Behind the Bastards
Book Recommendations

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
John Wayne's Book of American Grit: Stories of Courage and Perseverance throughout Our Nation's History Cover

Editors of the Official John Wayne Magazine

John Wayne's Book of American Grit

Stories of Courage and Perseverance throughout Our Nation's History

It was mentioned as a more respectful and classier book about John Wayne compared to Jensen's, providing information about Chata, his teenage mistress.

"

Chata's life before 1941 is a mystery.

— Episode: Part Two: John Wayne: A Dude Who Sucked

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Episode: Part Two: John Wayne: A Dude Who Sucked

It was mentioned as a more respectful and classier book about John Wayne compared to Jensen's, providing information about Chata, his teenage mistress.

"

Chata's life before 1941 is a mystery.

Episode: Part Two: John Wayne: A Dude Who Sucked

It was described as a classier book about John Wayne's life, in contrast to Jensen's, which was considered to be more negative and written in a rather crude manner.

"

Chata's life before 1941 is a mystery.

When The Legend Became Fact - The True Life of John Wayne Cover

Richard Douglas Jensen

When The Legend Became Fact - The True Life of John Wayne

A book that was referenced when discussing John Wayne's physical abuse towards Marlene Dietrich, specifically the incident where he punched her in the face on set.

"

Duke handled her the way he handled every woman in his life when she provoked him he punched her and it didn't matter if it was in public on location for the spoilers in Lake Arrowhead, California Duk...

— Episode: Part Two: John Wayne: A Dude Who Sucked

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Part Two: John Wayne: A Dude Who Sucked

A book that was referenced when discussing John Wayne's physical abuse towards Marlene Dietrich, specifically the incident where he punched her in the face on set.

"

Duke handled her the way he handled every woman in his life when she provoked him he punched her and it didn't matter if it was in public on location for the spoilers in Lake Arrowhead, California Duke and Marlene were rehearsing a scene for the film Duke suggested one way to play the scene and Marlene suggested another Duke pressed his point in Marlene finally shot back. That's a dumb idea Dukes face turned to stone and his eyes burned with suppressed rage as the camera was about to roll Duke angrily retied his Bandana, which he'd loosened between takes Duke tied a bigger than normal knot and Marlene saw it and told him you don't even know how to tie a bandana suddenly Duke exploded. He swung a huge fist in a roundhouse right and hit Marlene right in the face. She went flying landing hard in the rough dirt Marlene lay sprawled on the ground for a moment gathering her senses. She didn't cry now.

Episode: Part Two: John Wayne: A Dude Who Sucked

The podcasters discussed a quote from this book about John Wayne's rough treatment of Marlene Dietrich on the set of a movie, including a physical altercation and her reaction to it.

"

Duke handled her the way he handled every woman in his life when she provoked him he punched her and it didn't matter if it was in public or on location.

Duke suggested one way to play the scene and Marlene suggested another. Duke pressed his point and Marlene finally shot back, 'That's a dumb idea.' Duke's face turned to stone and his eyes burned with suppressed rage as the camera was about to roll.

Duke angrily retied his Bandana, which he'd loosened between takes. Duke tied a bigger than normal knot and Marlene saw it and told him, 'You don't even know how to tie a Bandana.' Suddenly Duke exploded. He swung a huge fist in a roundhouse right and hit Marlene right in the face.

John Wayne: The Life and Legend Cover

Scott Eyman

John Wayne

The Life and Legend

It was referred to during the discussion of John Wayne's childhood, particularly regarding his mother's personality and the impact of his upbringing on him.

"

quote, an implacable woman married to a sweet ne'er do well.

— Episode: Part One: John Wayne: A Dude Who Sucked

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Part One: John Wayne: A Dude Who Sucked

It was referred to during the discussion of John Wayne's childhood, particularly regarding his mother's personality and the impact of his upbringing on him.

"

quote, an implacable woman married to a sweet ne'er do well.

Using a child's name is the P and a now you see it. Now you don't shell game was only the beginning of Marian's ragged childhood.

What probably happened is that his mother, a formidably strong willed read borderline unpleasant woman born Mary Brown in 1885 and Lincoln, Nebraska, simply appropriated the older boy's middle name for the preferred new arrival.

His last wife said that the stories came out only in fragments during their 20 years together. Mainly, he felt unloved by his mother and was quietly distressed by his father's ineffectuality.

Pushy dames really scared him, which I think means like women who knew what they wanted.

