Book Club with Michael Smerconish

Jack Valenti, former special assistant to President Lyndon B. Johnson and former President of the Motion Picture Association of America, penned a memoir, but did not live to be able to talk about it when it was published. Therefore, Michael welcomed his daughter, Courtney Valenti, for a wonderful conversation on "This Time, This Place: My Life in War, the White House, and Hollywood." Mr. Valenti passed away in April 2007. Original air date 20 June 2007. The book was published on 15 May 2007.

Since its opening in 1965, the Watergate complex has been one of Washington's chicest addresses, a home to power brokers from both political parties and the epicenter of a scandal that brought down a president. In "The Watergate: Inside America's Most Infamous Address" writer and political consultant Joseph Rodota paints a vivid portrait of this landmark and the movers and shakers who have lived there. Listen to his conversation with Michael here. Original air date 23 February 2018. The book was published on 20 February 2018.

From New York Times bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize finalist Garrett Graff comes the most up-to-date and complete account of D-Day—the largest seaborne invasion in history and the moment that secured the Allied victory in World War II. Garrett joins Michael to talk about his new book "When the Sea Came Alive: An Oral History of D-Day." Original air date 5 June 2024. The book was published on 4 June 2024.

As the Commander of U.S. Central Command, General Frank McKenzie oversaw some of the most important — and controversial operations in modern U.S. military history. He had direct operational responsibility for the strikes on Qassem Soleimani and two successive leaders of ISIS, the many months of deterrence operations against Iran and its proxies, and the methodical drawdown in Iraq. He directed the noncombatant evacuation operation in Afghanistan, and our final withdrawal from that tortured country. Listen to his conversation with Michael about "The Melting Point: High Command and War in the 21st Century

Michael welcomes climate investor and activist Tom Steyer, author of "Cheaper, Faster, Better: How We’ll Win the Climate War." The climate is changing more rapidly than scientists predicted even a few years ago, with extreme weather already touching our everyday lives. At the same time, the clean energy revolution is forging ahead faster than nearly anyone anticipated. As Tom Steyer sees it, these two trends together create a moment like the one America faced during World War II: on the one hand, an existential threat calling for collective action; on the other, an opportunity to lead the world, protect the planet, and set the stage for a new generation of shared economic prosperity. Original air date 28 May 2024. The book was published on 28 May 2024.

Entrepreneur and New York legend Ken Langone tells the compelling story of how a poor boy from Long Island became one of America's most successful businessmen. A pillar of corporate America for decades, he's a co-founder of Home Depot, a former director of the New York Stock Exchange, and a world-class philanthropist. In this memoir he finally tells the story of his unlikely rise and controversial career. Listen to Michael's conversation with Ken Langone on the bestselling book "I Love Capitalism!: An American Story." Original air date 23 May 2018. The book was published on 15 May 2018.

Michael's conversation with Bernard Kerik about his book "From Jailer to Jailed: My Journey from Correction and Police Commissioner to Inmate #84888-054." The controversial New York City police commissioner shares the story of his fall from grace and the effects of his incarceration on his views of the American justice system. Kerik was New York City’s police commissioner during the 9/11 attacks, and became an American hero as he led the NYPD through rescue and recovery efforts of the World Trade Center. His résumé as a public servant is long and storied, and includes receiving a Medal of Honor. In 2004, Kerik was nominated by George W. Bush to head the Department of Homeland Security. Now, he is a former Federal Prison Inmate known as #84888-054. Original air date 7 April 2015. The book was published on 31 March 2015.

Following the success of his #1 New York Times bestseller 'Make Your Bed', Admiral William H. McRaven is back with amazing stories of bravery and heroism during his career as a Navy SEAL and commander of America's Special Operations Forces. He talks to Michael about his book "Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations." Original air date 21 May 2019. The book was published on 21 May 2019.

From one of the country’s most brilliant political commentators, the bestselling author of Then Everything Changed, an extraordinary, thought-provoking look at Kennedy’s presidency—after November 22, 1963. On that day, JFK does not die. What would happen to his life, his presidency, his country, his world? Michael speaks with Jeff Greenfield about his book "If Kennedy Lived: The First and Second Terms of President John F. Kennedy: An Alternate History." Original air date 28 October 2013. The book was published on 22 October 2013.

