Books and More with William Cooper

An easy question to answer: it violates the constitution. DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY. will-cooper.com

An in-depth discussion on this essential topic with law professor Ned Foley of Ohio State, the leading scholar in this area. https://moritzlaw.osu.edu/edward-b-foley-ba-jd

The outspoken MP gives his take on US and UK politics.    

Christopher Merrill has published six collections of poetry, including Watch Fire, for which he received the Lavan Younger Poets Award from the Academy of American Poets; many edited volumes and translations; and six books of nonfiction, among them, Only the Nails Remain: Scenes from the Balkan Wars, Things of the Hidden God: Journey to the Holy Mountain, The Tree of the Doves: Ceremony, Expedition, War, and Self-Portrait with Dogwood. His writings have been translated into nearly forty languages; his journalism appears widely; his honors include a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres from the French government, numerous translation awards, and fellowships from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial and Ingram Merrill Foundations. As director of the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa since 2000, Merrill has conducted cultural diplomacy missions to more than fifty countries. He served on the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO from 2011-2018, and in April 2012 President Barack Obama appointed him to the National Council on the Humanities. https://www.christophermerrillbooks.com/bio.htm  

We discuss the legendary legal scholar's new The New York Times opinion piece,  By Week's End, Trump's War Will Be Plainly Illegal. We also hear about his new book, Campus Speech and Academic Freedom: A Guide for Difficult Times. A wonderful conversation with the Dean of UC Berkeley Law.

We discuss William's many bestsellers and his forthcoming book Money to Burn: The Unvarnished Truth About Leon Black, Apollo, and the Rise of a New Wall Street. The book is already generating tremendous excitement in the business community. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/739893/money-to-burn-by-william-d-cohan/

There is a pathway in the constitution. Allow us to explain. DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY. will-cooper.com

We discuss her storied career at The New Yorker and her bestseller, Lorne The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/532520/lorne-by-susan-morrison/   DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY.

You read that right. A substantive debate into one of the most controversial legal decisions in American history. DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY. will-cooper.com

Website: https://defector.com/author/ray-ratto

Jonathan is a bestselling author and one of the UK's most respected and widely read journalists. We discuss his new book, The Traitors Circle: The True Story of a Secret Resistance Network in Nazi Germany—and the Spy Who Betrayed Them. An Amazon Best Book of the Year for 2025, Mick Herron calls it "An astonishing true story of courage, love, and betrayal, told with the verve of a thriller. Freedland is a master at weaving spellbinding entertainments drawn from forgotten corners of history." https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-traitors-circle-jonathan-freedland?variant=43710103093282  

As Donald Trump goes after Jim Comey and others, this serious problem for the American polity gets bigger. "America's political energy should be channeled into winning elections and governing effectively--not sending political rivals to jail." will-cooper.com

Here's Chapter 1 of my new novel. https://www.amazon.com/Trial-Donald-H-Rumsfeld-Novel-ebook/dp/B0FCG4M4N3 "Cooper’s writing is bold and intelligent. The mysterious narrator adds intrigue, and the courtroom sequences are written with striking tension that keeps readers hooked." Novels' Nest  

Law Professor Richard Epstein (one of the most-cited legal scholars of all time) joins to discuss the war powers. His new book The Myth of Birthright Citizenship: What the Fourteenth Amendment Really Says comes out May 1.  

As shines through in the interview, Professor Shaefer has a clear-eyed and deeply informed view of one of the most important--and neglected--topics in American society: poverty alleviation. His work has been cited in the New York Times, Washington Post, The Economist, and The Atlantic, and he has been featured on such programs as PBS NewsHour, Marketplace, 1A, All Things Considered, and CNBC’s Nightly Business Report. His book with Kathryn Edin, "$2.00 a Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America," was named one of the 100 Notable Books of 2015 by the New York Times Book Review, and won the Hillman Prize for Book Journalism among other awards. #economics   DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY. will-cooper.com

