Behind the Bastards
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Behind the Bastards

There’s a reason the History Channel has produced hundreds of documentaries about Hitler but only a few about Dwight D. Eisenhower. Bad guys (and gals) are eternally fascinating. Behind the Bastards dives in past the Cliffs Notes of the worst humans in history and exposes the bizarre realities of th...

Episodes 1,988
Books 1,560
I Kissed Dating Goodbye (updated edition) Cover

Joshua Harris

I Kissed Dating Goodbye (updated edition)

The book promotes a pro courtship to marriage pipeline instead of dating. Dating would probably encourage you to have sex before marriage, which is of course bad.

"

Strongly influenced by a book written by someone named Joshua Harris. It was called I Kissed Dating Goodbye.

— Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 31

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Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 31

The book promotes a pro courtship to marriage pipeline instead of dating. Dating would probably encourage you to have sex before marriage, which is of course bad.

"

Strongly influenced by a book written by someone named Joshua Harris. It was called I Kissed Dating Goodbye.

I think dating will probably encourage you to have sex before marriage, which is of course bad.

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 31

The book promotes a pro courtship to marriage pipeline instead of dating, believing that dating encourages sex before marriage, which is bad.

"

Strongly influenced by a book written by someone named Joshua Harris. It was called I Kissed Dating Goodbye.

I think dating will probably encourage you to have sex before marriage, which is of course bad.

Cosmic Trigger I: Final Secret of the Illuminati Cover

Robert Anton Wilson

Cosmic Trigger I

Final Secret of the Illuminati

It was described as a series of books where Wilson reflected on changes within the American psyche during the rise of discordianism.

"

Bob Wilson wrote a bit about this in the late 70s in a book he put out called Cosmic Trigger. It's actually a series of books.

— Episode: Part Five: A Complete History of the Ill...

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Episode: Part Five: A Complete History of the Illuminati

It was described as a series of books where Wilson reflected on changes within the American psyche during the rise of discordianism.

"

Bob Wilson wrote a bit about this in the late 70s in a book he put out called Cosmic Trigger. It's actually a series of books.

Episode: Part Two: A Complete History of the Illuminati

The book, 'The Illuminati', was cited as a source for details about the organization's history, particularly surrounding Adolf Knigge's recruitment and disillusionment with the group's deception.

"

The recruits began to raise their eyebrows, badgering Knig with questions about exactly who it was that they were serving.

And when Knig failed to produce these names, many began to grow wary.

Knig approached Weishaupt on a number of occasions, and he grew even more discouraged when Weishaupt cadoged his questions.

To Knig's horror, Weishaupt admitted that the Supreme Superiors, the ancient texts behind the topmost level of the Illuminati pyramid, were entirely made up.

Most damning of the indictments were the set of instructions drawn up by Weishaupten and addressed to the ostensibly active Illuminati members in Silesia.

Little Brother (Little Brother, 1) Cover

Cory Doctorow

Little Brother (Little Brother, 1)

Corey Doctorow mentioned his own book, "Little Brother", published in 2008, which explored themes of surveillance and technology. He noted that he had been writing about these topics since 2006.

"

...and working with EFF it was impossible to miss...Was there a degree to which I guess were you surprised by anything that happened last summer or did it just kind of comprehensively feel like everyt...

— Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 14

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Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 14

Corey Doctorow mentioned his own book, "Little Brother", published in 2008, which explored themes of surveillance and technology. He noted that he had been writing about these topics since 2006.

"

...and working with EFF it was impossible to miss...Was there a degree to which I guess were you surprised by anything that happened last summer or did it just kind of comprehensively feel like everything's slotting into place that I knew was heading in this direction because yeah you're right everything was kind of presaged years before...I'm wondering if there was anything that kind of surprised you or was it all just sort of what you'd been braced for?

Yeah I don't feel like there were any kind of surveillance surprises...this expansion of surveillance has been on my mind for a long time I've been writing about it at least since "Little Brother" so 2006 I wrote that novel and I've had my finger in that for all that time...

