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
To the Ghosts Who Are Still Living Cover

Ami Weintraub

To the Ghosts Who Are Still Living

It was described as a collection of essays and covers topics such as stories of the author's ancestors in Eastern Europe, their lives and them coming to America, stories of the author living in Pittsburgh during the rise of antisemitism, and a return back to the author's ancestral village in Lithuania with their sister. The book explores questions of belonging and where the author is from.

"

they've just written a book called To the Ghosts Who Are Still Living and it's out now you can go get it

— Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 94

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 94

It was described as a collection of essays and covers topics such as stories of the author's ancestors in Eastern Europe, their lives and them coming to America, stories of the author living in Pittsburgh during the rise of antisemitism, and a return back to the author's ancestral village in Lithuania with their sister. The book explores questions of belonging and where the author is from.

"

they've just written a book called To the Ghosts Who Are Still Living and it's out now you can go get it

I just came out today with this book To the Ghosts Who Are Still Living and it's my first book that I've written

you can buy it through my publisher Strangers in a Tangled Wilderness

you can also look up my website AmiWengChobb.com

and the book touches on like not Zionism specifically but kind of the themes of like place and land and where do Jews belong in the world

Crossing Sexual Boundaries: Transgender Journeys, Uncharted Paths (New Concepts in Sexuality) Cover

J. Ari Kane-Demaios

Crossing Sexual Boundaries

Transgender Journeys, Uncharted Paths (New Concepts in Sexuality)

It was quoted to show how confusing the field of gender transitioning was in the 1950s, especially when describing Christine Jorgensen's case, highlighting the use of the term 'transvestite' by her surgeon.

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just how confusing the whole situation was at the time is indicated by the fact that the physician involved in the case called Jorgensen a transvestite and his official account of the case.

— Episode: Part One: John Ronald Brown: The Worst S...

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Episode: Part One: John Ronald Brown: The Worst Surgeon Eve...

It was quoted to show how confusing the field of gender transitioning was in the 1950s, especially when describing Christine Jorgensen's case, highlighting the use of the term 'transvestite' by her surgeon.

"

just how confusing the whole situation was at the time is indicated by the fact that the physician involved in the case called Jorgensen a transvestite and his official account of the case.

Flying the line: The first half century of the Air Line Pilots Association Cover

George E. Hopkins

Flying the line

The first half century of the Air Line Pilots Association

It was described as a book series with lots of detail about how air travel used to function in the 1970s and 1980s, and it was said to portray Frank Lorenzo as almost delighted to exploit flight attendants in particular.

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Phil Nash, who went to work for Continental in 1966 after serving in the US Air Force and later became ALPA EVP in 1980 to 1982, will never forget his first encounter with Frank Lorenzo.

— Episode: Part Two: Frank Lorenzo: The Man Who Rui...

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Episode: Part Two: Frank Lorenzo: The Man Who Ruined Air Tr...

It was described as a book series with lots of detail about how air travel used to function in the 1970s and 1980s, and it was said to portray Frank Lorenzo as almost delighted to exploit flight attendants in particular.

"

Phil Nash, who went to work for Continental in 1966 after serving in the US Air Force and later became ALPA EVP in 1980 to 1982, will never forget his first encounter with Frank Lorenzo.

Above all others, Lorenzo typified this new managerial breed. At a special meeting in Denver, Nash asked Lorenzo, who was in the process of taking over Continental at the time, why he was so intent on reducing the pay of flight attendants.

Didn't he know, Phil Nash asked, that many of them were single parents who couldn't afford to own homes at the pay rates he was proposing?

Lorenzo looked at Nash as if he were crazy. Quite frankly, I don't believe flight attendants ought to make enough money so they can own houses, Lorenzo told a flabbergasted Nash. Maybe they should find another job that pays better.

Lorenzo was openly against the better product concept. He said the traveling public looks for the dollar sign. What they're interested in is a cheap seat. The ones who don't like our service could go pay higher prices on another carrier.

Julius Streicher: Nazi Editor of the Notorious Anti-semitic Newspaper Der Sturmer Cover

Randall Bytwerk

Julius Streicher

Nazi Editor of the Notorious Anti-semitic Newspaper Der Sturmer

It was recommended to listeners as a good book with more details on Streicher's propaganda and life. The book was mentioned as a source of information for the podcast.

"

If you're interested in Julius Streicher, I'd really do recommend people the book Julius Streicher by Randall Bittwork. Really good book.

— Episode: Part Two: Julius Streicher: The Other Hi...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Part Two: Julius Streicher: The Other Hitler

It was recommended to listeners as a good book with more details on Streicher's propaganda and life. The book was mentioned as a source of information for the podcast.

"

If you're interested in Julius Streicher, I'd really do recommend people the book Julius Streicher by Randall Bittwork. Really good book.

Adventures in Babysitting Cover

Elizabeth Faucher

Adventures in Babysitting

The podcast host mentioned this movie as having a great story about a hook-handed killer, referencing the prevalence of such stories as a catalyst for anxiety surrounding strangers.

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I know there's a great hook hand story and adventures and babysitting.

— Episode: Part One: Why Kidnapping Conspiracy Theo...

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Episode: Part One: Why Kidnapping Conspiracy Theories Are E...

The podcast host mentioned this movie as having a great story about a hook-handed killer, referencing the prevalence of such stories as a catalyst for anxiety surrounding strangers.

"

I know there's a great hook hand story and adventures and babysitting.

