The On The Bookshelf Podcast

A New History of the Indigenous People of the Americas

"THEY HAD NAMES: TRACING THE HISTORY OF THE NORTH AMERICAN
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE" by Dr. Nathaniel Jeanson, (MASTER BOOKS)

Dr. Nathaniel Jeanson holds a Ph.D. in Cell and Developmental Biology
from Harvard University and serves as a research biologist, author, and
speaker with Answers in Genesis. His groundbreaking work uses DNA
comparisons to uncover the true origin of species and trace human history,
leading to the publication of several acclaimed books, including his latest:
They Had Names: Tracing the History of the North American Indigenous
People. Dr. Jeanson is passionate about equipping audiences with a
scientific and biblical understanding of the world.
They Had Names by Dr. Nathaniel Jeanson offers a groundbreaking and
accessible account of the Indigenous peoples of North America—one that
reshapes conventional narratives through the lens of cutting-edge DNA
research. Clear, concise, and paradigm-shifting, Jeanson's work restores
dignity, respect, and historical identity to Indigenous communities by tracing
migrations, revealing ancestral connections, and offering a dramatically
revised view of North American history. They Had Names is a bold
contribution that challenges assumptions, reframes origins, and brings new clarity to a story long misunderstood.

Richard Battle introduces 40 AmeriCANS of the 19th Century

Award-winning author Richard Battle returns with an inspiring new release, ‘AmeriCANS Who Made America 19th Century – Growth, Division, and Reunification,’ a celebration of 40 ordinary men and women from the 19th century whose “AmeriCAN-do” spirit built the foundation of our great nation. Published by Headline Books, the second book in the ‘AmeriCANS Who Made America’ series, from Headline Books.

These stories highlight Americans who, in the face of enormous challenges, including the Civil War, persevered and triumphed, preserving the liberties gifted by our Founders for future generations. Readers will be inspired to tap into their potential and make meaningful contributions to our country.

Key highlights of “AmeriCANS Who Made America” include:

• In-Depth Biographies: Detailed accounts of 40 influential figures from the 1800s that exemplify the AmeriCAN-do spirit,

• Historical Context: Rich background information that positions each individual's contributions within the broader landscape of 19th-century America.

• Inspirational Narratives: Compelling stories of perseverance, innovation, and leadership along with 358 motivational and inspirational quotations that resonate with readers of all ages

• Engaging Illustrations: 57 beautifully crafted illustrations portraying historical events and personalities.

“This volume is the second book in the series, and it celebrates timeless AmeriCAN-do values and principles that are as valid today as ever,” says Battle. “Their legacy of liberty, perseverance, and responsibility is a call to action for every American—especially young adults ready to shape our future.”

With vivid storytelling and historical insight, Battle profiles unsung heroes who expanded freedom, grew prosperity, and passed down a nation worth celebrating. Their real-life examples of grit and grace offer more than just a history lesson, they offer hope, encouragement, and a blueprint for living with purpose today. More than a history book “AmeriCANS Who Made America” is a source of inspiration for anyone seeking to understand the American identity and the enduring values that continue to shape the nation. With its meticulously researched content and engaging storytelling, this book is a must-read for history enthusiasts, educators, students, and anyone who believes in the power of the human spirit to effect change.

 

Austin, Texas-based award-winning author Richard V. Battle has written twelve books and has been a public speaker on leadership, motivation, faith, sales, and volunteerism for over thirty years. He is an experienced corporate executive and non-profit leader who was appointed by former Texas Governor Rick Perry to serve in advisory councils and is the Master of Ceremonies for the annual Texas State Prayer Breakfast with Governor Greg Abbott. 

Rupta Gupta's new YA novel The Freedom Seeker

 

The Freedom Seeker

BY RUCHIRA GUPTA

 

In one girl’s relentless search for home and safety, The Freedom Seeker takes readers on a daring journey of displacement and immigration. Illuminated by the kindness of strangers across continents and the strength of the human spirit, renowned activist and award-winning documentarian Ruchira Gupta has written a powerful tale of resilience, hope, and the enduring strength of familial love. Did you know? The U.S. is home to the largest number of international migrants, with nearly one-fifth of the world’s total migrant population. Among them, 649,000 are recent

immigrant children aged 5 to 17. Globally, nearly 36 million children are among the world’s migrants, and half of the 34 million refugees and asylum seekers are children. Yet, these children are more than statistics; they are individuals with dreams, fears, and hopes. Stigma and bias often haunt migrant children like Simi, shaping how they are seen and treated both during and after their journeys.

 

About The Freedom Seeker: Twelve-year-old Simi Singh's life in Northern India is filled with love, family traditions, and ordinary worries about hockey competitions, school exams, and avoiding the snide remarks of her class nemesis. But when a single rock carrying a note crash through their window during their Id celebration, Simi’s life will shatter. Her Sikh father and Muslim mother’s interfaith marriage is becoming a target of violent vigilantes. Faced with rising threats, they must make an impossible choice: stay and risk their lives, or

flee their homeland. Simi’s father is the first of them to make the journey to the U.S., but when their petition to be reunited in America is denied, Simi and her mother are left with no choice but to attempt a perilous crossing through the Arizona desert with the help of a

smuggler. Throughout her nail-biting journey towards safety and belonging, Simi will face unthinkable danger— and when Simi and her mother are separated during the crossing, each led to believe the other is dead, she refuses to accept this fate. Alone in an unfamiliar

and unforgiving land, she must summon all her courage and resourcefulness to survive, find her mother, and reunite her shattered family.

