Common Sense
Thomas Paine
Mentioned 8 months ago
192: A Conversation with Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein: The American Revolution and WWII
Book Recommendations
History That Doesn't Suck
HTDS is a bi-weekly podcast, delivering a legit, seriously researched, hard-hitting survey of American history through entertaining stories. To keep up with History That Doesn’t Suck news, check us out htdspodcast.com or follow on Facebook and Instagram: @Historythatdoesntsuck. Become a premium memb...
Episodes
134
Books
120
Recently mentioned
Latest Recommendations
The War of the Worlds (GP Hardcover Classics)
H.G. Wells
Mentioned 9 months ago
191: Halloween Special V: “The War of the Worlds” on the Radio
Citizen Kane
Orson Welles
Mentioned 9 months ago
191: Halloween Special V: “The War of the Worlds” on the Radio
The Anatomy of Fascism
Robert O. Paxton
Mentioned 9 months ago
190: An Epilogue to US Pre-WW2 Turn from Isolationism to Interventionism and the Influential Americans in London Who Brokered the FDR-Churchill Bromance
Citizens of London
Lynne Olson
Mentioned 9 months ago
190: An Epilogue to US Pre-WW2 Turn from Isolationism to Interventionism and the Influential Americans in London Who Brokered the FDR-Churchill Bromance
Mein Kampf
Michael Ford
Mentioned 10 months ago
187: From the Rhineland to Poland (1935–1939): Annexation, Appeasement, & the Start of World War II
The Spider and the Fly
Mary Howitt
Mentioned 10 months ago
187: From the Rhineland to Poland (1935–1939): Annexation, Appeasement, & the Start of World War II
Patricide
Joyce Carol Oates
Mentioned 10 months ago
186: From Czardom to Stalinism: Building the USSR & the Ascent of Joseph Stalin
Tevye the Dairyman and the Railroad Stories (Library of Yiddish Classics)
Sholem Alekhem
Mentioned 11 months ago
The Early Holocaust: From the “Jewish Question” to Kristallnacht
The Jewish State
Theodor Herzl
Mentioned 11 months ago
The Early Holocaust: From the “Jewish Question” to Kristallnacht
Histoire juive de la France
Collectif
Mentioned 11 months ago
The Early Holocaust: From the “Jewish Question” to Kristallnacht
J'Accuse
Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano
Mentioned 11 months ago
The Early Holocaust: From the “Jewish Question” to Kristallnacht
Most Recommended
There Really is a Santa Claus - History of Saint Nicholas & Christmas Holiday Traditions
This is a short story written by Jacob Rees in 1904. The story was inspired by a young boy who asked Jacob if Santa Claus was real. It's similar to the famous 'Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus' editorial, but with a unique and worth-listening-to take.
"
And I want to share it with you. Now, you might be thinking, that sounds a bit like, yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. You're absolutely right, and they are similar, particularly in their inspira...
— Episode: 126: Christmas Special 6: Jacob Riis’ “I...
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Episode: 126: Christmas Special 6: Jacob Riis’ “Is There a...
This is a short story written by Jacob Rees in 1904. The story was inspired by a young boy who asked Jacob if Santa Claus was real. It's similar to the famous 'Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus' editorial, but with a unique and worth-listening-to take.
"
And I want to share it with you. Now, you might be thinking, that sounds a bit like, yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. You're absolutely right, and they are similar, particularly in their inspiration.
Just a few years after Virginia penned the letter that resulted in the son's Francis Church writing his beloved editorial, a young boy entrusted Jacob with the same question.
But the famed photojournalist's take, which was first published as a small hardback book in 1904, is just a touch different from that of Francis.
Not better or worse, and not altogether different in messaging, but unique enough and worth a listen.
The Winner
A Novel
The book 'The Winner' by David McCall, was recommended for providing a detailed and informative account of the Wright Brothers' story.
"
If you want more detail, it's The Winner. I mean, yes looked at so many other sources. He just does a really good job with yes. We've used a lot of his books sources.
— Episode: 125: Epilogue: The Progressive Era
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Episode: 125: Epilogue: The Progressive Era
The book 'The Winner' by David McCall, was recommended for providing a detailed and informative account of the Wright Brothers' story.
"
If you want more detail, it's The Winner. I mean, yes looked at so many other sources. He just does a really good job with yes. We've used a lot of his books sources.
I will say that man is an intellectual hero of mine such an excellent book though and all that to say in the book. He does a great job of bringing out Kate their sister.
Congressional Government (annotated)
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14
Michael Medved, the speaker of the podcast, mentioned that he has been a historian for many years and has authored 14 books.
"
I've been a historian for many years, 14 books, a radio host.
— Episode: 123: The Wright Brothers Fly at Kitty Ha...
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Episode: 123: The Wright Brothers Fly at Kitty Hawk
Michael Medved, the speaker of the podcast, mentioned that he has been a historian for many years and has authored 14 books.
"
I've been a historian for many years, 14 books, a radio host.
The Outsider
A Novel
The Outsider is one of H.P. Lovecraft's most celebrated works. It was said to have a heavily Edgar Allan Poe vibe and explored Howard's own sense of loneliness and alienation.
"
The Outsider by H.P. Lovecraft.
— Episode: 122: Halloween Special II: H.P. Lovecraf...
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Episode: 122: Halloween Special II: H.P. Lovecraft – “The O...
The Outsider is one of H.P. Lovecraft's most celebrated works. It was said to have a heavily Edgar Allan Poe vibe and explored Howard's own sense of loneliness and alienation.
"
The Outsider by H.P. Lovecraft.
Unhappy is he to whom the memories of childhood bring only fear and sadness.
Wretched is he who looks back upon lone hours in vast and dismal chambers with brown hangings and maddening rows of antique books, or upon odd watches in twilight groves of grotesque, gigantic, and vine-encumbered trees that silently wave twisted branches far aloft.
H.P. Lovecraft's Dagon for Beginning Readers
Dagon is a short story that uses the horrific nightmare experienced by the main character as inspiration, including the feeling of being stuck in suffocating sludge. It also engages with morphine addiction and contemplates suicide.
"
Dagon by H.P. Lovecraft
— Episode: 122: Halloween Special II: H.P. Lovecraf...
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Episode: 122: Halloween Special II: H.P. Lovecraft – “The O...
Dagon is a short story that uses the horrific nightmare experienced by the main character as inspiration, including the feeling of being stuck in suffocating sludge. It also engages with morphine addiction and contemplates suicide.
"
Dagon by H.P. Lovecraft
I am writing this under an appreciable mental strain, since by tonight I shall be no more.
I dreamed that whole hideous crawl and can yet feel the ooze sucking me down.
I'm drawn to it because of its heavily Edgar Allan Poe vibe.
My Life and Work
Autobiography of Henry Ford
Henry Ford wrote this autobiography and in it he complained about the monotony of farming and his preference for machines. He mentioned that his earliest recollection of the farm was that there was too much work.
"
...my earliest recollection is that, considering the results, there's too much work on the place. That is the way I still feel about farming.
— Episode: 121: Henry Ford: The Model T & Mass Prod...
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Episode: 121: Henry Ford: The Model T & Mass Production
Henry Ford wrote this autobiography and in it he complained about the monotony of farming and his preference for machines. He mentioned that his earliest recollection of the farm was that there was too much work.
"
...my earliest recollection is that, considering the results, there's too much work on the place. That is the way I still feel about farming.
Uncle Tom’s Cabin (Original Version), by Harriet Beecher Stowe (Redemption Edition)
It was mentioned as a book with a comparable influence on the United States as 'In Memory of Solferino' had in Europe.
"
roughly equivalent, I guess, in just sheer influence on the European continent to Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin here in the United States.
— Episode: 108: G.O. 100, “The Water Cure,” & The L...
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Episode: 108: G.O. 100, “The Water Cure,” & The Law of War...
It was mentioned as a book with a comparable influence on the United States as 'In Memory of Solferino' had in Europe.
"
roughly equivalent, I guess, in just sheer influence on the European continent to Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin here in the United States.
Last Call
A True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York
The book stated that Prohibition was a failure in almost every aspect imaginable.
"
In almost every respect imaginable, Prohibition was a failure.
— Episode: 160: Al Capone & the End of Prohibition
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Episode: 160: Al Capone & the End of Prohibition
The book stated that Prohibition was a failure in almost every aspect imaginable.
"
In almost every respect imaginable, Prohibition was a failure.
Al Capone
His Life, Legacy, and Legend
It was said that the St. Valentine's Day Massacre was a hit unlike any other that shocked the entire nation and will forever be remembered.
"
if all the years of previous bloodshed were added up, they still could not compare with the magnitude of its effect on public consciousness.
— Episode: 160: Al Capone & the End of Prohibition
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Episode: 160: Al Capone & the End of Prohibition
It was said that the St. Valentine's Day Massacre was a hit unlike any other that shocked the entire nation and will forever be remembered.
"
if all the years of previous bloodshed were added up, they still could not compare with the magnitude of its effect on public consciousness.
The Patriots
An Inside Look at Life in a Defense Plant
It was mentioned as a movie, not a book, but it was referenced as not historically accurate, as it portrayed the American Revolution with an emphasis on guerilla warfare.
"
made famous, I guess you could say in more in the last, what a decade or two by Mel Gibson's film, the Patriot, which I'm going to go ahead and say is not the film you want to watch for historical acc...
— Episode: 108: G.O. 100, “The Water Cure,” & The L...
Listen on Audible
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Episode: 108: G.O. 100, “The Water Cure,” & The Law of War...
It was mentioned as a movie, not a book, but it was referenced as not historically accurate, as it portrayed the American Revolution with an emphasis on guerilla warfare.
