Louis Armstrong, one of history’s most beloved and influential jazz musicians, was rarely seen without his Star of David necklace. While many assumed it was simply a fashion statement, Armstrong wore it as a deeply personal tribute to the Jewish family … Continue reading
The Brill Building: A Fabled Landmark in the Heart of New York One of the joys of spending so much time in New York is discovering historic spots amidst the ever-changing landscape. I love visiting the New Amsterdam Theater to see … Continue reading
The West Wing is my favorite TV show. As a professional historian focusing on presidential elections and American political history, I admire Aaron Sorkin’s patriotic and idealistic writing about government. It’s easy to be cynical about politicians, but Sorkin created … Continue reading
The Man by Irving Wallace: A Visionary Novel of Its Time The first “adult book” I ever read was The Man by Irving Wallace. It’s a sprawling 788-page novel, written in 1964, about the first African-American President of the United States. … Continue reading
I just finished reading Infinite Tuesday, Michael Nesmith’s autobiography. For no particular reason, a song he wrote, “Some of Shelley’s Blues,” was stuck in my head. This led me to read his autobiography—I’m so glad I did. Although he’s best … Continue reading