David Talbot

David Talbot is an American journalist, author and media entrepreneur best known for founding Salon.com in 1995, one of the first major online magazines. As a writer, he has published several influential books examining power structures and political history in America, particularly focusing on the Kennedy era and Cold War period. After leaving Salon in 2005, Talbot established himself as an independent historian and investigative journalist. His books include "Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years" (2007), "Devil's Chessboard: Allen Dulles, the CIA, and the Rise of America's Secret Government" (2015), and "Between Heaven and Hell: The Story of My Stroke" (2020). Beyond his writing career, Talbot worked as an editor at Mother Jones magazine and the San Francisco Examiner. His journalism has appeared in major publications including Time, The New Yorker, and Rolling Stone, where he has covered politics, culture and social movements.

Readers praise Talbot's investigative depth and ability to connect historical dots, particularly in "The Devil's Chessboard." Many cite his detailed research and clear presentation of complex political events. Several readers note his talent for making dense historical material accessible. Common criticisms include accusations of bias, particularly in his Kennedy assassination coverage. Some readers find his writing style repetitive and note he can belabor certain points. A portion of reviews question his reliance on circumstantial evidence in drawing conclusions. "Devil's Chessboard" ratings: - Goodreads: 4.3/5 (5,800+ ratings) - Amazon: 4.6/5 (1,200+ reviews) "Brothers" ratings: - Goodreads: 4.1/5 (2,000+ ratings) - Amazon: 4.5/5 (200+ reviews) Sample reader comment: "Talbot presents compelling evidence but sometimes jumps to conclusions without enough proof." - Goodreads reviewer Another notes: "The research is impressive but the writing can get bogged down in details that don't advance the narrative." - Amazon review

Season of the Witch: Enchantment, Terror, and Deliverance in the City of Love (2012) A historical account of San Francisco from the 1960s to 1980s, chronicling the city's cultural transformations through the Summer of Love, the Peoples Temple tragedy, the assassinations of Harvey Milk and George Moscone, and the AIDS crisis.

Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years (2007) An examination of Robert F. Kennedy's private search for the truth about his brother JFK's assassination, based on interviews with Kennedy inner circle members and previously unseen documents.

Devil's Chessboard: Allen Dulles, the CIA, and the Rise of America's Secret Government (2015) A biographical investigation of CIA director Allen Dulles and his influence on American foreign policy during the Cold War era.

Between Heaven and Hell: The Story of My Stroke (2020) A personal memoir detailing Talbot's experience surviving and recovering from a stroke, including his medical journey and psychological transformation.

The Hidden History of the American Revolution (2017) An analysis of the power dynamics and competing interests that shaped the American Revolution, examining both well-known and lesser-known historical figures.

Peter Dale Scott investigates deep politics and the interconnections between government, intelligence agencies, and organized crime. His books like "Deep Politics and the Death of JFK" and "The American Deep State" examine many of the same power structures and historical events that Talbot explores.

James W. Douglass focuses on the assassinations of the 1960s and Cold War politics with a similar investigative approach. His book "JFK and the Unspeakable" parallels many of Talbot's findings about the Kennedy years and national security state.

Tim Weiner writes extensively about American intelligence agencies and national security operations based on declassified documents and insider accounts. His books "Legacy of Ashes" and "Enemies" cover the institutional history of the CIA and FBI with the same detail-oriented focus as Talbot's work.

Russ Baker investigates hidden networks of power in American politics through independent research and document analysis. His book "Family of Secrets" examines the Bush dynasty and intelligence connections using research methods similar to Talbot's approach.

Jefferson Morley specializes in CIA history and the Kennedy assassination through archival research and FOIA documents. His biographies of CIA figures like Win Scott and work on JFK files cover much of the same territory as Talbot's investigations into the intelligence world.