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Artwork for A Good Read

A Good Read

BBC Radio 4
Mapp and Lucia
Transcendent Kingdom
Persepolis
Two Serious Ladies
Perfume: the Story Of a Murderer
E. Nesbit
Neuroscience
EF Benson
Addiction
Motherhood
Identity
The Abundance
Demon Copperhead
Educated
Moominland Midwinter
Sorrow and Bliss
True Grit
Alabama
Ghana
Wishful Drinking

Find reading inspiration with favourite books chosen by our guests.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes374Founded6 months ago
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Artwork for A Good Read

Latest Episodes

THE YEARS by Annie Ernaux chosen by Richard Benson THE CORNER THAT HELD THEM by Sylvia Townsend Warner chosen by Amy Sackville COFFEE AND CIGARETTES by Ferdinand von Schirach chosen by Harriett Gilbert

Writer and former editor of the Face Richard Be... more

FUNDAMENTALLY by Nussaibah Younis, chosen by Julia Shaw YOUR LIFE IS MANUFACTURED by Tim Minshall, chosen by Hayaatun Sillem ROSARITA by Anita Desai, chosen by Harriett Gilbert

Criminal psychologist Julia Shaw joins engineer Hayaatun Sillem to discu... more

Two books featuring teenage killers feature this time. Nicola Sturgeon MSP votes for Elif Shafak's Honour as her good read. It details the reasons behind the so-called honour killing carried out by a young Turkish Kurd living in London in the 1970s. ... more

THE STONE DIARIES by Carol Shields, chosen by Tom Cox HOW TO WRITE A THESIS by Umberto Eco, chosen by Sophie Scott PARADISE by Abdulrazak Gurnah, chosen by Harriett Gilbert

Writer Tom Cox joins neuroscientist Sophie Scott to discuss favourite books ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Ramita Navai
British-Iranian investigative journalist and foreign correspondent
Episode: Julia Bradbury and Ramita Navai
Julia Bradbury
TV presenter known for programs such as Britain's Best Walks and Country File
Episode: Julia Bradbury and Ramita Navai
Ben Garrod
Evolutionary biologist, author, and broadcaster
Episode: Professor Ben Garrod and Lucy Jones
Lucy Jones
Journalist writing on ecology, health, and science
Episode: Professor Ben Garrod and Lucy Jones
Naomi Alderman
Author of The Power and The Future, also a video games designer
Episode: Naomi Alderman and Abi Dare
Abi Dare
Author of The Girl with the Louding Voice and And So I Roar
Episode: Naomi Alderman and Abi Dare
Jenny Kleeman
A regular voice on Radio 4, journalist for The Guardian and The FT.
Episode: Jenny Kleeman and Sam Knight
Sam Knight
Staff writer at The New Yorker contributing on UK topics.
The New Yorker
Episode: Jenny Kleeman and Sam Knight
Sarah Phelps
Dramatist and screenwriter known for her adaptations of classic works.
Episode: Sarah Phelps and Irenosen Okojie

Host

Harriett Gilbert
Host known for facilitating insightful discussions about books, bringing a rich perspective to literary conversations.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 81 ratings
  • Harriet Gilbert is marvelous

    I’m so grateful to have A Good Read as my book podcast. Intelligent, thoughtful, quietly surprising — as orchestrated by the incomparable Harriet Gilbert, it always leaves me with a new appreciation for books I know and an eagerness to read an unfamiliar one. I’m an American, and I can no longer bear to listen to the NYT Book Review podcast, with its jangling, meaningless, dumbed-down happy talk about hyped new books or popular culture. Thank you so much for providing an alternative!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    therealtruthninja
    United States2 months ago
  • Lively book discussions

    I always enjoy this skillfully produced discussion where varied guests discuss the 3 books they’ve all read, each having chosen one. A wonderful podcast for all book lovers and I guarantee you’ll find out about authors and books you might never have heard of.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    UTokoloshe
    South Africa5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the depth and variety of book recommendations, often citing the thoughtful nature of the discussions as enriching their reading experience.
The podcast is praised for introducing lesser-known authors and genres, encouraging listeners to explore outside their usual reading preferences.
Many comments highlight the engaging rapport between the host and guests, making the episodes feel approachable and relatable.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#108
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#5
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#22
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#25
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#82
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#15
Australia/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

James Rebanks and Kiri Pritchard-McLean at the Hay Festival
Q: Kiri, how do you choose what to read next?
It will usually be whatever I'm consumed in thinking about at the time.
James Rebanks and Kiri Pritchard-McLean at the Hay Festival
Q: James, what did you make of 'Stone Yard Devotional'?
I thought the writing was gorgeous. Like, it's beautifully, beautifully written.
Xantoné Blacq and Harry Trevaldwyn
Q: What did you make of it?
Harry found 'The Alchemist' to be fascinating, highlighting its message about faith and being present in the moment.
Xantoné Blacq and Harry Trevaldwyn
Q: What are you suggesting is a good read?
Harry suggested 'When God Was A Rabbit' by Sarah Winman, discussing its themes of childhood and trauma.
Professor Ben Garrod and Lucy Jones
Q: How did you find Soldier Sailor?
It was a hard read, but an enjoyable one. It explores a mother's emotional struggles very profoundly.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About A Good Read

What is A Good Read about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The podcast focuses on exploring literature through engaging discussions with various guests who share their favorite books. Each episode features a unique selection of literary works, which the guests analyze and discuss, highlighting their interpretations and emotional connections to the texts. Themes often revolve around personal experiences, societal issues, and the nuances of storytelling, making it a rich source of inspiration for both avid readers and those looking to discover new literature. The format of having diverse guests, including authors, critics, and cultural figures, adds to the eclectic mix of recommendations and discussions, ensuring that listeners are exposed to a variety of perspectives and genres.

Where can I find podcast stats for A Good Read?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for A Good Read. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to A Good Read and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does A Good Read get?

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What are the audience demographics for A Good Read?

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How many subscribers and views does A Good Read have?

To see how many followers or subscribers A Good Read has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to A Good Read?

These podcasts share a similar audience with A Good Read:

1. Bookclub
2. Take Four Books
3. The Waterstones Podcast
4. World Book Club
5. Ask Penguin

How many episodes of A Good Read are there?

A Good Read launched 6 months ago and published 374 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact A Good Read?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for A Good Read?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for A Good Read from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on A Good Read?

Recent guests on A Good Read include:

1. Ramita Navai
2. Julia Bradbury
3. Ben Garrod
4. Lucy Jones
5. Naomi Alderman
6. Abi Dare
7. Jenny Kleeman
8. Sam Knight

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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