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Booknotes+

C-SPAN
World War II
Abraham Lincoln
C-Span
World War I
Vietnam War
George Washington
D-Day
American Revolution
Nazi Germany
Donald Trump
Supreme Court
Cold War
Presidential History
Midnight In the Garden Of Good and Evil
Winston Churchill
Holocaust
Slavery
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes285Founded5 years ago
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Latest Episodes

The commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence has now gone beyond the Fourth of July. Many books have been published about the Declaration in the first half of 2026. The question for Americans is: "Have ... more

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After 47 years of C-SPAN televising the Congress of United States, we feel there is no better place to hear accents and dialects of the American people 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In her book "Why We Talk Funny: The Real Story Behind Our Accen... more

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Claudia Rowe is the author of "Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care." Rowe has been writing about the hallways and courtrooms, where kids and government clash, for 30 years. "Every person in this book," according to Claudia Row... more

YouTube

Richard Brookhiser is an American journalist, biographer, historian, and senior editor at National Review. He has appeared on C-SPAN for many years as the author of biographies of America's founders. His latest book features a Frenchman and is titled... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Claudia Rowe
Author of Wards of the State, The Long Shadow of American Foster Care
Author / Journalist
Episode: Claudia Rowe, "Wards of the State"
Richard Brookhiser
Author and historian, National Review
National Review
Episode: Richard Brookhiser, "The Hero Returns"
Michael Patrick Cullinane
Senior historian and Professor of US History at Dickinson State University; Walton Chair of Theodore Roosevelt Studies; public historian for the Theodore Roosevelt Association
Dickinson State University; Theodore Roosevelt Association
Episode: Michael Cullinane, "Theodore Roosevelt and the Tennis Cabinet"
Lerone Bennett Jr.
Author and historian, executive editor of Ebony Magazine and Johnson Publishing Company
Johnson Publishing Company / Ebony Magazine
Episode: Lerone Bennett Jr., "Forced Into Glory"
Lois Romano
Biographer of Mary Todd Lincoln, former Washington Post journalist
Author, An Inconvenient Widow
Episode: Lois Romano, "An Inconvenient Widow"
Danny Funt
Author of Everybody Loses; journalist and author of a book on American sports gambling
Author
Episode: Danny Funt, "Everybody Loses"
Theo Baker
Author of How to Rule the World: An Education in Power at Stanford University
Penguin Press (publisher)
Episode: Theo Baker, "How to Rule the World"
Harvey Mansfield
Professor of Government and conservative voice at Harvard
Harvard University
Episode: Harvey Mansfield, "Where Harvard Went Wrong"
Craig Fehrman
Author, This Vast Enterprise: A New History of Lewis and Clark
Author
Episode: Craig Fehrman, "This Vast Enterprise"

Host

Brian Lamb
Host of interview format; guides conversations with authors and historians; known for a patient, Socratic approach that invites depth.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 246 ratings
  • Boo lois ramano

    Go with the flow

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    No11111166666
    United States2 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 States3 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 States3 months ago
  • The Man Who Broke Capitalism

    Excellent guest and interview.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Janfurt
    United States4 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 States10 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the interviewer's calm, unhurried style that lets guests develop their arguments.
Some criticism focuses on production pacing and occasional variations in interview preparation.
Guests consistently praise depth and historical insight across subjects.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#60
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#164
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#124
Saudi Arabia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#195
Norway/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#222
Saudi Arabia/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#236
Ireland/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Theo Baker, "How to Rule the World"
Q: What was the core finding about Mark Tessier-Levin's research practices?
Baker explains that the core issues involved data manipulation concerns, image manipulation in published papers, and questions about integrity that led to investigations and the eventual resignation of the Stanford president. He emphasizes the difficulty of proving fraud in basic research and notes that responses varied from denial to partial admission, with ongoing debate about responsibility.
Lerone Bennett Jr., "Forced Into Glory"
Q: What would have happened if Seward and Chase had been elected president instead of Lincoln?
Bennett argues emancipation would likely have come sooner and in a context more favorable to aggressive anti-slavery measures, but he notes it would still depend on the political coalition and pressures of the time; he posits that Lincoln's leadership was not the only possible route, though unique in its outcomes.
Lerone Bennett Jr., "Forced Into Glory"
Q: If Stephen A. Douglas was elected president in 1860, what do you think would have happened unlike what happened with Abraham Lincoln getting elected?
Bennett suggests the abolitionist pressure would have continued, and that the political trajectory might have produced different emancipation dynamics, potentially yielding slower or differently framed progress without Lincoln's leadership. He frames Douglas' approach as a distinct pathway that still confronted the same foundational conflicts over slavery.
Bob Crawford, "America's Founding Son"
Q: When did you actually write this book, and how did the process unfold?
The book was written after a period of proposal, collaboration with an editor, and extensive research; the author describes a shift from initial solo work to a collaborative process with a writer/editor to shape the history into a formal book.
Antony Beevor, "Rasputin"
Q: Why did Beevor think Rasputin mattered so much in the fall of the Romanovs?
Beevor explains Rasputin's influence over the royal family and the rumors surrounding his relationship with the Empress created a perception of weakness and corruption at court, contributing to the palace intrigue and the decline of autocratic authority.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Booknotes+

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

Historically focused interviews with authors, historians, and journalists, often centered on biography, political history, and cultural shifts. The conversations span classic histories, contemporary politics, and interrogations of institutions, with a strong emphasis on archival details, narrative nuance, and context around major events. A standout trait is the interviewer's patient, inquiry-driven style that gives guests space to unpack complex topics, making it appealing for listeners who enjoy deep-dive nonfiction and historical storytelling. The mix of archival favorites and fresh conversations offers a reliable, thoughtful exploration of books and ideas that shape public discourse.

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

How many episodes of Booknotes+ are there?

Booknotes+ launched 5 years ago and published 285 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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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Booknotes+?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Booknotes+. 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 Booknotes+?

Recent guests on Booknotes+ include:

1. Claudia Rowe
2. Richard Brookhiser
3. Michael Patrick Cullinane
4. Lerone Bennett Jr.
5. Lois Romano
6. Danny Funt
7. Theo Baker
8. Harvey Mansfield

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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