Having Read That with Brian Vakulskas

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Sioux City Talk Radio 1360am 94.9fm

  1. 10/21/2025

    BRAD MELTZER – THE NAZI CONSPIRACY: The Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill (Young Reader’s Edition)

    Author: Brad Meltzer (and Josh Mensch) Book: THE NAZI CONSPIRACY: The Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill (Young Reader’s Edition) Publishing: Scholastic Focus (October 21, 2025) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Brad_Meltzer_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): New York Times bestselling authors Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch adapt their instant bestseller, The Nazi Conspiracy, for young readers to bring them the heart-pounding story of the assassination plot that nearly changed the course of history.It’s 1943. Nazi Germany and its Axis power allies are ravaging Europe and the Pacific with a terrible war. At this juncture, President Franklin Roosevelt has one critical goal: a face-to-face meeting with his allies, Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill. The first ever meeting of the “Big Three” is set to take place in Tehran, Iran, where the leaders of the three great superpowers will discuss and decide on some of the most crucial strategic details of the war. But when the Nazis learn about the meeting, they form their own secret, deadly plan: an assassination plot that would forever change history…if they’re successful. This riveting true story, filled with daring rescues and high stakes intrigue, explains how this pivotal meeting in Tehran changed the course of World War II, and how the Nazi conspiracy to assassinate the Allied leaders nearly led to world-shattering disaster. Renowned authors Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch bring their New York Times bestseller, The Nazi Conspiracy, to young readers for the first time with this action-packed page-turner that offers an informative overview of World War II and details the heart-pounding true story of the Nazi plot to assassinate Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill at the height of World War II. Scholastic Focus is the premier home of thoroughly researched, beautifully written, and thoughtfully designed works of narrative nonfiction aimed at middle-grade and young adult readers. These books help readers learn about the world in which they live and develop their critical thinking skills, so that they may become dynamic citizens who are able to analyze and understand our past, participate in essential discussions about our present, and work to grow and build our future. The post BRAD MELTZER – THE NAZI CONSPIRACY: The Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill (Young Reader’s Edition) appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

    14 min

  2. 10/21/2025

    LUCAS E. MOREL & JONATHAN W. WHITE – MEASURING THE MAN: The Writings of Frederick Douglass on Abraham Lincoln

    Co-Editors: Lucas  E. Morel & Jonathan W. White Book: MEASURING THE MAN: The Writings of Frederick Douglass on Abraham Lincoln Publishing: Reedy Press (October 1, 2025) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Lucas_Morel_Jonathan_White_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): In Measuring the Man, acclaimed scholars Lucas E. Morel and Jonathan W. White assemble Frederick Douglass’s most meaningful and poignant statements about Abraham Lincoln, including a dozen newly discovered documents that have not been seen for 160 years. Readers will encounter the distrust and vitriol Douglass directed at Lincoln throughout much of the Civil War, including his anger and frustration with the president as he moved slowly, but methodically, toward emancipation. Douglass’s writings also reveal how three personal interactions between these two great men led to powerful feelings of friendship and mutual admiration. After Lincoln’s assassination—as Jim Crow laws and political violence gutted the hard-won rights of Black Americans—Douglass expressed greater appreciation for Lincoln’s statesmanship during the Civil War and praised him as a model for postwar America. There is no one better than Frederick Douglass to offer a critical assessment of the Great Emancipator and savior of the Union. His reflections not only convey Lincoln’s contributions to the nation but also teach today’s generation timely lessons on how to fulfill the promise of the American republic. Measuring the Man sheds new light on the most critical period of American history and will transform the way we think about these two extraordinary leaders. The post LUCAS E. MOREL & JONATHAN W. WHITE – MEASURING THE MAN: The Writings of Frederick Douglass on Abraham Lincoln appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

    14 min

  3. 09/30/2025

    ELIZABETH GEORGE – A SLOWLY DYING CAUSE: A Lynley Novel

    Author: Elizabeth George Book: A SLOWLY DYING CAUSE: A Lynley Novel Publishing: Viking (September 23, 2025) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Elizabeth_George_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): A new and highly anticipated Inspector Lynley TV series releasing this fall from BritBox Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers and Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley are back in the next Lynley novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth George. Michael Lobb has just been found dead on the floor of his family’s tin & pewter workshop. It’s suspicious enough that his body was found by a representative of Cornwall EcoMining, a company keen on acquiring his family’s land, and it’s made even worse when he’s revealed to have been the majority owner of the business and the sole obstacle preventing a deal from being made. But it doesn’t take long for Inspector Beatrice Hannaford to unearth the layers of estrangement that surrounded Michael in his final days, pointing suspicions elsewhere. In comes Kayla, a young woman half Michael’s age, who has just been made his widow. Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers are brought in to help solve the crime and search for justice in a community where lust, greed, and family traditions collide with devastating consequences. The post ELIZABETH GEORGE – A SLOWLY DYING CAUSE: A Lynley Novel appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