Episode: Part One: John Wayne: A Dude Who Sucked

It was described as a biography of John Wayne and used as a source to provide insights into his early life and experiences. It was discussed in relation to his upbringing and relationship with his mother.

"

quote, an implacable woman married to a sweet ne'er do well.

Using a child's name is the P and a now you see it. Now you don't shell game was only the beginning of Marian's ragged childhood.

Marion stoutly insisted he was always feeding his horse, that he carried oats for the horse even on their daily commute to and from school.

His teacher and his parents stood up for him. The county vet examined the horse and diagnosed the wasting disease.

But a sense of outrage over being falsely accused never left him. I learned you can't always judge a person or a situation by the way it appears on the surface.

Plundered Skulls and Stolen Spirits: Inside the Fight to Reclaim Native America's Culture Cover

Chip Colwell

Plundered Skulls and Stolen Spirits

Inside the Fight to Reclaim Native America's Culture

It detailed the bone trade and the process of returning stolen skulls to their rightful tribes. It highlighted the slow pace of repatriation by institutions.

"

there's a book I found about the bone trade in in stolen bones called Plundered Skulls and Stolen Spirits by Chip Colwell

— Episode: The Audubon Guy Was A Monster

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Episode: The Audubon Guy Was A Monster

It detailed the bone trade and the process of returning stolen skulls to their rightful tribes. It highlighted the slow pace of repatriation by institutions.

"

there's a book I found about the bone trade in in stolen bones called Plundered Skulls and Stolen Spirits by Chip Colwell

Episode: The Audubon Guy Was A Monster

It's a book that details the history of the trade in stolen human remains, including the work of Chip Colwell in museums, who helps put together groups of bones to send back to the tribes they were stolen from.

"

there's a book I found about the bone trade in in stolen bones called Plundered Skulls and Stolen Spirits by Chip Colwell who's like an ant doing part of his job is to like sit in a museum and put together groups of bones to send back to the tribes.

A Very British Family: The Trevelyans and their World Cover

Laura Trevelyan

A Very British Family

The Trevelyans and their World

It's a book about the Trevelyan family, written by Charles Trevelyan's descendant, that attempts to portray him in a more positive light, despite the famine's devastation.

"

I was interviewing a member of the Republican Sinn Fein in Southern Armagh and she asked if I was related to Charles Trevelyan. I said I was and she asked me how I could live in Ireland when I had the...

— Episode: Part Three: That Time Britain Did A Geno...

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Episode: Part Three: That Time Britain Did A Genocide in Ir...

It's a book about the Trevelyan family, written by Charles Trevelyan's descendant, that attempts to portray him in a more positive light, despite the famine's devastation.

"

I was interviewing a member of the Republican Sinn Fein in Southern Armagh and she asked if I was related to Charles Trevelyan. I said I was and she asked me how I could live in Ireland when I had the blood of the Irish on my hands.

I'm not defending him or endorsing some of his actions, but I want to show he was more humane than has been portrayed. He did work very hard to try and improve the situation in Ireland and had a genuine concern for the welfare of the people.

He is vilified in Ireland and not wrongly because the policy enacted by the government at the time is impossible to defend a policy of effectively withholding relief and allowing market forces to take their courses brutal. However, what I'm taking what I'm taking issue with is the portrayal of him as someone who wanted the Irish to die.

Yes, he was a providentialist who felt the famine had been the will of God, but that's not the same as saying he wanted the Irish to die.

Episode: Part Three: That Time Britain Did A Genocide in Ir...

It was mentioned as being written by Charles Trevelyan's great-great-great-granddaughter in response to being confronted about the actions of her ancestor in causing the famine.

"

I was interviewing a member of the Republican Sinn Fein in Southern Armagh and she asked if I was related to Charles Trevelyan. I said I was and she asked me how I could live in Ireland when I had the blood of the Irish on my hands.

I'm not defending him or endorsing some of his actions, but I want to show he was more humane than has been portrayed. He did work very hard to try and improve the situation in Ireland and had a genuine concern for the welfare of the people.

He is vilified in Ireland and not wrongly because the policy enacted by the government at the time is impossible to defend a policy of effectively withholding relief and allowing market forces to take their courses brutal. However, what I'm taking what I'm taking issue with is the portrayal of him as someone who wanted the Irish to die.

The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World Cover

Michael Pollan

The Botany of Desire

A Plant's-Eye View of the World

The author discusses how plants that we thought we were domesticating were also domesticating us. This is because the plants have become reliant on humans to weed out competition, provide nutrients, and protect them from pests.

