History Nerds United

Send us Fan MailLet's catch a super terrorist! Joby Warrick joins me to talk The Jackal: The Rise and Fall of Carlos, the World's First Super-Terrorist.Buy Carlos the JackalSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's survive! Loubna Mrie joins me to talk Defiance: A Memoir of Awakening, Rebellion, and Survival in Syria.Buy DefianceCheck out Loubna's websiteSupport the show

Send us Fan MailHe's back! James M. Scott joins me to talk Empire of Ashes: Truman, Hirohito, and the Descent into Total War.Buy Empire of AshesCheck out James' websiteSupport the show

Send us Fan MailAnother month, another list of books I don’t want you to miss just because they didn’t get to come on the pod!How to Rule the World by Theo Baker – or as I like to call it, how to make college more difficult than it needed to be. Baker tells the story of going to Stanford University where he expects to become another tech billionaire but somehow ends up on a collision course with the president of the university. Oops! Stolen Revolution by Yeganeh Torbati and Bozorgmehr Sharafedin This book follows a few people in the aftermath of the Iranian Revolution. It puts so much in perspective and is one of those books which feels like so much is jammed into the book, but it never gets overwhelming.They Stole a City by Lauren Collins – speaking of overwhelming, in 1898 the legitimately elected and appointed government of Wilmington, North Carolina was overthrown by a bunch of White supremacists who proceeded to terrorize the Black community. Everyone collectively shrugged like it was somehow okay for that to happen. Collins follows the lives of many affected through the generations. Kingdom of Devils by Katherine Grandjean – post- American Revolution serial killers! You probably never heard of the Harps (and neither had I), but in 1797 they went on a killing spree in the Kentucky and Tennessee countryside. This one was mind-blowing and proves there is still plenty of true crime left to discover. The Gospel According Hobby Lobby by Michael Blanding – I think we have all at least driven by a Hobby Lobby or two. However, the founding of the stores is more fascinating than I ever expected, and Blanding writes a book that is balanced but will also probably cause some tense conversations around the house. The Greens are not just founders of a billion dollar store chain, but also the money behind a national movement. Catherine the Great by Robert Massie – Massie was the master of Russian history as far as I am concerned, and Catherine the Great was one of my favorites. Love her or hate her, Catherine was powerful, intelligent, and unafraid to take a big swing. You know, like killing your spouse (allegedly!) for instance. Support the show

Send us Fan MailLet's not say it! Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor joins me to talk Something We Said: Richard Pryor, a Notorious Word, and Me.Buy Something We SaidSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's go on the run! Zayd Ayers Dohrn joins me to talk Dangerous, Dirty, Violent, and Young: A Fugitive Family in the Revolutionary Underground.Buy Dangerous, Dirty, Violent, and YoungCheck out Zayd's websiteSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's set him free! Pamela Colloff joins me to talk Catch the Devil: A True Story of Murder, Deception, and Injustice on the Gulf Coast.Buy Catch the DevilCheck out Pamela's websiteSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's get lit! Jonathan Vigliotti joins me to talk Torched: How a City Was Left to Burn, and the Olympic Rush to Rebuild L.A.Buy TorchedCheck out Jonathan's websiteSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's compromise! Lawrence Goldstone joins me to talk Imperfect Union: How Errors of Omission Threaten Constitutional Democracy.Buy Imperfect UnionCheck Out Lawrence's WebsiteSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's celebrate 250! The legendary Rick Atkinson joins me to talk The Fate of the Day: The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777-1780.Buy The Fate of the DayCheck out Rick's websiteSupport the show

