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
Night Watch (Mark Pacer Book 3) Cover

Ann Gaylia O'Barr

Night Watch (Mark Pacer Book 3)

It was a self-published novel about a group of Navy SEALs that went rogue to stop drug dealers, and it was described as one of the worst books ever read.

"

He gave me a copy of his self-published novel Operation Night Watch, which was about a group of Navy SEALs going rogue to stop drug dealers.

— Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 65

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 65

It was a self-published novel about a group of Navy SEALs that went rogue to stop drug dealers, and it was described as one of the worst books ever read.

"

He gave me a copy of his self-published novel Operation Night Watch, which was about a group of Navy SEALs going rogue to stop drug dealers.

One of the worst things I've ever read.

A Billion Wicked Thoughts: What the World's Largest Experiment Reveals about Human Desire Cover

Ogi Ogas

A Billion Wicked Thoughts

What the World's Largest Experiment Reveals about Human Desire

This book, written by Google engineers, was cited by Jordan Peterson to support his claim that women prefer literary pornography, particularly 50 Shades of Gray, as opposed to visual porn.

"

So there's a book called A Billion Wicked Thoughts that was written by Google engineers who are quite reliable social scientists when they put their minds to it engineer types because...

— Episode: Part Two: We Watch More of Jordan Peters...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Part Two: We Watch More of Jordan Peterson's New S...

This book, written by Google engineers, was cited by Jordan Peterson to support his claim that women prefer literary pornography, particularly 50 Shades of Gray, as opposed to visual porn.

"

So there's a book called A Billion Wicked Thoughts that was written by Google engineers who are quite reliable social scientists when they put their minds to it engineer types because they tend to follow the data independent of any political inclination and they looked at patterns of pornography use among men and women drawing on literally billions of data points A Billion Wicked Thoughts and they found was something that had been reported previously, but this was on a very large scale that men use visual pornography.

and they found was something that had been reported previously, but this was on a very large scale that men use visual pornography. I don't think that comes as a shock to anyone but that women's preferred pornographic art form is literary the women like stories and they analyze the canonical female pornographic fantasy and it's basically surprise surprise 50 shades of gray.

Hitler's War; Volume One & Volume Two (Complete Set) Cover

David Irving

Hitler's War; Volume One & Volume Two (Complete Set)

It was written by a German author and psychiatrist and made the claim that Hitler was a sexually confused serial killer whose violence was driven by lust. The book made several claims about Hitler's sex life, including an orgasm while watching a massacre.

"

Hitler was a sexually confused serial killer psychologist claims in new book

— Episode: Part One: Hitler's Sex Life: The Whole S...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Part One: Hitler's Sex Life: The Whole Sad Story

It was written by a German author and psychiatrist and made the claim that Hitler was a sexually confused serial killer whose violence was driven by lust. The book made several claims about Hitler's sex life, including an orgasm while watching a massacre.

"

Hitler was a sexually confused serial killer psychologist claims in new book

Hitler one and hitler two the sexual no man's land

He quotes Marion Hop, an actress who was an acquaintance of Hitler, describing a time that she went to the cinema in the dictator's Berlin palace to watch a film called "The Rebel". It featured Austrian troops hurling boulders from a mountain onto the French below. Hitler got some kind of thrill and rubbed his knees at this event as the stones rolled down on the French and groaned.

"I don't know if he was crazy, but he got some kind of orgasm." She said, "I wanted to leave during the show." The man was creepy.

Hitler's sexuality, I believe, drove the dictator into the most colossal annihilation that man has witnessed.

Hitler: A Study in Tyranny Cover

Alan Bullock

Hitler

A Study in Tyranny

It was mentioned as one of the two best Hitler biographies, alongside Ian Kershaw's work. It was used as a source in the discussion about Hitler's life and sexuality, particularly his time in Vienna and his views on women.

"

With abundant dark hair.

— Episode: Part One: Hitler's Sex Life: The Whole S...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Part One: Hitler's Sex Life: The Whole Sad Story

It was mentioned as one of the two best Hitler biographies, alongside Ian Kershaw's work. It was used as a source in the discussion about Hitler's life and sexuality, particularly his time in Vienna and his views on women.

"

With abundant dark hair.

Installed with the Hitlers at an end where Alois was already carrying on an affair with the kitchen maid Francesca.

