© 2023 WYSO
Our Community. Our Nation. Our World.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Best of the Book Nook: Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture by Michael A. Bellesiles

Cover of the book "Arming America: The Origins of National Gun Culture"

In this episode, the Book Nook takes us back to the year 2000. After being featured in the New York Times, author Michael A. Bellesiles, sat down with Vick Mickunas for a live interview about his book "Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture"

Two decades ago when Michael A. Bellesiles came into our studios for a
live interview to discuss his book "Arming America: The Origins of a
National Gun Culture" he was on a roll. He had just been featured in the
New York Times. The book was getting some great reviews. In the near
future he would be receiving the Bancroft Prize, the most prestigious
award an American history book can receive.

But chinks were starting to appear in the armor that day. The author had
a gotten a figurative target placed on his back by groups like the NRA
and soon things would really begin really falling apart for him. The
controversy that erupted over the book was probably the most significant
history kerfuffle of that period.

I thought this was a good interview. Listen and see if you agree ...

The Book Nook on WYSO is presented by the Greene County Public Library with additional support from Washington-Centerville Public Library, Clark County Public Library, Dayton Metro Library, and Wright Memorial Public Library.

Vick Mickunas introduced the Book Nook author interview program for WYSO in 1994. Over the years he has produced more than 1500 interviews with writers, musicians, poets, politicians, and celebrities. Listen to the Book Nook with Vick Mickunas for intimate conversations about books with the writers who create them. Vick Mickunas reviews books for the Dayton Daily News and the Springfield News Sun.