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Asian Review of Books

New Books Network
India
World War II
China
British Empire
Colonialism
Indian Ocean
Japan
Racism
Egypt
North Korea
Hindu Nationalism
Hinduism
Second World War
Chinese Communist Party
Japanese American History
Slavery In the Islamic World
Mount Fuji
Suraj Milind Yengde
Dead Sea
World War I

The Asian Review of Books is the only dedicated pan-Asian book review publication. Widely quoted, referenced, republished by leading publications in Asian and beyond and with an archive of more than two thousand book reviews, the ARB also features long-format essays by leading Asian writers and thinkers, excerpts from newly-published books and reviews of arts and culture. Support our show by becom... more

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Latest Episodes

The Warring States Period is one of the most important times in China’s history. It marked the end of one dynasty–the Zhou–and the beginning of a new imperial era, under the Qin. It’s an era that historian Andrew Seth Meyer describes as one of the mo... more

In February 2022, British explorer Charlie Walker flew to Siberia's Sakha Republic to walk a thousand miles up frozen rivers to the Arctic Ocean, through Earth's coldest inhabited region. Days later, Russia invaded Ukraine. Tamping down his concerns,... more

What do the people closest to power really think about the system they serve? That’s perhaps one of the most important questions one could ask about North Korea, still one of the world’s least understood countries.

Today, we’re joined by Jieun Baek,... more

The Springs-and-Autumns period is a strange period in Chinese history. Coming after the decline of the Zhou, and before the famous Warring States Period, this period of Chinese history features a large number of small states with no powerful hegemon,... more

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Recent Guests

Charlie Walker
Author of On Thin Ice, Explorer
Author, Explorer
Episode: Charlie Walker, "On Thin Ice: An Explorer's Memoir of Siberia, Surveillance and Survival" (Duckworth, 2026)
Jieun Baek
Author and scholar specializing in authoritarian governance, regime stability, elite political behavior, and access in closed societies (North Korea and Burma)
Yale University Press / Scholar
Episode: Jieun Baek, "Privileged But Powerless: How North Korean Elite Grievances Reveal the Regime’s Greatest Weakness" (Yale UP, 2026)
Yuri Pines
Author of China's Aristocratic Age, Politics and Power in the Springs and Autumns Period
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Episode: Yuri Pines, "China's Aristocratic Age: Politics and Power in the Springs-and-Autumns Period" (Princeton UP, 2026)
Sandip Roy
Author of Chapal Rani, The Last Queen of Bengal
Seagull Books (publisher)
Episode: Sandip Roy, "Chapal Rani, the Last Queen of Bengal" (Seagull Books, 2026)
Tom Lin
Author
Author of Babylon, South Dakota
Episode: Tom Lin, "Babylon, South Dakota" (Little, Brown and Co, 2026)
Joe Ngai
McKinsey Senior Partner and Chairman of McKinsey Greater China
McKinsey & Company
Episode: Joe Ngai and Nick Leung, "The Next China Is Still China: An Insider's Playbook for Winning in the New Era" (Scribner, 2026)
Nick Leung
McKinsey Senior Partner and Lead Director of McKinsey Global Institute
McKinsey & Company
Episode: Joe Ngai and Nick Leung, "The Next China Is Still China: An Insider's Playbook for Winning in the New Era" (Scribner, 2026)
Eamonn Gearon
Author of The Arab Bureau, The Story of Britain's Most Ingenious Intelligence Unit
Author, Historian
Episode: Eamonn Gearon, "The Arab Bureau: The Story of Britain's Most Ingenious Intelligence Unit" (Hurst, 2026)
Matthew Campbell
Award-winning journalist and author of The Man Who Stole the Gods
Bloomberg Businessweek
Episode: Matthew Campbell, "The Man Who Stole the Gods: A True Story of War, Obsession, and a Global Art Conspiracy" (Penguin, 2026)

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 21 ratings
  • Great interviews

    Nicholas Gordon is a great interviewer. I look forward to each and every episode of this podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Harry Victor
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

The host conducts great interviews.
Guests are consistently insightful and well-contextualized.
Listeners look forward to every episode.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#37
South Africa/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#85
Spain/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#91
United Arab Emirates/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#100
South Africa/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#132
Austria/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#154
Israel/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Yuri Pines, "China's Aristocratic Age: Politics and Power in the Springs-and-Autumns Period" (Princeton UP, 2026)
Q: What are the major powers and how do they interact during this time?
Key powers include Jin in the north, Chu in the south, with Qin and Qi as important western and eastern players; alliances form and collapse as states pursue hegemony, with Zhou kings largely symbolic.
Yuri Pines, "China's Aristocratic Age: Politics and Power in the Springs-and-Autumns Period" (Princeton UP, 2026)
Q: Maybe we can start by setting where this book sits in China's very long history. This book is about the Springs and Autumns period.
The guest explains the Springs and Autumns as a uniquely fragmented era that precedes the Warring States period, with no overarching centralized authority and a system dominated by hereditary aristocracies, ritual norms, and local power struggles.
Paul French, "The Last Emperor of China: Twilight of the Forbidden City" (St. Martin's Press, 2026)
Q: Where can people find your work and what's next for you?
People can find my work in bookstores and in Chinese translations; upcoming projects include a Shortest History of Beijing that covers a broad sweep from ancient times to the modern era, blending history with cultural context.
Tom Lin, "Babylon, South Dakota" (Little, Brown and Co, 2026)
Q: You've integrated supernatural elements with a grounded reality. How do you balance magic with plausibility?
Magic is grounded in recognizably real details and is used to illuminate emotional and existential questions rather than to escape reality; it accelerates narrative momentum while remaining tethered to the characters' lived experiences.
Tom Lin, "Babylon, South Dakota" (Little, Brown and Co, 2026)
Q: What role does the government and nuclear-age history play in shaping the family's experience?
The government functions as a distant, powerful, almost unknowable force that intrudes on daily life; their presence reframes the family's sense of safety, sovereignty, and autonomy, influencing how they build a life there.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Asian Review of Books

What is Asian Review of Books about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful interview show that centers on Asia-Pacific history, culture, and literature through long-form conversations with scholars, journalists, and authors. Episodes frequently explore provenance, empire, diplomacy, and the role of books and ideas in shaping regional narratives, often weaving archival material, archival research, and scholarly context into accessible storytelling. Notable strengths include a steady stream of high-quality guests from academia and publishing, rigorous analysis, and a clear emphasis on cross-cultural perspectives that appeal to researchers, students, and culture-minded listeners. The format tends to favor deep dives over quick takes, making it a strong fit for listeners who value context-rich discussions... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Asian Review of Books?

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1. London Review Bookshop Podcast
2. The Rest Is Politics: US
3. China Books Podcast
4. Ones and Tooze
5. The LRB Podcast

How many episodes of Asian Review of Books are there?

Asian Review of Books launched 6 years ago and published 307 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Asian Review of Books?

Recent guests on Asian Review of Books include:

1. Charlie Walker
2. Jieun Baek
3. Yuri Pines
4. Sandip Roy
5. Tom Lin
6. Joe Ngai
7. Nick Leung
8. Eamonn Gearon

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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