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
James Steele: "America: What Went Wrong? The Crisis Deepens"
March 31, 2023 04:00 - 21 minutes - 20.1 MBJames Steele, co-author (with Donald Barlett) of ""America: What Went Wrong? The Crisis Deepens." This is the followup to their groundbreaking "America: What Went Wrong?" book that came out in 1992. Original air date 19 June 2020. The book was published on 2 June 2020.
Frank Bruni: "Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be"
March 29, 2023 17:44 - 20 minutes - 19.1 MBA conversation with New York Times columnist Frank Bruni, on his book "Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania." Original air date 18 March 2015. The book was published on 17 March 2015.
Arthur Brooks: "Love Your Enemies"
March 28, 2023 18:00 - 14 minutes - 13.7 MBBeing angry all the time, when others are too and the world is not getting along, is not a good recipe for success. Listen to social scientist Arthur Brooks talk about his book "Love Your Enemies: How Decent People Can Save America from the Culture of Contempt." Original air date 19 March 2019. The book was released on 19 March 2019.
Dave Daley: "Ratf**ked"
March 24, 2023 17:32 - 22 minutes - 20.6 MBThe title of Dave Daley's book is not censored in this conversation - hear him with Michael talking about "Ratf**ked: The True Story Behind the Secret Plan to Steal America's Democracy." Original air date 22 March 2017. The book was published on 14 June 2016.
John Leland: "Happiness Is A Choice You Make"
March 23, 2023 16:00 - 13 minutes - 12.3 MBThey are the "oldest old" - New York Times reporter John Leland spend time with six people age 85 and up to gain wisdom on what it means to grow old and create a heartening guide to well being. Listen to his conversation with Michael on "Happiness Is a Choice You Make: Lessons from a Year Among the Oldest Old." Original air date 4 January 2018. The book was published on 23 January 2018.
Jonathan Allen & Amie Parnes: "HRC"
March 21, 2023 17:46 - 22 minutes - 20.3 MBMichael's conversation with Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes upon the release of their bestseller "HRC: State Secrets and the Rebirth of Hillary Clinton." Original air date 19 February 2014. The book was published on 11 February 2014.
Gerald Posner: "Pharma"
March 17, 2023 14:21 - 24 minutes - 22 MBMichael's conversation with Gerald Posner, when his book was released right at the start of the pandemic, "Pharma: Greed, Lies, and the Poisoning of America." Original air date 13 March 2020. The book was published on 10 March 2020.
Scott Kupor: "Secrets of Sand Hill Road"
March 15, 2023 04:00 - 15 minutes - 14.6 MBMichael speaks with venture capitalist Scott Kupor, author of "Secrets of Sand Hill Road: Venture Capital and How to Get It." Original air date 17 June 2019. The book was published on 4 June 2019.
Jim Cramer: "Get Rich Carefully"
March 13, 2023 12:55 - 23 minutes - 21.2 MB"Get Rich Carefully." Good advice from CNBC host Jim Cramer who joined Michael for a special in-studio appearance in New York City with his book. Original air date 9 January 2014. The book was published on 31 December 2013.
D.L. Hughley: "How Not To Get Shot"
March 10, 2023 21:29 - 20 minutes - 18.4 MBMichael welcomes comedian, actor, activist and New York Times-bestselling author D.L. Hughley with his book "How Not to Get Shot: And Other Advice From White People." Original air date 3 July 2018. The book was published on 26 June 2018.
Ginni Rometty: "Good Power"
March 08, 2023 05:00 - 21 minutes - 19.8 MBMichael welcomes former IBM CEO Ginni Rometty with her new book "Good Power: Leading Positive Change in Our Lives, Work, and World." Original air date 7 March 2023. The book was published on 7 March 2023.
Michael Moss: "Salt Sugar Fat"
March 06, 2023 13:24 - 16 minutes - 15.2 MBMichael speaks with Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Moss upon the release of the paperback version of "Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us." Original air date 13 February 2014. The paperback version was released on 18 February 2014, the book was originally published on 26 February 2013.
Joby Warrick: "Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS"
March 02, 2023 16:40 - 18 minutes - 16.8 MBMichael talks with Joby Warrick, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his book "Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS." Original air date 7 October 2015. The book was published on 29 September 2015.
