding of a talented youth orchestra featured on 60 Minutes. The Spiel analyzes the recent U.S. airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, comparing the Trump administration's more aggressive approach to previous military engagements and questioning whether tough talk translates to meaningful strategic differences. And Russell Shorto, author of "Taking Manhattan: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America," explores the fascinating Dutch origins of New York City, and the far-sighted decision to give it up without a fight. Produced by Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist Subscribe to The Gist: https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/ Subscribe to The Gist Youtube Page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g Subscribe to The Gist Instagram Page: GIST INSTAGRAM Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Seeking to wrest control of New Amsterdam from the Dutch in 1664, the English King Charles II and his brother, the Duke of York, appointed Richard Nicolls to lead a flotilla to conquer Manhattan Island. Nicolls, with a blend of might and diplomatic tact, would make the integration of Dutch colonists a vital part of his takeover, birthing what was in many ways the blueprint of the modern city. Russell Shorto joins David M. Rubenstein to discuss New York's origins and how a period of 17th-century imperial conflict and diplomacy between the British and the Dutch shaped the city we know today. Recorded on February 21, 2025
It's one of the most foundational questions we could ever ask on this show -- how did New York City get its name?You may know that the English conquered the Dutch settlement of New Netherland (and its port town of New Amsterdam) in 1664, but the details of this history-making day have remained hazy -- until now.Russell Shorto brought the world of New Amsterdam and the early years before New York to life in his classic history The Island At The Center of The World. His new book Taking Manhattan: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America functions as a sequel of sorts, revisiting the moment when New Amsterdam ceased to be -- and New York was born.Shorto joins Greg and Tom for a very spirited discussion of international warfare, displaced princes, frantic letter writing and ominous warships in the harbor.At the end of this story, you will not only know how New York -- the city, the state, the whole place, from Buffalo to Long Island -- got its name, you will know the exact forgotten historical figure who gave it that name.Visit the Bowery Boys website for more information. Get Russell Shorto's new book Taking ManhattanThis episode was produced and edited by Kieran Gannon
The latest book from Russell Shorto explores the historical conflict between the Dutch and the English over the island of Manhattan, as well as the story of the indigenous people who had long occupied the land as it was being contested by the two European nations. Shorto shares his insights from Taking Manhattan: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America.
Author and historian Russell Shorto discusses his new book, "Taking Manhattan: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America".
Joshua Rothman's The Ledger and the Chain: How Domestic Slave Traders Shaped America was published by Basic Books in 2021, and tells a sprawling history of slave traders in America. Often presented as outcasts and social pariahs, slave traders were often instead wealthy and respected members of their communities. Rothman explores the lives and careers of Isaac Franklin, John Armfield, and Rice Ballard to show just what the work of a domestic slave trader looked like and the devastating affects their actions had on enslaved people. By weaving together a history the lives of men who created one of the most powerful slave trading operations in America, Rothman is able to show how slavery's expansion and growth occurred up to the Civil War. Joshua Rothman is a professor of history at the University of Alabama. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-american-studies
Joshua Rothman's The Ledger and the Chain: How Domestic Slave Traders Shaped America was published by Basic Books in 2021, and tells a sprawling history of slave traders in America. Often presented as outcasts and social pariahs, slave traders were often instead wealthy and respected members of their communities. Rothman explores the lives and careers of Isaac Franklin, John Armfield, and Rice Ballard to show just what the work of a domestic slave trader looked like and the devastating affects their actions had on enslaved people. By weaving together a history the lives of men who created one of the most powerful slave trading operations in America, Rothman is able to show how slavery's expansion and growth occurred up to the Civil War. Joshua Rothman is a professor of history at the University of Alabama. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
Joshua Rothman's The Ledger and the Chain: How Domestic Slave Traders Shaped America was published by Basic Books in 2021, and tells a sprawling history of slave traders in America. Often presented as outcasts and social pariahs, slave traders were often instead wealthy and respected members of their communities. Rothman explores the lives and careers of Isaac Franklin, John Armfield, and Rice Ballard to show just what the work of a domestic slave trader looked like and the devastating affects their actions had on enslaved people. By weaving together a history the lives of men who created one of the most powerful slave trading operations in America, Rothman is able to show how slavery's expansion and growth occurred up to the Civil War. Joshua Rothman is a professor of history at the University of Alabama. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies
Joshua Rothman's The Ledger and the Chain: How Domestic Slave Traders Shaped America was published by Basic Books in 2021, and tells a sprawling history of slave traders in America. Often presented as outcasts and social pariahs, slave traders were often instead wealthy and respected members of their communities. Rothman explores the lives and careers of Isaac Franklin, John Armfield, and Rice Ballard to show just what the work of a domestic slave trader looked like and the devastating affects their actions had on enslaved people. By weaving together a history the lives of men who created one of the most powerful slave trading operations in America, Rothman is able to show how slavery's expansion and growth occurred up to the Civil War. Joshua Rothman is a professor of history at the University of Alabama. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-south
Joshua Rothman's The Ledger and the Chain: How Domestic Slave Traders Shaped America was published by Basic Books in 2021, and tells a sprawling history of slave traders in America. Often presented as outcasts and social pariahs, slave traders were often instead wealthy and respected members of their communities. Rothman explores the lives and careers of Isaac Franklin, John Armfield, and Rice Ballard to show just what the work of a domestic slave trader looked like and the devastating affects their actions had on enslaved people. By weaving together a history the lives of men who created one of the most powerful slave trading operations in America, Rothman is able to show how slavery's expansion and growth occurred up to the Civil War. Joshua Rothman is a professor of history at the University of Alabama. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Slut. Shrew. Sinful. Scold. The 19th- and early 20th-century American women profiled in Therese Oneill's new book Unbecoming A Woman were called all these names and worse when they were alive. And that's just fine. Therese joins us to celebrate these women who forever changed what women can become. Click here to buy a copy of Unbecoming A Lady: The Forgotten Sluts and Shrews Who Shaped America. — Get 15% off all the gorgeous jewellery and accessories at common.era.com/vulgar or go to commonera.com and use code VULGAR at checkout — Get Vulgar History merch at vulgarhistory.com/store (best for US shipping) and vulgarhistory.redbubble.com (better for international shipping) — Support Vulgar History on Patreon — Vulgar History is an affiliate of Bookshop.org, which means that a small percentage of any books you click through and purchase will come back to Vulgar History as a commission. Use this link to shop there and support Vulgar History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Author Rita Omokha joins us to discuss her new book Resist: How a Century of Young Black Activists Shaped America. We discuss the reelection of Donald Trump, historic and modern forms of activism, and the place literature has in the future of this country.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Most have never heard about this tragic & forgotten war that changed America forever.
