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Josh tries to build the ultimate 'Guy book' based on his Instagram habits. Also, he makes fun of old Bantam dime novels, because ads in books is hilarious. PLUS the books you should read if you want to get into literary fiction! Join the book club: https://www.patreon.com/c/JoshReadsBooks Timestamps: 0:00 - What I've Been Reading 4:39 - Building the ultimate Dude Book 20:10 - Gateway Books  

Josh dissects which books are truly read and which are just for show. Find out what he thinks about popular titles like "Fahrenheit 451," "Dune," and "Lonesome Dove," and stick around for the Q&A that reveals the quirks of being a book influencer.  Also, because he can't help himself, thoughts about the Civil War. Join the book club: https://www.patreon.com/c/JoshReadsBooks Timestamps: 0:00 - What I've been reading 8:50 - "Pretending I read it" list 21:09 - Mailbag

Subscribe to the newsletter: https://compendiumshow.substack.com/ You might think writing like Cormac McCarthy is impossible. He may seem unapproachable or unreachable. But there are a few practical 'structural' techniques he uses in his writing that we can emulate.

The practice of strategy today is a history-adjacent discipline, but it is one that history informs and one that shapes history. John Gaddis is one of the United States' foremost strategy thinkers, and he joins me on the show to talk about Venezuela, the war in Ukraine, how democracies and autocracies differ with regard to strategy, and much more. Support the show (and listen early) on Substack

There's a lot to love in this episode. That is, if you love discussions about nationalism, slavery, and pre-Civil War politics. Notes: Impending Crisis by David Potter Apostles of Disunion by Charles Dew Battle Cry of Freedom by James McPherson

Historian Barry Strauss joins me to talk about his new book, Jews Vs Rome! We also look at some of the greatest commanders in history, what they did well and what they struggled with, as well as why YOU should read history. Support the show (and join the book club) on Substack

Did Alexander beat Darius because he was a better field commander, or because he was a greater gravitational force? Josh wonders if perhaps his secret weapon was something a bit more mundane? Support the show on Substack

What happens when a 90-day war goes longer than 90 days? You get a soupy melange of nerves, avarice, and confusion. Nobody at the time is equipped to deal with it, least of all the men in charge. Support the show on Substack  Check out the Distant Guns series Bibliography

Political violence is becoming a disturbing norm. The partisan divide grows wider. Can we close the gap? Can we resolve our disagreements through reason? For whatever they are worth, Josh shares a few thoughts.

The Founding Era is fascinating in many ways; it marks the beginning of our American history and laid the foundation for the democratic republic we know today. But it's a more complicated period than what you learn in school. Infighting and partisan factionalism nearly strangled the American infant in her cradle. I talk with Chris Dougherty about the founding era, about Alexander Hamilton, and the great democratic experiment. Follow Chris on Instagram Support the show on Patreon Support the show & subscribe to the Compendium newsletter on Substack

This is my attempt to get something out for you while you wait for TO THE SOUND part 2!  What would have happened if the Axis powers won World War 2?? What about if the Roman Empire never fell? Have I toured Civil War battlefields? and more! Support the show on Patreon Support the show & subscribe to the Compendium show newsletter (Substack)

Today on the show, I'm interviewing author and historian Scott Ellsworth. His newest book, Midnight on the Potomac, narrates the final year of the Civil War, the myriad Lincoln assassination attempts of 1864/65, and John Wilkes Booth's association with the confederacy. Grab a copy of Midnight on the Potomac: https://amzn.to/47G5WYm Support the show on Patreon Support the show & subscribe to the Compendium newsletter on Substack

They say America's greatest strength is its ability to compromise. But what happens when compromise fails—when Americans on opposite sides of a moral and political divide find no recourse except violence? In the 1850s and '60s, the debates between northern and southern states migrated from marble halls to virgin fields, where rhetoric gave way to rifles. Compendium Amazon Storefront  Support the show on Patreon Subscribe to the Compendium show newsletter To the Sound of Distant Guns Bibliography (so far)

AJ Bauckman, who runs the Instagram account @21stcent_history, and I connected recently to talk about Trump’s attacks on Iran. Merits of the attacks aside, we both were intrigued by the presidential power aspect of this conversation and decided to hop on Zoom and chat about it. We dive into how presidential power (and legislative power) has changed over the past 50 years, disagreements about the Executive's role in government, and much more! Disclaimer: This show is more political in nature. If that's not your jam, see you in the next one! Support the show on Patreon Subscribe to my Substack Newsletter

This show attempts to answer some of the questions I had (or address things I didn't know I'd need to know) before starting Compendium. I'm talking with Matt from Reflecting History (a podcasting OG) about what you're signing up for by starting a history podcast, how to research, how to process audio, and what to expect when you begin. It's a great conversation, and it's only Part 1. The second half of our conversation is on the Reflecting History feed, so go check that out! We talk over there about what the great podcasters do so well, opening and closing lines, how we can know history happened, and much more. Support the show on Patreon Subscribe for FREE to my Substack Newsletter