"

I read this book, I think last year, called Botany of Desire.

— Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 30

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Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 30

The author discusses how plants that we thought we were domesticating were also domesticating us. This is because the plants have become reliant on humans to weed out competition, provide nutrients, and protect them from pests.

"

I read this book, I think last year, called Botany of Desire.

And in it, the guy, what's his name? And in it, Michael Poulin talks about how the plants we thought we were domesticating domesticated us too.

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 30

The author talks about how the plants humans think they are domesticating are domesticating them too. The author's name was mentioned in the podcast but the book title was mentioned before that.

"

I read this book, I think last year, called Botany of Desire. And in it, the guy, what's his name? And in it, Michael Poulin talks about how the plants we thought we were domesticating domesticated us too.

The Great Hunger Cover

Cecil Woodham-Smith

The Great Hunger

It was mentioned as a book written by a British historian that was critical of the Irish famine. A passage was read from it about the Irish being conquered and subjugated.

"

The land system thus introduced was a method of government, a badge of conquest and a means of holding and subjection of the people.

— Episode: Part One: That Time Britain Did A Genoci...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Part One: That Time Britain Did A Genocide in Irel...

It was mentioned as a book written by a British historian that was critical of the Irish famine. A passage was read from it about the Irish being conquered and subjugated.

"

The land system thus introduced was a method of government, a badge of conquest and a means of holding and subjection of the people.

Ireland was a conquered country, the Irish peasant a dispossessed man and his landlord an alien conqueror.

Episode: Part One: That Time Britain Did A Genocide in Irel...

It was mentioned in the podcast, with an excerpt read from the book, which detailed the land system implemented by the English in Ireland and how it was a method of conquest and subjugation, leading to the dispossession of Irish peasantry.

"

The land system thus introduced was a method of government, a badge of conquest and a means of holding and subjection of the people.

The Dragon in the Sock Drawer (Dragon Keepers #1) Cover

Kate Klimo

The Dragon in the Sock Drawer (Dragon Keepers #1)

The Dragon in the Hydra, was written by Russell Maroon Schultz. It was described as an essay which discussed historical organizational methods that compared different forms of resistance to colonial settlement and enslavement.

"

The Dragon in the Hydra

— Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 28

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Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 28

The Dragon in the Hydra, was written by Russell Maroon Schultz. It was described as an essay which discussed historical organizational methods that compared different forms of resistance to colonial settlement and enslavement.

"

The Dragon in the Hydra

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 28

The Dragon in the Hydra is a historical study of organizational methods and compares different types of resistance to colonial settlement and enslavement. It talks about the maroon movement and compares centralized movements with decentralized movements.

"

Yeah, one thing I kind of want to plug is Russell Maroon Schultz wrote a really interesting, I don't know exactly what the name for it, essay, I guess, called The Dragon in the Hydra, which is a study of historical study of organizational methods and it's about basically a comparison of different kinds of resistance to colonial settlement and enslavement that talks a lot about the maroon movement, talks about the problems that these highly centralized top-down movements ran into versus the kind of stuff that these more decentralized, less hierarchical maroon movements face. It's really pretty short, so everyone should just read it because it's great.

I Am Jazz Cover

Jessica Herthel

I Am Jazz

The picture book was included on a list of books that No Left Turn claimed were used to indoctrinate kids into a dangerous ideology.

"

The picture book I Am Jazz, Kate Bornstein's My Gender Workbook and the YA novel Two Boys Kissing also included as Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale.

— Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 27

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 27

The picture book was included on a list of books that No Left Turn claimed were used to indoctrinate kids into a dangerous ideology.

"

The picture book I Am Jazz, Kate Bornstein's My Gender Workbook and the YA novel Two Boys Kissing also included as Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale.

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 27

The picture book was indiscriminately targeted by No Left Turn because it simply featured queer people having lives.

"

The picture book I Am Jazz

My New Gender Workbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Achieving World Peace Through Gender Anarchy and Sex Positivity Cover

Kate Bornstein

My New Gender Workbook

A Step-by-Step Guide to Achieving World Peace Through Gender Anarchy and Sex Positivity

The book was included on a list of books that No Left Turn claimed were used to indoctrinate kids into a dangerous ideology.

"

The picture book I Am Jazz, Kate Bornstein's My Gender Workbook and the YA novel Two Boys Kissing also included as Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale.

— Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 27

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 27

The book was included on a list of books that No Left Turn claimed were used to indoctrinate kids into a dangerous ideology.

