Josh Mensch
Josh Mensch is a nonfiction writer and documentary television producer whose work centers on American history and culture. With Brad Meltzer, he coauthored the New York Times bestselling The First Conspiracy, The Lincoln Conspiracy, The Nazi Conspiracy, and The JFK Conspiracy.
Biography & Author's Journey
Josh Mensch grew up mostly in Buffalo, New York, then went on to study at Princeton University and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He built his first major body of work in nonfiction television, serving as a showrunner, writer, director, and producer for outlets including PBS, the History Channel, National Geographic, Discovery, and MTV. That documentary career established the themes that would define his later books: American history, cultural memory, and the search for overlooked turning points. It also produced unusually concrete results, including two stories he wrote and directed that helped lead to the recovery of the Ground Zero 9/11 flag and Bob Dylan’s electric guitar from the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. ((https://www.joshmensch.com/about))
Quotes
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Lincoln Conspiracy
Brad Meltzer & Josh Mensch
Uncovers a little-known assassination plot against Lincoln before his presidency, blending history and suspense in a gripping narrative.
The First Conspiracy
Brad Meltzer & Josh Mensch
Uncover a treasonous plot against George Washington during the Revolutionary War in this gripping historical thriller.
Lincoln Conspiracy
Brad Meltzer & Josh Mensch
Uncovers a little-known assassination plot against Lincoln before his presidency, blending history and suspense in a gripping narrative.
The First Conspiracy
Brad Meltzer & Josh Mensch
Uncover a treasonous plot against George Washington during the Revolutionary War in this gripping historical thriller.
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Community Voices
"Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch provide a remarkable and often riveting account of an alleged plot to kill Lincoln"
— The Washington Post
"Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch have found and rescued the harrowing story of Abraham Lincoln under assault"
— Douglas Brinkley
"The First Conspiracy co-authors Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch delve into the investigation with terrier-like glee"
— Common Sense Media
"Authors Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch prove gifted at providing essential context"
— NPR
"Authors Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch lay out the Nazi conspiracy to kill the Big Three"
— AudioFile Magazine
"Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch have given us a powerful account of a conspiracy to assassinate George Washington"
— Jon Meacham
"Bestselling thriller author Brad Meltzer and documentary television producer Josh Mensch have undertaken an ambitious project"
— Bookreporter
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
