You guys, the live and the stacks tour is underway.

We had an incredible night in Oakland filled with bookish conversations, hot takes, games,

cocktails. If you missed it, I'm sorry, but don't worry, it's not too late to see the stacks live

in one of our next four stops. Join me in Chicago with Samantha Erby on August 27th

in Washington, D.C. with Jason Reynolds on September 24th in New York City with KSA

Laman on September 25th and in LA on October 18th with some extra special guests that we will be

announcing real soon. Tickets are selling fast so head to the stackspodcast.com slash tour

and get your tickets before we sell out.

Welcome to the stacks, a podcast about books and the people who read them.

I'm your host Tracy Thomas and today we welcome Donovan X Ramsey to the show. Donovan is a

journalist and author and he's here today to discuss his debut book when crack was king, a

people's history of a misunderstood era. It's a poignant and thoroughly researched expose

on the crack epidemic of the 1980s and 90s. It's told through stories of four affected individuals.

I have to say this book was one of my most anticipated books of the year. I read it and it lives

up to my own personal hype so there you go folks. Donovan and I talk today about politics and media

during the crack era, the way that Donovan crafted this book and what he hopes to accomplish by

sharing these stories. Remember our book club selection for July is Watchman by Alan Moore and

Dave Gibbons. I'll discuss the graphic novel with Joel Christian Gill on July 26th. Quick reminder

everything we talk about on each episode of the stacks can be found in the link in the show notes

and if you want more of the stacks you can join the stacks pack. It's just five dollars a month

and if you join you have access to our monthly virtual book club hangs, the stacks pack discord

and the stacks bonus episodes. You have the back list ones and the ones that are coming out next

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