Only too aware of how tempting a pretty maid could be to the susceptible Alois.

On promenades girls and women would often slightly glance at them. At first Kubizek thought their interest was directed to him, but it soon became apparent that the reserved Adolf was the object. He coldly ignored their silent invitations. If the two did nothing about sex, they spent hours at night discussing women, love, and marriage with Adolf as usual dominating the conversation. Over and over he insisted that he must keep the flame of life pure.

Hitler: 1889-1936 Hubris Cover

Ian Kershaw

Hitler

1889-1936 Hubris

It was mentioned as one of the two best Hitler biographies, alongside John Toland's work. It was used as a source in the discussion about Hitler's early life, views on women, and relationships.

"

As a dad, he's remembered generally as a strict authoritarian figure, but most people who knew the family when his dad was alive say that Alois wasn't particularly violent or bad by the standards of t...

— Episode: Part One: Hitler's Sex Life: The Whole S...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Part One: Hitler's Sex Life: The Whole Sad Story

It was mentioned as one of the two best Hitler biographies, alongside John Toland's work. It was used as a source in the discussion about Hitler's early life, views on women, and relationships.

"

As a dad, he's remembered generally as a strict authoritarian figure, but most people who knew the family when his dad was alive say that Alois wasn't particularly violent or bad by the standards of the time towards his kid or his wife.

When his circle of acquaintances got around to discussing women and doubtless their own former girlfriends and sexual experiences, the best Hitler could come up with was a veiled reference to Stephanie who had been his first love, though she never knew it, because he never told her.

But his prudishness went far beyond this; it amounted, according to Kubizek's account, to a deep disgust and repugnance at sexual activity.

Solitary Sex: A Cultural History of Masturbation Cover

Thomas Walter Laqueur

Solitary Sex

A Cultural History of Masturbation

It was mentioned in the context of a discussion about masturbation and its cultural history. The book's main point was that masturbation was invented as a clinical term in the early 18th century to shame people for masturbating.

"

According to Thomas Lacker's 2003 book, Solitary Sex, a cultural history of masturbation, masturbation as we know it was invented in 1713.

— Episode: Part One: We Watch More of Jordan Peters...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Part One: We Watch More of Jordan Peterson's New S...

It was mentioned in the context of a discussion about masturbation and its cultural history. The book's main point was that masturbation was invented as a clinical term in the early 18th century to shame people for masturbating.

"

According to Thomas Lacker's 2003 book, Solitary Sex, a cultural history of masturbation, masturbation as we know it was invented in 1713.

Witchcraft and the Gay Counterculture: A Radical View of Western Civilization and Some of the People it Has Tried to Destroy Cover

A. Evans

Witchcraft and the Gay Counterculture

A Radical View of Western Civilization and Some of the People it Has Tried to Destroy

It was discussed as a book that detailed the prevalence of cross-dressing and animal masquerades in the Middle Ages, and how it related to the history of Christmas traditions.

"

It's called Witchcraft and the Gay Counterculture.

— Episode: Part Two: Keep the Yuletide Gay: Saturna...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Part Two: Keep the Yuletide Gay: Saturnalia & the...

It was discussed as a book that detailed the prevalence of cross-dressing and animal masquerades in the Middle Ages, and how it related to the history of Christmas traditions.

"

It's called Witchcraft and the Gay Counterculture.

It was basically a love letter written to me and you, Garrison.

so common was the practice of animal masquerades in the middle ages that detailed condemnations were issued against them.

If anyone in the cleanse of January goes about as a stag or a bull that is making himself into a wild animal and dressing in the skin of a herd and putting on the head

Lady's Men: The Story of World War II's Mystery Bomber and her Crew Cover

Mario Martinez

Lady's Men

The Story of World War II's Mystery Bomber and her Crew

The Monkey Ranch Gang was described as a good way to envision Paul, albeit without the misogyny and racism that makes it hard to respect the book or its author.

"

If you're familiar with Hey Duke and Edward Abbey's eco-anarchist novel The Monkey Ranch Gang, that's a pretty good way to envision Paul, albeit without the misogyny and racism that makes it pretty ha...

— Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 63

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 63

The Monkey Ranch Gang was described as a good way to envision Paul, albeit without the misogyny and racism that makes it hard to respect the book or its author.

