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Booknotes+

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World War II
Abraham Lincoln
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World War I
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George Washington
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American Revolution
Nazi Germany
Winston Churchill
Cold War
Donald Trump
Supreme Court
Presidential History
Midnight In the Garden Of Good and Evil
Slavery
Holocaust
Soviet Union
Barack Obama
Scopes Trial

Taking the concept from Brian Lamb's long running Booknotes TV program, the podcast offers listeners more books and authors. Booknotes+ features a mix of new interviews with authors and historians, along with some old favorites from the archives. The platform may be different, but the goal is the same – give listeners the opportunity to learn something new.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes298Founded6 years ago
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BooksArtsHistory

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Latest Episodes

Simon Sebag Montefiore has written nine nonfiction books and three novels. His latest is called "The Cauldron: The Making of the Modern Middle East." The time period covered is from 1900 to the present. In Mr. Montefiore's acknowledgements, he writes... more

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Only nine men have been convicted, through military commissions at Guantanamo Bay, out of roughly 780 total detainees held there for some time since 2002. However, only 15 prisoners are currently housed at Gitmo. One of those is Khalid Sheikh Mohamme... more

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The name of the book is "Are They Dead Yet?: The Art of the Obit." The author, Sam Roberts, is a 50-year veteran of New York journalism. He says in his book: "I've buried 1,600 or so people during my improbable decade writing obituaries for the New Y... more

YouTube

On Saturday, August 8, on the front page of the Washington Post was this headline: "Some Vets Went Along with Scams of the G.I. Bill." Leading the team of Post reporters was Craig Whitlock. His co-author was Andrew Ba Tran. The dateline on the story ... more

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Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Simon Sebag Montefiore
Historian and author of nine nonfiction books and three novels
Episode: Simon Sebag Montefiore, "The Cauldron"
John Ryan
Founder of Lawdragon, author of Americas Trial
Lawdragon
Episode: John Ryan, "America's Trial"
Sam Roberts
Author of Are They Dead Yet? and longtime New York Times obituary writer
New York Times
Episode: Sam Roberts, "Are They Dead Yet?"
Craig Whitlock
Washington Post Investigative Reporter
The Washington Post
Episode: Craig Whitlock, Washington Post Investigative Reporter
Andrew Burstein
Author and historian, Being Thomas Jefferson: An Intimate History
Louisiana State University; author
Episode: Andrew Burstein, "Being Thomas Jefferson"
Jonathan W. Jordan
Author of Ike and Winston
Author
Episode: Jonathan Jordan, "Ike and Winston
Scott S. Greenberger
Author of Gouverneur Morris, the unsung patriot who wrote the Constitution
Author, Gouverneur Morris biography
Episode: Scott Greenberger, "The Forsaken Founder"
Joby Warrick
Author and Washington Post correspondent
Author of The Jackal
Episode: Joby Warrick, "The Jackal"
Paul Taylor
Author of This Is Getting Old, Two Boomers and Their Generation at Dusk
Author
Episode: Paul Taylor, "This Is Getting Old"

Host

Brian Lamb
Host of the program and interviewer guiding conversations with authors; known for patient, thorough questioning.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 255 ratings
  • Boo lois ramano

    Go with the flow

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    No11111166666
    United States5 months ago
  • Many Book Notes + interviews

    Brian Lamb has an interviewing style that allows the authors time and space to share information about their researched topics without interruption.

    The interviews represent a wide range of topics. I have immensely found interesting. Working my way through every interview .

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Another Big Fan
    United States6 months ago
  • Brian Lamb is the best

    Interview of nonfiction authors today. The crazy thing is this has been true since the 1970s! A total legend—still curious and still working hard to help readers learn too.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ctf1985
    United States6 months ago
  • The Man Who Broke Capitalism

    Excellent guest and interview.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Janfurt
    United States7 months ago
  • Stop with the commercials

    I’ve loved and listened to Csoan got many years. I can’t get t through the podcast due to the endless commercial interruptions!

    It is truly unbearable . It just ruins the listening experience.

    One or two are doable- that has not been the case of late and it’s disappointing.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Jennifer in Nyc
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Long-form history and nonfiction conversations are consistently engaging.
Listeners praise the breadth of topics and depth of questions.
Focused, respectful interviews that let authors share their research.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#105
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#219
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#159
Norway/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#176
Argentina/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#207
Israel/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#223
Poland/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Simon Sebag Montefiore, "The Cauldron"
Q: Can you take us from November 29, 1947, at the UN, Resolution 181, the creation of what turned out to be Israel, can you walk us through how that resolution came about, and what do you think of the beginning of all this?
Montefiore traces the British Mandate, competing promises to Jewish and Arab communities, the UN partition plan, the ensuing civil war, Israel's declaration of independence, and the neighboring Arab states' invasion. He describes the plan as impractical and discusses displacement and violence on both sides.
Simon Sebag Montefiore, "The Cauldron"
Q: When you started thinking about this book, why did you call it The Cauldron? What are people going to get if they get this book?
Montefiore says the title conveys the region's opposing qualities: turbulence and toxicity alongside cultural richness, tradition and unexpected delights. The book explains how the modern Middle East took shape across 19 countries.
Sam Roberts, "Are They Dead Yet?"
Q: How many obituaries have you written, and what stands out about the process?
He has written roughly 1,500-1,600 obituaries, noting the subjectivity of selection, the importance of accuracy, context, and showcasing people who were intrinsically interesting, not just famous.
Sam Roberts, "Are They Dead Yet?"
Q: How long did you work for the New York Daily News?
Sam Roberts explains he worked there for about 15 years before moving to The Times, starting as a reporter and eventually becoming an obituary writer, which became his main focus.
Craig Whitlock, Washington Post Investigative Reporter
Q: Craig Whitlock, when did you first hear about the Blue Star Learning School?
Whitlock explains that initial information came from VA sources in 2024, followed by interviews with the school owner after he was released from prison. He notes the importance of FOIA data in revealing enrollment spikes and the pattern of fake rosters used to justify housing stipends, which uncovered the extent of the fraud.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Booknotes+

What is Booknotes+ about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A long-running interview series that centers historical nonfiction, biographies, and literary works through in-depth conversations with authors and scholars. Episodes frequently explore sources, archival research, and how historical narratives are constructed, offering behind-the-scenes storytelling about publishing, journalism, and the probe into public memory. Notable strengths include patient, respectful interviewing that lets guests articulate complex topics, along with a breadth of topics from classic histories to recent investigations. It's particularly valuable for listeners who enjoy historical context, book recommendations, and nuanced perspectives from researchers and writers.

Where can I find podcast stats for Booknotes+?

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

How many listeners does Booknotes+ get?

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What are the audience demographics for Booknotes+?

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How many subscribers and views does Booknotes+ have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Booknotes+ 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 Booknotes+?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Booknotes+:

1. Lectures in History
2. For the Ages: A History Podcast
3. Q&A
4. After Words
5. C-SPAN Bookshelf

How many episodes of Booknotes+ are there?

Booknotes+ launched 6 years ago and published 298 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 Booknotes+?

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 Booknotes+?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Booknotes+ from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Booknotes+?

Recent guests on Booknotes+ include:

1. Simon Sebag Montefiore
2. John Ryan
3. Sam Roberts
4. Craig Whitlock
5. Andrew Burstein
6. Jonathan W. Jordan
7. Scott S. Greenberger
8. Joby Warrick

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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