Brian C. Baer: How He-Man Mastered the Universe

Brian Patrick Duggan: General Custer, Libbie Custer and Their Dogs

If you think you know everything about General Custer, Brian Patrick Duggan is about to prove you wrong—and he's going to do it through the dogs. Duggan's book "General Custer, Libbie Custer and Their Dogs" traces the remarkable story of the Custers through their lifelong passion for hounds and one very sheet-wrecking English greyhound named Byron. Mark Perzel and Brian dig into how Libby Custer (sheltered judge's daughter turned frontier army wife) became every bit as devoted to the dogs as her famous husband. There's history, myth-busting and stories that didn't make it into any history book. Worth a listen if you ever wondered what General Custer was like when he wasn't being, well, General Custer. LISTENER DISCOUNT CODE: Receive a 25% discount on this title when purchased from McFarland's website by using the code BESTPART at checkout: mcfarlandbooks.com/product/general-custer-libbie-custer-and-their-dogs [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/general-custer-libbie-custer-and-their-dogs/] FEATURED TITLE General Custer, Libbie Custer and Their Dogs: A Passion for Hounds, from the Civil War to Little Bighorn. McFarland, softcover (2019) ISBN: 9781476669540 mcfarlandbooks.com/product/general-custer-libbie-custer-and-their-dogs [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/general-custer-libbie-custer-and-their-dogs/] BOOK DESCRIPTION: General George Armstrong Custer and his wife, Libbie Custer, were wholehearted dog lovers. At the time of his death at Little Bighorn, they owned a rollicking pack of 40 hunting dogs, including Scottish Deerhounds, Russian Wolfhounds, Greyhounds and Foxhounds. Told from a dog owner’s perspective, this biography covers their first dogs during the Civil War and in Texas; hunting on the Kansas and Dakota frontiers; entertaining tourist buffalo hunters, including a Russian Archduke, English aristocrats and P. T. Barnum (all of whom presented the general with hounds); Custer’s attack on the Washita village (when he was accused of strangling his own dogs); and the 7th Cavalry’s march to Little Bighorn with an analysis of rumors about a Last Stand dog. The Custers’ pack was re-homed after his death in the first national dog rescue effort. Well illustrated, the book includes an appendix giving depictions of the Custers’ dogs in art, literature and film. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Brian is a retired university technology educator with 33 years experience in the University of California and California State University systems. A canine historian, he has published numerous articles that have been published internationally and in AKC Family Dog, AKC Gazette, Dogs in Review, Sighthound Review, Show Sight, Saluki International, American Saluki Association Newsletter, Classic Saluki, The Private Journey, and Greasy Grass: The Journal of the Custer Battlefield Historical & Museum Association. Together with his wife, Wendy (also an AKC judge), they have had Salukis for forty years under the Kyzyl Kum prefix with 81 owned and/or bred, 35 show champions, and several grand champions to their credit. He and Wendy were honored with the American Saluki Association’s Top Breeder Award for 1994. brianpatrickduggan.net [https://www.brianpatrickduggan.net/] | FB @brian.duggan.71 [https://www.facebook.com/brian.duggan.71]| Insta @b.duggan_himself [https://www.instagram.com/b.duggan_himself] | X @BDugganHimself | Mastodon @BPDuggan@mas.to | Threads @b.duggan_himself OTHER BOOKS WRITTEN BY DUGGAN Horror Dogs: Man’s Best Friend as Movie Monster. McFarland, softcover (2023) ISBN: 9781476685878 mcfarlandbooks.com/product/horror-dogs [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/horror-dogs/] Saluki: The Desert Hound and the English Travelers Who Brought It to the West. McFarland, softcover (2009) ISBN: 9780786434077 mcfarlandbooks.com/product/saluki [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/saluki/] Series Editor for the Dogs in Our World series (22 titles): mcfarlandbooks.com/series/dogs-in-our-world [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/series/dogs-in-our-world/] ABOUT MCFARLAND: McFarland, a leading independent publisher of academic and general-interest nonfiction books, is perhaps best known for the serious treatment of popular culture. Founded in 1979, McFarland is recognized among authors and readers as adventurous in range and a reliable source of worthy books that other publishers overlook. They have around 8,000 unique works for sale and publish about 350 new titles a year. Meeting high library standards has been a major focus since the company began, and many McFarland books have received awards from the academic-oriented (Choice Outstanding Academic Title, ALA Outstanding Reference Work) to the mainstream (Hugo, Edgar, Stoker, and Eisner, among others). mcfarlandbooks.com [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/] SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER, eepurl.com/iPkvx2 [https://mcfarlandpub.us10.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=e2b5ac748c0ede60701e19a72&id=550a84829c] or FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK, @BestPartOfTheBook [https://www.facebook.com/BestPartOfTheBook], BLUESKY, @bestpartbook.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/bestpartbook.bsky.social], INSTAGRAM: @bestpartofthebook.podcast [https://www.instagram.com/bestpartofthebook.podcast] WEBSITE, mcfarlandbooks.com/connect/best-part-of-the-book-podcast [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/connect/best-part-of-the-book-podcast/]

