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Democracy
World War II
China
United States
Communism
Assassination
Cold War
Covid-19
Harry Truman
Ian Fleming
George Washington
Marxism
Nelson Rockefeller
Soviet Union
Presidency
International Politics
Iranian Revolution
American Power
Franklin D. Roosevelt
James Bond

Biweekly conversations between Richard Aldous, Bard College professor and distinguished historian, and authors on their newest books. www.persuasion.community

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes334Founded6 years ago
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Society & CultureArtsBooks

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Artwork for Bookstack

Latest Episodes

Bookstack at Persuasion is delivered to you every other Sunday at 6am EST. Grab a coffee, settle onto the couch, and see your weekend out with a deep dive into the best new book releases…

This week, Richard talks to Antonia Senior, author of Stalin’... more

Bookstack at Persuasion is delivered to you every other Sunday at 6am EST. Grab a coffee, settle onto the couch, and see your weekend out with a deep dive into the best new book releases…

This week, Richard talks to Laurence Jurdem, author of 41: Ge... more

Bookstack at Persuasion is delivered to you every other Sunday at 6am EST. Grab a coffee, settle onto the couch, and see your weekend out with a deep dive into the best new book releases…

This week, Richard talks to Liaquat Ahamed, author of 1873: T... more

Bookstack at Persuasion is delivered to you every other Sunday at 6am EST. Grab a coffee, settle onto the couch, and see your weekend out with a deep dive into the best new book releases…

This week, Richard talks to Ian Shapiro, author of After the ... more

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Recent Guests

Antonia Senior
Author of Stalin's Apostles, The Cambridge Five and the Making of the Soviet Empire
Public Affairs / author
Episode: Episode 190: Antonia Senior on the Cambridge Five
Laurence Jurdem
Author of 41, George H. W. Bush and the End of the American Establishment
Author, Historian
Episode: Episode 189: Laurence Jurdem on George H. W. Bush
Liaquat Ahamed
Author of 1873, The Rothschilds, The First Great Depression and The Making of the Modern World
Penguin Press
Episode: Episode 188: Liaquat Ahamed on 1873
Ian Shapiro
Author of After the Fall, From the End of History to the Crisis of Democracy, How Politicians Broke Our World
Author, book: After the Fall
Episode: Episode 187: Ian Shapiro on How Politicians Broke Our World
Odd Arne Westad
Author, The Coming Storm
Author and historian
Episode: Episode 186: Odd Arne Westad on the Coming Storm
Michael Mandelbaum
Author of The American Way of Foreign Policy, Ideology, Economics, Democracy
Johns Hopkins University (Professor)
Episode: Episode 185: Michael Mandelbaum on the American Way of Foreign Policy
Frank Dikötter
Author of Red Dawn Over China
Episode: Episode 184: Frank Dikötter on How Communism Conquered a Quarter of Humanity
Steve Israel
Congressman and author of The Einstein Conspiracy
Compass Rose Publishing
Episode: Episode 183: Steve Israel on the Einstein Conspiracy
Christopher Clark
Author of A Scandal in Königsberg
Author, Historian
Episode: Episode 182: Christopher Clark on A Scandal in Königsberg

Host

Richard Aldous
Host of Bookstack

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 35 ratings
  • Interesting

    Great topics. Very educational. Great host!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Project Pratt
    United Statesa year ago
  • A Favourite Podcast on Mine

    Excellent choice of books and a superb interviewer who adds to the conversation without getting in the way. Has pointed me toward fascinating books.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PJM604
    Canada4 years ago
  • Excellent Show

    Great hosts, great questions, great guests

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Leonickx
    United States5 years ago
  • Great Podcast

    Great show that stays true to American Purpose’s mission of protecting liberal democracy and enlightening the public.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Classicrocklover238
    United States5 years ago
  • Interesting, informative discussions

    Richard Aldous is a terrific interviewer. He has a wealth of knowledge that feeds into the questions he poses to authors, and his style is engaging and enjoyable - the farthest that could be from the typical contentiousness one hears all around today.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Righty gal
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the host's insightful questioning and knowledge-depth.
Guests consistently highlight the thoughtful, longform interview style.
Audience feedback notes how the host draws clear connections between history and current affairs.
The show is valued for high-quality guests and scholarly discussion.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#197
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#150
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#248
Switzerland/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 189: Laurence Jurdem on George H. W. Bush
Q: Laurence, what do you see as the core legacy of George H. W. Bush and the end of the American Establishment?
Jurdem argues that Bush's deep-rooted commitment to institutions, public service, and a lineage of elite mentorship defined a presidency centered on competence, steadiness, and humility, even when political costs—like tax increases—loomed large. The legacy emphasizes governance over self-promotion and highlights how long-term, policy-driven thinking can outlast shifting political fashions.
Episode 190: Antonia Senior on the Cambridge Five
Q: Who were the Cambridge Five and why are they significant?
They were Cambridge University students who became Soviet spies from the 1930s to the early 1950s, whose access to top-level wartime and postwar information helped shape Cold War dynamics and revealed how elite networks were penetrated by espionage.
Episode 188: Liaquat Ahamed on 1873
Q: What are the long-term political consequences linked to the 1873 crash?
The crisis helped fuel anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and the rise of populist movements that challenged financial elites, with long-lasting effects on politics and culture well into the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Episode 188: Liaquat Ahamed on 1873
Q: What role did the Rothschild family play in these events?
They were the wealthiest family in the world at the time, financiers who spanned major European markets, shaping the flow of capital even as their private status fueled conspiracy theories about their influence.
Episode 185: Michael Mandelbaum on the American Way of Foreign Policy
Q: What are the three enduring features Mandelbaum identifies in American foreign policy?
The three enduring features are an ideological foreign policy promoting liberal ideas, a distinct economic policy using economic instruments to achieve political goals, and a comparatively democratic foreign policy where public opinion has a strong impact on decisions.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Bookstack

What is Bookstack about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show features longform conversations with authors and scholars who have written serious histories and political analyses. Episodes center on big ideas in geopolitics, comparative history, and the shaping of modern democracies, often linking past events to present-day policy and public discourse. The host tends to ask patient, deeply informed questions that draw out historical context, methodological choices, and implications for current affairs. Listeners are likely educators, researchers, policy professionals, and curious general listeners who value thorough storytelling and expert insight into books that tackle big questions about power, institutions, and society.

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Which podcasts are similar to Bookstack?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Bookstack:

1. Booknotes+
2. The Good Fight
3. Call Me Back - with Dan Senor
4. The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg
5. The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

How many episodes of Bookstack are there?

Bookstack launched 6 years ago and published 334 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Bookstack?

Recent guests on Bookstack include:

1. Antonia Senior
2. Laurence Jurdem
3. Liaquat Ahamed
4. Ian Shapiro
5. Odd Arne Westad
6. Michael Mandelbaum
7. Frank Dikötter
8. Steve Israel

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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