When a Killer Calls: A Haunting Story of Murder, Criminal Profiling, and Justice in a Small Town (Cases of the FBI's Original Mindhunter, 2) Cover

John E. Douglas

When a Killer Calls

A Haunting Story of Murder, Criminal Profiling, and Justice in a Small Town (Cases of the FBI's Original Mindhunter, 2)

The book was mentioned in the context of a discussion about the FBI and how the author, who inspired the show Mindhunter, was sexist and lacked self-awareness.

"

The guy who inspired "Silence the Lambs" the TV show "Mindhunter" was based on him in his book.

— Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 5

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Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 5

The book was mentioned in the context of a discussion about the FBI and how the author, who inspired the show Mindhunter, was sexist and lacked self-awareness.

"

The guy who inspired "Silence the Lambs" the TV show "Mindhunter" was based on him in his book.

It's a terrible book.

It's incredible the lack of self-awareness he has.

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 5

The book was used as inspiration for the TV show 'Mindhunter,' and it is described as a terrible book due to its lack of self-awareness and sexist content.

"

It's a terrible book. Yeah, when I heard that Fincher was adapting I was like wow, good luck...but it's incredible the lack of self-awareness he has...this guy is so sexist and so bad every time he introduces a woman it starts by from the legs up like he's describing her...and at the very end of the book he reveals that his wife leaves him and he kind of writes as if this is a huge Surprise, and you're like, yeah, yeah, he's calling this from chapter one and he has a best buddy...There's like a real-life version of him and halfway through the book his wife Hires an assassin to come in and kill him and the guy just narrowly avoids it and and the guy writing the book is Like what an evil woman like oh my poor friend and you're like well hang on a minute...What did your what was your friend like? Yeah, his wife was what was going on?

Hollywood Park: A Memoir Cover

Mikel Jollett

Hollywood Park

A Memoir

It was a memoir written by a man who was raised in the Synanon school, primarily discussing his life after the cult, but the book's beginning focused on his Synanon childhood.

"

"The school is where they put the kids when they took us from our parents. It's where we all lived from the time we were six months old. Since Chuck, the old man, said that dope fiends would just mess...

— Episode: Part Two: Synanon: The Drug Rehab Progra...

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Episode: Part Two: Synanon: The Drug Rehab Program That Bui...

It was a memoir written by a man who was raised in the Synanon school, primarily discussing his life after the cult, but the book's beginning focused on his Synanon childhood.

"

"The school is where they put the kids when they took us from our parents. It's where we all lived from the time we were six months old. Since Chuck, the old man, said that dope fiends would just mess up their kids anyway, we were all put in a building together to become children of the universe."

"You had to listen to Chuck. We had demonstrators who were like teachers and classes and songs and I was lucky because I had a Bonnie. She would hug me every day and sing songs with me and call me son and ask me what I want for a snack."

"Most of the other kids didn't have a Bonnie though and some never even saw their moms or dads. They just never came to visit."

"Dmitri said he doesn't remember his mom's face. She was somewhere else. He didn't know where his dad was. The demonstrators say we don't need our parents because we have each other, but we don't like sharing our toys and I don't know who to talk to when I woke up with a bad dream or fell off of the monkey bars."

"Some of the kids were very sad. Tony, his brother, used to sit alone at the edge of the playground all day and his brother was a little older than him. He would turn away when one of the demonstrators tried to hug him. He doesn't trust the adults and he doesn't play with other kids that much. When mom came to visit, she would say he's just like that and he needs to learn how to deal with his anger, but maybe it's because someone did bad things to him. That happens sometimes. The kids would get hit really hard or locked in a closet and there was no mom or dad to tell because they lived somewhere else and you couldn't even remember their faces."

Episode: Part Two: Synanon: The Drug Rehab Program That Bui...

It was a memoir by a man who was raised in a Synanon school as a child. The book details his experiences and the impact of the cult on his life.

"

the school is where they put the kids when they took us from our parents. It's where we all lived from the time we were six months old.

