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Book Club with Michael Smerconish

SiriusXM
Donald Trump
Social Media
Ronald Reagan
Covid-19
John F. Kennedy
Vietnam War
Mental Health
2016 Presidential Election
United States
FBI
Hillary Clinton
CIA
Barack Obama
Russia
Free Speech
Nelson Demille
Joe Biden
Democratic Party
Communication
Democracy

Reading for Independent Minds. Unlike many author interviews, if Michael didn't actually read the book, you won't hear about it. If he read it, you'll hear it and you'll love it. Insights into a wide range of topics, including many titles you've probably never heard of. The perfect book is just one listen away.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes577Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsDaily NewsNews

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Latest Episodes

Who is the real Melania Trump? In this 2019 interview, Michael sits down with CNN journalist Kate Bennett, author of "Free, Melania: The Unauthorized Biography," to explore the mystery surrounding one of America's most enigmatic first ladies. Bennett... more

Is America divided by more than just politics? In this 2019 conversation, Michael talks with humorist and author Joel Stein about his provocative book, "In Defense of Elitism: Why I'm Better Than You and You Are Better Than Someone Who Didn't Buy Thi... more

Is all this convenience actually making our lives better—or are we losing something valuable along the way? Michael talks with author Gabe Bullard about his new book, "Against Convenience: Embracing Friction in an Age of Endless Ease." From streaming... more

Are smartphones and social media really to blame for the youth mental health crisis? Michael talks with Dr. Peter Gray, Boston College research professor and author of "Restoring Childhood: How to Set Kids Free in the Age of Anxiety," who challenges ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Kate Bennett
CNN journalist covering the First Lady and First Family, and author of “Free, Melania: The Unauthorized Biography”
CNN
Episode: Kate Bennett: "Free, Melania"
Joel Stein
Humorist and author
Episode: Joel Stein: "In Defense Of Elitism"
Gabe Bullard
Journalist and author of Against Convenience: Embracing Friction in an Age of Endless Ease
Episode: Gabe Bullard: "Against Convenience"
Peter Gray
Research Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Boston College
Boston College
Episode: Dr. Peter Gray: "Restoring Childhood"
Oriana Zill
Investigative producer, 60 Minutes
60 Minutes
Episode: Michael Rey & Oriana Zill: "The Havana Syndrome"
Michael Rey
Co-author, Investigator
60 Minutes
Episode: Michael Rey & Oriana Zill: "The Havana Syndrome"
Michael Lewis
Bestselling author of books including "Blockers: Rebels in the Deep State"
Episode: Michael Lewis: "Blockers"
Malcolm Gladwell
Bestselling author of The American Way of Killing
Episode: Malcolm Gladwell: "The American Way of Killing"
Gabriel Zucman
Professor of economics at UC Berkeley and Paris School of Economics; author of We Need to Tax Billionaires
UC Berkeley; Paris School of Economics
Episode: Gabriel Zucman: "We Need To Tax Billionaires"

Host

Michael Smerconish
Host of Book Club with Michael Smerconish

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 111 ratings
  • Tad Devine: "How The Democrats Screwed

    I just listened to how Democrats screwed Bernie. One thing you left out maybe it’s in the book 90% of young people supported Bernie. The Democratic Party screwed themselves out of their own future.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    each eve hff gf C de
    United States4 months ago
  • Audio quality

    I like this podcast when I can hear it. Unfortunately, most of the episodes I’ve listened to have had terrible audio quality on the quests. They should have been able to figure out smooth audio by now.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    printedvintage
    Canada9 months ago
  • Interview with a vanLier

    When you choose to interview Tapper it’s the same as playing with pigs. You get muddy and realize you’re playing with a pig.

    Sorry you put yourself in the role of joining Tapper and his lies. Was he lying when he said Biden just had a stutter and was sharp or is he lying now that he wishes he had covered the story?

    Many good books out there with authors who have knowledge, integrity, and have done hard work. This book is the product of none of that.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    moving on-missu
    United Statesa year ago
  • New To Bookclub

    I listen to Michael on SiriusXM, but only recently found the book club podcast. It is great! I put it on while I’m doing things around the house and just let it play one episode to the next. The variety I’m authors and topics is amazing.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jkguhcdf
    United States3 years ago
  • Too rushed

    Interviews are way too short. When he does actually have an interesting guest it’s over in no time.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Project Pratt
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners criticize inconsistent audio quality and brevity of interviews.
Fans value long-form, in-depth discussions over quick takes and feel the show offers unique perspectives on politics and culture.
New listeners appreciate the variety of authors and topics, noting it as a strong entry point for book discussions with public affairs context.
Listeners praise the show's thoughtful, book-centered conversations and civility-focused approach.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#19
Chile/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#37
Chile/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#135
Norway/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#159
Philippines/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#179
Brazil/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#205
South Africa/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Kate Bennett: "Free, Melania"
Q: What was she trying to say?
Bennett says Melania's pink pussy-bow blouse may have been a deliberate, ambiguous message after the Access Hollywood tape, reflecting her ability to communicate nonverbally.
Kate Bennett: "Free, Melania"
Q: Tell me what you were conveying.
Bennett explains that the title plays on the “Free Melania” hashtag while arguing that Melania was independent rather than trapped in the White House.
Malcolm Gladwell: "The American Way of Killing"
Q: What is the Cornell effect as you defined it?
Gladwell describes homicide rates as a product of both the underlying level of violence and the victim's access to timely, effective trauma care.
Malcolm Gladwell: "The American Way of Killing"
Q: How do you square the initial being clause with what we'll call the operative clause?
Gladwell says the clause conditioned the main clause in 18th-century usage, linking the right to bear arms to the militia context rather than stating an independent right.
Michael Lewis: "Blockers"
Q: Is it possible that DOGE was all a shiny object?
Lewis says DOGE's disruption may have diverted attention while executive power was being consolidated, though he presents this as an interpretation arising from the story rather than a definitive claim.

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 Book Club

What is Book Club about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A long-form interview show that centers on author books, politics, civility, and current affairs, often featuring prominent journalists, policymakers, academics, and business leaders. Episodes mix deep-dive conversations about books with broader discussions on democracy, media, technology, and public life, offering historical context and practical takeaways. Notable strengths include a careful, substance-first approach to book discussions, a willingness to tackle controversial topics, and guests that span politics, journalism, and academia. A distinctive angle is balancing memoir-style storytelling with policy analysis, often anchored by a clear emphasis on civility, civic engagement, and the role of media in public discourse.

Where can I find podcast stats for Book Club?

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

How many listeners does Book Club get?

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What are the audience demographics for Book Club?

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How many subscribers and views does Book Club have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Book Club 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 Book Club?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Book Club:

1. The Smerconish Podcast
2. Smerconish on CNN
3. Conversations with Bill Kristol
4. Impolitic with John Heilemann
5. Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

How many episodes of Book Club are there?

Book Club launched 5 years ago and published 577 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 Book Club?

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 Book Club?

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What guests have appeared on Book Club?

Recent guests on Book Club include:

1. Kate Bennett
2. Joel Stein
3. Gabe Bullard
4. Peter Gray
5. Oriana Zill
6. Michael Rey
7. Michael Lewis
8. Malcolm Gladwell

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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