The first battle book from Mark Bowden since his #1 New York Times bestseller Black Hawk Down, "Hue 1968: A Turning Point of the American War in Vietnam" is the story of the centerpiece of the Tet Offensive. With unprecedented access to war archives in the U.S. and Vietnam and interviews with participants from both sides, Bowden narrates each stage of this crucial battle through multiple viewpoints. Listen to his conversation with Michael, from 23 June 2017. The book was published on 6 June 2017.

Rooted in humorous stories distilled with bits of sagely honest advice, The Journey goes beyond the well-chronicled college admissions madness and cuts to the core of parental angst with concrete suggestions for preparing children for a competitive and rapidly changing world. Listen to Michael's conversation with college admissions strategist Greg Kaplan, author of "The Journey: How to Prepare Kids for a Competitive and Changing World." Original air date 8 May 2024. The book was published on 7 May 2024.

Is there "another 1968" full of protests coming our way this year, with Democrats convening in Chicago this summer to nominate their candidate for president? Michael talks to Historian James Traub, who recounts Hubert Humphrey’s role as a liberal hero of twentieth-century America in "True Believer: Hubert Humphrey's Quest for a More Just America." Original air date 6 May 2024. The book was published on 13 February 2024.

This is a special conversation we like to call a "Reverse Book Club." It is political commentator Mike Barnicle interviewing Michael about his own book, "Talk: A Novel" in front of a studio audience. The book is The Primary Colors of 2014- an explosive novel exposing the inner workings of conservative talk radio and campaign politics. Original air date 8 May 2014. The book was published on 6 May 2014.

Michael Hayden is a retired United States Air Force four-star general and former Director of the National Security Agency, Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. He joins the podcast to discuss his book: "The Assault on Intelligence: American National Security in an Age of Lies." Original air date 16 May 2018. The book was published 01 May 2018.

For generations, we have focused on the individual drivers of success: passion, hard work, talent, and luck. But today, success is increasingly dependent on how we interact with others. It turns out that at work, most people operate as either takers, matchers, or givers. Whereas takers strive to get as much as possible from others and matchers aim to trade evenly, givers are the rare breed of people who contribute to others without expecting anything in return. Listen to Michael's conversation with UPenn Wharton Professor Adam Grant, he is the school's youngest professor to ever achieve tenure, is top-rated by his students, and is author of "Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success." Original air date 26 April 2013. The book was published on 9 April 2013.

A must-have guide to optimizing your life for wealth and success. Today's workers have more opportunities and mobility than any generation before. They also face unprecedented challenges, including inflation, labor and housing shortages, and climate volatility. Even the notion of retirement is undergoing a profound rethink, as our life spans extend and our relationship with work evolves. In this environment, the tried-and-true financial advice our parents followed no longer applies. It's time for a new playbook. NYU Professor Scott Galloway joins Michael with his new book, "The Algebra of Wealth: A Simple Formula for Financial Security." Original air date 29 April 2024. The book was published on 23 April 2024.

A hilarious, fascinating, and revealing view of the national pastime from the 1930's to the present, "Pouring Six Beers at a Time: And Other Stories from a Lifetime in Baseball" offers a treasure trove of stories by a man once dubbed the P. T. Barnum of Major League Baseball, Philadelphia Phillies Chairman emeritus Bill Giles. Michael spoke to him when he was chair of the club in 2007. Original air date 18 June 2007. The book was published on 1 April 2007.

There is a troubling trend happening in teenage sex. Michael talks to Indiana University Professor Dr. Debby Herbenick, Ph.D, co-author of "Yes, Your Kid: What Parents Need to Know About Today's Teens and Sex." Original air date 22 April 2024. The book was published on 14 November 2023.

For those starting out in their careers—and those who wish to advance more quickly—this is a delightfully fussy guide to the hidden rules of the road in the workplace and in life. As bestselling author and social historian Charles Murray explains, at senior levels of an organization there are curmudgeons everywhere, judging your every move. Yet it is their good opinion you need to win if you hope to get ahead. He joins Michael to discuss "The Curmudgeon's Guide to Getting Ahead: Dos and Don'ts of Right Behavior, Tough Thinking, Clear Writing, and Living a Good Life." Original air date 10 April 2014. The book was published on 8 April 2014.

What's the recipe for happiness? If you listen to liberal elites or red pill influencers, you'd say it's making money, living for yourself, and staying single without kids—and you'd be wrong. Nothing predicts happiness better than a good marriage. University of Virginia Professor Brad Wilcox joins Michael with his new book "Get Married: Why Americans Must Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families, and Save Civilization." Original air date 15 April 2024. The book was published on 13 February 2024.