 

 

Ruchira Gupta is a writer, feminist campaigner, professor at New York University and founder of the anti-sex-trafficking organization, Apne Aap Women Worldwide. She won the Clinton Global Citizen award in 2009, the Sera Bangali Award in 2012 and an Emmy for outstanding investigative journalism in 1996. She has helped more than twenty thousand girls and women in India exit prostitution systems and her experiences with this work inspired her debut novel I Kick and I Fly. She has also edited As If Women Matter, an anthology of Gloria Steinem’s essays, and written manuals on human trafficking for the UN Office for Drugs and Crime. Ruchira divides her time between Delhi and New York. Follow Ruchira at author website

Mark Gould's 29 Years in the MET orchestra-Tales from the Pit

What Kitchen Confidential did for restaurants, Mark Gould’s Tales from the Pit does for the Metropolitan Opera.

Mark Gould, former co-principal trumpet of the Met Orchestra for nearly three decades, pulls back the gold-leaf curtain on one of the world’s most storied—and most secretive—musical institutions. In this fearless, hilarious, and deeply human memoir, Gould recounts what it’s really like to spend 29 years buried beneath the stage in the biggest opera house on earth, sharing close quarters with world-famous singers, half-crazed conductors, dysfunctional brass sections, and enough backstage drama to rival anything happening onstage.

From his first terrifying solo call in Pagliacci, nearly derailed by a rampaging baritone and a bass drum solo gone rogue, to the ghostly shadow of a homeless man screaming “That was the f*ing Pilgrim’s Chorus from Tannhäuser!” as his accordion is flattened by a bus on Broadway—Gould’s stories are as outrageous as they are poignant.

Inside these pages, you’ll meet:

• James Levine, the musical titan whose career ended in scandal, and whose rise and fall is charted in gripping, unflinching detail.
• Carlos Kleiber, the elusive genius who conducted with the charisma of a prophet and the unpredictability of a storm.
• Luciano Pavarotti, a “tortured genius” whose voice shook the rafters—and whose backstage behavior could leave jaws on the floor.
• Kathleen Battle, a “diva’s diva,” whose reputation for unpredictability made her both revered and feared.
• Placido Domingo, Jon Vickers, Richard Tucker, Carlo Bergonzi, Leontyne Price, and many more, in portraits as vivid as they are honest.

You’ll also descend into the infamous MET trumpet section, where:

• Mel Broiles reigned as “commander and general,” chain-smoking, bourbon-swigging, and terrifying everyone within earshot.
• Harry Peers (a.k.a. “Weird Beard”) fell off chairs mid-performance and annotated trumpet parts in Cyrillic—while high.
• Lynn Berman once loaned Chet Baker a trumpet that immediately got pawned for heroin and introduced Leonard Bernstein to hash.
• Vincent Penzarella handled solos with a “don’t-look-down” intensity that kept everyone on edge.

There’s even a chapter titled “Playing Impaired” dedicated to the MET’s legendary drinkers (including one who ran nude down a New York street after being woken by the click of a revolver), and unforgettable tales of backstage chaos, trumpet trauma, late-night antics, flying chairs, derailed entrances, and stage calls gone hilariously wrong.

And through it all, Gould shares his deep love for the music—the swing of Verdi, the soul of Puccini, the thrill of Mahler fanfares—and his heartbreak at watching a grand tradition buckle under the weight of the 21st century.

Tales from the Pit is a no-holds-barred, laugh-out-loud, gasp-in-disbelief insider account of life in the world’s greatest opera house. It’s an homage to the grandeur of the art form and an exposé of the beautiful mess behind it. For musicians, opera lovers, and fans of wild backstage memoirs—this book is your front-row seat.

Ben Shapiro-Lions & Scavengers: The True History of America (and Her Critics)

ABOUT LIONS AND SCAVENGERS

#1 New York Times bestselling author Ben Shapiro examines the current state of America and Western civilization, and poses a question: will we be Lions, or will we be Scavengers?

In a world split between noble Lions and destructive Scavengers, only the brave can lead the way. Acclaimed writer and conservative thought leader Ben Shapiro knows that at the heart of today's conflicts-political, economic, and cultural-there's a dangerous lie: that all people are equal in ability, and that all inequality stems from oppression and exploitation.

With his signature clarity and sharp insight, Shapiro refutes that lie, emphasizing that in a free country, inequality is rooted in differences of talent and work ethic-not oppression-and that the best solution to lack of success lies in duty and virtue. Lions, like America's founding fathers, strive for the highest good, building systems that promote freedom, prosperity, and equality of opportunity. Meanwhile, Scavengers degrade these ideals, spreading resentment and entitlement that threaten to dismantle the foundations of Western civilization.

In Lions and Scavengers, Shapiro invites you to take up the mantle of the Lion and defend the principles that shape the freedom of a fair, powerful society. With the stakes higher than ever, this book is a gripping exploration of the ongoing war between those who cherish our nation and those who seek to undermine it. The triumph of the Lions is essential for America's continued success. It's a rallying cry for those who refuse to bow to the Scavengers' demands. It's time to fight back.

Ben Shapiro is editor-in-chief of The Daily Wire and host of "The Ben Shapiro Show," the top conservative podcast in the nation. A New York Times bestselling author, Shapiro is a graduate of Harvard Law School, and an Orthodox Jew. His work has been profiled in nearly every American publication.