Max and I discuss the most consequential topics in technology today, including AI and cybersecurity. In addition to his work running the technology section at Fast Company, his writing has also appeared in publications such as The New York Times, The New Yorker, Wired, and The Guardian. He is the recipient of two Society of Professional Journalists awards and his 2016 essay on diners was anthologized in Best Food Writing. https://www.fastcompany.com/user/mufberg #artificialintelligence #cybersecurity   DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY. will-cooper.com        

Ken is the lead NFL reporter for The New York Times. We discuss the recent NFL meetings, the upcoming draft, and his hit book, Every Day Is Sunday: How Jerry Jones, Robert Kraft, and Roger Goodell Turned the NFL into a Cultural & Economic Juggernaut. It's a great read. The NFL is, indeed, a juggernaut.  

Ilona joins to discuss her tremendous new novel FIVE, out on May 5, 2026. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/803094/five-by-ilona-bannister/ Book Description Five lives. Five stories. Four will live—one will die. Who it will be? In this slow-burn masterpiece of psychological fiction, the choice is all yours. “Five is a gripping, chilling story that asks difficult questions about judgement, forgiveness, and the notion of cause and effect.”—Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of All the Colors of the Dark Have you ever tried to pass the time by imagining the lives of the strangers standing next to you? Ilona Bannister’s Five introduces readers to five seemingly random people waiting for a train. But these are not just any five people. From the beginning we know that one of them is going to die soon. Very soon. In five minutes the next train to London will arrive, killing one of them. But before this happens you will learn their stories. None of these people are saints. Readers might fall in love with the beautiful young man who is on the verge of gambling his life away. They may pity the cantankerous old woman who has fallen to the ground yet is refusing help. Perhaps readers will look away from the child throwing a tantrum. Or judge his mother, who must surely be to blame. And some will be curiously compelled by the successful and damaged businessman orbiting them all. These are the candidates for this morning’s misfortune. But they don’t know it. Only you know. And you, our complicit reader, will not be able to resist deciding who deserves to walk away, and who deserves only five more minutes to live. An incredibly original novel that breaks the fourth wall and asks the reader to be judge, jury, and executioner, Five looks at some of the most complicated issues of contemporary life: motherhood, disability, addiction. Every stranger has a story. And in Ilona Bannister’s skillful hands, five people’s stories come together to create an unforgettable novel.

We discuss Professor Benton's latest book, They Called It Peace, and how it applies to current events--including the recent capture and arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Book: https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691248479/they-called-it-peace

How Our Constitution Works … And Why It Doesn’t: A wonderful discussion with Professor Eskridge—one of the top ten most-cited legal scholars of all time. He doesn’t mince words in his critique of the court. DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY. will-cooper.com

A delightful interview with the co-publishers (two lifelong friends and book lovers) of Quite Literally Books, a heritage press devoted to discovering and reissuing ought-to-be-in-print books by American women authors—and occasionally others—who’ve been shelved for far too long. https://quiteliterallybooks.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopfyHvxDG8jGe6Lvrqerie5N3GVrSpiUtmG2ts75GnMIp0KfMUj   will-cooper.com

The Rt Hon Sir Desmond Swayne is the Conservative MP for New Forest West. We have a far-reaching and stimulating conversation about US and UK politics.   DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY. https://will-cooper.com/

Georgetown Law Professor Steve Vladeck joins the show to discuss his New York Times bestselling book The Shadow Docket. Steve a leading authority on the Supreme Court and his wildly popular Substack newsletter One First is essential reading for every citizen concerned with (and by) the nation's highest court.    

Some fun snippets from my new novel.  DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY. will-cooper.com

Her new novel, Evening Begins the Day, will be published by Koehler Books in Spring 2026! The story weaves together two families in crisis—one reeling from a marital betrayal and the other grappling with their at-risk teenage daughter—with an ancient spiritual practice called The Counting of the Omer; a modern-day quest for community, hope, and safety.   https://jessicabrilliantkeener.com/about-jessica-keener.html

