Part 2/2 of my conversation with Rick Emerson on his book, Unmask Alice. Listen to part 1 before this one!

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https://themorbidlycuriousbookclub.com/

Welcome to another archives episode! Where I speak to a previously selected book club pick author.

In 2024, I launched this podcast to delve deeper into our book club's nonfiction selections by engaging directly with the authors—the experts behind these compelling works.

Over the years, our club has explored some exceptional books, and today, I am finally releasing my 2 part episode covering "Unmask Alice: LSD, the Satanic Panic, and the Imposter Behind the World's Most Notorious Diaries" by Rick Emerson. This is one of my favorite books of all time, and easily one of the best podcast episodes I've been a part of.

About the book: "In 1971, Go Ask Alice reinvented the young adult genre with a blistering portrayal of sex, psychosis, and teenage self-destruction. The supposed diary of a middle-class addict, Go Ask Alice terrified adults and cemented LSD's fearsome reputation, fueling support for the War on Drugs. Five million copies later, Go Ask Alice remains a divisive bestseller, outraging censors and earning new fans, all of them drawn by the book's mythic premise: A Real Diary, by Anonymous. But Alice was only the beginning. In 1979, another diary rattled the culture, setting the stage for a national meltdown. The posthumous memoir of an alleged teenage Satanist, Jay's Journal merged with a frightening new crisis—adolescent suicide—to create a literal witch hunt, shattering countless lives and poisoning whole communities. In reality, Go Ask Alice and Jay's Journal came from the same dark place: Beatrice Sparks, a serial con artist who betrayed a grieving family, stole a dead boy's memory, and lied her way to the National Book Awards. Unmask Alice: LSD, Satanic Panic, and the Imposter Behind the World's Most Notorious Diaries is a true story of contagious deception. It stretches from Hollywood to Quantico, and passes through a tiny patch of Utah nicknamed 'the fraud capital of America.' It's the story of a doomed romance and a vengeful celebrity. Of a lazy press and a public mob. Of two suicidal teenagers, and their exploitation by a literary vampire."

About the author: Rick Emerson is a longtime radio and television broadcaster, the former host of the nationally-syndicated Rick Emerson Show, and the coauthor (with Lisa Desjardins) of Zombie Economics: A Guide to Personal Finance. He's a regular guest on America's finer podcasts, and can be seen in occasional television roles and a truly dreadful commercial for tires. He lives in Portland, Oregon with his two dogs, Willard and Philo.

Join the book club, subscribe to the book box, buy a shirt, and more...

https://themorbidlycuriousbookclub.com/

Welcome to another archives episode! Where I speak to a previously selected book club pick author.

In 2024, I launched this podcast to delve deeper into our book club's nonfiction selections by engaging directly with the authors—the experts behind these compelling works.

Over the years, our club has explored some exceptional books, and today, I am finally releasing my 2 part episode covering "Unmask Alice: LSD, the Satanic Panic, and the Imposter Behind the World's Most Notorious Diaries" by Rick Emerson. This is one of my favorite books of all time, and easily one of the best podcast episodes I've been a part of.

About the book: "In 1971, Go Ask Alice reinvented the young adult genre with a blistering portrayal of sex, psychosis, and teenage self-destruction. The supposed diary of a middle-class addict, Go Ask Alice terrified adults and cemented LSD's fearsome reputation, fueling support for the War on Drugs. Five million copies later, Go Ask Alice remains a divisive bestseller, outraging censors and earning new fans, all of them drawn by the book's mythic premise: A Real Diary, by Anonymous. But Alice was only the beginning. In 1979, another diary rattled the culture, setting the stage for a national meltdown. The posthumous memoir of an alleged teenage Satanist, Jay's Journal merged with a frightening new crisis—adolescent suicide—to create a literal witch hunt, shattering countless lives and poisoning whole communities. In reality, Go Ask Alice and Jay's Journal came from the same dark place: Beatrice Sparks, a serial con artist who betrayed a grieving family, stole a dead boy's memory, and lied her way to the National Book Awards. Unmask Alice: LSD, Satanic Panic, and the Imposter Behind the World's Most Notorious Diaries is a true story of contagious deception. It stretches from Hollywood to Quantico, and passes through a tiny patch of Utah nicknamed 'the fraud capital of America.' It's the story of a doomed romance and a vengeful celebrity. Of a lazy press and a public mob. Of two suicidal teenagers, and their exploitation by a literary vampire."

About the author: Rick Emerson is a longtime radio and television broadcaster, the former host of the nationally-syndicated Rick Emerson Show, and the coauthor (with Lisa Desjardins) of Zombie Economics: A Guide to Personal Finance. He's a regular guest on America's finer podcasts, and can be seen in occasional television roles and a truly dreadful commercial for tires. He lives in Portland, Oregon with his two dogs, Willard and Philo.

Part 2 will be uploaded right after this one.