Brian C. Baer: How He-Man Mastered the Universe

If you ever wondered how a plastic barbarian with a battle axe became a pop culture phenomenon and somehow led to one of Hollywood's most chaotic movie productions—Brian C. Baer has done the research. Mark Perzel talks with Brian about "How He-Man Mastered the Universe: Toy to Television to Big Screen," tracing the wild journey of Masters of the Universe from a recycled toy mold to a billion-dollar franchise. Along the way, Brian gets into cartoon morals, a pyramid scheme film company, a sword fight that nearly didn't happen, and why the director had to pay out of his own pocket just to finish the movie. You don't have to be a He-Man fan to enjoy this one—though you might become one. LISTENER DISCOUNT CODE: Receive a 25% discount on this title when purchased from McFarland's website by using the code BESTPART at checkout: mcfarlandbooks.com/product/how-he-man-mastered-the-universe [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/how-he-man-mastered-the-universe/] FEATURED TITLE: How He-Man Mastered the Universe. McFarland, softcover (2017) ISBN: 9781476665900 mcfarlandbooks.com/product/how-he-man-mastered-the-universe [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/how-he-man-mastered-the-universe/] BOOK DESCRIPTION: Elaborate cinematic universes and sophisticated marketing tie-ins are commonplace in entertainment today. It’s easy to forget that the transmedia trend began in 1982 with a barbarian action figure. He-Man and the other characters in Mattel’s popular Masters of the Universe toy line quickly found their way into comic books, video games, multiple television series and a Hollywood film. The original animated series (1983–1985) was the first based on an action figure, and the cult classic Masters of the Universe (1987) was the first toy-inspired live-action feature film. But it wasn’t easy. He-Man faced adversaries more dangerous than Skeletor: entertainment lawyers, Hollywood executives, even the Reagan administration. The heroes and villains of Eternia did more than shape the childhoods of the toy-buying public—they formed the modern entertainment landscape. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Brian C. Baer is a screenwriter based in Upstate New York who is a lifelong He-Man fan. His fiction and pop culture writing has appeared in "Aurealis", "Robbed of Sleep," and "Barrelhouse." His last name is pronounced like the animal and spelled like a typo. briancbaer.com [https://briancbaer.com/] OTHER BOOKS BY BRIAN: His upcoming work includes "The Deprogrammer" (Bridge and Acorn Entertainment), and "The Channeling" (Yukoh Films and Rustic Films). Bad Publicity (Porfirio Press, 2015; Optography Press, 2018) https://a.co/d/0cZJh26B [https://a.co/d/0cZJh26B] ABOUT MCFARLAND: McFarland, a leading independent publisher of academic and general-interest nonfiction books, is perhaps best known for the serious treatment of popular culture. Founded in 1979, McFarland is recognized among authors and readers as adventurous in range and a reliable source of worthy books that other publishers overlook. They have around 8,000 unique works for sale and publish about 350 new titles a year. Meeting high library standards has been a major focus since the company began, and many McFarland books have received awards from the academic-oriented (Choice Outstanding Academic Title, ALA Outstanding Reference Work) to the mainstream (Hugo, Edgar, Stoker, and Eisner, among others). mcfarlandbooks.com [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/] SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER, eepurl.com/iPkvx2 [https://mcfarlandpub.us10.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=e2b5ac748c0ede60701e19a72&id=550a84829c] or FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK, @BestPartOfTheBook [https://www.facebook.com/BestPartOfTheBook], BLUESKY, @bestpartbook.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/bestpartbook.bsky.social], INSTAGRAM: @bestpartofthebook.podcast [https://www.instagram.com/bestpartofthebook.podcast/] WEBSITE, mcfarlandbooks.com/connect/best-part-of-the-book-podcast [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/connect/best-part-of-the-book-podcast/]

Don Doxsie: How Tall Are You?