Amy Chua & Jed Rubenfeld: "The Triple Package"
February 27, 2023 20:00 - 16 minutes - 14.8 MB"The Triple Package: How Three Unlikely Traits Explain the Rise and Fall of Cultural Groups in America" by Yale Professors Amy Chua "The Tiger Mom" and her husband Jed Rubenfeld. Original air date 6 February 2014. The book was published on 4 February 2014.
Gerald Posner: "God's Bankers"
February 24, 2023 16:54 - 19 minutes - 17.9 MBAn expose of the Vatican using what the New York Times called "exhaustive research techniques," - "God's Bankers: A History of Money and Power at the Vatican" by Gerald Posner. Michael talks to him about his powerful book on a powerful institution. Original air date 3 February 2023. The book was published on 3 February 2023.
Dr. Nassir Ghaemi: "A First-Rate Madness"
February 22, 2023 05:00 - 20 minutes - 19.2 MBDoes having a mental illness make a more effective leader? Michael talks with Tufts University's Dr. Nassir Ghaemi, author of "A First-Rate Madness: Uncovering the Links Between Leadership and Mental Illness." Original air date 25 August 2016. The book was published on 4 August 2011.
Douglas Schoen: "Power"
February 17, 2023 05:00 - 18 minutes - 17.3 MBThis is the definitive insider's guide - hear Michael speak with political strategist Doug Schoen, on his book "Power: The 50 Truths." Stories of working for Presidents from Clinton to Trump, to Israeli prime ministers, and everything in between, including connections to the mafia. The book was published on 14 February 2023. Original air date 16 February 2023.
James Patterson: "Walk The Blue Line"
February 15, 2023 05:00 - 18 minutes - 16.7 MBHe's the co-author of the #1 bestseller "Walk in My Combat Boots" - James Patterson joins Michael today with his new book, co-authored with Matt Eversmann, "Walk the Blue Line: No right, no left―just cops telling their true stories to James Patterson." Original air date 14 February 2023. The book was published on 6 February 2023.
Brigid Schulte: "Overwhelmed"
February 14, 2023 15:48 - 20 minutes - 18.8 MBA great conversation from the archives when one thinks about topics on "love" and Valentine's Day, listen to Brigid Schulte, author of "Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time." Original aid date 19 March 2014. The book was published on 11 March 2014.
David Litt: "Thanks, Obama"
February 10, 2023 05:00 - 24 minutes - 22.2 MBMichael's conversation with former presidential speechwriter David Litt, on his book "Thanks, Obama: My Hopey, Changey White House Years." Original air date 19 September 2017. The book was published on 19 September 2017.
Keith Payne: "The Broken Ladder"
February 08, 2023 05:00 - 12 minutes - 11.5 MBMichael's conversation with UNC Chapel Hill Professor of Psychology Keith Payne, author of "The Broken Ladder: How Inequality Affects the Way We Think, Live, and Die." Original air date 13 May 2019. The book was published on 2 May 2017.
Elie Honig: "Untouchable"
February 06, 2023 12:55 - 19 minutes - 17.7 MBNational bestselling author Elie Honig (author of 'Hatchet Man', listen to Episode 7 for that conversation) is back with "Untouchable: How Powerful People Get Away with It." Original air date 2 February 2023. The book was published on 31 January 2023.
Dr. Robert Waldinger: "The Good Life"
February 03, 2023 05:00 - 16 minutes - 15.2 MBTime to create a more meaningful and satisfying life: Michael talks with Harvard University's Dr. Robert Waldinger, co-author (with Dr. Marc Schulz) of "The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness." Original air date 2 February 2023. The book was published on 10 January 2023.
Charlie Brandt: "I Heard You Paint Houses"
February 01, 2023 05:00 - 20 minutes - 18.8 MBWhen "The Irishman" hit theatres, Michael caught up with the author of the book that the movie is based on, Charlie Brandt, "I Heard You Paint Houses: Frank "The Irishman" Sheeran & Closing the Case on Jimmy Hoffa." Original air date 22 November 2019. The book was published in 2004.
Jack Goldsmith: "In Hoffa's Shadow"
January 30, 2023 20:29 - 18 minutes - 17 MBJimmy Hoffa's associate Chuckie O'Brien's stepson, Jack Goldsmith, tells the moving story of reuniting with his stepfather, and many others, in "In Hoffa's Shadow: A Stepfather, a Disappearance in Detroit, and My Search for the Truth," Original air date 16 October 2019. The book was published on 24 September 2019.
