Affectionately dubbed “America’s Government Teacher,” Sharon McMahon recently geeked out with Ryan Holiday at his Painted Porch bookstore, diving into overlooked gems of American history. Holiday praised Booker T. Washington’s “Up from Slavery,” highlighting its impactful pragmatism. McMahon connected this to the profound ripple effects on figures like Julius Rosenwald, Toni Morrison, and John Lewis.
Their enthusiastic exchange ranged from Paul Jennings’s “A Slave in the White House” to Taylor Branch’s monumental civil rights chronicles, celebrating storytelling that transforms history into vivid, human narratives. Alongside laughter and shared struggles about balancing life and work, both authors reminded us how vital—and fun—history can be.
Their meeting was a vibrant testament to the power of knowing history, geekiness and all.
📚 The list
- Up From Slavery
- A Slave In The White House
- The Mind On Fire
- Her Right Foot
- The Devil in the White City
- The Demon of Unrest
- Dead Wake
- A Woman of No Importance
- The River of Doubt
- In A Sunburned Country
- Tunnel 29
- Say Nothing
- Leadership: In Turbulent Times
- Parting the Waters
- The Year of Living Constitutionally
- Why Fish Don’t Exist
- Everything Happens for a Reason
- A Gift From The Sea
- Good Inside
- Bury the Chains
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