This isn't a meditation, but I think a rather delicious companion to my video about Adam Weishaupt and his secret society in Bavaria. Sometimes you have to learn about things that appear unrelated, so that you can see the connections. A few more breadcrumbs for you on the journey through the forest. Discover the secrets of Skull and Bones, Yale University's prestigious secret society founded in 1832. Renowned for its influential alumni in politics, finance, and beyond, this society is steeped in mystery and intrigue. I tried to cover its shadowy origins and unique rituals, including Tap Day and coffin confessions, while examining its iconic symbols like the skull. Often associated with conspiracy theories and elite networks, Skull and Bones exerts significant influence through its exclusive connections. They have stuff to do with elections, presidents, global finance and whether you believe or not...Time Magazine. Despite the evolving landscape of power, Skull and Bones remains a powerful emblem of ambition, secrecy, and legacy. Let's try to figure out how this enduring society continues to shape future leaders and maintain their power and influence in today's world. Or just play it in the background while you do the dishes. Who cares about secret societies that rule the world any way? If you want to say hi you can stop by the Discord ( https://discord.gg/dXKjhZrZmM ) or visit www.idiotmystic.com.
It's interview time! Let's spend some time with the delightful Therese Oneill, author of such nonfiction gems as Unmentionable: A Victorian Lady's Guide to Sex, Marriage and Manners and her latest book Unbecoming a Lady: The Forgotten Shrews and Sluts that Shaped America. This isn't your average collection of biographies. These ladies weren't pretty, graceful, or quiet, and so history didn't know what to do with them. Join us as Therese introduces us to a few delightful dames. Thanks for listening! You can now buy Unbecoming a Lady wherever good books are sold, and you can find out more about Therese at her website. If you want more Exploress in your life, I'm publishing two fresh bonus episodes a month over on my Patreon. You can now try out being a patron with a 7-day free trial! Go to my website to find out more. My second novel is coming! If you pick up a copy of FYREBIRDS by September 4, 2024, I'll send you some very special prizes, including a signed bookplate and some NIGHTBIRDS-inspired art. You can claim them right here, or go to my author website to find out more. If you'd like a recap of NIGHTBIRDS before the sequel arrives, go and listen to my four-part recap series over on Pub Dates.
We are a nation of mythmakers. But in his new book, "A Great Disorder: National Myth and the Battle for America," Richard Slotkin argues those myths may be to blame for our current polarization.
Tons of people have a soft spot for their favorite cartoon or comic strip -- yet few have attained the social status of the legendary artist Thomas Nast, the caricaturist often referred to as the "Father of the American Cartoon." In the first part of this two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max explore Nast's early childhood, the beginnings of his career, and the path that led him to become, in a very real way, the conscience of America.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Host Brittany Luse sits down with Arionne Nettles, author of We Are the Culture: Black Chicago's Influence on Everything. Arionne shares how Black media in Chicago influenced the way Black Americans see themselves and why the city deserves to be called 'the heart of Black America.'Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Jeffrey Rosen is a best-selling author and the President and CEO of the National Constitution Center. In his new book, “The Pursuit Of Happiness: How Classical Writers On Virtue Inspired The Lives Of The Founders And Defined America”, he explores the lives of some of our most influential founders including Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and Alexander Hamilton, and what those salient words, “the pursuit of happiness”, actually meant to them. This past week on the FOX News Rundown, special guest host Dana Perino had a great conversation with Jeffery about our nation's founding, our unique history, and how Americans feel about their country today However, we made some edits for time and thought you might want to hear the whole thing – especially since there's a lot of great stuff we did not include in our original segment. On the FOX News Rundown Extra, you will hear FOX News Perino's full interview with historian, scholar, and author Jeffrey Rosen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices