Book Club with Michael Smerconish
382 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 73 ratingsReading for Independent Minds. Unlike many author interviews, if Michael didn't actually read the book, you won't hear about it. If he read it, you'll hear it and you'll love it. Insights into a wide range of topics, including many titles you've probably never heard of. The perfect book is just one listen away.
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Episodes
Billy Walters: Gambler
August 23, 2023 15:26 - 18 minutes - 17.3 MBThe wild and highly anticipated autobiography of Billy Walters—“the greatest and most controversial sports gambler ever” (ESPN)—who shares his extraordinary life story, reveals the secrets to his fiercely protected betting system, and breaks his silence about Phil Mickelson. Listen to Michael's conversation with him here. Original air date 22 August 2023. The book was published on 22 August 2022.
Ron Lieber: The Price You Pay For College
August 21, 2023 19:01 - 21 minutes - 19.6 MBAre your kids heading to college? Or planning to in the future? This is a must-listen - Michael's conversation with NY Times columnist Ron Lieber, author of "The Price You Pay for College: An Entirely New Road Map for the Biggest Financial Decision Your Family Will Ever Make." Original air date 29 January 2021.
Margaret Sullivan: "Ghosting The News"
August 18, 2023 17:43 - 19 minutes - 18.1 MBMichael's conversation with Washington Post Media Columnist Margaret Sullivan, on her book "Ghosting the News: Local Journalism and the Crisis of American Democracy."
Amanda Ripley: "The Smartest Kids In The World"
August 16, 2023 15:59 - 25 minutes - 22.9 MBAs kids go back to school, this is the perfect time to listen to Michael's conversation with NY Times best-selling author Amanda Ripley, on her book "The Smartest Kids in the World: And How They Got That Way." Listen to find out how other countries make "smarter kids" - Amanda Ripley followed three American families in three different countries for a year. Original air date 2 September 2014. The paperback version of the book was published on 29 July 2014.
David Sanger: "The Perfect Weapon"
August 11, 2023 15:00 - 19 minutes - 17.7 MBDavid Sanger's "The Perfect Weapon: War, Sabotage, and Fear in the Cyber Age" tells the story of the rise of cyberweapons: a transformational twist for geopolitics comparable to the atomic bomb. Original air date 18 July 2018.
Jonathan Allen: "Shattered"
August 09, 2023 13:20 - 22 minutes - 20.4 MBJonathan Allen, co-author of "Shattered: Inside Hillary Clinton's Doomed Campaign" on the unseen architects of Hillary Clinton's memorable defeat back in 2016. Original air date 25 April 2017.
Daniel Markovits: The Meritocrat Who Wants To Unwind the Meritocracy
August 07, 2023 14:39 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MBAuthor and professor Daniel Markovits relates the thesis of his book, "The Meritocracy Trap: How America's Foundational Myth Feeds Inequality, Dismantles the Middle Class, and Devours the Elite" to the politics of today. Original air date 12 September 2019. The book was published on 10 September 2019.
Michael Mann: "The Madhouse Effect"
August 04, 2023 19:43 - 16 minutes - 14.6 MBMichael speaks with Dr. Michael Mann, co-author (with Tom Toles) of "The Madhouse Effect: How Climate Change Denial Is Threatening Our Planet, Destroying Our Politics, and Driving Us Crazy." Original air date 26 October 2016. The book was published on 27 September 2016.
Peter Feaver: "Thanks For Your Service"
July 31, 2023 18:28 - 30 minutes - 27.7 MBA definitive study on the decades-long run of high public confidence in the military and why it may rest on some shaky foundations. Listen to Michael's conversation with Duke University Professor of Political Science and Public Policy, Peter D. Feaver, author of "Thanks for Your Service: The Causes and Consequences of Public Confidence in the US Military." Original air date 27 July 2023. The book was published on 7 July 2023.
Avi Loeb: "Extraterrestrial"
July 27, 2023 13:47 - 21 minutes - 20 MBIn late 2017, scientists at a Hawaiian observatory glimpsed an object soaring through our inner solar system, moving so quickly that it could only have come from another star. Dr. Avi Loeb, the Frank B. Baird Jr. Professor of Science at Harvard University says there was only one conceivable explanation: the object was a piece of advanced technology created by a distant alien civilization. Hear the New York Times bestselling author's conversation with Michael on "Extraterrestrial: The First Si...
Henry & Thomas Bloch: "Many Happy Returns"
July 24, 2023 18:16 - 21 minutes - 20 MBMichael's conversation with Thomas M. Bloch, the co-founder of the H&R Block tax preparation company, he is the subject of the book written by his son, "Many Happy Returns: The Story of Henry Bloch, America's Tax Man." Original air date 23 June 2015. Thomas Bloch passed away in 2019 at 96 years old. The book was published on 9 November 2010.
Ken Smukler: "The JailBird Diet"
July 21, 2023 16:51 - 21 minutes - 19.8 MBShaped by the unique stories of his time in federal custody, Ken Smukler's "The JailBird Diet: Losing 100 Pounds and Finding Myself Behind Bars" takes the reader into the world of incarceration that challenges the mind, body, and spirit at every turn. A long time friend of Michael's, Smukler sits down in studio for a conversation on this book on his year in prison. Original air date 21 July 2023. The book was published on 23 June 2023.
D.L. Hughley: "Surrender, White People!"
July 19, 2023 17:36 - 18 minutes - 17.2 MBMichael's conversation with actor, comedian and activist D.L. Hughley on his book "Surrender, White People!: Our Unconditional Terms for Peace." Original air date 14 July 2020. The book was published on 30 June 2020. Check out two other interviews with D.L. Hughley, Episode #5 "How To Survive America" and Episode #219 "How Not To Get Shot."
Femi Ayanbadejo: "The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Successful Soul Professional"
July 17, 2023 19:02 - 18 minutes - 16.7 MB"Before I was 10 years old, I was sexually assaulted, twice." So begins Former NFL Star Femi Ayanbadejo's chapter that he wrote for Camille L. Miller's "The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Successful Soul Professional: 22 Powerful Growth Strategies for Upleveling Your Soul-Aligned Business." Hear Michael's conversation about his Femi's, an excerpt of which was shared at Smerconish.com. Original air date 13 July 2023. The book was published on 9 July 2023.
Jake Tapper: "All The Demons Are Here"
July 14, 2023 16:41 - 16 minutes - 15.1 MBPrepare to be transported to the 1970s underground world of cults, celebrities, tabloid journalism, serial killers, disco, and UFOs. Bestselling author and CNN Anchor Jake Tapper joins Michael with his new book "All the Demons Are Here: A Thriller." Original air date 12 July 2023. The book was published on 11 July 2023.
Jim Davis: The Great Dechurching
July 12, 2023 18:36 - 16 minutes - 15.4 MBWhen is the last time you attended a worship service? For 40 million of us, the answer is, not in quite some time. Listen to Pastor Jim Davis, co-author of "The Great Dechurching: Who’s Leaving, Why Are They Going, and What Will It Take to Bring Them Back?" Davis is teaching pastor at Orlando Grace Church. Original air date 10 July 2023. The book will be published on 22 August 2023.
Richard Dreyfuss: "One Thought Scares Me"
July 10, 2023 12:27 - 41 minutes - 37.8 MBAcademy Award winning actor and activist Richard Dreyfuss is now very interested in civics, and is worried that civics is not taught in America much anymore - he joins Michael to talk about his latest book "One Thought Scares Me...: We Teach Our Children What We Wish Them to Know; We Don't Teach Our Children What We Don't Wish Them to Know." Original air date 6 July 2023. The book was published on 18 October 2022.
Kay Redfield Jamison: "Fires In The Dark"
July 07, 2023 16:27 - 18 minutes - 17.2 MBThe acclaimed author of An Unquiet Mind considers the age-old quest for relief from psychological pain and the role of the exceptional healer in the journey back to health. Hear Michael's conversation with Kay Redfield Jamison on her book "Fires in the Dark: Healing the Unquiet Mind." Original air date 6 July 2023.
Brian Muraresku: The Immortality Key
June 30, 2023 18:04 - 25 minutes - 23.2 MB"A groundbreaking dive into the role psychedelics have played in the origins of Western civilization, and a real-life quest for the Holy Grail." Michael's conversation with attorney and author Brian Muraresku, on "The Immortality Key: The Secret History of the Religion with No Name." Original air date 9 October 2020. The book was published on 29 September 2020.
Bill Browder: "Red Notice"
June 28, 2023 17:21 - 16 minutes - 14.9 MBBill Browder is the man responsible for the Magnitsky Act. With Russia in turmoil in 2023, Michael sits down with Browder on the news of the day of uprisings in Russia, all while the war in Ukraine continues - all themes that bring his 2015 book back to the forefront, "Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice." Original air date 27 June 2023. The book was published on 3 February 2023.
Christine Porath: "Mastering Civility"
June 26, 2023 16:31 - 18 minutes - 16.9 MBDuring a particularly heated week in the news where the dialogue became increasingly harsh, Michael spoke with Georgetown University Professor Christine Porath, on her book "Mastering Civility: A Manifesto for the Workplace." Original air date 21 June 2018. The book was published on 27 December 2016.
Del Quentin Wilber: "A Good Month For Murder"
June 21, 2023 14:06 - 16 minutes - 15.5 MBLongtime journalist and bestselling author Del Quentin Wilber tells the inside story of how a homicide squad - a dedicated, colorful team of detectives just outside Washington, DC in Prince George's County, MD - does its almost impossible job. Listen to his conversation with Michael on "A Good Month for Murder: The Inside Story of a Homicide Squad." Original air date 16 June 2016. The book was published on 7 June 2016.
Kate Andersen Brower: "First In Line"
June 17, 2023 15:23 - 16 minutes - 15.3 MBMichael's conversation with bestselling author Kate Andersen Brower on "First in Line: Presidents, Vice Presidents, and the Pursuit of Power." Original air date 15 June 2018. The book was published on 5 June 2018.
John Gotti, Jr: "Shadow of My Father"
June 14, 2023 17:24 - 46 minutes - 42.9 MBMichael goes in-depth with John A. Gotti Jr, the former head of the Gambino Crime Family in the 1990s, a position he took over when his father, mobster John Gotti Sr was sent to prison. His book is "Shadow of My Father." Original air date 6 March 2015. The book was published on 27 February 2015.
Alexis Coe: "You Never Forget Your First"
June 12, 2023 19:22 - 16 minutes - 15.2 MBMichael's conversation with Alexis Coe, author of "You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington." Original air date 11 May 2020. The book was published on 4 February 2020.
Brett Forrest: "Lost Son"
June 09, 2023 16:25 - 16 minutes - 15 MBThis story is the result of incredible reporting, and it is written like a thriller: "A young American lost in Russia. An FBI-cover up. A mystery leading from Washington to the heart of the Kremlin's war in Ukraine." Listen to Michael's conversation with Wall Street Journal National Security Reporter Brett Forrest, author of "Lost Son: An American Family Trapped Inside the FBI's Secret Wars." Original air date 7 June 2023. The book was published on 23 May 2023.
Thomas Patterson: "Is the Republican Party Destroying Itself?"
June 07, 2023 12:52 - 20 minutes - 18.4 MBMichael's conversation with Harvard Kennedy School Professor Thomas E. Patterson, author of "Is the Republican Party Destroying Itself? And why it needs to reclaim its conservative ideals." Original air date 10 July 2020. The book was published on 24 January 2020.
Jeffrey Archer: "Tell Tale"
June 06, 2023 12:21 - 19 minutes - 17.7 MBNew York Times Bestselling Author Lord Jeffrey Archer talks with Michael about his collection of short stories, "Tell Tale: Stories." Listen for a great conversation and learn about the insight into the people he has met, the stories he has come across and the countries he has visited. Original air date 10 November 2017. The book was published on 24 October 2017.