"
made famous, I guess you could say in more in the last, what a decade or two by Mel Gibson's film, the Patriot, which I'm going to go ahead and say is not the film you want to watch for historical accuracy, but they definitely make a big to do out of that.
Last Call
The Rise and Fall of Prohibition
It was praised for its comprehensive and well-written approach to the period of American history when alcohol was outlawed. The book was also used to source stories for four podcast episodes on the topic.
"
It is one of the most comprehensive and well-written books about the crazy decade-plus period when America outlawed alcohol.
— Episode: 161: An Epilogue Toast to Prohibition’s...
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Episode: 161: An Epilogue Toast to Prohibition’s End with A...
It was praised for its comprehensive and well-written approach to the period of American history when alcohol was outlawed. The book was also used to source stories for four podcast episodes on the topic.
"
It is one of the most comprehensive and well-written books about the crazy decade-plus period when America outlawed alcohol.
Last Call was a go-to book in our bibliography and helpful roadmap as we sourced and researched and selected the stories to tell in the four podcast episodes we've just completed.
Dan has written several other books, see our episode notes, and he was a former editor of Life magazine and the first public editor at The New York Times.
So here I am with Dan Okrent, the author of Last Call, The Rise and Fall of Prohibition.
I would say you're welcome, but let's be honest, I am the one who's been welcomed. I thank you yet again for writing it.
Great Fortune
The Epic of Rockefeller Center
It is about New York City in the 1920s and early 1930s. The book's research helped Dan Okrent to realize the impact of Prohibition on American society.
"
My previous book was called Great Fortune, The Epic of Rockefeller Center, which is really a book about New York in the 1920s and early 30s, particularly Midtown New York.
— Episode: 161: An Epilogue Toast to Prohibition’s...
Listen on Audible
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Episode: 161: An Epilogue Toast to Prohibition’s End with A...
It is about New York City in the 1920s and early 1930s. The book's research helped Dan Okrent to realize the impact of Prohibition on American society.
"
My previous book was called Great Fortune, The Epic of Rockefeller Center, which is really a book about New York in the 1920s and early 30s, particularly Midtown New York.
And I was doing research for one chapter about how the Rockefeller interests acquired the land, 228 different land leases to be able to assemble the piece of property that became Rockefeller Center.
The Guarded Gate
Bigotry, Eugenics and the Law That Kept Two Generations of Jews, Italians, and Other European Immigrants Out of America
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The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings Boxed Set Hardcover Illustrated edition 2020 June 25
Dr. Thomas Durant was compared to the character of Gollum for his crucial yet morally questionable role in the railroad's construction.
"
Basically, he's like Gollum in J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, not someone you'd call a hero, yet crucial to the epic mission's success.
— Episode: 85: Transcontinental Railroad (pt 3): Th...
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Episode: 85: Transcontinental Railroad (pt 3): The Central...
Dr. Thomas Durant was compared to the character of Gollum for his crucial yet morally questionable role in the railroad's construction.
"
Basically, he's like Gollum in J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, not someone you'd call a hero, yet crucial to the epic mission's success.
The Naval War of 1812
Or, The History of the United States Navy During the Last War With Great Brit
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The Great Bridge
The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge
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The War of the Worlds (GP Hardcover Classics)
This 1897 science fiction novel detailed an alien invasion of Earth and was the original source material adapted into the famous 1938 radio drama. The novel was set in early 20th century England, unlike the radio play's contemporary American setting.
"
The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells.
— Episode: 191: Halloween Special V: “The War of th...
Listen on Audible
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Episode: 191: Halloween Special V: “The War of the Worlds”...
This 1897 science fiction novel detailed an alien invasion of Earth and was the original source material adapted into the famous 1938 radio drama. The novel was set in early 20th century England, unlike the radio play's contemporary American setting.
"
The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells.
Orson Welles and the Mercury Theater on the air in The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells.
this Orson Welles retelling in 1938 of the classic turn-of-the-century Martian invasion fiction originally by H.G. Wells, side note, no relation, is probably one of the most famous examples of mass hysteria, or at least reported mass hysteria, in U.S. history.
War of the Worlds is script written by Howard Koch and based on the novel H.G. Wells.
Roughing It illustrated
It was mentioned in the context of the 'Mormon Question' and how the transcontinental railroad was seen as a solution to the problems posed by the Mormon community.
"
As for what to do about the Mormons then, well, that's a major question for 19th century America.
— Episode: 85: Transcontinental Railroad (pt 3): Th...
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Episode: 85: Transcontinental Railroad (pt 3): The Central...
It was mentioned in the context of the 'Mormon Question' and how the transcontinental railroad was seen as a solution to the problems posed by the Mormon community.
"
As for what to do about the Mormons then, well, that's a major question for 19th century America.
Note: The book recommendations on this page are discovered automatically from podcast transcripts, and may be incorrect or incomplete.