Ep 13: Books by John Steinbeck, William C. Rhoden, and Scott Anderson are discussed by comedians Sammy Obeid, Kevin Camia, and Casey Ley

Book Me, Please!

In episode thirteen we gather together three old friends from the San Francisco comedy scene, Sammy Obeid, Casey Ley, and Kevin Camia, and they recommend three very different but equally fascinating books. We start with a book Kevin Camia enjoyed so much he almost finished it, the controversial nonfiction best seller 40 Million Dollar Slaves by William C. Rhoden. This 2007 book combines a potent history of black athletes in professional athletics, with provocative theories about the modern professional sports industry. Next, Casey Ley brings us the brand new history book from Scott Anderson, Lawrence In Arabia, which sheds new light on the incredible real life of T.E. Lawrence, set amidst the historic backdrop of WWI. This book is a perfect compliment to last episode’s The Peace To End All Peace, treading the same historic ground but seen from a completely different perspective, and packed with tantalizing new information about what we thought was an old story. Finally, Sammy Obeid tells us about his experience reading John Steinbeck’s last novel The Winter of Our Discontent in high school, as well as some things he enjoyed more, such as Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park, and some things he enjoys less, such as math in movies. It all adds up to a really fun show! (See what I did there?)

LAWRENCE IN ARABIA: WAR, DECEIT, IMPERIAL FOLLY AND THE MAKING OF THE MODERN MIDDLE EAST by Scott Anderson Random House ISBN # 978-0-307-47641-8

THE WINTER OF OUR DISCONTENT - by John Steinbeck Penguin ISBN# 978-0-14-118631-3

FORTY MILLION DOLLAR SLAVES: THE RISE, FALL, AND REDEMPTION OF THE BLACK ATHLETE by William C. Rhoden Three Rivers Press ISBN# 978-0-307-35314-6