Send us Fan MailHere they are, the books I don’t want you to miss for June 2026!First, we have The Summer of Death by Geoff Williams. Did you know that in 1936 there was a deadly heatwave that killed thousands of Americans? Of course, you didn’t and neither did I! Thankfully, we have Geoff Williams to not only tell this story, but to know when to crack a joke and when to take things seriously.Next is the Wreck of the Mentor by Eric Jay Dolin. Dolin is one of my favorite writers and he has done it again. In 1832, the whaleship Mentor wrecked on a remote reef in the Western Pacific and then it somehow got worse for those who survived. It’s simple folks, if you are into maritime survival stories like the Wager or Dolin’s previous book Left for Dead, you have to pick this one up.Next we have the Longest Hardest Race by Eric Moskowitz. Today, we have NASCAR, but back in 1909 long distance races were all the rage. They were also absolutely insane as Moskowitz describes in this one. And of course, if we are talking early automobiles, Henry Ford is going to be a big part. And as always, he won’t be keeping his hands clean, literally or figuratively.Next is Fires in the Night by Matthew Wolfe. In the 1990s, there was a group known as the Earth Liberation Front of ELF. They liked setting things on fire, especially in the Pacific Northwest where Wolfe tells the story about how it all happened and what was the fallout. Wolfe nails this book because he never takes sides, but he’s not above pointing out where both sides can fail in a cultural divide. For our final new book, we have the American School of Spies by Stephan Talty. Talty is another one of my favorites and you should read anything with his name on it. In this one, he looks at the Americans flung into Greece during World War II to wreak some havoc while also protecting some priceless art. This one has got everything!For my classic pick of the month, I am going with Island of the Lost by Joan Druett. If you aren’t familiar with Druett, she is a New Zealand writer who might as well be crowned the queen of maritime history, especially around Australia and New Zealand. Island of the Lost rekindled my love of reading back in the day. It’s part survival, part leadership parable. In 1864, the schooner Grafton wrecks on Auckland Island. The survivors have no hope of rescue. It comes down to whether or not the captain can keep the men together, survive, and find a way home. Sounds crazy enough, but guess what? At the same exact time the Grafton survivors are battling for their lives, a ship called Invercauld wrecks on the same island. The survivors never mingle, but the actions of each captain would be the difference between life and death. One for good, one for bad.That’s it for this month! Let me know what you think of these books and if you read them yourself. Until next time nerds, stay cool.Support the show

Send us Fan MailLet's go down to the river! True Crime King Gregg Olsen joins me to talk By the River's Edge: A True Story of Identity and Serial Murder.Buy By The River's EdgeCheck out Gregg's websiteSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's make some money! Megan Gorman joins me to talk All the Presidents' Money: How the Men Who Governed America Governed Their Money.Buy All the Presidents' MoneySupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's set sail! David Reynolds joins me to talk Two Ships: Jamestown 1619, Plymouth 1620, and the Struggle for the Soul of America.Buy Two ShipsCheck out David's websiteSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's crash! Liaquat Ahamed joins me to talk 1873: The Rothschilds, the First Great Depression, and the Making of the Modern World.Buy 1873Support the show

Send us Fan MailStalin's Apostles by Antonia Senior Hammer of the Gods by Don Hollway The Fallen by Louise Brangan American Men by Jordan Ritter ConnMargaret Beaufort by Lauren Johnson One of Us by Asne Seierstad Support the show

Send us Fan MailLet's survive! Thomas Asbridge joins me to talk The Black Death: A Global History of Humanity's Most Devastating Pandemic.Buy The Black Death (the book, not the disease)Support the show

Send us Fan MailLet's strike oil! Douglas Brunt joins me to talk The Lost Empire of Emanuel Nobel: Romanovs, Revolutionaries, and the Forgotten Titan Who Fueled the World.Buy The Lost Empire of Emanuel Nobel Check out Doug's WebsiteCheck out the Dedicated PodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's go for a run! Martin Dugard returns to talk The Long Run: Steve Prefontaine, Frank Shorter, Joan Benoit, Grete Waitz, and the Decade That Made the Marathon Cool.Buy The Long RunCheck out Martin's websiteSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's Greek it up! Adrian Goldsworthy joins me to talk Athens and Sparta: The Rivalry That Shaped Ancient Greece.Buy Athens and SpartaCheck out Adrian's websiteSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's revolt! Anand Gopal joins me to talk Days of Love and Rage: A Story of Ordinary People Forging a Revolution.Buy Days of Love and Rage Support the show