"

If you're familiar with Hey Duke and Edward Abbey's eco-anarchist novel The Monkey Ranch Gang, that's a pretty good way to envision Paul, albeit without the misogyny and racism that makes it pretty hard to have any respect for that book or its author.

Redeeming Sex in Marriage: How the Gospel Rescues Sex, Transforms Marriage, and Reveals the Glory of God Cover

Scott Mehl

Redeeming Sex in Marriage

How the Gospel Rescues Sex, Transforms Marriage, and Reveals the Glory of God

The book was described as a guide that described holding hands as foreplay.

"

I found a book that told me that holding hands is foreplay. That was called Sex in Marriage.

— Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 63

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 63

The book was described as a guide that described holding hands as foreplay.

"

I found a book that told me that holding hands is foreplay. That was called Sex in Marriage.

The Urbanization of People: The Politics of Development, Labor Markets, and Schooling in the Chinese City Cover

Eli Friedman

The Urbanization of People

The Politics of Development, Labor Markets, and Schooling in the Chinese City

The author of the book, Eli Friedman, is a professor at Cornell University who teaches about the politics of development, labor markets, and schooling in Chinese cities.

"

The Urbanization of People, the Politics of Development, Labor Markets and Schooling in the Chinese City.

— Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 62

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 62

The author of the book, Eli Friedman, is a professor at Cornell University who teaches about the politics of development, labor markets, and schooling in Chinese cities.

"

The Urbanization of People, the Politics of Development, Labor Markets and Schooling in the Chinese City.

Ku Klux Klan - Its Origin, Growth and Disbandment Cover

Walter L. Fleming

Ku Klux Klan - Its Origin, Growth and Disbandment

The book was referenced to provide insight into the Klan's early days and its transformation from a social club to a more sinister force. It was also discussed as being the author's personal account of events and how the Klan spread.

"

We could not engage at once in business or professional pursuits. Few had capital to enter mercantile or agricultural enterprises. There was a total lack of amusement and social diversions which preva...

— Episode: Part One: The Birth of the Ku Klux Klan

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Part One: The Birth of the Ku Klux Klan

The book was referenced to provide insight into the Klan's early days and its transformation from a social club to a more sinister force. It was also discussed as being the author's personal account of events and how the Klan spread.

"

We could not engage at once in business or professional pursuits. Few had capital to enter mercantile or agricultural enterprises. There was a total lack of amusement and social diversions which prevail wherever society is in a normal condition so everything's fucked up because of the war still.

During the fall and winter of 1866 the growth of the clan was rapid. It spread over a wide extent of territory sometimes by a sudden leap it appeared in localities far distant from any existing dens.

In a short time the lictor of the Pulaski din reported that travel along the road which he had his post had almost entirely stopped. In the country it was noticed that the nocturnal perambulation of the colored population diminished or entirely ceased.

Wherever the Ku Klux appeared, in many ways there was a noticeable improvement in the habits of a large class who had hitherto been causing large annoyance. In this way the Klan gradually realized that the most powerful devices ever constructed for controlling the ignorant and superstitious were in their hands.

Only the best. Nae Bed, no, Bed Four. Bed Four. That's his 2019 nickname. They admitted no man who was not a gentleman and a man who could be relied upon to act discreetly. No men who were in the habit of drinking, boisterous men, or men liable to commit error or wrong or anything of that sort.

A Brief History of Vice: How Bad Behavior Built Civilization Cover

Robert Evans

A Brief History of Vice

How Bad Behavior Built Civilization

Cody Johnston, one of the podcast co-hosts, mentioned his book, which may be a work of non-fiction history, discussing the history of vice and potentially immoral practices. The book was mentioned towards the end of the show, but no specific details were provided.

"

You can find my book on Amazon A Brief History of Vice

— Episode: Part One: The Birth of the Ku Klux Klan

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Part One: The Birth of the Ku Klux Klan

Cody Johnston, one of the podcast co-hosts, mentioned his book, which may be a work of non-fiction history, discussing the history of vice and potentially immoral practices. The book was mentioned towards the end of the show, but no specific details were provided.

"

You can find my book on Amazon A Brief History of Vice

The Aeneid: The Original Unabridged and Complete Edition (Virgil Classics) Cover

Vergil

The Aeneid

The Original Unabridged and Complete Edition (Virgil Classics)

It was discussed as a Roman propaganda text written by Virgil to promote Octavian, incorrectly referenced by Robert Evans as a Greek classic.