Mark Perzel has a confession: he's been hitting his head on doorframes his entire life, and Don Doxsie finally gave him a book to explain why. In this episode, Mark talks with Don about "How Tall Are You? The Pros and Cons of Exceptional Height"—a decades-in-the-making look at what it's actually like to move through a world that wasn't built for you. They cover everything from shrinking airplane legroom to why the taller presidential candidate almost always wins, to a six-foot-nine Shakespearean actor whose greatest role was Lurch. It's funny, relatable, and surprisingly illuminating—even if you're not the tallest person in the room. LISTENER DISCOUNT CODE: Receive a 25% discount on this title when purchased from McFarland's website by using the code BESTPART at checkout: mcfarlandbooks.com/product/how-tall-are-you [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/how-tall-are-you/] FEATURED TITLE: “How Tall Are You?” The Pros and Cons of Exceptional Height. McFarland, softcover (2023) ISBN: 9781476692043 mcfarlandbooks.com/product/how-tall-are-you [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/how-tall-are-you/] BOOK DESCRIPTION: Most people believe that being extremely tall would be fantastic. It isn’t. It has its advantages, but it also has nearly as many disadvantages. It can be useful in basketball, business, and politics, and when friends are trying to find you in a crowded place. However. it’s also inconvenient, expensive, sometimes harmful to one’s health, and a little tedious to be bombarded almost daily with questions about how the weather is up there. In this book, the author takes a lighthearted look at the various aspects of extreme height, and those affected by it, from the perspective of someone who has spent the majority of his life towering above the crowd. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Don Doxsie is semi-retired after a 49-year career as a sportswriter and sports editor for newspapers in Illinois and Iowa. He spent nearly 38 years at the Quad-City Times in Davenport, Iowa, where he won dozens of state and national writing awards. He also writes extensively for a the Iowa History Journal magazine. Doxsie founded the Quad-City Sports Hall of Fame in 1987, then was inducted into it himself in 2022. He currently lives in Marion, Iowa, with his wife Gale. X: @Dox5 [https://x.com/Dox5] | FB: @don.doxsie [https://www.facebook.com/don.doxsie], @IronManJoeMcGinnity [https://www.facebook.com/IronManJoeMcGinnity], @iowabaseballgreats [https://www.facebook.com/iowabaseballgreats] https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093948141961 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093948141961] OTHER BOOKS BY DON DOXSIE: Run with the best: The first 20 years of the Quad-City Times Bix 7. Quad-City Times, softcover (1994) ISBN: 9781560370734 Out of Print Iron Man McGinnity: A Baseball Biography. McFarland, softcover (2009) ISBN: 9780786442034 mcfarlandbooks.com/product/iron-man-mcginnity [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/iron-man-mcginnity/] Iowa Baseball Greats: Sixteen Major Leaguers Who Were in the Game for Life. McFarland, softcover (2015) ISBN: 9780786498949 mcfarlandbooks.com/product/iowa-baseball-greats [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/iowa-baseball-greats/] Elmer Layden: Notre Dame's Quiet Hero. Don Doxsie, softcover (2023) ISBN: 9781088182086 https://www.amazon.com/Elmer-Layden-Notre-Dames-Quiet/ [https://www.amazon.com/Elmer-Layden-Notre-Dames-Quiet/dp/1088182089/ref=sr_1_4?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.cufyoRFEteaMYNb57r1b3NizEzngih3SWejgTxHK6j2JaE5XoEPDlACQDiiVN9rXcMgeUVSmXgaVNDi-noBTjzk5ZSQ1I3VyjnXi1185j9s.z5Ts7EZ8GktfbuXua36BCw5JSUD1VaP7IRez3ZlnJa0&dib_tag=se&qid=1776532782&refinements=p_27%3ADon+Doxsie&s=books&sr=1-4] 50 Years of Bix 7: A Half Century of Running With the Best. Sheridan, softcover, limited edition (2024) ISBN: 9798218534424 shopbix7.com/products/preorder-50-year-of-bix-7-a-half-century-of-running-with-the-best [https://shopbix7.com/products/preorder-50-year-of-bix-7-a-half-century-of-running-with-the-best] Tri-City Blackhawks: The Brief, Turbulent History of a Pioneering NBA Team. McFarland, softcover (2026) ISBN: 9781476697895 mcfarlandbooks.com/product/tri-city-blackhawks [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/tri-city-blackhawks/] Warren Giles: The National League’s Longest Serving President. McFarland, softcover (2026) ISBN: 9781476659022 mcfarlandbooks.com/product/warren-giles [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/warren-giles/] ABOUT MCFARLAND: McFarland, a leading independent publisher of academic and general-interest nonfiction books, is perhaps best known for the serious treatment of popular culture. Founded in 1979, McFarland is recognized among authors and readers as adventurous in range and a reliable source of worthy books that other publishers overlook. They have around 8,000 unique works for sale and publish about 350 new titles a year. Meeting high library standards has been a major focus since the company began, and many McFarland books have received awards from the academic-oriented (Choice Outstanding Academic Title, ALA Outstanding Reference Work) to the mainstream (Hugo, Edgar, Stoker, and Eisner, among others). mcfarlandbooks.com SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER, eepurl.com/iPkvx2 [http://eepurl.com/iPkvx2 ]or FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK, @BestPartOfTheBook [www.facebook.com/BestPartOfTheBook], BLUESKY, @bestpartbook.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/bestpartbook.bsky.social], INSTAGRAM: @bestpartofthebook.podcast [https://www.instagram.com/bestpartofthebook.podcast/] WEBSITE, mcfarlandbooks.com/connect/best-part-of-the-book-podcast [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/connect/best-part-of-the-book-podcast/]