Since Chuck, the old man, said that dope fiends would just mess up their kids anyway, we were all put in a building together to become children of the universe.

You had to listen to Chuck. We had demonstrators who were like teachers and classes and songs and I was lucky because I had a Bonnie.

She would hug me every day and sing songs with me and call me son and ask me what I want for a snack.

Most of the other kids didn't have a Bonnie though and some never even saw their moms or dads. They just never came to visit.

Negroes with Guns Cover

Robert F Williams

Negroes with Guns

Kwasi Balagun, formerly Donald Weems, was inspired by the book, along with Malcolm X's autobiography, as he recognized that black liberation would only come about through protracted guerrilla warfare.

"

He also learned from the leaders that surrounded him, like the leader of the SNCC and the leaders of the Black Panthers.

— Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 46

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Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 46

Kwasi Balagun, formerly Donald Weems, was inspired by the book, along with Malcolm X's autobiography, as he recognized that black liberation would only come about through protracted guerrilla warfare.

"

He also learned from the leaders that surrounded him, like the leader of the SNCC and the leaders of the Black Panthers.

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 46

Kwasi Balagun was inspired by the book "Negroes with Guns" by Robert F. Williams, which was about the Black Power movement and the need for armed self-defense.

"

He began to read literature like the autobiography of Malcolm X and Robert F. Williams' book, Negroes with Guns.

Terraforming Earth Cover

Jack Williamson

Terraforming Earth

Prop mentioned his book, which was described as exploring the development of culture, and touched on the anthropological idea that civilization arose from the need to raise children.

"

There's a whole premise in my book, Terraform where I talk about the development of culture and it's because we're the only species that aren't born with everything we need to survive.

— Episode: Part One: The Cash for Kids Scandal

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Episode: Part One: The Cash for Kids Scandal

Prop mentioned his book, which was described as exploring the development of culture, and touched on the anthropological idea that civilization arose from the need to raise children.

"

There's a whole premise in my book, Terraform where I talk about the development of culture and it's because we're the only species that aren't born with everything we need to survive.

Episode: Part One: The Cash for Kids Scandal

It was mentioned by the speaker, who was also the author, as a book containing a premise about the development of culture and how humans are the only species that aren't born with everything they need to survive.

"

There's a whole premise in my book, Terraform where I talk about the development of culture and it's because we're the only species that aren't born with everything we need to survive.

How I Found Livingstone; Travels, adventures, and discoveres in Central Africa, including an account of four months' residence with Dr. Livingstone, by Henry M. Stanley: in large print Cover

Henry M Stanley

How I Found Livingstone; Travels, adventures, and discoveres in Central Africa, including an account of four months' residence with Dr. Livingstone, by Henry M. Stanley

in large print

It was a book written by Stanley about his expedition to find Dr. Livingstone, and it helped invent the genre of travel writing.

"

How I Found Livingston

— Episode: Part Two: Henry Morton Stanley: The Expl...

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Episode: Part Two: Henry Morton Stanley: The Explorer Who S...

It was a book written by Stanley about his expedition to find Dr. Livingstone, and it helped invent the genre of travel writing.

"

How I Found Livingston

Episode: Part Two: Henry Morton Stanley: The Explorer Who S...

Stanley wrote this book after finding Dr. Livingston, which catapulted him to fame and essentially created the genre of travel writing.

"

How I Found Livingston

Granddads Wonderful Book of Chemistry Cover

Kurt Saxon

Granddads Wonderful Book of Chemistry

This book was mentioned as the source for information on alcohol, and was referenced in a section about making a still.

"

For the real poop on alcohol for its own sake, get granddad's wonderful book of chemistry.

— Episode: The Survivor: A Magazine For Nerdy Terro...

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Episode: The Survivor: A Magazine For Nerdy Terrorists

This book was mentioned as the source for information on alcohol, and was referenced in a section about making a still.

"

For the real poop on alcohol for its own sake, get granddad's wonderful book of chemistry.

Alcohol Matry starts on page 129.

We did poop used to mean something else.

