Free Daily Podcast Summary
C-SPAN Bookshelf: Daily Summaries Delivered
by C-SPAN
The C-SPAN Bookshelf podcast feed makes it easy for you to listen to all of the C-SPAN podcast episodes about nonfiction books. Each week we gather episodes from the different C-SPAN podcasts that feature authors talking about history, biography, current events, and culture to make it easier to discover the episodes and listen. If you like nonfiction books, follow this podcast feed so you never miss an episode!
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 4 days ago1h 2m
Booknotes+: Walter Stahr, "William Howard Taft"
Historian Walter Stahr has written books on John Jay, William Henry Seward, Edwin Stanton, and Salmon Chase. Now comes his biography of America's 27th president, William Howard Taft, who subsequently also served as the 10th Chief Justice of the United States. Walter Stahr writes at the beginning of his book: "Taft was a modest conservative president, one who avoided foreign wars, worked closely with our allies, lowered tariff rates, and reduced the federal deficit." Stahr also writes that "Taft didn't agree with his predecessor, Theodore Roosevelt, that the president had some vague power to pursue the public good." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 5 days ago1h 2m
Q&A: Kelly Stewart-Harcourt & Aaron Burns, "Jimmy"
The actor Jimmy Stewart left great success in Hollywood in 1941 to become an officer in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. A licensed pilot, he flew B-24 bomber missions over Germany, retiring as a Brigadier General in the Air Force reserves in 1968. Executive producer Kelly Stewart-Harcourt, daughter of Jimmy Stewart, and director Aaron Burns discuss their new movie "Jimmy," a biopic of Stewart's World War II service, his difficult yet triumphal return to Hollywood, and the making of the 1946 Christmas classic "It's a Wonderful Life." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 5 days ago45 min
Annette Gordon-Reed & Douglas Brinkley on the People and Events That Shaped America
Who are the most influential figures in American history, and which events have shaped the nation we know today? Award-winning, bestselling historians Annette Gordon-Reed and Douglas Brinkley join host David M. Rubenstein at the National Book Festival for a wide-ranging conversation about the people, defining moments, and turning points in U.S. history. Together, they explore America's past and the lasting impact of the individuals and events that helped shape the country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 6 days ago1h 5m
AW: "The Art of the Obituary" with NYT Obituarist, Sam Roberts
"Can we say, 'In a crocodile accident?'" This and many other stories documenting not just how people died, but how they lived - in a book from New York Times obit writer Sam Roberts. He was interviewed by Director of the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute Harold Holzer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 1 weeks ago1h 7m
BN+: Shawn Gude, "American Socialist"
Eugene V. Debs ran for President of the United States as a socialist five times. The first in 1900, the last in 1920, when he received close to a million votes. Shawn Gude, a native of Iowa, a former editor of Jacobin, and a current resident of New York City, is the author of a Debs biography titled "American Socialist." In his introduction, Gude writes: "The story of Eugene V. Debs' life is the story of one man's radicalization, and of the country he helped radicalize in turn." Debs dropped out of school at age 14. His base of operations and his hometown was Terre Haute, Indiana. Shawn Gude tells about his union activities, his presidential campaigns, and why he was sent to prison twice, once for six months and the second time for over two years, before his sentence was commuted by President Harding in the early 1920s. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 1 weeks ago1h 2m
Q&A: Dana Bash, "The Elections That Changed the World"
CNN Chief Political Correspondent Dana Bash, co-author of "The Elections That Changed the World," looks at elections going back to ancient Rome that have had an outsized impact on humanity. She discusses the elections of Lincoln, Hitler, Churchill, Nelson Mandela, and others. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 1 weeks ago59 min
America's Book Club: Newt Gingrich on His Political Career, Congress, and Writing More Than 40 Book
Author and former Republican Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (1995-99) joins David M. Rubenstein to discuss his extensive career in Congress and writing more than 40 books on topics ranging from political commentary to alternative history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 1 weeks ago1h 1m
AW: Jill Lepore on "The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State"
Harvard historian Jill Lepore explores how digital technology is re-shaping society. She was interviewed by WPVI-TV anchor Tamala Edwards at the Free Library of Philadelphia in September. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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About C-SPAN Bookshelf
The C-SPAN Bookshelf podcast feed makes it easy for you to listen to all of the C-SPAN podcast episodes about nonfiction books. Each week we gather episodes from the different C-SPAN podcasts that feature authors talking about history, biography, current events, and culture to make it easier to discover the episodes and listen. If you like nonfiction books, follow this podcast feed so you never miss an episode!
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's C-SPAN Bookshelf daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of C-SPAN Bookshelf as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the C-SPAN Bookshelf podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official C-SPAN Bookshelf product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by C-SPAN.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts, any in the catalog. Basic raises that to 15, Pro to 40 and Max to 100. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does C-SPAN Bookshelf release new episodes?
C-SPAN Bookshelf publishes daily. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does C-SPAN Bookshelf cover?
C-SPAN Bookshelf covers topics including News, Arts, Books, Politics. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
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