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Michael Blanding

Goodreads Author

Born

in The United States

Website

http://www.michaelblanding.com

Genre

Nonfiction, History, Crime

Influences

Erik Larson David Grann Naomi Klein Ted Conover Jon Krakauer Annie ...more

Member Since

January 2008

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/michaelblanding

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Michael Blanding is a Boston-based investigative journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, WIRED, Slate, Smithsonian, The Boston Globe Magazine, and Boston magazine. His newest book, The Gospel According to Hobby Lobby: A Billionaire Family's Quest to Craft a Christian Nation, is due out from PublicAffairs in July 2026. It is a revelatory account of how the family behind Hobby Lobby rose to political prominence and used their influence—and fortune—to push a radical religious agenda.

Blanding is also author of In Shakespeare's Shadow: A Rogue Scholar's Quest to Reveal the True Source Behind the World's Greatest Plays (2021), which won the International Book Award for Narrative Non-fiction; and The Map Thief: The Gripping Stor ...more

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Michael Blanding’s books

Average rating: 3.63 · 5,026 ratings · 862 reviews · 12 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Map Thief: The Gripping Story of an Esteemed Rare-Map Dealer Who Made Millions Stealing Priceless Maps 3.64 avg rating — 3,880 ratings — published 2014 — 23 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Coke Machine 3.36 avg rating — 673 ratings — published 2010 — 24 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Gospel According to Hobby Lobby: Inside a Billionaire Family's Quest to Craft a Christian Nation really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 234 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	North by Shakespeare: A Rogue Scholar's Quest for the Truth Behind the Bard's Work 3.83 avg rating — 212 ratings — published 2021 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Moon Vermont (Moon Handbooks) by Michael Blanding (Goodreads Author), Alexandra Hall really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2008 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Moon Spotlight Providence by Michael Blanding (Goodreads Author), Alexandra Hall 4.40 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2011	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Moon New England (Moon Handbooks) by Michael Blanding (Goodreads Author), Alexandra Hall really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 2007 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Moon Spotlight Massachusetts by Michael Blanding (Goodreads Author), Alexandra Hall 4.67 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2010 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Moon Spotlight Newport by Michael Blanding (Goodreads Author), Alexandra Hall 3.67 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2012	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Moon Rhode Island (Moon Handbooks) by Michael Blanding (Goodreads Author), Alexandra Hall 4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2011 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Michael Blanding…

Michael is Currently Reading

Michael Blanding is currently reading

Shakespeare and Company, Paris: A History of the Rag and Bone Shop of the Heart

by Krista Halverson

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Aug 15, 2021 03:25PM

Michael Blanding is currently reading

North by Shakespeare: A Rogue Scholar's Quest for the Truth Behind the Bard's Work

by Michael Blanding (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: shakespeare, narrative-nonfiction, thomas-north, currently-reading

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Mar 18, 2021 08:50AM

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Shakespeare and Game of Thrones

by Jeffrey R. Wilson

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Mar 27, 2025 06:43PM

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Michael Blanding and 1 other person liked Taylor Bellamy's review of The Gospel According to Hobby Lobby: Inside a Billionaire Family's Quest to Craft a Christian Nation: "I learned so much about my previous employers reading this. I knew they were crazy and cheap (they changed health insurance companies every single year I was there). I just didn't realize how deep it went. Can you say mommy issues? I worked for the a" Read more of this review »
Sep 30, 2026 08:47AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Gospel According to Hobby Lobby by Michael Blanding. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Gospel According to Hobby Lobby by Michael Blanding <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Michael Blanding and 1 other person liked Mary Brown's review of The Gospel According to Hobby Lobby: Inside a Billionaire Family's Quest to Craft a Christian Nation: "This book is the terrible car accident that I can't look away from. For me, it is a description of a world that I don't understand, or believe in."
Sep 26, 2026 08:26AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Gospel According to Hobby Lobby by Michael Blanding. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Gospel According to Hobby Lobby by Michael Blanding <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
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Michael Blanding liked C. Jane Swick's review of The Gospel According to Hobby Lobby: Inside a Billionaire Family's Quest to Craft a Christian Nation: "This book was a riveting story of how big money influences the world around us. Well written without a lot of judgment, it tells the story of money, faith, and politics. The pages kept me turning and turning, and I found it quite interesting. Enjoyed" Read more of this review »
Sep 22, 2026 06:57AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Gospel According to Hobby Lobby by Michael Blanding. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Gospel According to Hobby Lobby by Michael Blanding <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Michael Blanding and 1 other person liked Judith Holley's review of The Gospel According to Hobby Lobby: Inside a Billionaire Family's Quest to Craft a Christian Nation: "I learned SO. MUCH. Thank you for not only the information on the Green family, but also education on the actual biblical history on WHY they are the way they are. Incredible work, everyone should read. "
Sep 17, 2026 05:48AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Gospel According to Hobby Lobby by Michael Blanding. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Gospel According to Hobby Lobby by Michael Blanding <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
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