Books & Looks: Real Books for Real Readers was started as a literary podcast to supplement Blaine Desantis’ website, ViewsOnBooks.com, and expand into audio and video interviews with authors.
With Books & Looks, Blaine’s goal is to focus on real books that real people will read. At least half of the books he reviews are either new authors or unknown authors that many in the general public are unaware of. After a segment reviewing books or interviewing authors, Blaine ends each episode with a discussion of the movies and TV shows he is currently watching.
Learn more about BookTrib’s partner and Blaine at ViewsOnBooks.com.
This Week’s Episode
The odds of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams dying on the exact same day—exactly fifty years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence—were estimated at one in 1.2 billion. In this episode of Books and Looks, Blaine DeSantis sits down with author Jim Rasenberger to explore his acclaimed new book, A Perfect Coincidence, unraveling the complex, intertwined lives of America’s most famous founding frenemies. Listeners will discover the hidden historical twists, bitter rivalries, and surprising reconciliations that shaped the birth of a nation just in time for its 250th anniversary.
This historical deep dive exposes the realities of the Revolutionary War and the deeply contrasting personalities of our founding fathers, from John Adams’ blunt vanity to Thomas Jefferson’s lavish, debt-fueled lifestyle at Monticello. Jim reveals why the legendary July 4th signing of the Declaration of Independence is actually a myth, how Benjamin Franklin drove Adams to his breaking point in Paris, and the complicated truths behind the Hemings family tree. You will also uncover the mysterious, prophetic dream that finally pushed these two bitter political rivals to mend their relationship after a decade of silence, but you will have to tune in to find out if sheer willpower alone kept them alive to fulfill American history’s most miraculous coincidence.
If you love uncovering the untold stories of our past, be sure to subscribe to “Books and Looks” and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform!
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