Ep 054 – Nonfiction. Historian Stephen R. Platt discusses his new book, “The Raider: The Untold Story of a Renegade Marine and the Birth of U.S. Special Forces in World War II.”

‘The extraordinary life of forgotten World War II hero Evans Carlson, commander of America’s first special forces, secret confidant of FDR, and one of the most controversial officers in the history of the Marine Corps, who dedicated his life to bridging the cultural divide between the United States and China

“He was a gutsy old man.” “A corker,” said another. “You couldn’t find anyone better.” They talked about him in hushed tones. “This Major Carlson,” wrote one of the officers in a letter home, “is one of the finest men I have ever known.”

These were the words of the young Marines training to be among the first U.S. troops to enter the Second World War—and the Major Carlson they spoke of was Evans Carlson, a man of mythical status even before the war that would make him a military legend.

By December of 1941, at the age of forty-five, Carlson had already faced off against Sandinistas in the jungles of Nicaragua and served multiple tours in China, where he embedded with Mao’s Communist forces during the Sino-Japanese War. Inspired by their guerilla tactics and their collaborative spirit—which he’d call “gung ho,” introducing the term to the English language—and driven by his own Emersonian ideals of self-reliance, Carlson would go on to form his renowned Marine Raiders, the progenitors of today’s special operations forces, who fought behind Japanese lines on Makin Island and Guadalcanal, showing Americans a new way to do battle.

In The Raider, Cundill Prize–winning historian Stephen R. Platt gives us the first authoritative account of Carlson’s larger-than-life exploits: the real story, based on years of research including newly discovered diaries and correspondence in English and Chinese, with deep insight into the conflicted idealism about the Chinese Communists that would prove Carlson’s undoing in the McCarthy era.

Tracing the rise and fall of an unlikely American war hero, The Raider is a story of exploration, of cultural (mis)understanding, and of one man’s awakening to the sheer breadth of the world.’

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World War II – China & the Birth of the U.S. Special Forces – Stephen R. Platt

Ep 053 – Nonfiction. On what date did the U.S. #CivilWar end? Most would say April 9, 1865, when Lee surrendered at Appomattox. But historian Michael Vorenberg argues that may not be the case in his new book “Lincoln’s Peace: The Struggle to End the American Civil War."

Support local bookstores & buy Michael’s book here: https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781524733179

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U.S. Civil War – Lincoln’s Peace – Michael Vorenberg

Ep 052 – Nonfiction. As World War II ended, the United States stood as the dominant power on the world stage. In 1947, to support its new global status, it created the CIA to analyze foreign intelligence. Historian Hugh Wilford talks about the CIA’s imperial history in his new book, “The CIA: An Imperial History”



Support local bookstores & buy Hugh’s book here: https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781541645912



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Cold War – The CIA: An Imperial History – Hugh Wilford

Ep 051 – Fiction. In 1941, a Soviet soldier witnesses Hitler's invasion of the USSR and must cope with its devastating consequences. Sasha Vasilyuk discusses her fantastic new novel, "Your Presence Is Mandatory," based on the real-life story of her grandfather’s experiences during and after the war.

Support local bookstores & buy Sasha’s book here: https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781639731534

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World War II - A Soviet Perspective on War & Shame – Sasha Vasilyuk

Ep 050 – Nonfiction. Are we already in a second Cold War? George S. Takach says yes, and joins me to discuss his fascinating new book, “Cold War 2.0: Artificial Intelligence in the New Battle between China, Russia, and America.”

Support local bookstores and buy George’s book here: https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781639365630 [https://a.co/d/df7oh7z]

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Modern War - The Next Cold War - George S. Takach (Author Interview, 2024)

Ep 049 – Fiction. In August 1943, a fourteen-year-old is newly orphaned and flees Rome after surviving the American bombing raid that killed his parents. Author Derek B. Miller joins me to discuss his fascinating new #WWII novel, "The Curse of Pietro Houdini."

Support local bookstores & buy Derek’s book here: https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781668020883

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World War II – Italian Front – Derek B. Miller (Author Interview, 2024)

Ep 048 – Nonfiction. By July 1794, Robespierre was an outlaw, wanted for conspiracy against the French Republic. Historian Colin Jones chronicles Robespierre's finals hours & joins me to discuss his new book, "The Fall of Robespierre: 24 Hours in Revolutionary Paris."

Support local bookstores & buy Colin’s book here: https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9780198715955



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French Revolution – The Fall of Robespierre– Colin Jones

Ep 047 – Nonfiction. What's it like to grow up surrounded by Soviet propaganda? What lessons can we learn today? Magda Stroinska, Professor of Linguistics at McMaster University, joins me to discuss her fascinating new memoir, "My Life in Propaganda: Language and Totalitarian Regimes.”

Support local bookstores & buy Magda’s book here: https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9781990735332

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Cold War – Soviet Propaganda – Magda Stroinska

Ep 046 – Nonfiction. Before 1862, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain had rarely left his home state of Maine, where he was a trained minister and professor. During the U.S. Civil War, he rose to fame as one of the North’s greatest heroes. Ronald C. White joins me to discuss his book, “On Great Fields: The Life and Unlikely Heroism of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain.”

Support local bookstores & buy Ron’s book here: https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9780525510086



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War Books Podcast is a podcast dedicated to exploring history by interviewing today’s best authors writing about war-related topics. War Books Podcast aims to spotlight the profound historical moments that have shaped war and conflict throughout history, and highlight today’s best writers in the fields of military history, war studies, war writing, current events, politics, fiction, literature, history, and more. This podcast is tailored to a broad audience, from general interest to war enthusiasts to teachers and history professors. The objective is to inform, educate, and think deeply about the nature of conflict and the stories that define human beings at their most perilous, harrowing moments.

#history #war #warbooks #authorinterviews #book #newbook #historyteacher #historyprofessor #bookstagram #instabooks #reels #reelsvideo #bookreels #library #historybook #reading #conflict #bookshelf #bookstore #shortsclip #shortscraft #shortsbook #shortshistory #historyfacts #historychannel #historybuff #historyofwar #militaryhistory #warwriting

U.S. Civil War – Joshua Chamberlain, Unlikely Hero – Ronald C. White

Ep 045 – Nonfiction. How do the descendants of Nazis reckon with the pasts of their families? Burkhard Bilger joins me to discuss his memoir, a ten-year quest to uncover the truth about his grandfather— a Nazi party chief, “Fatherland: A Memoir of War, Conscience, and Family.”

Support local bookstores & buy Burkhard’s book here: https://bookshop.org/a/92235/9780385353984



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World War II – Investigating a Nazi Past – Burkhard Bilger

Authors interviewed about their newest releases in war writing, military history, war studies, current events, politics, and more. Both nonfiction and fiction. Created by writer and podcaster A.J. Woodhams.

War Books

A.J. Woodhams's Show

War Books Podcast is a podcast dedicated to exploring history by interviewing today’s best authors writing about war-related topics. War Books Podcast aims to spotlight the profound historical moments that have shaped war and conflict throughout history, and highlight today’s best writers in the fields of military history, war studies, war writing, current events, politics, fiction, literature, history, and more. This podcast is tailored to a broad audience, from general interest to war enthusiasts to teachers and history professors. The objective is to inform, educate, and think deeply about the nature of conflict and the stories that define human beings at their most perilous, harrowing moments.

War Books Podcast

Host of the podcast "War Books." Host on the New Books Network's Military History channel.

A.J. Woodhams

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