"The Capitol - The Surprising Biography of an American Building" by Brian Jay Jones

You may think you know the U.S. Capitol, but it has a rich, dramatic, and mysterious history… plus hidden secrets you probably haven’t heard about. Ahead, I’ll talk with Brian Jay Jones about “The Capitol: A Surprising Biography of an American Building.” -- Hi, I’m Dan Skinner and this is “Some Books Considered.” – Brian Jay Jones is a critically-acclaimed, bestselling biographer of some of the world’s most iconic creative geniuses. His previous books include “Becoming Dr. Seuss: Theodor Geisel and the Making of An American Imagination,” “Jim Henson: The Biography,” and “George Lucas: A Life.” -------------------------- Here is a link to purchase "The Capitol - The Surprising Biography of an American Building" by Brian Jay Jones - https://www.amazon.com/Capitol-Surpri... -------------------------- Book Description (From Amazon Listing) "The Capitol - The Surprising Biography of an American Building" by Brian Jay Jones An in-depth exploration of history of the US Capitol building and the incredible personalities who built it, full of dramatic stories and surprising facts; a powerful testament to what the Capitol has meant to generations of Americans and how it has endured. The Capitol is a unique biography of a place, encompassing architecture, history, politics, popular culture, and race in a fascinating exploration of our Capitol's secret past, one rife with political intrigue, assassination attempts, thwarted bombings, and gunmen on the run. Never mind ghostly cat prints, mysteriously bloodstained steps, and charming “fairy doors” that have delighted visitors for hundreds of years. Spanning three centuries of American history, the book focuses on iconic and notable names and personalities from the past—from George Washington to Davy Crockett to Ronald Reagan—as well as countless colorful characters readers may not have heard of before, with a focus on restoring the narratives of enslaved people and recognizing their contributions. The story of the Capitol is the story of America itself, and, for the first time, that story will be told in this sweeping, aspirational biography of the building at the very heart of the American experiment. -------------------------- Chapters: "The Capitol - The Surprising Biography of an American Building" by Brian Jay Jones 00:00 Introduction to "The Capitol - The Surprising Biography of an American Building" by Brian Jay Jones 00:47 Why Approach the Capitol's History as a Biography? 02:17 A Brief Overview of What Readers Will Find in "The Capitol" 03:19 Discovering the Little Known Facts About the Capitol 05:17 Behind the Scenes of Expanding the Capitol in the 1850s 08:56 How the Capitol is Symbolic of the Nation's Evolution 11:12 The Role of Enslaved People in the Building of the Capitol 13:40 Strange Things in the U.S. Capitol 16:22 How Researching the Capitol has Changed the Author's Appreciation of It. 20:09 Closing Comments & Two More Books You Might Find Interesting -------------------------- Hi! I'm Dan Skinner. Thanks for watching this edition of "Some Books Considered." I requested and was provided with a copy of the book, but this video is not sponsored. -------------------------- Looking for books for young readers? If you have children in your life, please visit "The Kids' Bookshelf" where you'll find information about picture books, chapter books, and middle-grade books. Here is the link:    / @thekidsbookshelf   -------------------------- #americanhistory #america250 #uscapitol #ushistory #washingtondc #capitolbuilding #usa #usahistory #booktube #somebooksconsidered