A fascinating conversation with Jack El-Hai, the New York Times-bestselling author of The Nazi and the Psychiatrist, recently adapted into the major movie Nuremberg, which opened in theaters worldwide in 2025. The film, directed by James Vanderbilt, stars Rami Malek and Russell Crowe. We also talk about the parallels to our current situation here in America.
Jack writes nonfiction books, longform narratives, and the free monthly Damn History newsletter for writers and readers of popular history. He covers history, medicine, science, crime, and anything else that intrigues him and might intrigue you.
His other published books include Face in the Mirror, The Lost Brothers, Non-Stop: A Turbulent History of Northwest Airlines, and The Lobotomist: A Maverick Medical Genius and His Tragic Quest to Rid the World of Mental Illness. His articles have appeared in Smithsonian, The Atlantic, GQ, Wired, Scientific American Mind, The Washington Post Magazine, and many other publications.
Jack’s forthcoming book is The Case of the Autographed Corpse: A Medicine Man and a Mystery Writer in Pursuit of Justice (2026; Pegasus Publishers). It’s an expansion of an article he published in Smithsonian.
The Nazi and the Psychiatrist is just one of several of Jack’s nonfiction stories that have been adapted for the screen, stage, and podcasts. Among other adaptations of his work are the documentary American Experience: The Lobotomist, the Long Lost podcast, the stage play Sense of Decency, and the podcast Time Capsule: The Silver Chain. He enjoys the adventure of bringing adaptations of his works to many media.
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