Podcast
C-SPAN Bookshelf
Hosted by C-SPAN · EN
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!
91episodes
Episodes
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BN+: Christine Kuehn, "Family of Spies"
Yesterday01:06:06Tap to summarizeThe author's name is Christine Kuehn. The book is titled "Family of Spies: A World War II Story of Nazi Espionage, Betrayal, and the Secret History Behind Pearl Harbor." Christine Kuehn worked on her family's story for over 30 years. According to the publisher's note, it began with a letter from a screenwriter asking about a story. It was the first time she had ever heard about the secrets of the Kuehn family. Her father had never spoken about his mother Friedel (FREE-duhl) and his father Otto's work for the Nazis while based in Hawaii, or the spying they did for the Japanese government prior to the Pearl Harbor attack. Christine was born in the U.S., but her father and the rest of the Kuehn family came from Germany. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Q&A: Tad Devine, "How the Democrats Screwed Bernie"
2d ago01:03:53Tap to summarizeTad Devine, former chief campaign strategist for Bernie Sanders and the author of "How the Democrats Screwed Bernie," argues that Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Committee used dirty tricks, dark money groups, and the mainstream media to thwart Sen. Sanders' presidential run in 2016. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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ABC: Ben Mezrich on The Social Network, 21, and Turning True Stories into Hollywood Hits
2d ago01:01:20Tap to summarizeBestselling author Ben Mezrich joins David Rubenstein to discuss his writing career and the real-life stories behind several of his bestselling books, including Bringing Down the House and The Accidental Billionaires, which were adapted into the hit films 21 and The Social Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →After Words: Managing Chronic Pain with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
3d ago00:52:55Tap to summarizeNeurosurgeon and medical journalist Sanjay Gupta discussed strategies for preventing and managing pain and promoting wellness. This event took place at the 2026 New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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BN+: Ted Widmer, "The Living Declaration"
1w ago01:06:57Tap to summarizeThe commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence has now gone beyond the Fourth of July. Many books have been published about the Declaration in the first half of 2026. The question for Americans is: "Have you read the Declaration in full?" A recent study says that only 3 in 10 U.S. citizens have read the Declaration in its entirety. Author Ted Widmer has published, through the Library of America, a detailed history of how the Declaration came about. The book is called "The Living Declaration: A Biography of America's Founding Text." This is Ted Widmer's twelfth book, which includes an introduction by the well-known historian Gordon S. Wood. Professor Wood died at age 92, just days before the publication of this book. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Q&A: Mike Leinbach, Former Space Shuttle Launch Director & Co-Author, "Bringing Columbia Home"
1w ago00:58:23Tap to summarizeOn February 1, 2003, Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas and Louisiana while re-entering Earth's atmosphere, killing all seven astronauts on board. Former Space Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach, who led debris recovery and reconstruction efforts following the accident, talks about the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster and the investigation into its causes. Mr. Leinbach is the co-author of "Bringing Columbia Home: The Untold Story of a Lost Space Shuttle and Her Crew." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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ABC: Michael Beschloss Explores the Revolutionary War, Civil War & 20th Century America
1w ago01:01:16Tap to summarizeBestselling presidential historian Michael Beschloss joins David M. Rubenstein for a wide-ranging conversation on American history. They discuss the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and the pivotal events and presidents that shaped the United States in the twentieth century. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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AW: Political Realignment and the "New Right"
1w ago01:05:54Tap to summarizeThe John Locke Institute's Stephen Davies argued that the world is witnessing the emergence a permanent new form of "right-wing" politics. He spoke at the Competitive Enterprise Institute in Washington, DC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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BN+: Valerie Fridland, "Why We Talk Funny"
2w ago01:13:28Tap to summarizeAfter 47 years of C-SPAN televising the Congress of United States, we feel there is no better place to hear accents and dialects of the American people 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In her book "Why We Talk Funny: The Real Story Behind Our Accents," Valerie Fridland promises to unlock "the secrets of what linguistic science, psychology and history tell us about the evolution of human speech." Valerie Fridland teaches in the Great Courses series at the University of Nevada, Reno. She did her undergraduate work at Georgetown in 1990 and received her PhD from Michigan State in 1998. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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ABC: Geraldine Brooks on Memoir, Fiction & War Reporting
2w ago01:02:09Tap to summarizePulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks joins David M. Rubenstein to discuss her memoir, acclaimed novels, and early career as a war correspondent. She reflects on the experiences that shaped her writing, the intersection of history and fiction, and the personal stories behind her work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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