Send us Fan MailLet's go north! Peter Stark joins me to talk The Lost Cities of El Norte: Coronado's Quest, the Unconquered West, and the Birth of American Indian Resistance – A Narrative History of Exploration, Conquest, and Resistance.Buy The Lost Cities of El NorteCheck out Peter's websiteSubscribe to Last Empty Places PodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailCan't interview them all! Don't miss these books:These Divided Isles by Stephen Phillips –Phillips tells the story of the relationship between Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Britain from independence to now. (Pegasus Books)The Oracle’s Daughter by Harrison Hill – it’s the story of the Aggressive Christianity Missions Training Corps cult. It’s a wild story about a woman who truly goes off the deep end and the daughter who tries to break away. (Scribner Books)This Dark Night by Deborah Lutz – it’s the life of the author of Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë. (W. W. Norton)Madman by M.F. Gross – Florida true crime story in 1949. Enough said.A Terrible Intimacy by Melvin Patrick Ely – a look at six different court cases in antebellum Virginia where people from each side of the racial divide are involved. (Henry Holt and Co.)For my classic pick of the month, I am going with Ballad of the Whiskey Robber by Julian Rubenstein – I don’t believe in trying to improve on perfection. So here is the official synopsis of this book: “A true story of bank heists, ice hockey, Transylvanian pelt smuggling, moonlighting detectives, and broken hearts.” All of that is in there and all of that is true. I laughed, I cried. This is a book I can hand to absolutely anyone and know they will like it. Get it yesterday.Support the show

Send us Fan MailLet's bring back the fun! Breeze Barrington joins me to talk The Graces: The Extraordinary Untold Lives of Women at the Restoration Court.Buy The GracesCheck out Breeze's websiteSupport the show

Send us Fan MailObjection! Sarah Isgur joins me to talk Last Branch Standing: A Potentially Surprising, Occasionally Witty Journey Inside Today's Supreme Court.Buy Last Branch StandingSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's get weird! Antony Beevor joins me to talk Rasputin: The Downfall of the Romanovs.Buy RasputinCheck out Antony's websiteSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's talk about the neighbors. Patrick Radden Keefe joins me to talk London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth.Buy London FallingCheck out Patrick's websiteSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's call them out! Brooke Newman joins me to talk The Crown's Silence: The Hidden History of the British Monarchy and Slavery in the Americas.Buy The Crown's SilenceCheck out Brooke's websiteSupport the show

Send us Fan MailAnother month, another list of books I don’t want you to miss!The Next One is For You by Ali Watkins the story of the gun runners from the U.S. who were trying to supply the IRA during the Troubles of Northern Ireland. Kennedy’s Coup by Jack Cheevers –a look at JFK and his decision makers as the U.S. descends into the Vietnam War. Arsenio by Arsenio Hall – a lot of great behinds the scenes stuff and overall a positive book which will put you in a good mood.Charles Sumner by Zaakir Tameez – a dig into the life of the guy you probably only remember as the one who got whooped with a cane in Congress right before the Civil War. Yes, there is more!  Running Deep by Tom Clavin – the submarine USS Tang was deadliest submarine in World War II. Need I say more?.My Classic Pick: Diamonds, Gold, and War by Martin Meredith – the story of South Africa but more specifically the British occupation of it, the discovery of diamonds, and the Boer wars. Support the show

