Generated by All in One SEO v4.9.3, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site.

# Mike H. Mizrahi Official Website

Historical Fiction Author | "The Great Chattanooga Bicycle Race"

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://mikehmizrahi.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [The March to 250](https://mikehmizrahi.com/the-march-to-250/) - Well, we’re on our way…at least the lovers of American history are! On July 4, we as a nation will usher in a grand celebration, one that will harken back 250 years to the beginning. Let me set the stage… The Declaration of Independence wasn’t first unveiled in a quiet room—it was proclaimed aloud to
- [U.S. History: Told or Resold?](https://mikehmizrahi.com/u-s-history-told-or-resold/) - Countdown to July 4, 2026 When I attended Los Angeles Junior College in the fall of 1969, I stepped into a temporary bungalow classroom—the campus still brand new—thinking I’d simply knock out my general education requirement for U.S. history. What I didn’t expect to find was a teacher—small in stature but a giant storyteller—who so
- [U.S. History in 27 Notes](https://mikehmizrahi.com/u-s-history-in-27-notes/) - As we approach July 4, 2026—the 250th birthday of this country—I find myself asking: How well do we really know the story we’re celebrating? No slogans. No soundbites. Just the story. It’s in vogue these days to charge that our history has been whitewashed. Others say it’s being “rewritten” through a woke lens. Still some
- [In case you didn’t know…](https://mikehmizrahi.com/in-case-you-didnt-know/) - The year was 1818. In the small alpine village of Oberndorf, near Salzburg, Austria, world history was made when a church organ broke down at the most inopportune time. A young priest named Joseph Mohr led a small flock of believers attending the St. Nicholas Church. Europe was still recovering from the Napoleonic Wars—life was
- [What Jesus left in the tomb...](https://mikehmizrahi.com/what-jesus-left-in-the-tomb/) - The Shroud of Turin? Alright…I can already hear all you scoffers and naysayers. Hang with me, here. You might find this interesting. First things first. There’s no doubt about the historical Jesus. He came, he preached and healed, and he died. We have enough independent accounts outside the Christian canon to verify his ministry. Consider:
- [The Christmas Tree](https://mikehmizrahi.com/the-christmas-tree/) - How can the same holiday tradition be both the snag in my season and the joy that steadies my heart—its memories clinging like ornaments to a well-worn branch? Growing up in a Jewish family in the 50s and 60s, God forbid a Christmas tree ever crossed the threshold. For a few years, though, our living
- [Sacred Principles, Civic Ideals](https://mikehmizrahi.com/sacred-principles-civic-ideals/) - A Historical Bridge… As you may know, I love history, so I’m naturally drawn to milestone events and their anniversaries—moments that invite us to reflect on the course of humanity. The years 2025 and 2026 mark two such world-changing events. On May 30th, in the year 325AD—1700 years ago—more than 300 bishops from across the
- [Gratitude + Reconciliation](https://mikehmizrahi.com/gratitude-reconciliation/) - Thanksgiving is a day that invites repair and remembrance. May it long stand as a reminder of generosity across difference, and a prompt for humility.
- [What Should I Do With My Life?](https://mikehmizrahi.com/what-should-i-do-with-my-life/) - I don’t envy anyone standing at such crossroads. But I do admire them. Asking “What should I do with my life?” isn’t a sign of confusion—it’s a sign of courage
- [Thanksgiving Musings](https://mikehmizrahi.com/thanksgiving-musings/) - Karen and I will be on our own this Thanksgiving. There’ll be no bantering, no loud arguments, no too-many-cooks-in-the-kitchen chaos. You know what—we’re okay with that. Oh, we’ll miss the chaos, at least on one level. We love filling the kitchen with family and friends, breaking bread—or turkey, in this case—and sharing life as it
- [“There’s somethin’ happenin’ here…”](https://mikehmizrahi.com/theres-somethin-happenin-here/) - The first line of the song For What It’s Worth, by Buffalo Springfield—the rallying cry of the Baby Boom generation against the Vietnam War and the traditional mores of their fathers’ generation. They spoke out. They marched. They brought about a cultural revolution. The results? Some good, some bad. But the country was definitely transformed.
- [Assassination](https://mikehmizrahi.com/assassination/) - he horror of Charlie Kirk’s assassination left level-headed people aghast. How can anyone celebrate the death of another human being?
- [I'm a Daydream Believer](https://mikehmizrahi.com/im-a-daydream-believer/) - The memories behind the songs. (Some weeks ago, I submitted a series of posts on some of my favorite songs and the memories they elicit whenever I hear them. This is my final post on this subject, but please send me comments on your favorite songs and memories. I will post them in a separate
- [The Beginning of Wisdom is...](https://mikehmizrahi.com/the-beginning-of-wisdom-is/) - “Help me sort out these terms,” I said to a close friend and spiritual mentor just this morning. “Knowledge, discernment, and wisdom.”