We discuss her book, Love Will Save Us, Right?: A Memoir. https://citylights.com/city-lights-published/love-will-save-us-right/ Suzette has worked as a community developer and non-profit organizer for three decades. She trained as an AIDS chaplain, street outreach worker, substance abuse counselor, reproductive health educator, volunteer coordinator, and public speaker. She managed an HHSA community liaison for children’s public behavioral health and served as the Director of Education for a local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. She lives with her neurodivergent young adult son and her wife inside a ten-by-ten canvas tent in her mother’s backyard in San Diego

Noel Thomas is co-founder and CEO of Dark Watch, a data company focused on anti-trafficking. His faith and conviction opened his heart for the oppressed and marginalized. Noel has been dedicated to researching, educating on, coordinating, and managing the development of counter-trafficking solutions. He lives on Florida’s Atlantic Coast.  DARK TRAFFIC: The Dangerous Intersection of Technology, Crime, Money, Sex, and Humanity Dark Traffic is the book that ushers the public into the next phase of anti-trafficking efforts to stop what has evolved into a $150 billion industry involving a complex network of organized crime trafficking sex, labor, and human organs. As co-founder and CEO of Dark Watch, author Noel Thomas has led United States law enforcement and the judicial system into the new battleground, where high-tech data analysis is changing how criminals are caught and prosecuted.  https://www.whitakerhouse.com/product/dark-traffic/

Dr. Sara Glass is a therapist, writer, and speaker—helping people process trauma to live bold, honest, and proud lives. We discuss her hit memoir Kissing Girls On Shabbat. https://www.drsaraglass.com/

We discuss Mirko's book "Military Victory Beyond the Battlefield: Outside Wartime" (Oxford University Press, 2025). More information: Buy the book here and enter discount code AUFLY30 for a 30% discount Access the book here - likely free for holders of a university account.  Suggest the book to your local library by completing this form  Read a short interview with the Author about the book here More information about Dr Mirko Palestrino and his work are available here https://www.qmul.ac.uk/politics/staff/profiles/palestrinomirko.html

We discuss Julian's new book, Neptune's Fortune. Julian Sancton is the New York Times bestselling author of Madhouse at the End of the Earth and a senior features editor at The Hollywood Reporter. His work has appeared in Vanity Fair, National Geographic, Esquire, The New Yorker, and GQ, among other publications. He has reported from every continent, including Antarctica, and lives in Larchmont, New York.

We discuss Brian's book, Stampede: Gold Fever and Disaster in the Klondike. Brian Castner is a nonfiction writer, former Explosive Ordnance Disposal officer, and veteran of the Iraq War. His most recent book is Stampede, a new history of the 1897 Klondike Gold Rush. He is also the bestselling author of Disappointment River, All the Ways We Kill and Die, and the war memoir The Long Walk, which was adapted into an opera and named a New York Times Editor’s Pick and Amazon Best Book of the Year. His journalism and essays have appeared in the New York Times, WIRED, Esquire, The Atlantic, Foreign Policy, and on National Public Radio. He is the co-editor of The Road Ahead, a collection of short stories featuring veteran writers, and has twice received grants from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, to cover the Ebola outbreak in Liberia in 2014, and to paddle the 1200 mile Mackenzie River to the Arctic Ocean in 2016. In March 2018 he joined Amnesty International as a Senior Crisis Advisor. https://briancastner.com/

We discuss his work and his new book, The Kids Who Aren’t Okay. Dr. Greene is a clinical psychologist, and he’s been working with children and families for over 30 years. His influential work is widely known throughout the world. https://livesinthebalance.org/

On this episode of How Our Constitution Works ... And Why It Doesn't, we delve into a very timely and important topic: elections during wartime.  DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY. will-cooper.com

We discuss A.J.'s many books and advice for aspiring authors in a complicated marketplace. https://ajsidransky.com/

In this episode of How Our Constitution Works ... And Why It Doesn't we explore partisan primaries, a key factor in our highly polarized politics.   DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY. will-cooper.com