Cape Fear Cover

Johnv Macoonald

Cape Fear

The podcast host discussed the relevance of this book and the film adaptation in the context of anxiety about strangers lurking under cars and potentially attacking people.

"

I have not come across a single one saying that's just Cape Fear.

— Episode: Part One: Why Kidnapping Conspiracy Theo...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Part One: Why Kidnapping Conspiracy Theories Are E...

The podcast host discussed the relevance of this book and the film adaptation in the context of anxiety about strangers lurking under cars and potentially attacking people.

"

I have not come across a single one saying that's just Cape Fear.

It's just yeah, it's I'm sure it's just the result of a fucking oh God now I've forgotten his you know, the the Cape Fear guy.

The Dilbert Principle: A Cubicle's-Eye View of Bosses, Meetings, Management Fads & Other Workplace Afflictions Cover

Scott Adams

The Dilbert Principle

A Cubicle's-Eye View of Bosses, Meetings, Management Fads & Other Workplace Afflictions

It was described as an inversion of The Peter Principle, suggesting that incompetent people are promoted to upper management to avoid interfering with productive workers. A passage was read, discussing idiocy.

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I proudly include myself in the idiot category.

— 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 described as an inversion of The Peter Principle, suggesting that incompetent people are promoted to upper management to avoid interfering with productive workers. A passage was read, discussing idiocy.

"

I proudly include myself in the idiot category.

Life is just too complicated to be smart all the time.

Maori sovereignty: The Maori perspective Cover

Hineani Melbourne

Maori sovereignty

The Maori perspective

It was described as being less of a critique of right wing racist politics, and more of a critique of left social movements which Donna Awatere believed were committed to a status quo characterised by white supremacy and Maori subordination.

"

One of the most important works in the Maori activist movement at the time was Donna Awatere's Maori sovereignty, published in 1984.

— Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 92

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 92

It was described as being less of a critique of right wing racist politics, and more of a critique of left social movements which Donna Awatere believed were committed to a status quo characterised by white supremacy and Maori subordination.

"

One of the most important works in the Maori activist movement at the time was Donna Awatere's Maori sovereignty, published in 1984.

Red Hot City: Housing, Race, and Exclusion in Twenty-First-Century Atlanta Cover

Dan Immergluck

Red Hot City

Housing, Race, and Exclusion in Twenty-First-Century Atlanta

This book was described as a fantastic read for those wanting to learn more about gentrification in Atlanta.

"

There is a fantastic book called Red Hot City by a GSU professor named Dan Emmergluck. If you want to learn more about gentrification in Atlanta. It's great.

— Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 89

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 89

This book was described as a fantastic read for those wanting to learn more about gentrification in Atlanta.

"

There is a fantastic book called Red Hot City by a GSU professor named Dan Emmergluck. If you want to learn more about gentrification in Atlanta. It's great.

Homo Sacer: Sovereign Power and Bare Life (Meridian: Crossing Aesthetics) Cover

Giorgio Agamben

Homo Sacer

Sovereign Power and Bare Life (Meridian

This book was mentioned in relation to the concept of being treated as the exception from the model of the state, like the people who know who are treated like it wouldn't matter if someone killed them.

"

I've been reading a lot of I've been reading Homo Saca by Giorgio Agamben for a little while now about the, like the, the, the class of P, like whichever in whatever society you're talking about, like...

— Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 89

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 89

This book was mentioned in relation to the concept of being treated as the exception from the model of the state, like the people who know who are treated like it wouldn't matter if someone killed them.

"

I've been reading a lot of I've been reading Homo Saca by Giorgio Agamben for a little while now about the, like the, the, the class of P, like whichever in whatever society you're talking about, like class of people who are treated as the exception from the model of the state, like the people who know who are treated like it wouldn't matter if someone killed them.

Lost World (Movie Tie-In Edition) Cover

Michael Crichton

Lost World (Movie Tie-In Edition)

It was recalled as a book that featured a dinosaur skull on its cover, which enticed a young Robert to demand his father renew it from the library. It was deemed not ideal for a second grader, but acceptable nonetheless.

"

When I was in second grade, I found my dad had a copy of the Lost World checked out from the library and I like demanded he renew it.

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

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Part Two: AI Is Coming for Your Children

It was recalled as a book that featured a dinosaur skull on its cover, which enticed a young Robert to demand his father renew it from the library. It was deemed not ideal for a second grader, but acceptable nonetheless.

"

When I was in second grade, I found my dad had a copy of the Lost World checked out from the library and I like demanded he renew it.

Because there was a dinosaur skull on the front.

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch Cover

Neil Gaiman

Good Omens

The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

It was referenced during a discussion on the damaging potential of AI-generated books. The fast-food franchise run by Famine, one of the Four Horsemen, was used as a metaphor for such content's lack of substance.

"

If you ever did you ever read Good Omens?

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

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Part Two: AI Is Coming for Your Children

It was referenced during a discussion on the damaging potential of AI-generated books. The fast-food franchise run by Famine, one of the Four Horsemen, was used as a metaphor for such content's lack of substance.

"

If you ever did you ever read Good Omens?

Yes.

Yeah. Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.

One of the it's you know, it's a book. Antichrist is like the hero kind of and there's like the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are our characters in it.

And one of them famine is like kind of a little counterintuitively at first. He's like his his big plot. He's like running this some fast food franchise.

That's right. The food has any nutrition in it. Like there's nothing. It's actually you can starve to death eating this food.

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