    14 min

  4. 08/26/2025

    LISA GARDNER – KISS HER GOODBYE: A Novel

    Author: Lisa Gardner Book: KISS HER GOODBYE: A Novel Publishing: Grand Central Publishing (August 12, 2025) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Lisa_Gardner_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): A New York Times bestselling author returns with the latest installment in the addictive Frankie Elkin series, in which Frankie is called to Tucson, Arizona, to find a missing Afghan refugee, whose friend suspects she is in grave danger—before it is too late. “Timely and completely gripping.” (Louise Penny, New York Times bestselling author) Recent Afghan refugee and young mother Sabera Ahmadi was last seen exiting her place of work three weeks ago. The local police have yet to open a case, while her older, domineering husband seems unconcerned. At the insistence of Sabera’s closest friend, missing persons expert Frankie Elkin agrees to take up the search just in time for a video of Sabera to surface—showing her walking away from the scene of a brutal double murder. Frankie quickly notes there’s much more to the Ahmadi family than meets the eye. The father Isaad is a brilliant mathematician, Sabera a gifted linguist, and their little girl Zahra has an uncanny ability to remember anything she sees. Which given everything that has happened during the girl’s short life, may be a terrible curse. When Isaad also disappears under mysterious circumstances and an attempt is made on Zahra’s life, Frankie realizes she must crack the code of this family’s horrific past. Someone is coming for the Ahmadis. And violence is clearly an option. When everything is on the line, how far would you go to protect the ones you love? Frankie is about to find out. The post LISA GARDNER – KISS HER GOODBYE: A Novel appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

    11 min

  5. 08/11/2025

    MITCH HARRIS – MY PRIVATE WAR: Relentlessly Chasing a Dream – From the Navy to the Major Leagues

    Author: Mitch Harris Book: MY PRIVATE WAR: Relentlessly Chasing a Dream – From the Navy to the Major Leagues Publishing: LT4D, LLC (July 6, 2025) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Mitch_Harris_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): “Making it to the big leagues isn’t just about talent. It takes grit, sacrifice, and an unshakable belief in yourself and in God’s plan, especially when the odds are against you. My Private War captures Mitch’s journey perfectly. It’s a powerful reminder that perseverance, determination, and faith can take you further than you ever imagined.” — John Smoltz HALL OF FAME PITCHER, ATLANTA BRAVES “Mitch Harris’ journey is one of faith, family, military service, and an unyielding love for baseball. Through every challenge, he remained honest about his struggles but never lost sight of his dream. With determination and resilience, he proved that true heroes aren’t just made on the field—but in life itself.” — Jim “The Rookie” Morris FORMER PITCHER, TAMPA BAY RAYS On the electrifying night of April 25, 2015, inside Milwaukee’s Miller Park, 29-year-old Mitch Harris achieved what many said was impossible: pitching in the Major Leagues. It took more than a powerful right arm. It also took remarkable tenacity for Harris to battle through daunting odds, heartbreak, doubt, and the persistent resistance of the United States Navy. In My Private War, Harris delivers a raw and inspiring account of his extraordinary journey from Navy lieutenant to the St. Louis Cardinals’ lineup, overcoming five years away from the game and the rapid aging of his arm to become the first Naval Academy graduate to play in the big leagues in 94 years. But this is more than a baseball story. It is a story about understanding the difference between impossible and improbable, and a testament to perseverance and the power of chasing a dream, even when the world tells you it’s too late. The post MITCH HARRIS – MY PRIVATE WAR: Relentlessly Chasing a Dream – From the Navy to the Major Leagues appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

    15 min

  6. 08/11/2025

    STEVE BERRY – THE LIST: A Novel of Suspense

    Author: Steve Berry Book: THE LIST: A Novel of Suspense Publishing: ‎ Grand Central Publishing (July 22, 2025) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Steve_Berry_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): In the vein of David Baldacci, John Grisham, and Harlan Coben—this is Steve Berry like you’ve never read him before. After a ten-year self-imposed exile, Brent Walker is returning home to Concord, a quaint town in central Georgia nestled close to the Savannah River. Two years ago, his father died, and now Brent, hired by Southern Republic Pulp and Paper Company as its assistant general counsel, is returning to care for his ailing mother. For decades, Southern Republic has invested heavily in Concord, creating a thriving community where its employees live, work, and retire. But the genteel sheen of this quiet town is deceiving, and when a list of cryptic code surfaces, Brent starts to see the cracks. Southern Republic’s success is based largely on a highly unorthodox and deadly system to control costs, known only to the three owners of the company.  Now, one of them, Christopher Bozin, has had a change of heart. Brent’s return to Concord, a move Bozin personally orchestrated, provides his conscience with a chance at redemption. So a plan is set into motion, one that will not only criminally implicate Bozin’s two partners, but also place Brent Walker square in the crosshairs of men who want him dead—with only one course left available. The post STEVE BERRY – THE LIST: A Novel of Suspense appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