- [A Dubious Tale...](https://mikehmizrahi.com/a-dubious-tale/) - …but true! Time has way of setting records straight. Putting the doubters to shame. That time came for John Capes, a British submariner, in the late 1990s. Unfortunately, it was years after his death. I recently released my fourth historical novel, The Weight of Loyalty, which is loosely based on the story Capes told his
- [Ramblings from a Yankee Doodle Dandy](https://mikehmizrahi.com/ramblings-from-a-yankee-doodle-dandy/) - …a self-avowed flag waver I can’t remember a time when I didn’t feel proud to be an American. I still well up during that scene in Mel Gibson’s movie “The Patriot,” which I watch every July 4, when Mel’s character rides to catch up with his fellow soldiers, waving the tattered flag that his deceased
- [Book Life Reviews: The Weight Of Loyalty](https://mikehmizrahi.com/book-life-reviews-the-weight-of-loyalty/) - Fueled by themes of war, grief, resilience, bravery, and love vs. loyalty, Mizrahi’s (Tattered Coat) romantic World War Two drama centers on self-destructive English sailor Oliver Graham and volatile but goodhearted Natalía Giannatos, a young widow in a village on the Greek island of Kefalonia. After his submarine hits an underwater mine, Oliver is washed
- ["You've Got A Friend"](https://mikehmizrahi.com/youve-got-a-friend/) - The memories behind the songs. Recall that memorable moment in the movie When Harry Met Sally, when Harry contends that men and women can’t sustain purely platonic friendships because “the sex part always gets in the way.” Sally counters, sparking a spirited debate on whether it’s feasible for men and women to maintain close, non-romantic
- [Some friends share their memories...](https://mikehmizrahi.com/some-friends-share-their-memories/) - The memories behind the songs. Two weeks ago I asked you to join me in sharing how music stimulates some of your favorite memories. Thanks to those who have jumped right in. To the rest of you, click on the button below and join the romp down memory lane. No matter our country, skin color,
- ["I can't get no...I can't get no...I can't get no..."](https://mikehmizrahi.com/i-cant-get-no-i-cant-get-no-i-cant-get-no/) - The memories behind the songs. If you lived through the 60s like me, the title of this post must be a dead giveaway. It’s 1965. The British invasion is well underway, and through the radio waves comes that distinctive Gibson Fuzzbox guitar riff that every high school band tries to duplicate, including mine. “Satisfaction,” by
- [Roll Out the Barrel](https://mikehmizrahi.com/roll-out-the-barrel/) - The memories behind the songs. Roll out the barrel, we’ll have a barrel of fun.Roll out the barrel, we’ve got the blues on the run.Zing! Boom! Ta-rarrel!Sing out a song of good cheer.Now’s the time to roll the barrel,For the gang’s all here! Okay. Maybe not Top 40 Hit Parade material, but occasionally the tune
- [Review of "The Weight of Loyalty" by: The Editors of "Self-Publishing Review"](https://mikehmizrahi.com/review-of-the-weight-of-loyalty-by-the-editors-of-self-publishing-review/) - Transportive historical fiction offering clear and timely wisdom about the present, The Weight of Loyalty by Mike H. Mizrahi is an epic World War II tale of survival, trust, and the resilience of humanity in the face of destruction. Oliver Graham is a hard-drinking and troubled sailor aboard a British submarine that strikes a mine
- [Review of “The Weight of Loyalty” by: Readers’ Favorite](https://mikehmizrahi.com/review-of-the-weight-of-loyalty-by-readers-favorite/) - The Weight of Loyalty by Mike H. Mizrahi revolves around the relationship between Natalía Giannatos, a Greek woman living under Italian occupation in Kefalonia during World War II, and Oliver Graham, a British sailor who survives a submarine explosion. After being rescued and hidden by Natalía and her family, Oliver is forced to reconcile with
- [Review of “The Weight of Loyalty” by: Independent Book Review](https://mikehmizrahi.com/review-of-the-weight-of-loyalty-by-independent-book-review/) - A moving historical novel about the humanizing power of love. “She is the first person to draw me out of my self-imposed exile, to make me want to forgive the people who hurt me and to make amends with those I’ve wronged.” Love is a far greater motivator for strength and bravery than fear will
- [“But if Not”](https://mikehmizrahi.com/but-if-not/) - “If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have
- [Create Anyway!](https://mikehmizrahi.com/create-anyway/) - We’ve all got the bug to create. It’s in our genes. We can resist…we can hide…we can put it off. But it’s there, gnawing at us over time. What’s the point, we say. Nobody will see it, or hear it, or read it…or even taste it outside of my home. And what if I don’t
- [All You Need is Love 2.0](https://mikehmizrahi.com/all-you-need-is-love-2-0/) - I love Beatle music. You may have already discovered my mania. The other day the boys were singing for an audience of one inside my car… “All You Need is Love. (♫ Dont…da-da-da-da ♫). All You Need is Love.” The band sang this catchy phrase around fifty years ago on a BBC telecast that aired
- [Hug a Teacher](https://mikehmizrahi.com/hug-a-teacher/) - Many teachers rescued me through the years. I wish they were still with us so I could hug them and say thanks. Karen, my wife, alerted me that National Teacher Appreciation Week started yesterday, May 8, and today is Teacher’s Day in America. So, I want to start this day by saying, THANK YOU, to anyone reading this
- [Post Memorial Day Thoughts—From a Baby Boomer Who Never Served](https://mikehmizrahi.com/post-memorial-day-thoughts-from-a-baby-boomer-who-never-served/) - Maybe it's my age, but Memorial Day automatically conjures up images in my mind of the brave, frightened souls who stormed the Normandy beaches that long ago June morning. Or the battle on Okinawa's Hacksaw Ridge, recently memorialized in Mel Gibson's movie of the same name. Then there's my dad, Marine PFC Dave Mizrahi, who
- [Lincoln and the Great Book](https://mikehmizrahi.com/lincoln-and-the-great-book/) - On this day, Sept. 7, 1864, a deputation of blacks from Baltimore visited President Abraham Lincoln. They presented our 16th President with a special gift: a Bible. In thanking them, here is what he said: “In regard to this great book, I have but to say, it is the best gift God has given to
- [Giving Thanks](https://mikehmizrahi.com/giving-thanks/) - In the aftermath of evil being unleashed upon our fellow citizens yesterday, I find it sobering that today we are reminded to give thanks to our Sovereign God who has already vanquished evil. George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, perhaps our nation’s most revered Presidents, had similar thoughts about why Americans should remember to give thanks.
- [Are Any of Us Asking?](https://mikehmizrahi.com/are-any-of-us-asking/) - I was 10 years old, and I still remember watching his speech on our B&W television set. On this day, Jan. 20, 1961, the youngest man ever elected president delivered his Inaugural Address. JFK stirred the hearts of young and old alike that day with words of patriotism, self-sacrifice, and a warning to America’s foes.