Don Fox: Welcome to Firehouse!

Mark Perzel talks with author Don M. Fox about his book, "Welcome to Firehouse! Building a Billion Dollar Brand in America’s Most Competitive Industry." Turns out, building a successful restaurant chain isn’t just about the food—it’s branding, culture, timing, and a fair amount of learning things the hard way. Done gets into the early days of Firehouse Subs, what separates a good brand from a great one, and how a sandwich shop ended up saving lives. Worth a listen if you’ve ever wondered what actually goes on behind your favorite place to eat. LISTENER DISCOUNT CODE: Receive a 25% discount on this title when purchased from McFarland's website by using the code BESTPART at checkout: mcfarlandbooks.com/product/welcome-to-firehouse [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/welcome-to-firehouse/] FEATURED TITLE: Welcome to Firehouse: Building a Billion Dollar Brand in America’s Most Competitive Industry. McFarland, softcover (2026) ISBN: 9781476698670 mcfarlandbooks.com/product/welcome-to-firehouse [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/welcome-to-firehouse/] BOOK DESCRIPTION: After a 27-year journey that began in 1994, Firehouse Subs reached $1 billion in annual system sales for the first time. This culminated in the sale of the company to Restaurant Brands International in 2021, marking the transition of the brand originally started by brothers Chris and Robin Sorensen. In this book, author Don M. Fox (who was CEO of Firehouse Subs for more than 14 years) traces the brand’s development from its founding through its major achievements. It includes insights from other key members inside the organization, detailing strategies, decisions, and internal operations that shaped the company’s growth. It also addresses how Firehouse Subs navigated challenges such as the Great Recession and the Covid-19 pandemic. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Don Fox is the former CEO of Firehouse Subs, having led the brand from 2009 until his retirement in 2023. He was recognized by Nation’s Restaurant News as 2011’s Operator of the Year, and in 2013, received the prestigious Silver Plate Award from the International Food Manufacturers Association. In 2024, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association. He continues to serve on profit and nonprofit boards, including the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation and the Army Historical Foundation. www.donmfox.com [http://www.donmfox.com] | www.facebook.com/donmfox [http://www.facebook.com/donmfox] OTHER BOOKS BY DON M. FOX: The Fourth Armored Division Combat Chronology: Patton’s Vanguard in World War II. McFarland, softcover (2026) ISBN: 9781476698502 mcfarlandbooks.com/product/the-fourth-armored-division-combat-chronology [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/the-fourth-armored-division-combat-chronology/] You’re a Good Man, Sergeant: The World War II Combat Memoir of an Armored Infantryman in Patton’s Third Army. Edited by Colleen C. Porter and Don M. Fox. McFarland, softcover (2024) ISBN: 9781476680095 mcfarlandbooks.com/product/youre-a-good-man-sergeant [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/youre-a-good-man-sergeant/] Final Battles of Patton’s Vanguard: The United States Army Fourth Armored Division, 1945–1946. McFarland, softcover (2020) ISBN: 9781476680095 mcfarlandbooks.com/product/final-battles-of-pattons-vanguard [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/final-battles-of-pattons-vanguard/] Patton’s Vanguard: The United States Army Fourth Armored Division. McFarland, softcover (2007 [2003]) ISBN: 9780786430949 mcfarlandbooks.com/product/pattons-vanguard [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/pattons-vanguard/] ABOUT MCFARLAND: McFarland, a leading independent publisher of academic and general-interest nonfiction books, is perhaps best known for the serious treatment of popular culture. Founded in 1979, McFarland is recognized among authors and readers as adventurous in range and a reliable source of worthy books that other publishers overlook. They have around 8,000 unique works for sale and publish about 350 new titles a year. Meeting high library standards has been a major focus since the company began, and many McFarland books have received awards from the academic-oriented (Choice Outstanding Academic Title, ALA Outstanding Reference Work) to the mainstream (Hugo, Edgar, Stoker, and Eisner, among others). mcfarlandbooks.com SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER, eepurl.com/iPkvx2 [http://eepurl.com/iPkvx2] or FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK, facebook.com/BestPartOfTheBook [www.facebook.com/BestPartOfTheBook] WEBSITE, mcfarlandbooks.com/connect/best-part-of-the-book-podcast [mcfarlandbooks.com/connect/best-part-of-the-book-podcast]