    10 min

  7. 06/02/2025

    M.P. WOODWARD – TOM CLANCY LINE OF DEMARCATION: A Jack Ryan Jr. Novel

    Author: M.P. Woodward Book: TOM CLANCY LINE OF DEMARCATION: A Jack Ryan Jr. Novel Publishing:  G.P. Putnam’s Sons (May 20, 2025) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/MP_Woodward_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): The discovery of an oil field off the coast of Guyana plunges Jack Ryan, Jr into a cauldron of lies in the latest entry in this New York Times bestselling series. It starts with the destruction of a US Coast Guard cutter and the loss of her entire crew. But the USCG Claiborne was on an innocuous mission to open a sea lane between an oil field off the coast of South America and the refineries of southern Louisiana. The destruction of the ship, tragic as it is, won’t stop that mission from continuing. So who would sacrifice twenty-two men and women just to slow down the plan? That’s the question plaguing Jack Ryan Jr. He’s in Guyana to work a deal to get his company, Hendley Associates, in on the ground floor of this new discovery, but Russia’s Wagner Group and a pack of Venezuelan narco-terrorists have other ideas—and will risk war with the United States to see them through. It’s up to Jack to identify the killers before they draw a bead on him, but how can he do that when the line of demarcation between friend and foe is constantly shifting? The post M.P. WOODWARD – TOM CLANCY LINE OF DEMARCATION: A Jack Ryan Jr. Novel appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

    14 min

  8. 05/26/2025

    LAURENCE LEAMER – WARHOL’S MUSES: The Artists, Misfits, and Superstars Destroyed by the Factory Fame Machine

    Author: Laurence Leamer Book: WARHOL’S MUSES: The Artists, Misfits, and Superstars Destroyed by the Factory Fame Machine Publishing: ‎ G.P. Putnam’s Sons (May 6, 2025) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Laurence_Leamer_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): ONE OF “12 NEW NONFICTION BOOKS YOU NEED TO READ IN 2025”—THE OBSERVER A “MUST-READ” BOOK OF SPRING 2025 – TOWN & COUNTRY ONE OF “25 BOOKS TO READ IN 2025”—TORONTO STAR From the New York Times bestselling author of Capote’s Women comes an astonishing account of the revolutionary artist Andy Warhol and his scandalous relationships with the ten women he deemed his “Superstars”. “Now and then, someone would accuse me of being evil,” Andy Warhol confessed, “of letting people destroy themselves while I watched, just so I could film them.” Obsessed with celebrity, the silver-wigged artistic icon created an ever-evolving entourage of stunning women he dubbed his “Superstars”—Baby Jane Holzer, Edie Sedgwick, Nico, Ultra Violet, Viva, Brigid Berlin, Ingrid Superstar, International Velvet, Mary Woronov, and Candy Darling. He gave several of them new names and manipulated their beauty and talent for his art and social status with no regard for their safety, their dignity, or their lives. In Warhol’s Muses, bestselling biographer Laurence Leamer shines a spotlight on the complex women who inspired and starred in Warhol’s legendary underground films—The Chelsea Girls, The Nude Restaurant, and Blue Movie, among others. Drawn by the siren call of Manhattan life in the sixties, they each left their protected enclaves and ventured to a new world, Warhol’s famed Factory, having no sense that they would never be able to return to their old homes and familiar ways again. Sex was casual, drugs were ubiquitous, parties were wild, and to Warhol, everyone was transient, temporary, and replaceable. It was a dangerous game he played with the women around him, and on a warm June day in 1968, someone entered the Factory and shot him, changing his life forever. Warhol’s Muses explores the lives of ten endlessly intriguing women, transports us to a turbulent and transformative era, and uncovers the life and work of one of the most legendary artists of all time. The post LAURENCE LEAMER – WARHOL’S MUSES: The Artists, Misfits, and Superstars Destroyed by the Factory Fame Machine appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

    14 min
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Sioux City Talk Radio 1360am 94.9fm

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