You don't want the real poop on alcohol?

He's trying to keep it light.

Episode: The Survivor: A Magazine For Nerdy Terrorists

It was mentioned in the context of Kurt Saxon's magazine as containing information on the production of alcohol, though it was not a book specifically by Kurt Saxon.

"

For the real poop on alcohol for its own sake, get granddad's wonderful book of chemistry.

Un manuel de pyrotechnie ou un système familier de feux d'artifice récréatifs (French Edition) Cover

Gw Mortimer

Un manuel de pyrotechnie ou un système familier de feux d'artifice récréatifs (French Edition)

This classic book on fireworks was mentioned as one of the sources of information found in "The Poor Man's James Bond."

"

Plus George W. Weingart's classic on fireworks, pyrotechnie.

— Episode: The Survivor: A Magazine For Nerdy Terro...

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Episode: The Survivor: A Magazine For Nerdy Terrorists

This classic book on fireworks was mentioned as one of the sources of information found in "The Poor Man's James Bond."

"

Plus George W. Weingart's classic on fireworks, pyrotechnie.

It gives full and simple instructions for making tear gas, explosives, firearms, silencers, poisons, zip guns, grenades, knockout drops, flamethrowers and a wide variety of weapons.

The poor man's James Bond is the undisputed leader in the field of books on improvised weaponry and do-it-yourself mayhem.

Includes fireworks and explosives like granddad used to make.

This book has hundreds of formulas and processes for making fireworks, blasting compounds, gunpowder, nitro, gun cotton, et cetera.

Episode: The Survivor: A Magazine For Nerdy Terrorists

It was mentioned as a source Kurt Saxon used in 'The Poor Man's James Bond', contributing to the book's focus on creating fireworks and explosive materials.

"

Plus George W. Weingart's classic on fireworks, pyrotechnie.

The Religion War Cover

Scott Adams

The Religion War

It was discussed in the context of the author's predictions, which he claimed to have made accurately about the rise of ISIS, however, it was stated that the prediction was not accurate, and the details within it were quite different to reality.

"

And he brings up his 2004 book, The Religion War.

— Episode: We Read The Dilbert Guy's Attempt to Mak...

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Episode: We Read The Dilbert Guy's Attempt to Make Trump in...

It was discussed in the context of the author's predictions, which he claimed to have made accurately about the rise of ISIS, however, it was stated that the prediction was not accurate, and the details within it were quite different to reality.

"

And he brings up his 2004 book, The Religion War.

I predicted the rise of an Islamic caliphate in the Middle East and their use of hobby sized drones for terror attacks.

Episode: Part Two: How The Dilbert Guy Lost His Mind

It was described as a racist and atheistic rant that imagined a caliphate destroying Israel and the West, which was also portrayed negatively. It was criticised for not being nuanced and prescient about Islam or ISIS.

"

In the year 2007, a brilliant and charismatic leader named Al-Z began his rise to power in the Palestinian territories.

He was the architect of the 20-year plan for eliminating Israel, the success of which started a domino effect in the Middle East as one Arab dictatorship after another fell and their territories rolled into the Great Caliphate.

The Dictator's Seduction: Politics and the Popular Imagination in the Era of Trujillo (American Encounters/Global Interactions) Cover

Lauren H. Derby

The Dictator's Seduction

Politics and the Popular Imagination in the Era of Trujillo (American Encounters/Global Interactions)

It was highly recommended as a great book about Trujillo, and the podcast hosts shared a direct quote from it that detailed his control and use of the state to personally enrich himself and his cronies.

"

he then fashioned all public works policy formation and patronage as personal gifts from the dictator to the pueblo or people with his family and a few close friends Trujillo used the state to develop...

— Episode: Part Two: Rafael Trujillo: The Most Brut...

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Episode: Part Two: Rafael Trujillo: The Most Brutal Dictato...

It was highly recommended as a great book about Trujillo, and the podcast hosts shared a direct quote from it that detailed his control and use of the state to personally enrich himself and his cronies.