Chris Whipple: "The Fight Of His Life"
January 25, 2023 05:00 - 13 minutes - 12.7 MBAmid Chief of Staff Ron Klain leaving the White House and President Biden deciding on a 2024 reelection run, Michael welcomes Chris Whipple, author of "The Fight of His Life: Inside Joe Biden's White House." Original air date 23 January 2023. The book was published on 17 January 2023.
Matt Katz: "American Governor"
January 23, 2023 12:54 - 15 minutes - 13.8 MBRemember "Bridgegate" and Former NJ Governor Chris Christie's 2016 presidential campaign? Matt Katz was the reporter who had the inside story - hear his conversation with Michael on "American Governor: Chris Christie's Bridge to Redemption." Original air date 29 January 2016. The book was published on 19 January 2016.
George Mitchell: "The Negotiator"
January 20, 2023 20:16 - 22 minutes - 20.7 MBMichael's conversation with former Senator George Mitchell of Maine, author of "The Negotiator: A Memoir." Original air date 14 May 2015. The book was published on 5 May 2015.
Keith Ellison: "My Country, 'Tis of Thee"
January 19, 2023 02:17 - 21 minutes - 19.5 MBMichael's conversation with then-Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) on his book "My Country, 'Tis of Thee: My Faith, My Family, Our Future." Since 2019, he has been serving as Attorney General of Minnesota. Original air date 17 January 2014. The book was published on 14 January 2014.
Adrian Maher: "Uninvited"
January 16, 2023 17:13 - 12 minutes - 11.5 MBMichael talks with Adrian Maher, author of "Uninvited: Confessions of a Hollywood Party Crasher." Original air date 7 February 2020. The book was published on 5 November 2019.
Mo Rocca: "Mobituaries"
January 11, 2023 15:18 - 23 minutes - 21.3 MBMichael has always loved reading obituaries, particularly those of people who passed who he never knew. They offer some incredible stories - ones that are worth sharing. Therefore, Michael was thrilled to be in conversation with American humorist and CBS Sunday Morning correspondent Mo Rocca, on his book "Mobituaries: Great Lives Worth Reliving." Original air date 7 November 2019. The book was published on 5 November 2019.
Elizabeth Schneider: "Wine For Normal People"
January 09, 2023 13:20 - 19 minutes - 17.7 MBCheers! Hear Michael chat with Elizabeth Schneider - a listener of the program, sommelier, wine specialist and author of "Wine for Normal People: A Guide for Real People Who Like Wine, but Not the Snobbery That Goes with It." Original air date 24 January 2020. The book was published
Charles Duhigg: "The Power of Habit"
January 06, 2023 15:29 - 16 minutes - 14.8 MBMichael welcomes New York Times Reporter Charles Duhigg on the paperback release of "The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business." Original air date 8 January 2014. The paperback was published on 7 January 2014, the book was originally released on 28 February 2012.
Dr. David Agus: "The Lucky Years"
January 04, 2023 12:30 - 17 minutes - 16.2 MBDoctors have never before been able to help you take control of your health - but now they can. Michael's conversation with bestselling author Dr. David Agus, on his then-new book "The Lucky Years: How to Thrive in the Brave New World of Health." Original air date 6 January 2016. The book was published on 5 January 2016.
Peter Bergen: "Trump and His Generals"
December 21, 2022 18:26 - 18 minutes - 17.2 MBMichael talks with national security analyst Peter Bergen about his book "Trump And His Generals: The Cost of Chaos." Original air date 10 December 2019. The book was published on 10 December 2019.
Karl Rove: "The Triumph of William McKinley"
December 19, 2022 14:39 - 18 minutes - 16.9 MBMichael's conversation with former adviser to President George W. Bush, Karl Rove, on his book "The Triumph of William McKinley: Why the Election of 1896 Still Matters." Original air date 7 December 2015. The book was published on 24 November 2015.
Kate Andersen Brower: "Elizabeth Taylor"
December 14, 2022 13:46 - 16 minutes - 14.8 MBNew York Times bestselling author (The Residence, First Women) Kate Andersen Brower, with her new book "Elizabeth Taylor: The Grit & Glamour of an Icon." Original air date 12 December 2022. The book was published on 6 December 2022.
