C-SPAN Bookshelf

The C-SPAN Bookshelf podcast feed makes it easy for you to listen to all of the C-SPAN podcast episodes about nonfiction books. Each week we gather episodes from the different C-SPAN podcasts that feature authors talking about history, biography, current events, and culture to make it easier to discover the episodes and listen. If you like nonfiction books, follow this podcast feed so you never miss an episode!

Episodes

BN+: Lien-Hang Nguyen, "Hanoi's War"

July 1, 2025 • 69 mins

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon. Netflix is offering a five-part documentary series titled "Turning Point: The Vietnam War," directed by Brian Knappenberger. The series includes never-before-seen footage of the war from the CBS archives. Also included in the documentary are interviews with participants in the war, both from the North and the South. One of the most frequent voices heard during the series i...

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Q&A: Jonathan Turley, "The Indispensable Right"

June 29, 2025 • 69 mins

George Washington University Law School professor Jonathan Turley discusses the history of free speech in America and the people who advanced it. He argues that the right to free speech, enshrined in the First Amendment, is a basic human right that protects all the others. Prof. Turley also talks about current attempts by government, universities, and the private sector to limit free speech in the United States. Learn more ab...

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Dave and Dina McCormick, "Who Believed in You?"

June 29, 2025 • 51 mins

Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA) and his wife Dina McCormick discussed the importance of mentors and shared stories of successful politicians and business leaders who have had their lives changed by them. This event was hosted by the Ronald Regan Institute in Washington, D.C Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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BN+: William Geroux, "The Fifteen"

June 24, 2025 • 76 mins

One October morning in 2018, journalist William Geroux says he was returning some books to his local Virginia Beach Library when he noticed a new state historical marker planted in the ground near the front entrance. It said the library was built on the site of a World War II prisoner of war camp. In Mr. Giroux's author's note in his latest book called "The Fifteen," he writes that he "was surprised and a little embarrassed" not to...

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Q&A: Peniel Joseph, "Freedom Season"

June 22, 2025 • 69 mins

University of Texas at Austin history professor Peniel Joseph, author of "Freedom Season," talks about the pivotal events of 1963 that impacted the Civil Rights Movement in America. That year, which marked the centenary of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, also saw the assassinations of President Kennedy and Mississippi civil rights activist Medgar Evers, the publication of James Baldwin's bestseller "The Fire Next Time," and th...

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AW: Mark Bauerlein, The Dumbest Generation Grows Up: From Stupefied Youth to Dangerous Adults

June 22, 2025 • 70 mins

Emory University professor Mark Bauerlein argues that the lack of general civics knowledge by Millennials poses a threat to America's political and social institutions. He was interviewed by the Federalist's culture editor Emily Jashinksy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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BN+: Claire Hoffman, "Sister, Sinner"

June 17, 2025 • 74 mins

It's a story from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. The book by Claire Hoffman is called "Sister, Sinner: The Miraculous Life and Mysterious Disappearance of Aimee Semple MacPherson." FSG, the publisher, further emphasizes that the story is "the dramatic rise, disappearance, and near fall of a woman called Sister Amy who changed the world." Author Claire Hoffman, who has a master's in religion from the University of Chicago, says Aimee Semp...

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Q&A: Mark Whitaker, "The Afterlife of Malcolm X"

June 15, 2025 • 69 mins

Former Newsweek editor and managing editor of CNN Worldwide, Mark Whitaker, discusses the life and legacy of the Black nationalist leader Malcolm X, who was assassinated in 1965. Mr. Whitaker, author of "The Afterlife of Malcolm X," talks about Malcolm X's split with the Nation of Islam, his relationship with Martin Luther King Jr. and Muhammad Ali, and his posthumous impact on Barack Obama, Clarence Thomas, and others. Lea...

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AW: Teresa Ghilarducci, "Work, Retire, Repeat - The Uncertainty of Retirement in the New Economy"

June 15, 2025 • 58 mins

New School economic professor Teresa Ghilarducci offered her thoughts on how to make retirement in the U.S. attainable for more Americans. She was interviewed by Washington Post economics correspondent Abha Bhattarai. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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BN+: Kathryn Olmsted, "Red Spy Queen"

June 10, 2025 • 71 mins

In several recent episodes of the podcast, we have featured books about the World War II era. An important figure from that time has been mentioned but not discussed during any of those interviews. Her name is Elizabeth Bentley. She was the first person to reveal, to the FBI and the Congress, the names of people living in the United States and spying for the Soviets, both Americans and foreign-born operatives. To better understand ...

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Q&A: Medea Benjamin, CODEPINK Co-Founder

June 8, 2025 • 69 mins

Medea Benjamin, co-founder of the pro-peace, feminist grassroots organization CODEPINK, talks about her life as an activist and CODEPINK's current campaigns focusing on Gaza, Ukraine, Iran, and Latin America. She also talks about the nonviolent, disruptive actions taken by CODEPINK at congressional hearings and elsewhere to bring attention to their causes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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AW: Stephanie Land, "Maid"

June 8, 2025 • 65 mins

Stephanie Land discusses her path from working as a maid to earning a journalism degree and later writing about the working poor. She was interviewed by Rachel Schneider, co-author of "The Financial Diaries." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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BN+: Kenneth Rogoff, "Our Dollar, Your Problem"

June 3, 2025 • 73 mins

Kenneth Rogoff is professor of economics at Harvard University and former International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief economist. In his most recent book, "Our Dollar, Your Problem," he argues that America's currency might have reached today's lofty pinnacle without a certain amount of good luck. However, as Professor Rogoff nears the end of his 345-page book, he writes, quote: "If rapidly rising debt is left unchecked, and there seems ...