"

The picture book I Am Jazz, Kate Bornstein's My Gender Workbook and the YA novel Two Boys Kissing also included as Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale.

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 27

The book was indiscriminately targeted by No Left Turn because it simply featured queer people having lives.

"

Kate Bornstein's My Gender Workbook

The Blood Telegram: Nixon, Kissinger, and a Forgotten Genocide Cover

Gary J. Bass

The Blood Telegram

Nixon, Kissinger, and a Forgotten Genocide

The book was referenced for a passage that was read out loud, detailing Nixon's personality and a question about his potential with love and affection.

"

Despite all his global FaceTime, Nixon was a solitary, awkward, reclusive man. Kissinger, who could not bring himself to say that he was fond of the president, once famously asked, 'Can you imagine wh...

— Episode: Part Four: Kissinger

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Episode: Part Four: Kissinger

The book was referenced for a passage that was read out loud, detailing Nixon's personality and a question about his potential with love and affection.

"

Despite all his global FaceTime, Nixon was a solitary, awkward, reclusive man. Kissinger, who could not bring himself to say that he was fond of the president, once famously asked, 'Can you imagine what this man would have been had somebody loved him?'

Nixon's only true friend was Bebe Rebozo, a Florida banker. He said, 'It doesn't come natural to me to be a buddy-buddy boy.'

Episode: Part Four: Kissinger

The book was referenced for its detailed account of Nixon's personality and his relationship with Kissinger, particularly highlighting Nixon's reclusive nature and Kissinger's assessment of the president's lack of love.

"

Despite all his global FaceTime, Nixon was a solitary, awkward, reclusive man. Kissinger, who could not bring himself to say that he was fond of the president, once famously asked, 'Can you imagine what this man would have been had somebody loved him?'

Nixon's only true friend was Bebe Rebozo, a Florida banker. He said, 'It doesn't come natural to me to be a buddy-buddy boy.'

Even H.R. Haldeman, the White House chief of staff, worried that the boss was too much in his own head and once tried to find the president a friend, tracking down an oil man whom Nixon had reportedly liked in his Los Angeles days and installing him in a bogus White House job.

Frank Mourning Cognac!

Two Boys Kissing Cover

David Levithan

Two Boys Kissing

The YA novel was included on a list of books that No Left Turn claimed were used to indoctrinate kids into a dangerous ideology.

"

The picture book I Am Jazz, Kate Bornstein's My Gender Workbook and the YA novel Two Boys Kissing also included as Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale.

— Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 27

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 27

The YA novel was included on a list of books that No Left Turn claimed were used to indoctrinate kids into a dangerous ideology.

"

The picture book I Am Jazz, Kate Bornstein's My Gender Workbook and the YA novel Two Boys Kissing also included as Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale.

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 27

The YA novel was indiscriminately targeted by No Left Turn because it simply featured queer people having lives.

"

The YA novel Two Boys Kissing

Boy Erased: A Memoir Cover

Garrard Conley

Boy Erased

A Memoir

The book, which focuses on the effects of conversion therapy, was recommended by a guest as a resource for learning more about the topic.

"

And then if you want to learn more about the effects of the deconversion therapy universe, Gary Conley's book Boy Erased is fucking great.

— Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 27

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 27

The book, which focuses on the effects of conversion therapy, was recommended by a guest as a resource for learning more about the topic.

"

And then if you want to learn more about the effects of the deconversion therapy universe, Gary Conley's book Boy Erased is fucking great.

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 27

The book was highly recommended for learning more about the effects of the deconversion therapy universe.

"

Gary Conley's book Boy Erased is fucking great.

Detransition, Baby: A Novel Cover

Torrey Peters

Detransition, Baby

A Novel

The novel, written by a trans author, was recommended as a resource for learning about the experiences of trans people.

"

I would also recommend like if you want to have a like, you know, trans authors take on the transition, the novel de transition baby is out there. It exists is again one person's take. It's not a mono...

— Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 27

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 27

The novel, written by a trans author, was recommended as a resource for learning about the experiences of trans people.

"

I would also recommend like if you want to have a like, you know, trans authors take on the transition, the novel de transition baby is out there. It exists is again one person's take. It's not a monolithic thing but it's a it's a good novel.

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 27

The novel was recommended for learning more about a trans author's take on transitioning.

"

The novel de transition baby is out there. It exists is again one person's take. It's not a monolithic thing but it's a it's a good novel.

The transsexual empire: The making of the she-male Cover

JANICE G. RAYMOND

The transsexual empire

The making of the she-male

Raymond's book was described as vehemently transphobic.