- [America Needs to Listen to More Music](https://mikehmizrahi.com/america-needs-to-listen-to-more-music/) - Don’t you agree? Music is magic for the soul. It can root you in the here and now, and it can catapult you over the canyons of time to special moments in your past. Music is a medicine that can bind our wounds. Earlier this week I received and shared a FB post that highlighted
- [America’s Songs](https://mikehmizrahi.com/americas-songs/) - On this day, Feb. 2, in 1831, a 23-year-old seminarian named Samuel Francis Smith first heard the tune used for the British national anthem. Delighted with the music, he was moved to write new lyrics to the same melody. “My Country Tis of Thee” was first performed on July 4 that year, and went on
- [President Benjamin Harrison and Prayer](https://mikehmizrahi.com/president-benjamin-harrison-and-prayer/) - (Disclaimer: Karen and I pray regularly. I respect all who profess religious affiliations other than my Christian faith, as well as those who are agnostic or atheist.) Do you pray? And what does that have to do with our long deceased president? Today, March 12, marks the 117th anniversary of his death, and I’d bet
- [Binding the Nation's Wounds](https://mikehmizrahi.com/binding-the-nations-wounds/) - One week before this day, April 14, in 1865, Robert Lincoln brought a photograph of Confederate General Robert E. Lee over to his father, President Abraham Lincoln, as he ate breakfast. The President gazed at the old warrior’s image and said, “It is a good face…the face of a noble, noble, man. I am glad
- [Count It A Blessing To Suffer](https://mikehmizrahi.com/count-it-a-blessing-to-suffer/) - Now that’s a good one, right? A blessing…? Tell that to the people in Northeastern Congo, where innocents are being hacked and raped and killed by militiamen. It makes no sense that they would be thankful for such tribulations, or that forgiveness is possible. How about someone suffering from the death of a loved one…or
- [Abraham Lincoln and the Sovereignty of God](https://mikehmizrahi.com/abraham-lincoln-and-the-sovereignty-of-god/) - The 16th President gave us a glimpse into his thinking on the subject on Oct. 1, 1862, when he shared the following spiritual meditation about the struggle that was tearing the nation asunder: “I am almost ready to say this is probably true: that God wills this contest, and wills that it shall not end
- [Jedediah Smith: Bites of American History March 11, 2022](https://mikehmizrahi.com/jedediah-smith-bites-of-american-history-march-11-2022/) - Jedediah Smith, a devout mountain man, discovered the South Pass over the Rockies in March of 1824. This led him beyond the vast western frontier where he opened the first land route to California. As reverent as his contemporary explorers were profane, young Smith reveled in the beauty and magnificence all around him which he
- [Boston Corbett: Bites of American History April 14, 2022](https://mikehmizrahi.com/thomas-boston-corbett-bites-of-american-history-april-1-2022/) - President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on this day, April 14, in 1865, five days after General Ulysses S. Grant accepted the surrender of Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, thus ending the bloodiest war in American history. Listen To The Original Song “The Revenge Of Old Glory” When the President breathed his last early
- [Senator James Harlan of Iowa: Bites of American History March 30, 2022](https://mikehmizrahi.com/senator-james-harlan-of-iowa-bites-of-american-history-march-30-2022/) - Senator James Harlan of Iowa, whose daughter later married President Lincoln’s son Robert, introduced a resolution asking the President to proclaim a national day of prayer and fasting. The Puritans and Pilgrims searched their souls collectively and individually in a day of fasting and repentance when they experienced a natural calamity—a prolonged drought, a plague
- [President George Washington: Bites of American History April 30, 2022](https://mikehmizrahi.com/president-george-washington-bites-of-american-history-april-30-2022/) - On this day, April 30, in 1789, standing on the balcony of Federal Hall in the nation’s new capital, New York City, George Washington took the oath of office as our first president. Humbled by the cheers of the people below (he had not sought the presidency) Washington went inside and delivered his first inaugural
- [Ralph Waldo Emerson: Bites of American History May 25, 2022](https://mikehmizrahi.com/ralph-waldo-emerson-bites-of-american-history-may-25-2022/) - On this day, May 25, 1803, one of America’s great essayists and poets, Ralph Waldo Emerson, was born. Known as the “Sage of Concord,” he declared: “All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.” Stand Proud. Become Better.
