In INGENIOUS, Richard Munson provides an incisive and rich account of Benjamin Franklin’s life and career, recovering this vital part of Franklin’s story, revealing his modern relevance, and offering a compelling portrait of a shrewd experimenter,clever innovator, and visionary physicist whose fame opened doors to negotiate French support and funding for American independence. Munson’s riveting narrative explores how science underpins Franklin’s entire story— from tradesman to inventor to nation-founder—and argues that Franklin’s political life cannot be understood without giving proper credit to his scientific accomplishments.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Richard Munson is an author and clean-energy advocate. His previous books include Tesla: Inventor of the Modern.

Alex Kenna is a mystery writer, prosecutor, and amateur painter. Her first novel, WHAT MEETS THE EYE, was a 2023 Shamus Award Finalist for best first P.I. novel. Her second novel, BURN THIS NIGHT, was released in November 2024. Alex lives in Los Angeles with her husband, sons, and giant schnauzer, Zelda.

In small towns throughout America, neighbors have gathered on summer evenings at Minor League stadiums, clambering into seats with popcorn and cheap beer in hand. Many of these Minor League towns were former textile and railroad hubs, hit hard in recent years by various economic forces, yet baseball persisted. That is, until 2020, when Major League Baseball (MLB) drastically contracted the minors, shutting down 42 teams. In HOMESTAND: Small Town Baseball and the Fight for the Soul of America (Doubleday), journalist and veteran Will Bardenwerper looks at the impact of this decision and what it says about America’s core values through the lens of one small town in upstate New York. This poignant memoir celebrates a working-class community that fought to keep their small baseball team alive. It’s not just a story about America’s pastime— it’s a story about America, and where we go from here.

WILL BARDENWERPER has contributed to The New York Times, The Washington Post, Harper’s and other outlets and is the author The Prisoner in His Palace: Saddam Hussein, His American Guards, and What History Leaves Unsaid. He served as an Airborne Ranger–qualified infantry officer in Iraq and was awarded a Combat Infantryman Badge and Bronze Star. Before working in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, he received a B.A. from Princeton and M.A. from Johns Hopkins University. He will be available for interviews for pieces timed to publication, as would several of the memorable people who make up the Muckdog fanbase.

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