You know the expression “Like a bull in a china shop”? Well, that phrase came to mind while we were working on our show this week -- and not because any of us were more clumsy than usual in the studios.

It's because we’ve been talking about the children’s book “The Story of Ferdinand”, the classic children’s book with a bright red cover, about the little bull who just wants to smell flowers. It was published in 1936, at the dawn of the Spanish Civil War. And almost immediately, it was a success.

But this nice little story about a sweet-hearted bull wasn't just for kids. It managed to upset the likes of Franco, Mussolini, and Hitler. Here's why.

From With Good Reason, the Short Listen combines compelling interviews with short-form storytelling to bring the best of each week's episode in around five minutes.