Rephonic
Artwork for Asian Review of Books

Asian Review of Books

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes295Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsHistoryBooks

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Asian Review of Books

Latest Episodes

The story of the Moy family—U.S.-born Chinese-American siblings who grow up in the first half of the 20th century—is one that spans the Pacific, covering New York, Chicago, and cosmopolitan Shanghai. It’s a story that spans the Great Depression, the ... more

In 1971, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi threw a party to celebrate the 2,500-year anniversary of the Persian Empire. It was planned to be a massive party, with tents set up in the desert, and invitations sent to just about every world leader across both ... more

Iran is, once again, in global headlines, following U.S. strikes on the country earlier this year. Operation Epic Fury, as the Department of Defense called it, is the latest twist in Iran’s modern history, starting from the coup that brought the Shah... more

Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, is known for his outfits. Since rising to become India’s head of government in 2014, photographers and journalists have long followed his clothing styles, each saying something about India. It’s part of a long t... more

Key Facts

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

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Ones and Tooze
Ones and ToozeForeign Policy
Freakonomics Radio
Freakonomics RadioFreakonomics Radio + Stitcher
The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion

Recent Guests

Homa Katouzian
Author of Iran and the Revolution, A History
University of Oxford; Skoll at University of Toronto
Episode: Homa Katouzian, "Iran and the Revolution: A History" (Yale UP, 2026)
Shefalee Vasudev
Author of Stories We Wear, Status, Spectacle and The Politics of Appearance
The Voice of Fashion (former editor-in-chief); Marie Claire India (founding editor)
Episode: Shefalee Vasudev, "Stories We Wear: Status, Spectacle and the Politics of Appearance" (Westland Non-Fiction, 2025)
Fyodor Tertitsky
Author of Pyongyang on the Brink, Sixteen Crises That Shaped North Korea
Author, North Korea historian
Episode: Fyodor Tertitskiy, "Pyongyang on the Brink: Sixteen Crises That Shaped North Korea" (Hurst, 2026)
Julia Stephens
Author of Worldly Afterlives, Tracing Family Trails Between India and Empire
Rutgers University
Episode: Julia Stephens, "Worldly Afterlives: Tracing Family Trails Between India and Empire" (Princeton UP, 2025)
Paul Blustein
Author of King Dollar, The Past and Future of the World's Dominant Currency
Author, Center for Strategic and International Studies (senior associate)
Episode: Paul Blustein, "King Dollar: The Past and Future of the World's Dominant Currency" (Yale UP, 2025)
Craig Perry
Author of Slavery and the Jews of Medieval Egypt, A History
Princeton University Press / Emory University
Episode: Craig Perry, "Slavery and the Jews of Medieval Egypt: A History" (Princeton UP, 2026)
Jinwoo Park
Author of Oxford Soju Club
Dundurn Press
Episode: Jinwoo Park, "Oxford Soju Club" (Dundurn Press, 2025)
Rishi Rajpopat
Author of Panini's Perfect Rule, A Modern Solution to an Ancient Problem in Sanskrit Grammar
Harvard University Press (publisher) and University of Macau (affiliation mentioned)
Episode: Rishi Rajpopat, "Panini's Perfect Rule: A Modern Solution to an Ancient Problem in Sanskrit Grammar" (Harvard UP, 2025)
Guido Tabellini
Author of Two Paths to Prosperity, Culture, Institutions in Europe and China, 1000 to 2000
Bocconi University
Episode: Avner Greif et al., "Two Paths to Prosperity: Culture and Institutions in Europe and China, 1000–2000" (Princeton UP, 2025)

Host

Nicholas Gordon
Host of Asian Review of Books / The Asian Review of Books; affiliated with Asian Review of Books and The New Books Network (partnerships)

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 20 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 Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Sponsors are integrated in a natural, non-disruptive way.
Great interviews with thoughtful, well-prepared hosts.
The show offers strong pacing and clear connections to broader themes.
Guests consistently provide deep, scholarly insights.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#79
Hong Kong/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#115
Switzerland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#167
Hong Kong/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#228
Switzerland/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#234
Denmark/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Homa Katouzian, "Iran and the Revolution: A History" (Yale UP, 2026)
Q: What role did the Iraq-Iran War play in shaping Iran's political evolution after the revolution?
The war reinforced the government's legitimacy and centralized power around hardline elements, while also creating a broader environment where dissent was suppressed and nationalistic unity around the regime grew.
Homa Katouzian, "Iran and the Revolution: A History" (Yale UP, 2026)
Q: How did the hostage crisis impact Iran's domestic political landscape and its relationship with the West?
The hostage crisis intensified domestic unity around the new Islamic government while dramatically inflaming anti-Western sentiment, making liberal opposition less viable and accelerating the consolidation of Islamist rule.
Homa Katouzian, "Iran and the Revolution: A History" (Yale UP, 2026)
Q: What explains the nature of the Iranian Revolution being more of a state against society dynamic rather than a traditional European-style revolution?
Katouzian explains it as an Iranian-centric process where the ruling establishment, rather than a cross-class coalition, was challenged from above and below in a way that integrated religious authority, tribal and mercantile elements, and external pressure, producing a unique short-term but volatile political trajectory.
Craig Perry, "Slavery and the Jews of Medieval Egypt: A History" (Princeton UP, 2026)
Q: What is the main takeaway about memory and archives in studying slavery?
Archives like the Geniza preserve day-to-day receipts and personal records that reveal the lived experience of slavery, and they help historians see the nuances and multi-vocal nature of slavery across cultures rather than relying on idealized narratives.
Craig Perry, "Slavery and the Jews of Medieval Egypt: A History" (Princeton UP, 2026)
Q: How did slavery operate differently within Islamic and Jewish legal frameworks?
Islamic law and Jewish law both permitted slaveholding with protections and constraints; women enslaved in Islam could gain certain statuses through manumission and social contexts, while Jewish law framed ownership differently and emphasized lineage and conversion dynamics; both systems showed variability and did not trend toward abolition.

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 Asian Review of Books

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

A thoughtful, scholarship-forward show that centers on books, authors, and Asian history and culture. Episodes frequently explore diaspora narratives, historical institutions, and literary craft through in-depth author interviews and contextual analysis of region-specific themes. Noteworthy are rigorous, research-backed conversations with authors and academics, often tying historical or cultural topics to contemporary questions. The format tends to blend literary exploration with broader historical and geopolitical angles, making it appealing for listeners who want education-rich discussions and credible book recommendations without sensationalism.

Where can I find podcast stats for Asian Review of Books?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Asian Review of Books. 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 Asian Review of Books and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Asian Review of Books get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Asian Review of Books, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Asian Review of Books?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Asian Review of Books, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Asian Review of Books have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Asian Review of Books 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 Asian Review of Books?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Asian Review of Books:

1. Ones and Tooze
2. Freakonomics Radio
3. Pop Culture Happy Hour
4. The Ezra Klein Show
5. The Rest Is Politics

How many episodes of Asian Review of Books are there?

Asian Review of Books launched 5 years ago and published 295 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 Asian Review of Books?

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 Asian Review of Books?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Asian Review of Books from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Asian Review of Books?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Asian Review of Books. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Asian Review of Books?

Recent guests on Asian Review of Books include:

1. Homa Katouzian
2. Shefalee Vasudev
3. Fyodor Tertitsky
4. Julia Stephens
5. Paul Blustein
6. Craig Perry
7. Jinwoo Park
8. Rishi Rajpopat

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days