
Book Club with Michael Smerconish
Reading for Independent Minds. Unlike many author interviews, if Michael didn't actually read the book, you won't hear about it. If he read it, you'll hear it and you'll love it. Insights into a wide range of topics, including many titles you've probably never heard of. The perfect book is just one listen away.
Latest episodes

Jun 9, 2023 • 16min
Brett Forrest: "Lost Son"
This story is the result of incredible reporting, and it is written like a thriller: "A young American lost in Russia. An FBI-cover up. A mystery leading from Washington to the heart of the Kremlin's war in Ukraine." Listen to Michael's conversation with Wall Street Journal National Security Reporter Brett Forrest, author of "Lost Son: An American Family Trapped Inside the FBI's Secret Wars." Original air date 7 June 2023. The book was published on 23 May 2023.

Jun 7, 2023 • 20min
Thomas Patterson: "Is the Republican Party Destroying Itself?"
Michael's conversation with Harvard Kennedy School Professor Thomas E. Patterson, author of "Is the Republican Party Destroying Itself? And why it needs to reclaim its conservative ideals." Original air date 10 July 2020. The book was published on 24 January 2020.

Jun 6, 2023 • 19min
Jeffrey Archer: "Tell Tale"
New York Times Bestselling Author Lord Jeffrey Archer talks with Michael about his collection of short stories, "Tell Tale: Stories." Listen for a great conversation and learn about the insight into the people he has met, the stories he has come across and the countries he has visited. Original air date 10 November 2017. The book was published on 24 October 2017.

Jun 2, 2023 • 22min
Matt Bai: "All the Truth Is Out"
Amidst a current conversation on how Florida Governor Ron DeSantis pronounces his name, and how some celebrities change their names, brings back the memory of this conversation about former presidential candidate Gary Hart, who shortened his last name from Hartpence. Michael spoke to Matt Bai in 2014 about his book "All the Truth Is Out: The Week Politics Went Tabloid." Original air date 2 October 2014. The book was published on 30 September 2014.

May 31, 2023 • 17min
Vincent Bugliosi: "Divinity of Doubt"
Michael talks with the attorney who prosecuted Charles Manson among many others, Vincent Bugliosi, author of "Divinity of Doubt: The God Question." Mr. Bugliosi passed away in 2015. He was the Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County from 1964-1972. Original air date April 2011. The book was published in April 2011.

May 26, 2023 • 13min
Howard Fishman: "To Anyone Who Ever Asks"
A mysterious, true story about a New York City singer-songwriter. Connie Converse is someone you've likely never heard of, but you need to hear her story. Michael gets it in conversation with Howard Fishman, author of "To Anyone Who Ever Asks: The Life, Music, and Mystery of Connie Converse." Original air date 4 May 2023. The book was published on 2 May 2023.

May 25, 2023 • 19min
Steven Brill: "America's Bitter Pill"
Michael talks with Court TV founder, journalist and author Steven Brill about "America's Bitter Pill: Money, Politics, Backroom Deals, and the Fight to Fix Our Broken Healthcare System." Original air date 9 January 2015. The book was published on 5 January 2015.

May 22, 2023 • 16min
David Grann: "Killers of the Flower Moon"
With the news that Martin Scorcese's "Killers of the Flower Moon" made a huge splash at the Cannes Film Festival, it's a good time to hear Michael's conversation with the author of the book that the movie - due in theatres in October 2023 - is based on. Listen here to David Grann, New York Times Bestselling author of "Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI." Original air date 28 May 2017. The book was published on 18 April 2017.

May 17, 2023 • 25min
George Papadopoulos: Deep State Target
Hillary Clinton's emails, Spygate, Mueller Investigation....he was a target of it all. Former Trump Advisor George Papadopoulos tells his story in "Deep State Target: How I Got Caught in the Crosshairs of the Plot to Bring Down President Trump." Original air date 6 May 2019. The book was published on 26 March 2019.

May 15, 2023 • 17min
Richard Clarke: "Pinnacle Event"
"Pinnacle Event" is the Pentagon code for a nuclear threat - who better to write a fiction bestseller with that same title than Richard Clarke, the longtime national security and counterterrorism official. Listen to his conversation with Michael about this international thriller. Original air date 20 May 2015. The book was published on 19 May 2015.