Included with channel membership
Explore the books behind America’s forgotten places and overlooked history.
Join us for a new book every six weeks, weekly members-only discussions, member voting and an end-of-cycle wrap-up.
Current Book Club Selection
By Eric Nusbaum
Our first Book Club selection explores the communities displaced from Chávez Ravine and the complicated events that led to the construction of Dodger Stadium.
The story of the Mexican-American communities of Palo Verde, La Loma and Bishop, the failed public-housing project planned for Chávez Ravine, the families forced from their homes and the political struggle that ultimately brought the Dodgers to Los Angeles. Eric Nusbaum combines urban history, politics, baseball and the experiences of the people caught between them.
Membership does not include a copy of the book. Members can purchase a printed copy or ebook, or borrow the book from a local library.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Paperback · 352 pages · ISBN-13 9781541742222 · PublicAffairs · originally published 2020
Six-month reading calendar
Showing cycles from September 15, 2026 through March 15, 2027. Future titles are chosen by members and added when announced.
Monday discussions post at 10:00 a.m. Eastern · 9:00 Central · 8:00 Mountain · 7:00 Pacific.
Cycle 1
By Eric Nusbaum
Monday discussions
Cycle 2
Title and author announced after the member vote
Monday discussions
Cycle 3
Title and author announced after the member vote
Monday discussions
Cycle 4
Title and author announced after the member vote
Monday discussions
Cycle 5
Title and author announced after the member vote
Monday discussions
A simple six-week rhythm
Select Join on the Allan’s Abandoned America YouTube channel.
Purchase your own copy, choose an available digital edition or borrow it from a library.
Each cycle lasts approximately six weeks, and members may join the conversation at any point.
A members-only conversation prompt is published every Monday at 10:00 a.m. Eastern, 9:00 Central, 8:00 Mountain and 7:00 Pacific.
Members vote in a YouTube members-only poll during each cycle.
Allan publishes a members-only audio wrap-up and recognises members who finish the book and consent to having their channel name mentioned.
Channel membership
Book Club content is delivered through members-only posts on the Allan’s Abandoned America YouTube channel.
For every viewer
Channel membership is entirely optional. The regular Allan’s Abandoned America documentaries will continue to be published for everyone to enjoy.
Official channel only
Allan will never ask members to make direct payments, move a conversation to WhatsApp or Telegram, or claim that they have won a prize. Genuine Book Club posts and replies come from the official Allan’s Abandoned America YouTube channel.
Need to know
No. Membership gives you access to the Book Club posts and discussions. Members purchase, download or borrow their own copy.
All discussions are published as members-only posts on the official Allan’s Abandoned America YouTube channel.
Join at any point. The reading guide and earlier discussion posts remain available to channel members.
No. Read at your own pace and take part whenever a topic interests you.
Members vote in a YouTube members-only poll during each reading cycle.
No. Regular Allan’s Abandoned America documentaries remain free for everyone.
10:00 a.m. Eastern, 9:00 Central, 8:00 Mountain and 7:00 Pacific.