"

Well, there was an article that I read that was like, he loves the Greek classics. You know, like the Ennied.

— Episode: Part Two: Mark Zuckerberg: The Worst Per...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Part Two: Mark Zuckerberg: The Worst Person of the...

It was discussed as a Roman propaganda text written by Virgil to promote Octavian, incorrectly referenced by Robert Evans as a Greek classic.

"

Well, there was an article that I read that was like, he loves the Greek classics. You know, like the Ennied.

It's actually Roman propaganda written by Virgil so that he could make the case that Octavian had like a deep connection to like Roman history.

Less is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World Cover

Jason Hickel

Less is More

How Degrowth Will Save the World

The author advocated for ending the practice of planned obsolescence, shifting away from products that break down in a set timeline and requiring replacement.

"

I think that as Jason Hickle advocates in his book, Less is More, we absolutely need to put an end to the practice of planned obsolescence.

— Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 61

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 61

The author advocated for ending the practice of planned obsolescence, shifting away from products that break down in a set timeline and requiring replacement.

"

I think that as Jason Hickle advocates in his book, Less is More, we absolutely need to put an end to the practice of planned obsolescence.

We need to shift away from this idea of products being produced to break down in a certain timeline and require replacement.

The Ecology of Freedom: The Emergence and Dissolution of Hierarchy Cover

Murray Bookchin

The Ecology of Freedom

The Emergence and Dissolution of Hierarchy

The book discussed the concept of 'use of fruct,' which involved individuals and communities accessing and using shared resources but not destroying them to meet their needs.

"

Use of fruct is something that Marie Bookchin, social ecologist, talks a lot about. In his book, The Ecology of Freedom.

— Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 61

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 61

The book discussed the concept of 'use of fruct,' which involved individuals and communities accessing and using shared resources but not destroying them to meet their needs.

"

Use of fruct is something that Marie Bookchin, social ecologist, talks a lot about. In his book, The Ecology of Freedom.

Marx in the Anthropocene: Towards the Idea of Degrowth Communism Cover

Kohei Saito

Marx in the Anthropocene

Towards the Idea of Degrowth Communism

The book, being translated into English, revives both Marxism and degrowth in Japan after a period of decline.

"

There's a Japanese Marxist named Kohei Saito who's been writing a bunch of stuff recently. He's been probably the biggest voice of degrowth in Japan and his book Capital Neanthropocene is finally gett...

— Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 61

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 61

The book, being translated into English, revives both Marxism and degrowth in Japan after a period of decline.

"

There's a Japanese Marxist named Kohei Saito who's been writing a bunch of stuff recently. He's been probably the biggest voice of degrowth in Japan and his book Capital Neanthropocene is finally getting translated into English pretty soon.

His stuff is really good and he basically has revived both Marxism and degrowth in Japan after Marxism's implosion after a bunch of weird...

The Next Revolution: Popular Assemblies and the Promise of Direct Democracy Cover

Murray Bookchin

The Next Revolution

Popular Assemblies and the Promise of Direct Democracy

The book discusses popular assemblies and their promise of direct democracy.

"

Debbie is a journalist and author and co-editor of The Next Revolution, Popular Assemblies and the Promise of Direct Democracy.

— Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 61

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 61

The book discusses popular assemblies and their promise of direct democracy.

"

Debbie is a journalist and author and co-editor of The Next Revolution, Popular Assemblies and the Promise of Direct Democracy.

Louis Napoleon And The Second Empire Cover

J M Thompson

Louis Napoleon And The Second Empire

It was discussed as one of two books about Napoleon III, and the speaker did not enjoy this book as much as the other one mentioned.

"

She was not in love with Louis and he did not want to marry, but they could not withstand the emperor's will and were made man and wife by the papal legate Cardinal Caprara on January 4th, 1802.

— Episode: Part One: Napoleon III: The Worst Bonapa...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Part One: Napoleon III: The Worst Bonaparte

It was discussed as one of two books about Napoleon III, and the speaker did not enjoy this book as much as the other one mentioned.

"

She was not in love with Louis and he did not want to marry, but they could not withstand the emperor's will and were made man and wife by the papal legate Cardinal Caprara on January 4th, 1802.

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