The Story Of How Samuel Colt Made Men Equal
Jim Rasenberger’s biography of Samuel Colt, ‘Revolver,’ has lots of interesting details about the colorful inventor of the six-shooter but unfairly faults Colt for sins against present-day leftist orthodoxy.
The Three Sisters Who Explain Modern China
Jung Chang’s book, ‘Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister,’ tells the story of how three influential women navigated pivotal moments in 20th century China and left their mark on history.
Clarence Thomas’s Life Repudiates The Left’s Hatred Of America
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas faced down a ‘high-tech lynching’ by the same people who now claim to be America’s arbiters of racial justice. He has every reason to be vindictive and chooses not to be.
From Podcasts To Books To Music, 15 Ways To Dive Deeper Into The ‘Mister Rogers’ Renaissance
As a songwriter and storyteller, theologian and educator, family man and public figure, Fred Rogers should be known for much more than wearing a red cardigan.
David Ben-Gurion And The Triumph Of Israeli Nationalism
Historian Tom Segev’s new biography of the Israeli prime minister and Zionist hero, ‘A State at Any Cost: The Life of David Ben-Gurion,’ chronicles a series of important 20th-century episodes that have salience for today.
A Supreme Court Biography That Should Be Held In Contempt
CNN legal analyst Joan Biskupic’s biography of Chief Justice John Roberts, ‘The Chief,’ is so preoccupied with disagreeing with the man that it doesn’t provide much insight into Roberts’s life and rulings.
How Charles De Gaulle Made France Great Again
Julian Jackson’s new biography of French general and statesman Charles de Gaulle illustrates how many lessons from revitalizing France after World War II can help fix present-day America.
It’s A Perfect Time To Rediscover The Virtues Of Andrew Jackson
Bradley Birzer’s ‘In Defense of Andrew Jackson’ offers a lucid portrait of an American president who is often misunderstood and neglected, even by the conservatives who should most admire him.
The Sound Of Slowhand Clapping Befits The New Eric Clapton Biography
A new biography by Philip Norman, ‘Slowhand: The Life and Music of Eric Clapton,’ dwells on the salacious details of one of our most beloved rock stars but doesn’t adequately celebrate his talent.
Rod Serling Was So Much More Than ‘The Twilight Zone’
Nicholas Parisi’s new biography, ‘Rod Serling: His Life, Work, and Imagination,’ fails to present a complete picture of the legendary screenwriter who did his best work outside the TV show that made him famous.
A Detailed, Nonpartisan Look At The Story-book Life Of Ronald Reagan
On this episode of the Federalist Radio Hour, Bob Spitz, an American biographer, takes a fresh look at the life story of President Reagan.
‘Unbroken’ Sequel Explores How Louis Zamperini Came Back From Hell
Veteran and Olympic athlete Louis Zamperini seeks to overcome loss, guilt, and dark visions of his past in the sequel to ‘Unbroken.’
Interview: Joseph Tartakovsky On The 10 Lives Who Shaped Our Constitution
Joseph Tartakovsky’s new book, ‘The Lives of the Constitution,’ chronicles the lives and works of 10 Americans who altered or contributed to our supreme law.
Meet The Politics And Pugilism Of Science Fiction Provocateur Harlan Ellison
With ‘A Lit Fuse: The Provocative Life of Harlan Ellison,’ author Nat Segaloff tries to write a biography of an author whose enormous talent is often outshone by his anger and progressive politics.
In Ron Chernow’s ‘Grant,’ Ulysses S. Grant Finally Gets His Due
In his new biography ‘Grant,’ Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Ron Chernow takes a fresh look at the checkered reputation of the Civil War hero and 18th president to restore his rightful place among great American leaders.
George Weigel Illuminates Pope John Paul II And His ‘Witness To The Witness’
In George Weigel’s latest biography of John Paul II, he contemplates how his own life intersected with the historically consequential pope and provides ‘Lessons in Hope’ along the way.
What The Writings Of H.L. Mencken Can Tell Us About Religion And Politics Today
Professor D.G. Hart joins Federalist Radio to discuss the life and work of American cultural critic and famous agnostic, H.L. Mencken.
How Bill Clinton’s Presidency Gave Rise To Opinion Journalism
In his new Bill Clinton biography, Michael Tomasky struggles with the problem of how to write about a recent president without resorting to punditry—and doesn’t always succeed.