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Here they are, the books I don’t want you to miss for June 2026!

First, we have The Summer of Death by Geoff Williams. Did you know that in 1936 there was a deadly heatwave that killed thousands of Americans? Of course, you didn’t and neither did I! Thankfully, we have Geoff Williams to not only tell this story, but to know when to crack a joke and when to take things seriously.

Next is the Wreck of the Mentor by Eric Jay Dolin. Dolin is one of my favorite writers and he has done it again. In 1832, the whaleship Mentor wrecked on a remote reef in the Western Pacific and then it somehow got worse for those who survived. It’s simple folks, if you are into maritime survival stories like the Wager or Dolin’s previous book Left for Dead, you have to pick this one up.

Next we have the Longest Hardest Race by Eric Moskowitz. Today, we have NASCAR, but back in 1909 long distance races were all the rage. They were also absolutely insane as Moskowitz describes in this one. And of course, if we are talking early automobiles, Henry Ford is going to be a big part. And as always, he won’t be keeping his hands clean, literally or figuratively.

Next is Fires in the Night by Matthew Wolfe. In the 1990s, there was a group known as the Earth Liberation Front of ELF. They liked setting things on fire, especially in the Pacific Northwest where Wolfe tells the story about how it all happened and what was the fallout. Wolfe nails this book because he never takes sides, but he’s not above pointing out where both sides can fail in a cultural divide. 

For our final new book, we have the American School of Spies by Stephan Talty. Talty is another one of my favorites and you should read anything with his name on it. In this one, he looks at the Americans flung into Greece during World War II to wreak some havoc while also protecting some priceless art. This one has got everything!

For my classic pick of the month, I am going with Island of the Lost by Joan Druett. If you aren’t familiar with Druett, she is a New Zealand writer who might as well be crowned the queen of maritime history, especially around Australia and New Zealand. Island of the Lost rekindled my love of reading back in the day. It’s part survival, part leadership parable. In 1864, the schooner Grafton wrecks on Auckland Island. The survivors have no hope of rescue. It comes down to whether or not the captain can keep the men together, survive, and find a way home. Sounds crazy enough, but guess what? At the same exact time the Grafton survivors are battling for their lives, a ship called Invercauld wrecks on the same island. The survivors never mingle, but the actions of each captain would be the difference between life and death. One for good, one for bad.

That’s it for this month! Let me know what you think of these books and if you read them yourself. Until next time nerds, stay cool.

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Let's go down to the river! True Crime King Gregg Olsen joins me to talk By the River's Edge: A True Story of Identity and Serial Murder.

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Let's make some money! Megan Gorman joins me to talk All the Presidents' Money: How the Men Who Governed America Governed Their Money.

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Let's set sail! David Reynolds joins me to talk Two Ships: Jamestown 1619, Plymouth 1620, and the Struggle for the Soul of America.

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Let's crash! Liaquat Ahamed joins me to talk 1873: The Rothschilds, the First Great Depression, and the Making of the Modern World.

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Stalin's Apostles by Antonia Senior 

Hammer of the Gods by Don Hollway 

The Fallen by Louise Brangan 

American Men by Jordan Ritter Conn

Margaret Beaufort by Lauren Johnson 

One of Us by Asne Seierstad 

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Let's survive! Thomas Asbridge joins me to talk The Black Death: A Global History of Humanity's Most Devastating Pandemic.

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Let's strike oil! Douglas Brunt joins me to talk The Lost Empire of Emanuel Nobel: Romanovs, Revolutionaries, and the Forgotten Titan Who Fueled the World.

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Let's go for a run! Martin Dugard returns to talk The Long Run: Steve Prefontaine, Frank Shorter, Joan Benoit, Grete Waitz, and the Decade That Made the Marathon Cool.

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Let's Greek it up! Adrian Goldsworthy joins me to talk Athens and Sparta: The Rivalry That Shaped Ancient Greece.

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