- [The Lincoln Memorial: Bites of American History May 30, 2022](https://mikehmizrahi.com/the-lincoln-memorial-bites-of-american-history-may-30-2022/) - On May 30th, one hundred years ago today, the Lincoln Memorial was dedicated. Some 175 tons of marble that attracts eight million visitors per year from all over the world. But it’s so much more than that. It’s a place where people pay homage to a country lawyer turned U.S. President who fought to rid
- [Flag Day: Bites of American History June 14, 2022](https://mikehmizrahi.com/flag-day-bites-of-american-history-june-14-2022/) - This day, June 14, is Flag Day, the 245th anniversary of the establishment of Old Glory by an act of the Continental Congress. While legend has it that Philadelphia seamstress Betsy Ross sewed the first Stars and Stripes, historians dispute this because of the lack of historical record of any contact between George Washington—head of
- [McCartney and Wilson: Bites of American History, June 1942](https://mikehmizrahi.com/mccartney-and-wilson-bites-of-american-history-june-1942/) - Days ago, America celebrated the birthdays of two brilliant singers, songwriters, and musicians that changed the landscape of popular music forever. Sir Paul McCartney, one of the most successful composers and performers of all time, who gained worldwide fame as co-lead vocalist, co-songwriter, and bassist for The Beatles, turned 80 on June 18. And Brian
- [Cultural Pivots](https://mikehmizrahi.com/cultural-pivots/) - Chances are, if you’re not a kid yourself, you remember that age-old refrain from the movie Bye Bye Birdie. Comedian Paul Lynde sings the lament that parents from every generation have expressed during their child-rearing days, yours truly included. If you’ve never watched it, this 1963 film is a parody on rock and roll star
- [Is the Bible Trustworthy?](https://mikehmizrahi.com/is-the-bible-trustworthy/) - Dedicating most of my Substack writing to history and culture, I thought this to be a fitting topic. In today’s chaotic world, people throughout our country—indeed, in every nation—are searching for light in the darkness, but we’re coming up short. Well…maybe we should consult that Bible gathering dust in most of our bookshelves. It’s possible
- [Stories to Applaud](https://mikehmizrahi.com/stories-to-applaud/) - It’s Black History Month I assume we know the celebrated figures in Black history—Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Rosa Parks, and Martin Luther King, Jr., among them. But I’m learning there are so many other lesser-known Blacks with significant stories that must be told. As someone who loves American history, I must confess I’ve been clueless
- [Where were you when...?](https://mikehmizrahi.com/where-were-you-when/) - Markers All you Baby Boomers out there will probably relate the most to this question. Perhaps that’s because we’ve lived through so many explosive events that created big headlines around the world. Historical markers—some good, some bad. Many were violent. All memorable events that shook my generation to the core and redefined our culture in
- [April 10, 1962](https://mikehmizrahi.com/april-10-1962/) - The day my world expanded. Opening day 2024 is around the corner. My uncle had sprung me and my cousin from school that Tuesday. As we walked through the huge parking lot, I was surrounded by every car in Los Angeles. Well…maybe not every, but that’s how it appeared through these eleven-year-old eyes. We walked
- [April 15, 1865: The Day Lincoln Died](https://mikehmizrahi.com/april-15-1865-the-day-lincoln-died/) - An eerie dream just days before. I am forever fascinated by American history. Three days prior to his assassination, Abraham Lincoln related a dream he had to his wife and a few friends. According to Ward Hill Lamon, one of the friends who was present for the conversation, the president said: “About ten days ago,
- [Remembering Boston, Part 2](https://mikehmizrahi.com/remembering-boston-part-2/) - Boston…where the spark of revolution turned into a raging fire. Where just shy of 200 years later, seats in the bleachers along the first base line at Fenway Park were cheap enough that a broke graduate student and his bride could watch the Red Sox play in fair weather. A place and time of innocence,
- [Is the sun rising or setting on America?](https://mikehmizrahi.com/is-the-sun-rising-or-setting-on-america/) - Consult the chair for your answer. May 24, 1787. Pretend you are there. The air is supercharged with the weight of history and the hopes of a new nation that is all but four years old. Fifty-five state delegates gather with you at Philadelphia’s Pennsylvania State House, later dubbed Independence Hall. The place where the
- [Our love affair with roller coasters!](https://mikehmizrahi.com/our-love-affair-with-roller-coasters/) - It continues! “C’mon, Mike,” you might be saying. “Don’t you have anything more relevant to write about?” Well…yeah. But the date of June 16, which landed eight days ago, got stuck in my brain last week for reasons other than Father’s Day. It so happens, on June 16, the year of our Lord 1884, America
- [On birthdays and growing older…](https://mikehmizrahi.com/on-birthdays-and-growing-older/) - The fireworks have been for me all along, right? I celebrated another birthday on July 4th. Always loved sharing my birthday with America—the fireworks have always been for me—so I decided I’m going to pass into glory on…July 4th, many years from now. Hey, stranger things have happened. Like this…the Declaration of Independence was approved
- [Media Bias - Part 1](https://mikehmizrahi.com/media-bias-part-1/) - Looking for the truth. On a recent visit, my friend Reid said, “Wouldn’t it be great if (so-called) journalists were held to a professional standard regarding egregious levels of dishonest and biased reporting…something akin to disbarment for attorneys found guilty of ethics violations?” Interesting idea. But alas. The founders of the United States believed a
- [Hats...a fashion trend reborn?](https://mikehmizrahi.com/hats-a-fashion-trend-reborn/) - Where would Indy be without his fedora? Picture the opening scene change in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.” It’s when young Indy discovers his fear of snakes on the train and loses his fedora. Suddenly, leap forward to the next scene, when this symbolic prop shows up again on Indy’s head in the middle