Joan Silber has written ten books of fiction--most recently, Mercy, out in fall 2025. Secrets of Happiness was a Washington Post Best Book of the year and a Kirkus Reviews Best Fiction of the Year. Improvement won The National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction and the PEN/Faulkner Award. She also received the PEN/Malamud Award for Excellence in the Short Story. Her other works of fiction include Fools, longlisted for the National Book Award and finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award, The Size of the World, finalist for the Los Angeles Times Prize in Fiction, and Ideas of Heaven, finalist for the National Book Award and the Story Prize. She’s also written Lucky Us, In My Other Life, and In the City (to be reissued by Hagfish in 2026), and her first book, Household Words, won the PEN/Hemingway Award. Her recent The New Yorker piece: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/12/08/safety-fiction-joan-silber Her website: https://www.joansilber.net/ #books DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY. will-cooper.com

Legendary Hollywood producer Carol Baum is behind many great movies and books. She tells her story on Books and More. Her book: https://www.carolfriedlandbaum.com/book/   DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY. will-cooper.com

DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY. will-cooper.com

Many authors make huge mistakes when working with publishers. Here are some thoughts to help authors avoid this. DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY. will-cooper.com

On the latest episode of How Our Constitution Works … And Why It Doesn’t, we discuss whether, and to what extent, executive agencies can operate outside the president’s control. It’s a complicated and fascinating question, and the subject of a pending decision before the high court. The independence of the federal reserve—essential to economic stability—is at stake.   DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY. will-cooper.com

A wonderful discussion with Ann about her work. Book Post is a bite-sized newsletter-based book review delivery service, sending well-made book reviews, by distinguished and engaging writers, direct to your inbox. Founding editor, Ann was on the editorial staff of the New York Review of Books from 1988 to 2017. In 2009 she founded the literary magazine Little Star. She is the literary executor of the poet Joseph Brodsky and editor of several editions of his work. https://books.substack.com/

We analyze how the Constitution's power to declare war works ... and why it doesn't. Donald Trump's war with Iran charts new territory in this controversial area.   DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY. will-cooper.com

Kate Wolf, a novelist and founding editor of The Los Angeles Review of Books. https://www.katewolf.info/

Keith Korman is an American literary agent and novelist. Over the years he has represented many nationally known clients through his family's agency, Raines & Raines. The agency is most noted for representing the following books: The Detective, Deliverance, Die Hard, Cruising, My Dog Skip, How to Eat Fried Worms, and Forrest Gump. 

We discuss her hit novel, Water Finds A Way. https://meghanperry.com/

The Spending Power: We discuss how the constitution works with respect to federal spending and why, today, it's not working. Highlights include the recent opinion from the high court striking down Trump's tariffs and his efforts to impound congressionally authorized funds intended for universities. DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY. will-cooper.com

Dr. Barsouk's book shares the latest research on the many risk factors behind our young adult cancer epidemic including obesity, microplastics, ultra-processed foods, pollution, radiation and more. https://www.adambarsouk.com/

How The Constitution Works ... And Why It Doesn't, with Pulitzer prize-winning legal historian Edward Larson.   DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY will-cooper.com

We discuss his new book, A Four-Eyed World: How Glasses Changed the Way We See https://davidkdunaway.com/ A Four-Eyed World: How Glasses Changed the Way We See is the first book to investigate the experience of wearing glasses and contacts and their role in culture. David King Dunaway encourages readers to take a look at how they literally see the world through what they wear. He explores everything from the history of deficient eyesight and how glasses are made to portrayals of those who wear glasses in media, the stigma surrounding them, and the future of augmented and virtual reality glasses, highlighting how glasses have shaped, and continue to shape, who we are. Interwoven is Dunaway's own experience of spending a week without his glasses, which he has used since childhood, to see the world around him and his newfound appreciation for his visual aids.

We discuss her hit new book, featured on NPR's Fresh Air, DIZZY. A medical mystery and a cautionary tale about our broken-down system, DIZZY is a memoir about perseverance in pursuit of answers, of learning to live with life’s uncertainty, and the struggle to find joy in an imperfect but beautiful world.  "An arresting new memoir."-Maureen Corrigan NPR's Fresh Air https://www.rachelweaver.net/ https://www.npr.org/2026/02/09/nx-s1-5704301/dizzy-book-review-rachel-weaver