Our April 2025 pick was “Waco Rising: David Koresh, the FBI, and the Birth of America's Modern Militias" by Kevin Cook.

Join the book club, subscribe to the book box, buy a shirt, and more...

https://themorbidlycuriousbookclub.com/

Shout out to member Jillian for helping me with the outro to this one...

Early and ad-free for Patreon members! Get reading vlogs, an exclusive fiction book club, and more: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheMorbidlyCuriousBookClub

Join us for the live show discussion of Waco Rising on the Morbidly Curious Book Club's Facebook, Instagram, and/or YouTube page 4/27 at 7pm EST!

"In 1993, David Koresh and a band of heavily armed evangelical Christians took on the might of the US government. A two-month siege of their compound in Waco, Texas, ended in a firefight that killed seventy-six, including twenty-five children. America is still picking up the pieces; we still haven’t heard the full story.

Kevin Cook, who revealed the truth behind a mythic, misunderstood murder in his 2014 Kitty Genovese, finally provides the full story of what happened at Waco. He gives readers a taste of Koresh’s deadly charisma and takes us behind the scenes at the Branch Davidians’ compound, where 'the new Christ' turned his followers into servants and sired seventeen children by a dozen 'wives.' In vivid accounts packed with human drama, Cook harnesses never-reported material to reconstruct the FBI’s fifty-one-day siege of the Waco compound in minute-to-minute detail. He sheds new light on the Clinton administration’s approval of a lethal governmental assault in a new, definitive account of the firefight that ended so many lives and triggered the rise of today’s militia movement. Waco drew the battle lines for American extremists—in Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh’s words, 'Waco started this war.' With help from sources as diverse as Branch Davidian survivors and the FBI’s lead negotiator during the siege, Cook draws a straight line from Waco’s ashes to the January 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol and insurrections yet to come.

Unmissable reading for anyone interested in the truth of what happened in Texas three decades ago, Waco Rising is chillingly relevant today. Here is the spark that ignited today’s antigovernment militias."

About the author: Kevin Cook is the author of more than ten books, including The Burning Blue, Ten Innings at Wrigley, and Kitty Genovese. He has written for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, GQ, Smithsonian, and many other publications and has often appeared on CNN, NPR, and Fox News. An Indiana native, he lives in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Our March 2025 pick was “Gory Details: Adventures from the Dark Side of Science" by Erika Engelhaupt!

Join us if you're curious: themorbidlycuriousbookclub.com

Early and ad-free for Patreon members! Get reading vlogs, an exclusive fiction book club, and more: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheMorbidlyCuriousBookClub

Join us for the live show discussion of Gory Details on the Morbidly Curious Book Club's Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube page 3/30 at 7pm EST!

Check out the Archives episode of 18 Tiny Deaths with the author Bruce Goldfarb: https://redcircle.com/shows/17f819be-161a-4326-b504-f9fe87e6dad2/episodes/aaf8ad8f-567c-4a0d-9dce-1c5dc693e877

About the book: "Using humor and real science in the tradition of Mary Roach, this narrative illuminates the gross, strange, morbid, and outright absurd realities of our bodies, our earth, and our universe. Filled to the brim with far-out facts, this wickedly informative narrative from the author of National Geographic's popular Gory Details blog takes us on a fascinating journey through an astonishing new reality. Blending humor and journalism in the tradition of Mary Roach, acclaimed science reporter Erika Engelhaupt investigates the gross, strange, and morbid absurdities of our bodies and our universe. From the research biologist who stung himself with every conceivable insect to the world's most murderous mammals, this entertaining book explores oft-ignored but alluring facets of biology, anatomy, space exploration, nature, and more. Featuring interviews with leading researchers in the field and a large dose of wit, this provocative book reveals the most intriguing real-world applications of science in all their glory."

Erika Engelhaupt is a freelance science writer and editor based in Knoxville, Tenn. She began her blog, Gory Details, while she was an editor at Science News. She continues the blog at National Geographic, where she was online science editor and managed the Phenomena science blog network. Her work has also appeared at NPR, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Story Collider podcast, and in other newspapers and magazines.

Enjoy the episode!

Welcome to the Archives bonus episodes!

In 2024, I launched this podcast to delve deeper into our book club's nonfiction selections by engaging directly with the authors—the experts behind these compelling works.

Over the years, our club has explored some exceptional books, and today, I got the chance to speak with Bruce Goldfarb on his book, "18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of the Woman Who Invented Modern Forensics" that the book club read in March 2022!

This episode is being released on March 25th, which was Frances Glessner Lee's birthday.