- [Media Bias, Part 2](https://mikehmizrahi.com/media-bias-part-2/) - What are we to do? For the sake of argument, let me say—and I think it’s an unbiased statement—that bias exists in the business of reporting the news. On both sides of the political spectrum. It shows up in so many ways. (Here are examples from the University of Washington.) Bias by headline: Judge Allows
- [Is God riding into the sunset?](https://mikehmizrahi.com/is-god-riding-into-the-sunset/) - Wisdom from a Founding Father Samuel Adams, one of our country’s Founding Fathers, played his traditional role as father of the bride when he passed along a proverbial bit of wisdom to his daughter’s fiancé, a man named Thomas Wells. It went like this: “I could say a thousand things to you if I had
- [Remembering Boston, Part 1](https://mikehmizrahi.com/remembering-boston-part-1/) - A Poem That Bears Repeating Another July 4th is around the corner, and everyone in the U.S. will celebrate my birthday. (That really is what I thought as a kid.) Happy 248th birthday, America! As we near the completion of one-quarter of a millennium, it’s worth reflecting on the generous legacy left to us by
- [A Shameless Plug...](https://mikehmizrahi.com/a-shameless-plug/) - Available at Amazon on June 3, 2025 The Weight of Loyalty By Mike H. Mizrahi Genre: Historical Fiction Romance Reviewed by Samantha Hui A moving historical novel about the humanizing power of love “She is the first person to draw me out of my self-imposed exile, to make me want to forgive the people who
- [Mistrust in American Institutions](https://mikehmizrahi.com/mistrust-in-american-institutions/) - What is truth? I remember watching Walter Cronkite deliver the nightly news. If Cronkite reported it, you could take that news to the bank. Rock solid. Not skewed with any ideological bent. We trusted Walter to tell us the truth. But did he? We had faith in our institutions. We trusted our figureheads, at least
- [A Cry For Help](https://mikehmizrahi.com/a-cry-for-help/) - “Deliver me from the mire…” Are you like me? I love rescue stories. Remember the Beatles song with these words: “Help me if you can, I’m feelin’ down, And I do appreciate your bein’ round. Help me get my feet back on the ground. Won’t you please, please help me.” –John Winston Lennon Regardless of
- [A better version of me.](https://mikehmizrahi.com/a-better-version-of-me/) - The Christmas presents have been exchanged, the tree taken down, and all the decorations stored away for another year. The heartfelt sentiments of joy to the world and peace on Earth, so tangible in the lights, music, and gatherings of loved ones, have already begun to fade. Now, 2025 has arrived, offering equal measures of
- [Christmas reflections from a rich man](https://mikehmizrahi.com/christmas-reflections-from-a-rich-man/) - Yes, I’m rich. Not in the financial sense, although God continues to bless us abundantly, meeting all of our earthly needs. For this, I’m truly grateful. Rather, this Christmas season, I’ve come to realize anew that my true riches flow from something intangible, something far beyond our bank accounts and the fluctuating stock market. Something
- [Don't go away...](https://mikehmizrahi.com/dont-go-away/) - This is my first post in several weeks and it will be a short one. I’ve been busy putting the finishing touches on my new historical novel, The Weight of Loyalty, to be released this Spring 2025. With a little luck, I’ll get back to posting on Substack after the holidays, so I hope you’ll
- [What Would John Adams Think?](https://mikehmizrahi.com/what-would-john-adams-think/) - I love American history—the grand experiment of America—glorious and tarnished as it might be. People from across the globe are still willing to sacrifice life and limb to come here. True, we’ve got a ways to go to make a more perfect union. Google, What’s wrong in America? and you’ll see our laundry list of
- [“Let’s go to the movies tonight, honey.”](https://mikehmizrahi.com/lets-go-to-the-movies-tonight-honey/) - “Naw. Let’s watch something at home.” If I had a buck for every time I’ve suggested a night at the movies to Karen, I’d be a wealthy man. I still love watching movies in the theaters, but these days we’re more likely to opt for staying home. A sign of age? (Ugh…I hope not.) Post-Covid,
- [Of U.S. Birth Rates and Cat](https://mikehmizrahi.com/of-u-s-birth-rates-and-cat/) - “Don’t turn a blind eye to kids.” – Goldie Hawn Before I get to my real point… It’s already hot in the kitchen, and we’ve got three months to go. Ah, how the past comes to haunt us. JD Vance is defiantly fending off political and media attacks concerning a Tucker Carlson interview in 2021
- [Assassination Attempt](https://mikehmizrahi.com/assassination-attempt/) - How did you respond? We don’t watch Trump rallies, so we were unaware in real time until we noticed a text minutes later from a local Young Life representative. We turned on the TV and viewed the tape in horror. Being old enough, I flashed back to the assassinations of President John Kennedy, Senator Robert
- [Faith](https://mikehmizrahi.com/faith/) - Does it have a role in our republic? In 1835, Alexis de Tocqueville, a French political thinker and historian, wrote and published Volume 1 of his book, Democracy in America. The second volume followed in 1840. Together they represent a comprehensive analysis of American society, politics, and institutions during the early 19th Century. In it,
- [They're [still] coming to America...](https://mikehmizrahi.com/theyre-still-coming-to-america/) - Are we still a melting pot? “On the boats and on the planes, they’re coming to America. Never looking back again, they’re coming to America.” – Neil Diamond Words from a rousing anthem that induced pride in country a generation back. The melting pot. The idea was such that a schoolkid could understand it. Take
- [America is worthy of our patriotism](https://mikehmizrahi.com/america-is-worthy-of-our-patriotism/) - To those who don’t agree, please set aside any animus you may harbor toward former President Trump…or the Make America Great Again movement…or any notions about conservatism that may cause you to point and say, “That’s the problem.” This is not a political post (culture and history are my topic areas). I’m not a MAGA
- [On this day...](https://mikehmizrahi.com/on-this-day/) - Fire from the cliffs of hell. Thousands of American and Allied troops stepped from the tractable bow ramps of their landing crafts into waist-deep water as hellfire rained from the bluffs above the beaches at Normandy. Who can imagine the gut-wrenching experience of these young men, boys really, wading toward the shore, rifles held high.