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Q&A: Jason Riley, "The Affirmative Action Myth"

June 1, 2025 • 69 mins

Wall Street Journal columnist Jason Riley, author of "The Affirmative Action Myth," argues that the racial preference policies of the 1960s and 70s have had an overall negative impact on the success of Black Americans. He says that Black incomes, homeownership, and educational attainment were all on an upward trajectory prior to these policies being implemented. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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BN+: Rick Atkinson, "The Fate of the Day"

May 27, 2025 • 80 mins

Rick Atkinson has just published the second volume of his American Revolution trilogy. The book is called "The Fate of the Day" and covers years 1777 to 1780. His initial 800-page volume, titled "The British Are Coming," was published in 2019 and focused on years 1775 to 1777. Mr. Atkinson won the George Washington prize for this beginning look at the revolution. His second book in the trilogy covers the middle years. Stationed in ...

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Q&A: Rick Steves, "On the Hippie Trail"

May 25, 2025 • 59 mins

Travel writer Rick Steves talks about his 1978 journey along the "Hippie Trail" and the 60,000-word journal he kept of the trip which he recently published as a book. During the 3,000-mile trek, the then 23-year-old Steves and a friend visited Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Nepal. He talks about the people he met along the way, the challenges of travelling in foreign countries in the 1970s, and the lifelong impact ...

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BN+: Rick Atkinson, "An Army at Dawn"

May 20, 2025 • 67 mins

On November 17th, 2002, 23 years ago, Rick Atkinson appeared on the Booknotes television program to discuss his book, "Army at Dawn." This was the first of three books Atkinson called the "Liberation Trilogy," a full history of the European theater of World War II, which is a total of 2,512 pages, including notes and indexes. Beginning in 2019, Rick Atkinson switched trilogies. This time, it's the history of the American Revolution...

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Q&A: Christopher Cox, "Woodrow Wilson: The Light Withdrawn"

May 18, 2025 • 71 mins

Former U.S. Congressman Christopher Cox (R-CA), author of "Woodrow Wilson: The Light Withdrawn," takes a critical look at the 28th President of the United States and his attitudes towards racial equality and women's suffrage. Mr. Cox also talks about Wilson's intellectual development and his tenure as president of Princeton University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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AW: Leah Litman, "Lawless - How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes"

May 18, 2025 • 66 mins

University of Michigan law professor Leah Litman explains why she believes the Supreme Court isn't making rulings based on legal principles. She was interviewed by author and Nation Magazine justice correspondent Elie Mystal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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BN+: Thomas Maier, "The Invisible Spy"

May 13, 2025 • 68 mins

"Ernest Cuneo played Ivy League football at Columbia University and was in the old Brooklyn Dodgers NFL franchise before becoming a City Hall lawyer and 'Brain Trust' aide to President Franklin Roosevelt." While on the payroll of national radio columnist Walter Winchell, Cuneo "mingled with the famous and powerful. But his status as a spy remained a secret, hiding in plain sight." All of this is the way Hanover Square Press introdu...

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C-SPAN Bookshelf

Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}BN+: Lien-Hang Nguyen, "Hanoi's War"

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}Q&A: Jonathan Turley, "The Indispensable Right"

Dave and Dina McCormick, "Who Believed in You?"

BN+: William Geroux, "The Fifteen"

Q&A: Peniel Joseph, "Freedom Season"

AW: Mark Bauerlein, The Dumbest Generation Grows Up: From Stupefied Youth to Dangerous Adults

BN+: Claire Hoffman, "Sister, Sinner"

Q&A: Mark Whitaker, "The Afterlife of Malcolm X"

AW: Teresa Ghilarducci, "Work, Retire, Repeat - The Uncertainty of Retirement in the New Economy"

BN+: Kathryn Olmsted, "Red Spy Queen"

Q&A: Medea Benjamin, CODEPINK Co-Founder

AW: Stephanie Land, "Maid"

BN+: Kenneth Rogoff, "Our Dollar, Your Problem"

Q&A: Jason Riley, "The Affirmative Action Myth"

BN+: Rick Atkinson, "The Fate of the Day"

Q&A: Rick Steves, "On the Hippie Trail"

BN+: Rick Atkinson, "An Army at Dawn"

Q&A: Christopher Cox, "Woodrow Wilson: The Light Withdrawn"

AW: Leah Litman, "Lawless - How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes"

BN+: Thomas Maier, "The Invisible Spy"

Popular Podcasts

BN+: Lien-Hang Nguyen, "Hanoi's War"

Q&A: Jonathan Turley, "The Indispensable Right"