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then again
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Now in History
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I’ll get the bad news out of the way first: We’ll be pausing the history newsletter (for the near future at least), so this edition will be our last for a while. Whenever the going gets tough, I like to use history as a means to reflect on my own life and to help put things in perspective. I’ve always found it helpful to look back in time for a figure or event that reminds me that, in all actuality, my issues really aren’t so bad! Plus, my wonderful colleague Kat will still be touching on history in her monthly nonfiction newsletter, and you can find listening recs that tie into current events (and some of their historical context) in the Weekly Sound Off. There’s plenty more history to explore!
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Doris Kearns Goodwin’s most personal history yet
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It’s difficult to reflect on presidential history without also thinking of Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. Her latest, An Unfinished Love Story, blends elements of memoir, history, and biography, and features a mix of archival audio, narration from Goodwin herself, and a guest appearance from Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston. It’s a touching and personal celebration of her late husband’s contributions to the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, and I was honored to speak with her about it.
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Though we’re a couple of months past the official anniversary, June 6 marked 80 years since Operation Overlord and the Allied invasion of Normandy. As if the liberation of France and eventual Allied victory in World War II wasn’t enough to cement D-Day as one of the most significant military operations in history, the scale and coordination of the invasion continues to inspire historians and storytellers alike.
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“For most of reality history, there were famous people and unfamous people—and then there was this wacky new hybrid type of stardom”
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Check out this fascinating (and dishy) history of reality television, from Pulitzer Prize winner Emily Nussbaum. As an added bonus, go behind the scenes to read her thoughts on moral panic, cast unionization, and reality television’s surprising staying power.
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Best of the Year (so far)
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We’re always keeping an eye out and an ear open for the best and biggest listens each year. Though we’re still narrowing down the best listens of the year overall, don’t miss some of the audiobooks and podcasts that have left their mark on the first half of 2024. From fiction to memoir and, yes, even a little bit of history, there’s plenty to dive into.
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Buzzy new histories, coming soon
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Get outside your genre zone
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