Send us Fan MailLet's hear it for the sisters! Veronica Buckley joins me to talk Seven Sisters: Captives and Rebels in Revolutionary Europe's First Family.Buy Seven SistersCheck out Veronica's websiteSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's ring the bell! Alison Lyn Miller and Hollywood Hunter James join me to talk Rough House: A Father, a Son, and the Pursuit of Pro Wrestling Glory.Buy Rough HouseCheck out Alison's WebsiteSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's go to paradise! Sara Kehaulani Goo joins me to talk Kuleana: A Story of Family, Land, and Legacy in Old Hawai'i.Buy KuleanaCheck out Sara's websiteSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's talk about a legend! Keith O'Brien joins me to talk Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird.Buy HeartlandCheck out Keith's websiteSupport the show

Send us Fan MailWe can't interview them all, but I can for sure tell you the best books out there. Here is the latest release of books I don't want you to miss.Rebel of the Regency by Ann FosterUntil the Last Gun is Silent by Matthew Delmont The Science of Second Chances by Jennifer Doleac Heiresses by Miranda Kauffman Empire of Orgasm by Ellen Huet Support the show

Send us Fan MailLet's avoid an incident! Chris Jennings joins me to talk End of Days: Ruby Ridge, the Apocalypse, and the Unmaking of America.Buy End of DaysSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's talk about bloodbaths! Shelley Puhak returns to talk The Blood Countess: Murder, Betrayal, and the Making of a Monster.Buy The Blood CountessSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's return to the 80s! Elliot Williams joins me to talk Five Bullets: The Story of Bernie Goetz, New York's Explosive '80s, and the Subway Vigilante Trial That Divided the Nation.Buy Five BulletsSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's place a bet! Danny Funt joins me to talk Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling.Buy Everybody LosesCheck out Danny's websiteSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's object! Elizabeth Chamblee Burch joins me to talk The Pain Brokers: How Con Men, Call Centers, and Rogue Doctors Fuel America's Lawsuit Factory.Buy The Pain BrokersCheck out Elizabeth's websiteSupport the show

Send us Fan MailAnd now for something a little different! We can't always get an author on the pod, but it doesn't mean their books aren't amazing. Here are 5 new releases I don't want you to miss plus a bonus classic that is one of my favorites.Covered in this installment:The Traitor's Circle by Jonathan FreedlandKings and Pawns by Howard BryantA Danger to the Minds of Young Girls by Adam MorganThe Rembrandt Heist by Anthony AmoreUseless Etymology by Jess ZafarrisThe White Cascade by Gary KristSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's find some treasure! Julian Sancton joins me to talk Neptune's Fortune: The Billion-Dollar Shipwreck and the Ghosts of the Spanish Empire.Buy Neptune's FortuneSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's have some common sense! Jack Kelly joins me to talk Tom Paine's War: The Words That Rallied a Nation and the Founder for Our Time.Buy Tom Paine's WarCheck out Jack's websiteSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's do some invention! Graham Watson joins me to talk The Invention of Charlotte Brontë: A New Life.Buy The Invention of Charlotte Brontë: A New LifeSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's lead an army! Helen Castor returns to talk Joan of Arc: A History.Buy Joan of ArcSubscribe to Helen's substackSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's throw them back! Noah Rothbaum joins the entire History Nerds United team to talk The Whiskey Bible: A Complete Guide to the World's Greatest Spirit.Buy The Whiskey BibleSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's ascend! Gareth Russell joins me to talk his book The Six Loves of James I.Buy The Six Loves of James ISupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's ride the wind! Simon Winchester joins me to talk The Breath of the Gods: The History and Future of the Wind.Buy The Breath of the GodsCheck out Simon's WebsiteSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's get a close up! Scott Eyman joins me to talk Joan Crawford: A Woman's Face.Buy Joan CrawfordCheck out Scott's websiteSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's launch! Jeffrey Kluger joins me to talk Gemini: Stepping Stone to the Moon, the Untold Story.Buy GeminiSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLet's succeed! Tracy Borman joins me to talk The Stolen Crown: Treachery, Deceit, and the Death of the Tudor Dynasty.Buy The Stolen CrownCheck out Tracy's websiteSupport the show