Matt Bai: "All the Truth Is Out"
June 02, 2023 20:20 - 22 minutes - 20.3 MBAmidst a current conversation on how Florida Governor Ron DeSantis pronounces his name, and how some celebrities change their names, brings back the memory of this conversation about former presidential candidate Gary Hart, who shortened his last name from Hartpence. Michael spoke to Matt Bai in 2014 about his book "All the Truth Is Out: The Week Politics Went Tabloid." Original air date 2 October 2014. The book was published on 30 September 2014.
Vincent Bugliosi: "Divinity of Doubt"
May 31, 2023 17:04 - 17 minutes - 16 MBMichael talks with the attorney who prosecuted Charles Manson among many others, Vincent Bugliosi, author of "Divinity of Doubt: The God Question." Mr. Bugliosi passed away in 2015. He was the Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County from 1964-1972. Original air date April 2011. The book was published in April 2011.
Howard Fishman: "To Anyone Who Ever Asks"
May 26, 2023 21:28 - 12 minutes - 11.5 MBA mysterious, true story about a New York City singer-songwriter. Connie Converse is someone you've likely never heard of, but you need to hear her story. Michael gets it in conversation with Howard Fishman, author of "To Anyone Who Ever Asks: The Life, Music, and Mystery of Connie Converse." Original air date 4 May 2023. The book was published on 2 May 2023.
Steven Brill: "America's Bitter Pill"
May 25, 2023 16:47 - 18 minutes - 17 MBMichael talks with Court TV founder, journalist and author Steven Brill about "America's Bitter Pill: Money, Politics, Backroom Deals, and the Fight to Fix Our Broken Healthcare System." Original air date 9 January 2015. The book was published on 5 January 2015.
David Grann: "Killers of the Flower Moon"
May 22, 2023 17:18 - 16 minutes - 15 MBWith the news that Martin Scorcese's "Killers of the Flower Moon" made a huge splash at the Cannes Film Festival, it's a good time to hear Michael's conversation with the author of the book that the movie - due in theatres in October 2023 - is based on. Listen here to David Grann, New York Times Bestselling author of "Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI." Original air date 28 May 2017. The book was published on 18 April 2017.
George Papadopoulos: Deep State Target
May 17, 2023 12:08 - 25 minutes - 23 MBHillary Clinton's emails, Spygate, Mueller Investigation....he was a target of it all. Former Trump Advisor George Papadopoulos tells his story in "Deep State Target: How I Got Caught in the Crosshairs of the Plot to Bring Down President Trump." Original air date 6 May 2019. The book was published on 26 March 2019.
Richard Clarke: "Pinnacle Event"
May 15, 2023 17:38 - 17 minutes - 15.6 MB"Pinnacle Event" is the Pentagon code for a nuclear threat - who better to write a fiction bestseller with that same title than Richard Clarke, the longtime national security and counterterrorism official. Listen to his conversation with Michael about this international thriller. Original air date 20 May 2015. The book was published on 19 May 2015.
Jeffrey Toobin: "Homegrown"
May 12, 2023 17:39 - 21 minutes - 20.1 MBTimothy McVeigh's legacy begins at the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing, and goes all the way through the January 6th insurrection at the US Capitol. Listen to Michael with New York Times Bestselling author Jeffrey Toobin on his new book, "Homegrown: Timothy McVeigh and the Rise of Right-Wing Extremism." Original air date 12 May 2023. The book was published on 2 May 2023.
David Grann: "The Wager"
May 10, 2023 04:00 - 21 minutes - 20.1 MB#1 New York Times Bestselling Author David Grann is back with a new book - an incredible, thrilling story of a shipwreck in the 18th century. Listen to his conversation with Michael on "The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder." Original air date 8 May 2023. The book was published on 18 April 2023.
David Grann: "The Lost City of Z"
May 08, 2023 12:54 - 19 minutes - 17.7 MBMichael's conversation with David Grann, author of "The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon." Original air date 4 March 2009. The book was published on 24 February 2009
Dr. Jean Twenge: "Generations"
May 03, 2023 13:28 - 19 minutes - 17.7 MBA groundbreaking, revelatory portrait of the six generations that currently live in the United States and how they connect, conflict, and compete with one another—from the acclaimed author of Generation Me and iGen. The United States is currently home to six generations of people: -the Silents, born 1925–1945 -Baby Boomers, born 1946–1964 -Gen X, born 1965–1979 -Millennials, born 1980–1994 -Gen Z, born 1995–2012 -and the still-to-be-named cohorts born after 2012. They have had vastly diff...
