This is Jacobin Radio. I'm Susie Weisman. On today's program, we feature historian,

prolific writer and longtime political activist Mike Davis, reading from his book

in progress called Star Spangled Leviathan, an economic history of American nationalism.

This reading was organized by Jordan Camp of Trinity College in honor of Fred File, the

beloved passionate and acclaimed teacher, writer and professor of English and American

studies at Trinity College, who died two young in 2005. Fred collaborated with Mike on

the Verso Haymarket series The Year Left. Mike's talk on his new book is called Thirteen

Jellis Republics, the myth of American Genesis. We are fortunate to bring it to you, the listener,

and our program returns in just a moment.

This is Jacobin Radio. Today we welcome back Mike Davis, the prolific writer, historian,

political activist, urban theorist and author of dozens of books. Most recently, set

the night on fire, LA in the 60s, co-authored with our own Jayon Meener. Mike is writing

a new book on the genesis of American nationalism called Star Spangled Leviathan, an economic

history of American nationalism. Here he reads from the chapter Thirteen Jellis Republics,

the myth of American Genesis and a selected discussion follows. This talk that we're bringing

to you, was sponsored by Trinity College, organized by Jordan Camp, and dedicated to Fred

File, the beloved Trinity English and American studies professor, writer, public intellectual

on the street and the page, troublemaker and beloved collaborator with Mike on the Verso

Haymarket series called The Year Left. Fred File died two young in 2005. Check out his

writings, including another tale to tell, and white guys studies in postmodern domination

and difference. And we now join Jordan Camp, introducing Mike Davis.

Mike needs no introduction. His contributions to the fields of labor history, political

...