"

Their heroes were people like Janice Raymond, author of the vehemently transphobic screen The transsexual empire.

— Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 27

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 27

Raymond's book was described as vehemently transphobic.

"

Their heroes were people like Janice Raymond, author of the vehemently transphobic screen The transsexual empire.

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 27

The book was described as vehemently transphobic and the author was largely run out of the mainstream American feminist movement with the rest of her TERF companions.

"

The transsexual empire

The Necessity For Choice: Prospects of American Foreign Policy Cover

Henry A. Kissinger

The Necessity For Choice

Prospects of American Foreign Policy

Kissinger's book, published in 1961, was a pessimistic look at US foreign policy and warned of a potential decline in American influence, even during a period of peak power.

"

So in 1961, he publishes a book titled The Necessity of Choice, which is his manifesto on how the United States should approach foreign policy in the 1960s.

— Episode: Part Two: Kissinger

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Part Two: Kissinger

Kissinger's book, published in 1961, was a pessimistic look at US foreign policy and warned of a potential decline in American influence, even during a period of peak power.

"

So in 1961, he publishes a book titled The Necessity of Choice, which is his manifesto on how the United States should approach foreign policy in the 1960s.

The United States cannot afford another decline like the one which has characterized the past decade and a half. 15 years of more of a deterioration of our position in the world, such as we have experienced since World War Two, would find us reduced to Fortress America in a world in which we had become largely irrelevant. Our margin of survival has narrowed dangerously.

Episode: Part Two: Kissinger

Kissinger's book, 'The Necessity of Choice', was published in 1961 as a manifesto on US foreign policy during the 1960s. It conveyed a sense of urgency and a need for decisive action to maintain American influence globally.

"

So in 1961, he publishes a book titled The Necessity of Choice, which is his manifesto on how the United States should approach foreign policy in the 1960s.

The United States cannot afford another decline like the one which has characterized the past decade and a half.

15 years of more of a deterioration of our position in the world, such as we have experienced since World War Two, would find us reduced to Fortress America in a world in which we had become largely irrelevant.

Our margin of survival has narrowed dangerously.

Splinter of the Mind's Eye: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker Cover

Alan Dean Foster

Splinter of the Mind's Eye

From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker

It was mentioned as a bad Star Wars book that the speaker owns.

"

Oh God. Which I am very curious to see who will get that joke.

— Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 26

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 26

It was mentioned as a bad Star Wars book that the speaker owns.

"

Oh God. Which I am very curious to see who will get that joke.

This is why I have a beautiful copy of Splinter in the Mind's Eye.

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 26

The book was mentioned in a joking manner, the speaker was curious to see who would get the joke.

"

This is why I have a beautiful copy of Splinter in the Mind's Eye.

Beyond the Thin Blue Line: Career Strategies for Law Enforcement Officers Cover

Colin Whittington

Beyond the Thin Blue Line

Career Strategies for Law Enforcement Officers

The podcasters talked about a book called "The Thin Blue Line International", which discusses the global solidarity between cops.

"

I think there's a book called The Thin Blue Line International

— Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 24

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 24

The podcasters talked about a book called "The Thin Blue Line International", which discusses the global solidarity between cops.

"

I think there's a book called The Thin Blue Line International

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 24

The book was mentioned as a potential title for a book about the international network of police officers, but the speaker is unsure about the actual title.

"

I think there's a book called The Thin Blue Line International but it's, yeah, I mean that's a thing. You see this basically everywhere.

The thin blue line: International peacekeeping and its future Cover

Bjorn Rikhye, Indar Jit, Harbottle, Michael, Egge

The thin blue line

International peacekeeping and its future

The podcast host mentioned this book, possibly about international police solidarity.

"

I think there's a book called The thin blue line International, but it's, yeah, I mean, that, that's a thing, like, you see this basically everywhere. The cops like the the comps know...

— Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 24

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 24

The podcast host mentioned this book, possibly about international police solidarity.

"

I think there's a book called The thin blue line International, but it's, yeah, I mean, that, that's a thing, like, you see this basically everywhere. The cops like the the comps know which side they're on and it's the side of the other cops.

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 24

The speaker mentioned that they had seen a book by that name and it alluded to the international solidarity among police officers.

"

I think there's a book called The thin blue line International, but it's yeah, I mean, that, that's a thing like you see this basically everywhere. The cops like the the comps know which side they're on, and it's the side of the other cops.

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