Lectures in History

FEED DROP: ABC David Grann on Killers of the Flower Moon and America’s Hidden History

Nov 8, 2025
David Grann, a bestselling nonfiction author known for his investigative storytelling, joins David M. Rubenstein to delve into his acclaimed works. Grann explores the tragic history of the Osage murders in 'Killers of the Flower Moon,' revealing systemic exploitation and the early FBI's shocking findings. He also shares insights from 'The Wager,' detailing a gripping shipwreck saga and its themes of truth versus myth. With a fascinating discussion on his writing process, Grann emphasizes the importance of community engagement and authentic narratives.
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ANECDOTE

Discovery In A Granddaughter's Chest

  • David Grann recounted opening a chest of Percy Fawcett's muddy journals in Wales that revealed expedition clues.
  • Those primary documents became the seed for his book The Lost City of Z and field research in the Amazon.
ANECDOTE

Going Back To Fawcett's Route

  • Grann described traveling to the southern Amazon in 2005 with a single guide and sat phone to follow Fawcett's route.
  • He stayed about two months living with indigenous Kalapalo communities and collecting oral histories.
INSIGHT

Oral History Validates Archive Clues

  • Kalapalo oral history matched written clues, including Fawcett playing a small flute, strengthening the case he was killed locally.
  • Combining archives with oral testimony provided the most plausible account of his fate.
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