"

he then fashioned all public works policy formation and patronage as personal gifts from the dictator to the pueblo or people with his family and a few close friends Trujillo used the state to develop a system of highly profitable economic monopolies as he gradually took over all core national industries such as meat milk sugar rice oil cement and beer he then used the law to guarantee their profitability and allocated state contracts to his family and cronies for example he prohibited the production of sea salt so the public would have to purchase salt from the Baharona mines where he could which he controlled his wife Maria Martinez was allotted a government bank for cashing state paychecks Trujillo's sister's husband was given the military pharmaceutical contract a highly lucrative enterprise given the massive expansion of the armed forces in this extreme example of pre-bindalism the appropriation of the state for private ends the state became an instrument that guaranteed flows of profit to Trujillo and his circle Trujillo initially eventually became one of the wealthiest men in Latin America under his regime there was no effective distinction between the national treasury and the dictator's own purse he also used the state as a legal screen which shielded the public from the regime's extraordinarily lawlessness and corruption he enabled his own divorce for example by altering divorce legislation

Episode: Part One: Rafael Trujillo: The Most Brutal Dictato...

It was mentioned as a source for the episode, highlighting the US's recruitment of the 'worst rascals' to form the Dominican military, including Trujillo.

"

Widespread resistance to becoming part of the United States-led force meant that recruiters were forced to enlist what a witness described as the worst rascals, thieves and assassins in the country.

If the military had previously been a means of social assent for the respectable poor, it was now open to the anonymous crowd.

[(Dilbert 2.0 : 20 Years of Dilbert)] [By (author) Scott Adams] published on (November, 2008) Cover

Scott Adams

[(Dilbert 2.0

20 Years of Dilbert)] [By (author) Scott Adams] published on (November, 2008)

It was discussed as a book where he blamed diversity programs and black people for the failure of his career and specifically his TV show. It was contrasted with his more reasonable explanation of the show's failure a few years earlier.

"

The show started out well, but in the second season, the network made a strategic decision to focus on shows with African-American actors.

— Episode: Part Two: How The Dilbert Guy Lost His M...

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Episode: Part Two: How The Dilbert Guy Lost His Mind

It was discussed as a book where he blamed diversity programs and black people for the failure of his career and specifically his TV show. It was contrasted with his more reasonable explanation of the show's failure a few years earlier.

"

The show started out well, but in the second season, the network made a strategic decision to focus on shows with African-American actors.

Episode: Part One: How The Dilbert Guy Lost His Mind

It was used as a primary source for Scott Adams' childhood and early life, though it was noted that he was already starting to show signs of erratic behavior by 2008 when it was published.

"

If you're into comic, obviously, which which you are, Randy, you know how like you had those like the the the far side big collection.

Gary Larson.

He writes a bunch of stuff at the beginning and he kind of like explains different comics.

There was another one for Calvin and Hobbes.

Most of like the really big cartoonists get one of those at some point in their career.

The Kaiser's Last Kiss. Cover

Alan Judd

The Kaiser's Last Kiss.

It was discussed as a book that inspired a movie about Wilhelm II, providing a more balanced view of his personality without demonizing or glorifying him.

"

And it's also about this like British spy.

— Episode: Part Two: Kaiser Wilhelm: The Saddest Wa...

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Episode: Part Two: Kaiser Wilhelm: The Saddest Warlord In H...

It was discussed as a book that inspired a movie about Wilhelm II, providing a more balanced view of his personality without demonizing or glorifying him.

"

And it's also about this like British spy.

And it says he's, there's another one where we say, oh sorry. Do we feel he was a genius in any way? Is that, do we give him that?

is that he was half genius and half child.

I gotta say I didn't see it.

Like that mustache.

Episode: Part Two: Kaiser Wilhelm: The Saddest Warlord In H...

The podcast hosts discussed a movie based on this book, which was said to offer a more sympathetic view of Wilhelm than the book itself, and explored his personality without demonising or glorifying him.

"

And it's also about this like British spy. And the movie is more sympathetic towards Wilhelm than I think the book is.