- [Moral Character in America](https://mikehmizrahi.com/moral-character-in-america/) - In my recent Substack, I wrote about the subject of moral character, and whether it is declining in America. Perhaps we need look no further than our elite college campuses to help answer this question. There the world has been witnessing the worst displays of antisemitism and moral corruption in my lifetime, perhaps since the
- [The Folk Revival](https://mikehmizrahi.com/the-folk-revival/) - Americana music of the 1950s-60s I came from a musical family. My father sang bass in a barbershop quartet. That started everything. Okay, get ready for some name-dropping. My brother Morrie, a noted classical guitarist in the 1970s, once gave Bob Dylan a guitar lesson. Flo and Eddie, the stage names of Mark Volman and
- [Moms](https://mikehmizrahi.com/moms/) - Thank God for them. “My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute my success in life to the moral, intellectual, and physical education I received from her.” – George Washington Like most every other man in America, I thought about my mom a
- [Are we getting nastier toward each other?](https://mikehmizrahi.com/are-we-getting-nastier-toward-each-other/) - Or, perhaps better stated, is moral character on the decline in America? Some say yes and point the finger of blame, rather simplistically (in my view), at Donald Trump for poisoning our national discourse. He must be the culprit, right? Others counter that the blatant bias of mainstream news outlets, coupled with the hijacking of
- [The Second Rise of the Klan](https://mikehmizrahi.com/the-second-rise-of-the-klan/) - And the woman who toppled them. There’s a fascinating new book I must commend to you…A Fever in the Heartland, by New York Times bestselling author, Timothy Egan. As the book cover reads, it’s the true story of the Ku Klux Klan’s “plot to take over America” during the Roaring Twenties—the Jazz Age. When this
- [The Wheel](https://mikehmizrahi.com/the-wheel/) - How women rode the bicycle on the way to suffrage. A few years back I was Internet hopping in search of a unique idea for my next historical novel. I came across a quote that floored me. Perhaps you will find it interesting as well: “Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I
- [From an Idiom-Starved Author](https://mikehmizrahi.com/from-an-idiom-starved-author/) - Finding the Perfect Phrase: A Linguistic Hunger Games By the way, I love idioms. Seemingly nonsensical phrases that nonetheless convey colorful pictures that are easily understood worldwide. They have crept into our lexicon over centuries. Even today there are dozens of generic terms that have been adopted into the English language, suggesting that waves of
- [Part 2: Is the Bible Trustworthy?](https://mikehmizrahi.com/part-2-is-the-bible-trustworthy/) - A Bedouin shepherd left his flock behind one day in 1947 to find the one sheep that had strayed. A natural response of Middle Eastern shepherds for centuries. His search led him to the Qumran caves near the Dead Sea, where he stumbled upon the first of the scrolls that have become one of the
- [The Shot That Launched The Tragedian's Ride](https://mikehmizrahi.com/the-shot-that-launched-the-tragedians-ride/) - With President Lincoln’s birthday approaching on Feb. 12, I can’t help but look ahead to the anniversary of another joyful day that turned terribly wrong. In fact, most of us will miss it. April 9, 1865, a slice of history that has been long forgotten. There were wild celebrations on the streets of Washington, D.C.
- [Musings on Success](https://mikehmizrahi.com/musings-on-success/) - Here we go again. It’s January, and maybe you’re like me, compelled to take stock of that dreaded checklist—the promises-to-myself that I constructed last year at this time. Let’s see…recover well from a hip replacement. Check. (Thanks mostly to Karen’s love and care. I wasn’t such a good patient the first couple of weeks.) Um…finish
- [A Band of Brothers (and Sisters)](https://mikehmizrahi.com/a-band-of-brothers-and-sisters/) - The air was wet as the five of us emerged from a meeting at the church office. It was cold and dark, a typical winter night in the Pacific Northwest. But the car heater took away the chill, and my anticipation at joining a “band of brothers” warmed me on the way home. That’s what
- [Looking Back: The Great Annual Examen](https://mikehmizrahi.com/looking-back-the-great-annual-examen/) - Karen and I are slow to put Christmas away. The special decorations are still out—the manger scenes, the statues of the wise men, and such. The Christmas dishes, bowls, and mugs are still displayed on our kitchen counter. A hint of Santa can still be found around the great room, especially ornamenting the tree. Yes,
- [It Is Well](https://mikehmizrahi.com/it-is-well/) - A story of powerful faith and devotion. As we approach another Christmas season, Karen and I are so thankful for our family and friends whom we love, our church community, and the many blessings that bring us great joy. Yet, to be honest, a blanket of sadness covers us most days. One we must shake
- [Opening Lines](https://mikehmizrahi.com/opening-lines/) - Grab ‘em right away with your opening lines, or they will put your book down. As a novelist, I’ve had this advice hammered into my brain, and my keyboard. This is not an easy task. And I’ve found this to be true with the books I pick up. Goodness…how many novels have I taken off
- [Now & Then](https://mikehmizrahi.com/now-then/) - In case you’ve been sleeping under a rock, something amazing has occurred. The Beatles have been reunited. Well, technically, it happened back in the ‘90s when Paul, George, and Ringo worked on three of John’s demos, recorded on a cassette tape before he died. Two of them, “Real Love” and “Free as a Bird,” were
- ["There are places I remember..."](https://mikehmizrahi.com/there-are-places-i-remember/) - You and me both, John Lennon. A former best friend, currently a life mentor to many, tells his followers to never look back. The key to future success, he believes, is to move forward and forget the past. Now, I’m not one for wallowing in my mistakes, or sitting starry-eyed in my victories from long
- [23 days to go (But who's counting?)](https://mikehmizrahi.com/23-days-to-go-but-whos-counting/) - Oh, I’m sure I will overeat on Thanksgiving this year, like I always do. And Karen will give me a sideways glance when I opt for that second helping of mashed potatoes because, well, I will plead beforehand for her to keep me honest. Come on…who doesn’t love overindulging on this holiday? Yeah, there are
- [The Easter Story: Fact or Fiction](https://mikehmizrahi.com/the-easter-story-fact-or-fiction/) - On this day, April 15, celebrated by 2.5 billion Christians around the globe as Good Friday, the day Jesus Christ was crucified nearly 2,000 years ago, it’s worth contemplating the historicity of this event. Of the entire Easter story. It’s been pretty much a fact that Jesus was an historical figure, and that he suffered
- ["The Unnamed Girl" Wins 2019 Indiereader Discovery Award For Historical Fiction](https://mikehmizrahi.com/the-unnamed-girl-wins-2019-indiereader-discovery-award-for-historical-fiction/) - 2019 Annual IndieReader Discovery Awards June 1, 2019 – Today, Jennifer L. Armentrout, a New York Times and International bestselling author, announced the winners of the 2019 annual IndieReader Discovery Awards (IRDAs) at Book Expo America (BEA)/Book Con, a major trade show in New York City. The Unnamed Girl by Mike H. Mizrahi of Poulsbo,
- [The Legacy of Leadership](https://mikehmizrahi.com/the-legacy-of-leadership/) - History buffs. Movie lovers. Go see Darkest Hour, one of the great movies of 2017. A tour de force by Gary Oldman as Sir Winston Churchill. The history of it all enchanted me, swept me away to a time not so long before my own birth. Two hours of wonderful cinema about Churchill’s courageous stand
- [I Choose to Remember](https://mikehmizrahi.com/i-choose-to-remember/) - I recently had a brief, but difficult texting conversation with one of my oldest friends. Several years ago he left his wife and family for a new life. New women…new surroundings. And for those friends who didn’t support his selfish decisions…well, suffice to say, they’re history, too. Sound familiar? It’s going around. Anyway, he called
- [Imagine…What if You Were There?](https://mikehmizrahi.com/imaginewhat-if-you-were-there/) - We were all created with an imaginative mind…right? Watch a toddler discover over time the world that exists at his or her fingertips. The child’s brain soaks up the new information like a sponge; the imagination stretches like a rubber band. Consider the pace of new product development that takes existing technology and expands its
- [The End Of War](https://mikehmizrahi.com/the-end-of-war/) - On Aug. 14, 1945, The New York Times headline flashed the welcome news the world was holding its breath to hear: Japan Surrenders, End of War! The related headlines come alive even today: All City 'Lets Go': Hundreds of Thousands Roar Joy After Victory Flash Is Received: Times Sq. Is Jammed: Police Estimate Crowd in
- [A Woman's Right To Vote](https://mikehmizrahi.com/a-womans-right-to-vote/) - On Aug. 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution is officially ratified, giving women the right to vote. On Aug. 18, 1970, a nationwide Women’s Strike for Equality, led by Betty Friedan on the 50th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment calls attention to unequal pay and other gender inequalities in America.
