Dustin Bass

Dustin Bass is the creator and host of the “American Tales” podcast and cofounder of “The Sons of History.” He writes two weekly series for The Epoch Times: Profiles in History and This Week in History. He is also an author.

An Immense Study on the Universal Philosophies of Shakespeare’s Plays

David Womersley’s ‘Thinking Through Shakespeare’ is a detailed examination of how humanity’s great questions center in the Bard’s ...

Book Review July 21, 2026
Over 60 Years of Bringing Readers Closer to the Ancient Greek Tragedians

In this installment of ‘The Reissue,’ a look at the University of Chicago Press’ labor of love for ...

Book Recommendation July 19, 2026
How American Ingenuity and Oil Defied the Nazi Threat

In ‘This Week in History,’ the federal government and private industry collaborated to build the world’s largest pipeline ...

American Essence July 18, 2026
Epoch Booklist: Recommended Reading for July 17–23

This week, we feature a close look at the full scope of preparations for D-Day and a research-based ...

Book Recommendation July 16, 2026
A Cynical Study on Fairy Tales Takes Its Subject Too Seriously

Jack Zipes’s complicated ‘Once Upon a Time There Was Truth or, Why We Need Fairy Tales’ is rife ...

Book Review July 15, 2026
Zebulon Pike’s Daring Expeditions Into the Louisiana Territory

In ‘This Week in History,’ a young Army officer led two extensive expeditions through the newly acquired lands ...

American Essence July 11, 2026
Epoch Booklist: Recommended Reading for July 10–16

This week, we feature a definitive look at the most significant battle during the Great Sioux War and ...

Book Recommendation July 9, 2026
The Long-Suffering Efforts to Experience the 250th Celebration in Washington

Commentary From heatwaves and thunderstorms to evacuations and readmissions, Americans and foreign visitors endured to celebrate America’s 250th ...

Viewpoints July 8, 2026
A Bell, a Colonel, and the Declaration’s First Public Proclamation

In ‘This Week in History,’ a politically active merchant stood in the center of Philadelphia’s public square to ...

America’s 250th July 4, 2026
The Brave Irish Publisher of the Declaration of Independence

In this installment of ‘Profiles in History,’ an Irish apprentice became a prominent publisher and the Continental Congress’s ...

America’s 250th July 4, 2026
Epoch Booklist: Recommended Reading for July 3–9

This week, we feature a tribute to the American perspective from beloved historian David McCullough and a thought-provoking ...

Book Recommendation July 2, 2026
A Study of the Life, Times, and Debates of America’s Founding Document

In ‘The Living Declaration,’ Ted Widmer examines 250 years of US and international debates around America’s famous text.

America’s 250th June 30, 2026
The Long Military and Political Journey to Create the American Flag

In ‘This Week in History,’ after more than a year of use, the Grand Union Flag was replaced ...

American Essence June 27, 2026
Epoch Booklist: Recommended Reading for June 26–July 2

This week, we feature the enchanting life story of the creator of a popular children’s book character and ...

Book Recommendation June 25, 2026
How the Spiritual Order Informed the Creation of the Declaration

Commentary For 150 years, the British American colonists had been the beneficiaries of salutary neglect, which enabled them ...

Viewpoints June 23, 2026
The Woman Who ‘Signed’ the Declaration of Independence

In this installment of ‘Profiles in History,’ we meet a printer who printed the first signed document that ...

American Essence June 23, 2026
How a Children’s Newspaper Delivered America’s Pledge of Allegiance

In ‘This Week in History,’ to celebrate Columbus’s landing, a former minister wrote a pledge of allegiance, which ...

American Essence June 20, 2026
‘Greatest Private Benjamin Franklin Collection in a Century’ Headed to Auction

Sotheby's is set to auction former Philadelphia Flyers executive Jay T. Snider's historic collection before America's 250th anniversary.

American Essence June 19, 2026
Epoch Booklist: Recommended Reading for June 19–25

This week, we feature a beautiful visual history that chronicles America's birth and an elegant edition of an ...

Book Recommendation June 18, 2026
The Empty Carnegie Hall Performance That Revolutionized Music

In ‘This Week in History,’ CBS hired a young Hungarian engineer to lead its TV department and create ...

American Essence June 13, 2026
The US Naval Officer Who Made a Game of War

In this installment of ‘Profiles in History,’ a brilliant naval officer is forced to retire, leading him to ...

American Essence June 12, 2026
Epoch Booklist: Recommended Reading for June 12–18

This week, we feature an examination of revolutions, especially how the American Revolution fundamentally differed from others, and ...

Book Recommendation June 11, 2026
A Deep Dive Presentation of British Cold War Submarines

Paul Brown’s ‘Secret Warriors’ presents the various submarine classes that roamed the globe, tested naval technology, and watched ...

Book Recommendation June 10, 2026
Lucas, Spielberg, and the Captivating Creation of ‘Indiana Jones’

In ‘This Week in History,’ two young filmmakers met in Hawaii and began a collaboration to create one ...

Arts & Culture June 6, 2026
From Machiavelli to Nietzsche: A Study in Modern Political Philosophy

Harvey Mansfield’s ‘The Rise and Fall of Rational Control’ thoroughly demonstrates how brilliant thinkers have advanced and degraded ...

Book Recommendation June 6, 2026
A Complex, Well-Crafted, and Character-Driven Spy Novel

James Wolff’s ‘Spies and Other Gods’ is a British intelligence mystery that is heartfelt, humorous, and incredibly satisfying.

Book Review June 5, 2026
Epoch Booklist: Recommended Reading for June 5–11

This week, we feature a love story that influenced America's founding and a foray into the oft-overlooked shipbuilder ...

Book Recommendation June 4, 2026