About the book: "An enthralling journey into the remarkable life and groundbreaking contributions of a pioneering woman in the field of forensics: In 18 Tiny Deaths, readers are transported to a time when forensic science was in its infancy, and a woman named Frances Glessner Lee emerged as a force to be reckoned with. Through meticulous recreations of crime scenes, Lee revolutionized the way investigators approached criminal investigations, forever changing the face of modern forensics. Bruce Goldfarb's impeccable attention to detail brings Lee's compelling story to life, weaving together elements of history, science, and true crime. Discover how Lee's determination and unwavering passion defied the norms of her era, paving the way for future generations of forensic scientists. With a masterful blend of suspense and historical narrative, 18 Tiny Deaths captivates readers from the first page. Uncover Lee's groundbreaking contributions to forensic science, from her creation of the Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death―intricate dioramas that challenged investigators' skills―to her influential role in establishing the Department of Legal Medicine at Harvard University. This gripping account showcases Lee's enduring legacy, shedding light on her profound impact on modern crime-solving techniques. Whether you're a true crime enthusiast, a history buff, or simply intrigued by the remarkable accomplishments of extraordinary women, 18 Tiny Deaths is a must-read."

Bruce Goldfarb is an award-winning writer whose work has appeared in the Baltimore Sun, Washington Post, USA Today, Baltimore magazine, American Archaeology, American Health, and many other publications. For ten years, Bruce has served as executive assistant to the Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Maryland. He was a public information officer for the OCME and curator of the Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death. His first book of popular nonfiction, 18 TINY DEATHS, was released by Sourcebooks in February 2020. Bruce’s next book, OCME, which was released by Steerforth Press in February 2023.

Like Bruce mentions in the episode, here are the incredible VR images he has on YouTube. You can pause the video and use the cursor on the top right to look around:

Living Room: https://youtu.be/uqr52qQ1i5A

Bathroom: https://youtu.be/kGVH2MaupU0

Kitchen: https://youtu.be/dnpa-vxWMRg

Here are the Smithsonian VR images: https://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/nutshells

Enjoy the episode!

Our February 2025 pick was “Tremors in the Blood: Murder, Obsession, and the Birth of the Lie Detector" by Amit Katwala!

Join us if you're curious: themorbidlycuriousbookclub.com

Early and ad-free for Patreon members! Get reading vlogs, an exclusive fiction book club, and more: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheMorbidlyCuriousBookClub

Join us for the live show discussion of Tremors in the Blood on the Morbidly Curious Book Club's Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube page 2/23 at 7pm EST!

About the book: "Late one evening in the summer of 1922, Henry Wilkens burst through the doors of the emergency room covered in his wife’s blood. But was he a grieving husband, or a ruthless killer who conspired with bandits to have her murdered? To find out, the San Francisco police turned to technology and a new machine that had just been invented in Berkeley by a rookie detective, a visionary police chief, and a teenage magician with a showman’s touch. John Larson, Gus Vollmer and Leonarde Keeler hoped the lie detector would make the justice system fairer – but the flawed device soon grew too powerful for them to control. It poisoned their lives, turned fast friends into bitter enemies, and as it conquered America and the world, it transformed our relationship with the truth in ways that are still being felt. As new forms of lie detection gain momentum in the present day, Tremors in the Blood reveals the incredible truth behind the creation of the polygraph, through gripping true crime cases featuring explosive gunfights, shocking twists and high-stakes courtroom drama. Touching on psychology, technology and the science of the truth, Tremors in the Blood is a vibrant, atmospheric thriller, and a warning from history: beware what you believe."

Amit Katwala is an editor and writer at WIRED, based in London. He works across the UK print magazine and on features, science, and culture. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in experimental psychology.

https://www.wired.com/author/amit-katwala/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjoxLjQB9no

Welcome friends to SEASON 2!

With 2024 now [almost] behind us, it's time to prepare for our 2025 reading year and companion podcast!

Here is our 2025 lineup:

January "All That Is Wicked: A Gilded-Age Story of Murder and the Race to Decode the Criminal Mind" by Kate Wrinkler Dawson

February "Tremors in the Blood: Murder, Obsession, and the Birth of the Lie Detector" by Amit Katwala

March "Gory Details: Adventures from the Dark Side of Science" by Erika Engelhaupt

April "Waco Rising: David Koresh, the FBI, and the Birth of America's Modern Militias" by Kevin Cook

May "Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers" by Mary Roach

June "Trail of the Lost: The Relentless Search to Bring Home the Missing Hikers of the Pacific Crest Trail" by Andrea Lankford

July "The Butchering Art: Joseph Lister's Quest to Transform the Grisly World of Victorian Medicine" by Lindsey Fitzharris

August "Briefly Perfectly Human: Making an Authentic Life by Getting Real about the End" by Alua Arthur

September "In the Mouth of the Wolf: A Murder, a Cover-Up, and the True Cost of Silencing the Press" by Katherine Corcoran

October "Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places" by Colin Dickey

November "Nine Pints: A Journey Through the Money, Medicine, and Mysteries of Blood" by Rose George

December "The Unclaimed: Abandonment and Hope in the City of Angels" by Pamela Prickett and Stefan Timmermans

Thank you for being here with me on this journey. I cannot wait to discuss these titles with you, and chat with these incredible authors! Which title are you most excited for? Have you read any already? Let me know!

Cheers!