- [From Whence Will Our Rescue Come?](https://mikehmizrahi.com/from-whence-will-our-rescue-come/) - I recently read a blog from a self-help enthusiast who proclaimed, “No one is coming to the rescue.” Hmm… As one who loves to read and write about sozo (a Greek word: to rescue from danger or destruction), I took immediate issue. Rescue is at the heart of every good story. Once more, I believe
- [Home From Italy](https://mikehmizrahi.com/home-from-italy/) - My conclusions about this amazing country: God must be Italian, and heaven is any one of the countless gelato shops in every city. And the piazzas. (No...not pizzas!) The ancient Romans and medieval Italians seemingly understood effective urban systems far better than many of our 20th Century city planners. Confession: I know nothing about the
- [Liz Tolsma Talks With Mike Mizrahi About The Story behind The Great Chattanooga Bicycle Race by Mike Mizrahi](https://mikehmizrahi.com/liz-tolsma-talks-with-mike-mizrahi-about-the-story-behind-the-great-chattanooga-bicycle-race-by-mike-mizrahi/) - “What a fun and interesting title for a book, especially since my family and I were just in Chattanooga and will be back there frequently in the coming years as my daughter is going to school there. Please welcome Mike Mizrahi to the blog this week. Here’s a little bit about the release, The Great
- [Bicycle Camps For Disabled Children](https://mikehmizrahi.com/bicycle-camps-for-children-with-disabilities/)
- [Another Woman in My Life?](https://mikehmizrahi.com/another-woman-in-my-life/) - Guilty. One with four legs. Kiki rescues my heart from the worry of the moment in so many ways. Many of you pet owners already know what I’m talking about. Read on. I actually have a point here. Some people don’t like the chains that come with caring for a pet. I get it. We
- [The Revenge of Old Glory](https://mikehmizrahi.com/the-revenge-of-old-glory/) - Tomorrow, April 14, marks the 152 anniversary of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. The tragedian John Wilkes Booth fired his shot and jumped from the President’s box to the stage. One minor detail made all the difference…he caught a boot spur on Old Glory, which had been draped across the box. Booth tumbled and
- [Musings on the Beginning](https://mikehmizrahi.com/musings-on-the-beginning/) - Whether you believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Or Allah. Or Buddha. Or you don’t believe in any higher power. The worlds of science and faith are coming closer than ever before to some agreement on the origins of the universe. If it was a “big bang” or a spoken word, the
- [Beyond the Shire](https://mikehmizrahi.com/beyond-the-shire/) - Someday I’m going to… Fill in the blank. If you’re anything like me, I had great intentions of taking on that one thing…that one challenge that would stretch me beyond my comfort zone. Out of my Hobbit hole and beyond the Shire. For me, a journalist by training, it was this…Someday I’m going to write
- [A Civil War Of Ideas](https://mikehmizrahi.com/a-civil-war-of-ideas/) - U.S. history is replete with rescuers. I’ve have given much thought to our nation’s current divide. We need rescuing. Right now, from ourselves. Who will step up? A Story From Our Past They were exhausted. The nation horribly divided. President Abraham Lincoln entered the White House four years earlier, determined to save the Union, and

## Pages

- [Mike H. Mizrahi Historical Fiction Author](https://mikehmizrahi.com/) - Stories that make me come alive more than any other are those where the characters are transformed, they’re rescued; physically, emotionally…often both.
- [Reviews And Interviews](https://mikehmizrahi.com/reviews-and-interviews/) - We are presented with a truly delightful novel that does a good job of dealing with issues of gender in the context of the advancing trends of society.