Peter Schweizer: "Clinton Cash"
May 01, 2023 18:43 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MBBestselling author Peter Schweizer, on his book "Clinton Cash: The Untold Story of How and Why Foreign Governments and Businesses Helped Make Bill and Hillary Rich." Original air date 8 May 2015. The book was published on 5 May 2015.
Seth Stephens-Davidowitz: "Everybody Lies"
April 26, 2023 14:10 - 18 minutes - 16.7 MBData scientist and best-selling author Seth Stephens-Davidowitz on "Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are." Original air date 10 May 2017. The book was published on 9 May 2017.
Brian Stelter: "Hoax"
April 24, 2023 18:30 - 15 minutes - 13.9 MBMichael's conversation with former CNN Reliable Sources Host (at the time of this interview and the book's publishing) Brian Stelter on his book "Hoax: Donald Trump, Fox News, and the Dangerous Distortion of Truth." Original air date 20 August 2020. The book was published on 25 August 2020.
Neil King, Jr: "American Ramble"
April 21, 2023 16:51 - 15 minutes - 14 MBMichael welcomes former Wall Street Journal reporter and editor Neil King, Jr., author of "American Ramble: A Walk of Memory and Renewal." A story of his 330-mile walk from Washington DC to New York City, via Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey. Original aid date 19 April 2023. The book was published on 4 April 2023.
Pat Cunnane: "West Winging It"
April 19, 2023 04:00 - 19 minutes - 17.7 MBPat Cunnane pulls back the curtain on the most famous and exclusive building and house in the United States, plus, on his close access to the nation's 44th President, from his time serving as President Barack Obama’s Senior Writer and Deputy Director of Messaging at the White House. Listen to his conversation with Michael on his book "West Winging It: An Un-presidential Memoir." Original air date 17 April 2018. The book was published on 17 April 2018.
Sally Kohn: "The Opposite of Hate"
April 17, 2023 14:12 - 19 minutes - 17.9 MBIt is time to practice emotional, not political, correctness. And, it is time to bridge divides, and here is how to do it. So says writer Sally Kohn in "The Opposite of Hate: A Field Guide to Repairing Our Humanity." Listen to this engaging conversation with Michael and her in this episode. Original air date 12 April 2018. The book was published on 10 April 2018.
Phil Mudd: "The HEAD Game"
April 12, 2023 19:31 - 19 minutes - 17.4 MBPhil Mudd, former senior executive at the FBI, CIA, and National Security Council, with his book "The HEAD Game: High-Efficiency Analytic Decision Making and the Art of Solving Complex Problems Quickly." Original air date 21 April 2015. The Book was published on 6 April 2015.
Geoffrey Stone: "National Security, Leaks and Freedom of the Press"
April 10, 2023 16:30 - 17 minutes - 15.8 MBFirst Amendment scholar and University Chicago Law School Professor Geoffrey R. Stone, co-writer/editor of "National Security, Leaks and Freedom of the Press: The Pentagon Papers Fifty Years On." Original air date 16 April 2021. The book was published on 1 April 2021.
William McRaven: "The Wisdom Of The Bullfrog"
April 07, 2023 15:41 - 18 minutes - 16.6 MBMichael speaks with bestselling author, retired Admiral William McRaven, out with his new book "The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple (But Not Easy)." Original air date 7 April 2023. The book was published on 4 April 2023.
Michael Bamberger: "Ball In The Air"
April 05, 2023 13:56 - 20 minutes - 18.6 MBJust in time for The Masters, a great read from bestselling author Michael Bamberger, "The Ball in the Air: A Golfing Adventure." Original air date 31 March 2023. The book was published on 28 March 2023.
Barney Frank: "Frank"
April 03, 2023 18:17 - 23 minutes - 21.1 MBFormer Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) joins Michael with his memoir, "Frank: A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage." Original air date 9 April 2015. The book was published on 17 March 2015.