Tom Dreesen: "Still Standing"
December 12, 2022 16:52 - 35 minutes - 32.1 MBMichael talks with long-time friend of and opening act for Frank Sinatra, Tom Dreesen, on his book "Still Standing...: My Journey from Streets and Saloons to the Stage, and Sinatra." Original air date 4 December 2020. The book was published on 9 June 2020.
Jeff Nussbaum: "Undelivered"
December 09, 2022 13:07 - 19 minutes - 17.8 MBPresidential speechwriter Jeff Nussbaum, author of "Undelivered: The Never-Heard Speeches That Would Have Rewritten History." Original air date 7 December 2022. The book was published on 10 May 2022.
Doris Kears Goodwin: "The Bully Pulpit"
December 07, 2022 15:38 - 17 minutes - 15.9 MBMichael's conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential historian and bestselling author Doris Kearns Goodwin, on "The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism." Original air date 25 November 2013. The book was published on 1 January 2013.
Kate Andersen Brower: "Exploring The White House"
December 05, 2022 19:58 - 18 minutes - 16.6 MBMichael's conversation with bestselling author Kate Andersen Brower at the end of President Trump's time in the White House, her book "Exploring the White House: Inside America's Most Famous Home." Original air date 11 December 2020. The book was published on 8 December 2020.
Douglas Brinkley: "Silent Spring Revolution"
December 02, 2022 05:00 - 19 minutes - 17.9 MBMichael welcomes presidential historian Douglas Brinkley, author of "Silent Spring Revolution: John F. Kennedy, Rachel Carson, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, and the Great Environmental Awakening." Original air date 1 December 2022. The book was published on 15 November 2022.
Darrell West: "Billionaires"
November 30, 2022 18:40 - 17 minutes - 15.9 MBMichael's conversation with Darrell West of Brookings, author of "Billionaires: Reflections on the Upper Crust." Original air date 14 November 2014. The book was published on 28 September 2014.
Annie Duke: "How To Decide"
November 28, 2022 16:39 - 23 minutes - 21.1 MBMichael talks with world poker champion and bestselling author Annie Duke about her book "How to Decide: Simple Tools for Making Better Choices." Original air date 16 October 2020. The book was published on 13 October 2022.
William Frey: "Diversity Explosion"
November 22, 2022 18:35 - 16 minutes - 15.2 MBMichael talks with Brookings Institute Senior Fellow William H. Frey, author of "Diversity Explosion: How New Racial Demographics are Remaking America." Original air date 26 November 2014. The book was published on 19 November 2014.
Sarah Palin: "Sweet Freedom"
November 18, 2022 17:58 - 25 minutes - 23.1 MBMichael chats with former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin on her spirituality-focused book "Sweet Freedom: A Devotion." The book was published on 16 November 2015. Original air date 2 December 2015.
Philip Rucker: "A Very Stable Genius"
November 16, 2022 20:02 - 12 minutes - 11.7 MBMichael's conversation with Washington Post reporter Phil Rucker upon the paperback release of "A Very Stable Genius: Donald J. Trump's Testing of America", which he co-authored with Carol Leonnig. The paperback was released on 23 February 2021. Original air date 23 February 2021.
Dr. Anna Lembke: "Dopamine Nation"
November 14, 2022 13:51 - 26 minutes - 23.9 MBMichael's conversation with Dr. Anna Lembke, professor of psychiatry and the Stanford University School of Medicine, on her book "Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence." Original air date 11 November 2022. The book was published on 24 august 2021.
Scott Adams: "Win Bigly"
November 11, 2022 12:49 - 19 minutes - 17.5 MBMichael's conversation with 'Dilbert' creator Scott Adams on his book "Win Bigly: Persuasion in a World Where Facts Don't Matter." Original air date 9 November 2017. The book was published on 31 October 2017.
Natasha Lance Rogoff: "Muppets in Moscow"
November 09, 2022 19:42 - 19 minutes - 17.8 MBAward-winning television producer Natasha Lance Rogoff on her book "Muppets in Moscow: The Unexpected Crazy True Story of Making Sesame Street in Russia." Original air date 02 November 2022. The book was published on 17 October 2022.