- [Media](https://mikehmizrahi.com/media/) - Mike H. Mizrahi Media and Promotional Videos “The Weight of Loyalty” Promo Video Short Order Today at Amazon “Tattered Coat” Promo Video Shorts Order Today at Amazon http://mikehmizrahi.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/we_cant_wait-Original.mp4 NEWEST TEASER VIDEO! http://mikehmizrahi.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Available-June-10.mp4 http://mikehmizrahi.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/coming_soon_teaser.mp4 http://mikehmizrahi.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/best_books.mp4 http://mikehmizrahi.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/tatted-coat-reel-FEB2022.mp4 “The Unnamed Girl” Mike H Mizrahi Radio/Podcast Interviews http://mikehmizrahi.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/AlwaysFaithful-AthenaDeanPOD-050517_01.mp3 Always Faithful with Athena Dean (KCIS 630 AM) “The Great Chattanooga
- [The Weight of Loyalty - The Latest From Mike H Mizrahi](https://mikehmizrahi.com/the-weight-of-loyalty-the-latest-from-mike-h-mizrahi/) - “The Weight of Loyalty” ORDER The eBook TODAY! The Latest From Mike H Mizrahi “My long-term survival is doubtful under any scenario. Yet, I already defied the impossible by escaping from a watery tomb and swimming to this very spot. But luck is finite—it always peters out.” CLICK TO READ MORE REVIEWS“Weight of Loyalty” Earns
- [Reviews Of The "Weight Of Loyalty"](https://mikehmizrahi.com/reviews-of-the-weight-of-loyalty/) - REVIEWS: “The Weight of Loyalty” Book Life Reviews: The Weight Of LoyaltyThe Affordable Web Guy2025-05-27T15:41:28-07:00Categories: The Weight of Loyalty Book Reviews| Fueled by themes of war, grief, resilience, bravery, and love vs. loyalty, Mizrahi’s (Tattered Coat) romantic World War Two drama centers on self-destructive English sailor Oliver Graham and volatile but goodhearted Natalía Giannatos, a
- [Meet Mike H. Mizrahi](https://mikehmizrahi.com/meet-mike-h-mizrahi/) - Did you see The Secret Life of Walter Mitty? When I sit in front of my computer screen, I become a Walter; lost in a world of make believe and wonderment
- [Tattered Coat](https://mikehmizrahi.com/tattered-coat/) - Tattered Coat “Tattered Coat” maintains considerable tension and suspense and reveals an unexpected twist in the page-turning final chapters. Read Reviews For Tattered Coat Order Today! It’s a fascinating portrait of the struggle for women’s rights set in a Southern city fighting simultaneously to cast off the evil tentacles of bigotry. Readers will be glued
- [Mike H. Mizrahi Readers List: Thanks For Signing Up!](https://mikehmizrahi.com/mike-h-mizrahi-readers-list-thanks-for-signing-up/) - Thanks for Signing Up Your name has been added to my Exclusive Readers list. Mike H. Mizrahi On occasion I’ll send updates on new projects and fun giveaways. No data dumps! I promise. In exchange, I hope you enjoy this FREE OFFER of my first historical novel, The Great Chattanooga Bicycle Race. Just click the
- [The Great Chattanooga Bicycle Race](https://mikehmizrahi.com/the-great-chattanooga-bicycle-race/) - Chattanooga native Anna Gaines is an introverted nineteen-year-old when she discovers she’s a natural on the “wheel” after a visit to Brooklyn.
- [The Unnamed Girl: The Woodard Chronicles](https://mikehmizrahi.com/the-unnamed-girl/) - The Unnamed Girl: The Woodard Chronicles Award Winning Historical Fiction from Mike H. Mizrahi When Confederate Private Jonathan “Woody” Woodard scours the battlefield of Port Republic, Virginia, an innocent voice beckons him. He picks up a gold-cased ambrotype and gazes at the image of a little girl. Order at: Amazon.com Available Now! Review From IndieReader.com The
- [Kabirizi’s Revenge](https://mikehmizrahi.com/kabirizis-revenge/) - Kabirizi’s Revenge A New Novella From Mike H. Mizrahi Keeley Okiro, a Congolese-American, is living an African nightmare. Back in Congo to bury her father, she’s kidnapped in a rebel attack and force-marched with other prisoners through the Virunga Mountains. They’re carrying a small fortune in refined coltan, the mineral used to manufacture cell phones,
- [The Power of Yes](https://mikehmizrahi.com/the-power-of-yes/) - The Power of Yes A New Collection Of Short Stories From Author Mike H. Mizrahi There is power in this word. A word of possibilities in the midst of uncertainty. A word of encouragement and affirmation. My newest book, The Power of Yes, contains nine fictional short stories with characters that refuse to yield to
- [testpage](https://mikehmizrahi.com/testpage/)
- [Mike H. Mizrahi Blog](https://mikehmizrahi.com/mike-h-mizrahi-blog/) - The March to 250Well, we’re on our way…at least the lovers of American history are!On July 4, we as a nation will usher in a grand celebration, one that will harken back 250 years to the beginning. Let me set the stage…The Declaration of Independence wasn’t first unveiled in a quiet room—it was proclaimed aloud
- [Contact Historical Fiction Author Mike H. Mizrahi](https://mikehmizrahi.com/contact-christian-historical-fiction-author-mike-h-mizrahi/) - Contact Mike H. Mizrahi "*" indicates required fields Name* First Last Email* I'm interested:* Sign Up To Join My Exclusive Reader List Book Titles Speaking Engagements Other Newsletters: I will send out occasional newsletters and you can unsubscribe at any time. Your personal information will be treated with respect. You must confirm your subscription by

## Fusion Elements

- [bite-block](https://mikehmizrahi.com/fusion_element/bite-block/) - As a lover of American history and an author of historical fiction, I think it’s important to remember from whence we came as a nation to chart wise courses for where we’re going. So, without crossing political lines, and out of extreme fascination for the subject matter, allow me on occasion to present U.S. history
- [ordering-button](https://mikehmizrahi.com/fusion_element/ordering-button/)

## Categories

- [Rescuers](https://mikehmizrahi.com/category/rescuers/)
- [Blog Soup](https://mikehmizrahi.com/category/blog-soup/)
- [Real American History](https://mikehmizrahi.com/category/real-american-history/)
- [Bites of American History](https://mikehmizrahi.com/category/bites-of-american-history/)
- [News & Press Releases](https://mikehmizrahi.com/category/news-press-releases/)
- [Substack](https://mikehmizrahi.com/category/substack/)
- [The Weight of Loyalty Book Reviews](https://mikehmizrahi.com/category/the-weight-of-loyalty-book-reviews/)