The guy who wrote the book has a very deep knowledge of the man.

So really it's a fun, it's an interesting book that I think gives a good, a very fair like accounting of the man's personality and doesn't make him into a demon or a good guy.

is that he was half genius and half child.

There's another one where we say, oh sorry. Do we feel he was a genius in any way? Is that, do we give him that?

Plato: Complete Works Cover

Plato

Plato

Complete Works

It was described as a weird algorithmic novel from the 1920s that explored 1,462 possible book plots. A short excerpt from its forward was read, which began with a man and a woman walking through a thick London fog in 1926.

"

Let's let's give just a short excerpt from the forward of Plato by William Wallace Cook.

— Episode: Part Two: AI Is Coming for Your Children

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Episode: Part Two: AI Is Coming for Your Children

It was described as a weird algorithmic novel from the 1920s that explored 1,462 possible book plots. A short excerpt from its forward was read, which began with a man and a woman walking through a thick London fog in 1926.

"

Let's let's give just a short excerpt from the forward of Plato by William Wallace Cook.

Yeah, it begins. Picture a man and a woman walking through a thick fog in London. The year is 1926. They are in love and they are miserable.

Well, I mean, already. Yeah, I'm hooked. Tell me more.

Ulysses Cover

James Joyce

Ulysses

It was mentioned in the context of its challenging content and how it fosters a dialogue between the reader and author. A scene featuring a character masturbating through a hole in his pocket while his wife is with another man was referenced.

"

It took him a lot longer.

— Episode: Part Two: AI Is Coming for Your Children

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Episode: Part Two: AI Is Coming for Your Children

It was mentioned in the context of its challenging content and how it fosters a dialogue between the reader and author. A scene featuring a character masturbating through a hole in his pocket while his wife is with another man was referenced.

"

It took him a lot longer.

You know, actually, when you read Ulysses, because one of the most famous scenes in that book that got it attacked by a lot of anti-obscenity laws is, uh, is one of the characters, uh, walking along the strand basically and masturbating through a hole in his pocket while his wife fucks some other guy.

And when you are reading a story about a man masturbating through a hole in his pocket, again, all fiction is a dialogue between reader and author.

Ringmaster: Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America Cover

Abraham Josephine Riesman

Ringmaster

Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America

It was discussed and referenced multiple times, detailing Vince McMahon's early life and career in wrestling, including stories from his friends and associates.

"

Josie Reisman found when she interviewed his friend Dutch for her book.

— Episode: Part Three: Vince McMahon, History's Gre...

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Episode: Part Three: Vince McMahon, History's Greatest Mons...

It was discussed and referenced multiple times, detailing Vince McMahon's early life and career in wrestling, including stories from his friends and associates.

"

Josie Reisman found when she interviewed his friend Dutch for her book.

When Josie talks to other kids at the military school they'd bring up, is that like, you know, we're men in a military school.

Josie Reisman's research includes uncovering arbitration documents from a separate legal case at around the same time.

The father's wisdom as imparted to the son was, 'wrestlers are like seagulls'.

In Vince's telling, he went to Ali's room and discussed the matter with him.

Episode: Part Two: Vince McMahon, History's Greatest Monste...

It was mentioned as a source for information on Vince McMahon's life. The book was used for a number of quotes and facts in the podcast episode.

"

Josie Reisman writes that this was presumably in blackface, and I suspect she is correct there.

Reisman notes, quote, However, the picture that emerges from those who knew him is surprisingly of a kind kid who made friends with ease.

In other interviews that he gave earlier, his story is a lot more realistic. He claims that his school had to integrate while he was in 10th grade. This caused tumult and perhaps due in part to being racist, Vince no longer liked it at his school once it was integrated. His grades and behavior were bad enough that the administration decided to kick him out. So military school was one of his only options. This wound up being what ultimately made him.

I didn't say that. Vince countered in a tone that suggested a rising shield.

Note: The book recommendations on this page are discovered automatically from podcast transcripts, and may be incorrect or incomplete.