About Barbara Berglund Sokolov

I'm a native San Franciscan, a scholar of the American West with broad training in U.S history, and a historian who bridges the worlds of academic and public history. In 2013 I transitioned out of academia, leaving a tenured faculty position at the University of South Florida, because I realized that I could have the broadest impact taking my work out of the classroom and into the world. If you like my podcasts, you might like The Joy of History Book Club, a monthly event I host via Zoom. It's the traditional book club, reimagined — part graduate seminar, part Parisian salon, inclusive, low stakes, and high reward. Everyone is welcome, whether or not you’ve read the book! It's a great community of people who love learning about and talking about history. You can find more information at my website.

Barbara Berglund Sokolov is a historian of the American West. She is also the convener of the Joy of History Book Club, an online history seminar open to anyone.

Barbara's website

NBN Episodes hosted by Barbara:

William Souder, "Mad at the World: A Life of John Steinbeck" (Norton, 2020)

October 1, 2021

Mad at the World: A Life of John Steinbeck

William Souder

The first full-length biography of America's most celebrated novelist of the Great Depression to appear in a quarter century, Mad at the World illumin…

Peter Richardson, "American Prophet: The Life and Work of Carey McWilliams" (U California Press, 2019)

September 20, 2021

American Prophet

Peter Richardson

Historian Kevin Starr described Carey McWilliams as "the finest nonfiction writer on California—ever" and "the state's most astute political observer…