Person
Every book Michael Phillips recommended on podcasts
Michael Phillips’s most recommended books
- Secrets of the Killing State by Corinna Barrett Lain
- Gruesome Spectacles by Austin Sarat
- The Death Penalty on the Ballot by Austin Sarat
- Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler
- The executioner's song by Norman Mailer
- The Great Exception by Jefferson Cowie
Michael Phillips is a podcast guest who has appeared on Behind the Bastards to discuss various historical events, political figures, and criminal justice topics. During these podcast episodes, Phillips referenced several books to provide context, statistics, and background information. He mentioned Adolf Hitler's book Mein Kampf when discussing a collection of Nazi memorabilia held by a Dallas tycoon. He also brought up Corinna Barrett Lain's book Secrets of the Killing State multiple times to analyze the history, reality, and physical impacts of lethal injection and the death penalty. To illustrate the historical context of capital punishment and state power, Phillips cited Austin Sarat's book Gruesome Spectacles, using it to highlight statistics regarding botched executions, mechanical breakdowns, and failures involving the electric chair. Additionally, Phillips referenced the Pulitzer Prize-winning book The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer while discussing the extreme violence and public debate surrounding Gary Gilmore's execution by firing squad. Through these various literary references on the podcast, Phillips provided listeners with detailed historical and legal examinations of capital punishment and state-sponsored violence.
Books recommended by Michael Phillips
-
Secrets of the Killing State
Discussed“As University of Richmond law professor Brena Lane, the author of recently published book Secrets of the Killing State: The Untold Story of Lethal Injection told us, What I've come to conclude is that lethal injection only does one thing well, only one, and that is it hides what the death penalty is.”
Where to get it
-
Gruesome Spectacles
Discussed“As the political scientist Austin Serat noted in his book, Gruesome Spectacles, botched executions, and America’s death penalty. Quote, capital punishment was precisely about the right of the state to kill as it pleased.”
Where to get it
-
The Death Penalty on the Ballot
Discussed“As the political scientist Austin Serat noted in his book, Gruesome Spectacles, botched executions, and America’s death penalty. Quote, capital punishment was precisely about the right of the state to kill as it pleased.”
Where to get it
-
Mein Kampf
Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler is a notorious autobiographical manifesto outlining the author's political ideology and anti-Semitic worldview.
Discussed“Published reports say Dallas tycoon Harlon Crow's controversial collection includes Hitler's notorious autobiography mine comp signed by Hitler, oil paintings by Hitler, and linen napkins embroidered with the Nazi swastika.”
Where to get it
-
The executioner's song
The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer is a sweeping, Pulitzer Prize-winning true crime masterpiece that details the final months and execution of convicted murderer Gary Gilmore in Utah, alongside the profound fallout felt by those around him.
Discussed“The extreme violence of Gilmore's execution, which inspired a 1979 Pulitzer Prizewinning journalism based novel called The Executioner Song, sparked a renewed debate over the brutality of capital punishment and whether it's compatible with modern society.”
Where to get it
-
The Great Exception
Discussed“Some of you folks may be aware of Jefferson Cowi and Nick Salvatore's book, which he calls the great exception.”
Where to get it
Books Michael Phillips wrote
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| It Could Happen Here Weekly 225 | Behind the Bastards | 2026-03-28 | 1 |
| It Could Happen Here Weekly 207 | Behind the Bastards | 2025-11-08 | 9 |
| It Could Happen Here Weekly 196 | Behind the Bastards | 2025-08-23 | 1 |
Other mentions (5: passing, ad reads, own books)
“I'm Michael Phillips, an historian and the author of a book about racism in Dallas called White Metropolis and the co-author with longtime journalist Betsy Frioff of a history of eugenics in Texas called The Purifying Knife.”
“I'm Michael Phillips, an historian and the author of a book about racism in Dallas called White Metropolis and the co-author with longtime journalist Betsy Frioff of a history of eugenics in Texas called The Purifying Knife.”
“I'm Michael Phillips, an historian and the author of a book about racism in Dallas called White Metropolis”
“and the co-author of a recently published book about the eugenics movement in Texas called The Purifying Knife.”
“You can find me on Substack at Dr. M. Phillips 2001 on Blue Sky and Facebook. Google my name and quote white metropolis.”