Whitney Wallace: North Carolina Day Hiking for Every Body

Mark Perzel talks with author Whitney Harris Wallace about her book, "North Carolina Day Hiking for Every Body: What to Know and Where to Go from the Blue Ridge to the Beaches." Turns out, hiking doesn’t have to involve extreme gear, expert knowledge, or a personality change. They get into what actually counts as a hike, how to get started without overcomplicating it, and a few great places to wander around North Carolina. Worth a listen if you’ve ever thought, “I should get outside more,” and then… didn’t. LISTENER DISCOUNT CODE: Receive a 25% discount on this title when purchased from McFarland's website by using the code BESTPART at checkout: mcfarlandbooks.com/product/north-carolina-day-hiking-for-every-body [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/north-carolina-day-hiking-for-every-body/] FEATURED TITLE: North Carolina Day Hiking for Every Body: What to Know and Where to Go from the Blue Ridge to the Beaches. McFarland, softcover (2026) ISBN: 9781476697253 mcfarlandbooks.com/product/north-carolina-day-hiking-for-every-body [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/north-carolina-day-hiking-for-every-body/] BOOK DESCRIPTION: Blending practical advice, personal stories and historical context, this book highlights North Carolina trails suitable for diverse bodies, experience levels, and abilities—encouraging those who may not see themselves as typical hikers to find their home on the trail. Alongside detailed tips on safety, preparation, and environmental stewardship, the book also emphasizes the benefits of spending time outdoors. From serene coastal paths to shaded mountain trails, hikers are invited to slow down, savor the moment, and find calm and connection in the Tar Heel State’s natural spaces. Whether you are a longtime hiker or are just starting out, this guide encourages everyone to step outside and experience North Carolina’s outdoor delights in a whole new way. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Whitney Harris Wallace has lived, and hiked, throughout the state. She is a certified Wilderness First Responder and Forest Therapy Guide. She has also completed the Associate in Wilderness Medicine program through the University of Utah School of Medicine. She lives in Lexington, North Carolina. * Instagram @whitneygoeshiking [https://www.instagram.com/whitneygoeshiking/] * Facebook @Whitney Goes Hiking [https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=whitney%20goes%20hiking] * northcarolinadayhikingforeverybody.com [https://northcarolinadayhikingforeverybody.com/] OTHER BOOKS BY WHITNEY Mama's Quilt and Blizzard the White River Otter by Don Harris, illustrated by Whitney Harris Wallace. Warren Publishing, hardcover. Warren Publishing, hardcover www.warrenpublishing.net/store/p116/Mama%27s_Quilt_and_Blizzard_the_White_River_Otter_by_Don_Harris-Hardcover.html [https://www.warrenpublishing.net/store/p116/Mama%27s_Quilt_and_Blizzard_the_White_River_Otter_by_Don_Harris-Hardcover.html] ABOUT MCFARLAND: McFarland, a leading independent publisher of academic and general-interest nonfiction books, is perhaps best known for the serious treatment of popular culture. Founded in 1979, McFarland is recognized among authors and readers as adventurous in range and a reliable source of worthy books that other publishers overlook. They have around 8,000 unique works for sale and publish about 350 new titles a year. Meeting high library standards has been a major focus since the company began, and many McFarland books have received awards from the academic-oriented (Choice Outstanding Academic Title, ALA Outstanding Reference Work) to the mainstream (Hugo, Edgar, Stoker, and Eisner, among others). mcfarlandbooks.com SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER, http://eepurl.com/iPkvx2 [http://eepurl.com/iPkvx2] and FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK, www.facebook.com/BestPartOfTheBook [https://www.facebook.com/BestPartOfTheBook] WEBSITE, mcfarlandbooks.com/connect/best-part-of-the-book-podcast [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/connect/best-part-of-the-book-podcast/]