Bob Batchelor

Bob Batchelor is an award-winning cultural historian and biographer. He has published widely on American culture and literature. He is an Assistant Professor of Communication, Media, & Culture at Coastal Carolina University.

In September, his novel Are You a Patriot? written with Donald Thompson will be published by Market First Publishing. In April 2027, his biography Strikeout King: The Life and Legend of Nolan Ryan comes out (Bloomsbury).

His latest books include The Gatsby Code: A Century of Dreams and Disillusion (2025), The Authentic Leader: The Power of Deep Leadership in Work and Life (2024). Bob is also the author Stan Lee: A Life (Rowman & Littlefield, 2022); Stan Lee: The Man Behind Marvel, Young Adult Edition (R&L, 2022); Roadhouse Blues: Morrison, the Doors, and the Death Days of the Sixties (Hamilcar Publications, 2022).

Roadhouse Blues won the 2023 Independent Book Award in Music. Rookwood: The Rediscovery and Revival of an American Icon, An Illustrated History won the 2021 Independent Book Award in Fine Arts. The Bourbon King: The Life and Crimes of George Remus, Prohibition’s Evil Genius won the 2020 Independent Book Award for Historical Biography. Stan Lee: The Man Behind Marvel was a finalist for the 2018 Ohioana Book Award for Nonfiction. He has also written books on Bob Dylan, Mad Men, John Updike, and The Great Gatsby, among others.

Bob’s books have been translated into a dozen languages and his work has appeared in Time, New York Times, PopMatters, Cincinnati Enquirer, The Conversation, Reworked, and the Los Angeles Times. Bob is also the creator and host of the podcasts "Tales of the Bourbon King: The Life and True Crimes of George Remus" and "John Updike: American Writer, American Life." He has appeared as an on-air commentator for The National Geographic Channel, PBS NewsHour, Wondery, and NPR. Bob hosted “TriState True Crime” on WCPO’s "Cincy Lifestyle" television show.

A longtime strategic communications and heritage management consultant and advisor, Bob is the Chief Creative Officer of ExecBrand Authority, a specialized communications firm focusing on thought leadership for executive teams and individual leaders, thinkers, and creators. He has worked with or consulted with organizations across industries, including Kimberly-Clark, HP, the Dallas Mavericks, Rookwood, and Accenture.

Bob graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor's degree in history, philosophy, and political science. He earned an M.A. at Kent State University under the tutelage of the eminent historian Lawrence S. Kaplan. His doctorate is in Literature from the University of South Florida, where he studied with Phillip Sipiora. He has taught at universities in Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, as well as Vienna, Austria. Bob lives in South Carolina with his wife Suzette, a vintage and antiques expert who runs the Spot of Vintage lifestyle brand. They have two daughters.