Narrative History: Jake Tapper on Making Non-Fiction Thrilling, Entertaining, and Accessible

In episode 164, I sat down with Jake Tapper, acclaimed journalist, author, and host of The Lead with Jake Tapper and State of the Union on CNN, to dive deep into his forthcoming book “Race Against Terror.” Our conversation covered why history, especially the stories of terrorism and the global war on terror, must be told through the human perspective.

Jake  talked about how he blends journalistic accuracy with the compelling narrative techniques of fiction to keep difficult subjects accessible and — yes — entertaining. It’s not enough to list facts or relay tragedies; the only way to reach people is to show why these stories matter on a personal level, connecting readers to the real emotions and experiences of those swept up in events that shape our world.

Storytelling about terrorism and history isn’t just about recounting the headlines. It’s about making sure the stories don’t lose their humanity or get buried by controversy. Jake and I agreed that the reason podcasts and books about true crime resonate is because they deliver messy realities with genuine empathy and a structure that draws people in. If we treat terrorism, ideology, or even trauma as disconnected cases or dry bullet points, we lose the chance to learn, empathize, and possibly prevent the next tragedy. Entertaining, accessible storytelling brings people together at the deepest level. It demands answers and spurs personal reflection while empowering us to see the past not just as a series of political moves but as an ongoing human drama full of heartbreak, forgiveness, and difficult choices.

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Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

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