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A Good Read

BBC Radio 4
Motherhood
Friendship
Artificial Intelligence
Literature
Our Evenings
Mental Health
Feminism
The Second Coming
Maggie Nelson
Katherine Mansfield
London
Alan Hollinghurst
Dave Wynn
Evolutionary Biology
Frankie
Curandera
Wishful Drinking
Holocaust
Shuggie Bain
Art

Find reading inspiration with favourite books chosen by our guests.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes937Founded17 years ago
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Artwork for A Good Read

Latest Episodes

The books are:

Brighton Rock by Graham Greene, chosen by Harriet Tyce Agent Zigzag by Ben Macintyre, chosen by Matt Edmondson Cluny Brown by Margery Sharp, chosen by Harriett Gilbert

Join us over on Instagram @agoodreadbbc

Produced for BBC Audio ... more

Three books that deal with the intricacies of relationships and marriage.

Not That Sort of Girl by Mary Wesley Aftermath by Rachel Cusk Three Days In June by Anne Tyler

Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Maggie Ayre

This time the community clothing entrepreneur and host of The Great British Sewing Bee Patrick Grant chooses his favourite book along with fellow guest anthropologist and broadcaster Mary-Ann Ochota.

The books are:

Parsnips Buttered by Joe Lycett T... more

Newsreader Maryam Moshiri and Red Dwarf creator Doug Naylor discuss their chosen books, including Bridget Jones's Diary, with Harriett Gilbert.

Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding, chosen by Maryam Moshiri

Why You Should Read Children's Books, ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Maryam Moshiri
Presenter of The World Today on BBC News Channel; journalist
BBC
Episode: Maryam Moshiri and Doug Naylor
Doug Naylor
Novelist, TV writer and director; co-creator of Red Dwarf; head writer for Spitting Image
Big Studio (media/television)
Episode: Maryam Moshiri and Doug Naylor
Victoria Pile
Comedy writer, director and producer, known for Smack The Pony and Green Wing
Self-employed / Freelance (TV)
Episode: Victoria Pile and Julian Baggini
Julian Baggini
Philosopher and writer, author of The Ego Trick, How The World Thinks, How The World Eats
Self-employed / Writer
Episode: Victoria Pile and Julian Baggini
Lolita Chakrabarti
Award-winning playwright and actor; writing for theatre and screen
Self/Industry
Episode: Lolita Chakrabarti and Dr Guy Leschziner
Guy Leschziner
Professor of Neurology and Sleep Medicine; author
Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals
Episode: Lolita Chakrabarti and Dr Guy Leschziner
Jung Chang
Author of Wild Swans, Three Daughters of China; commentator on literature and history
Author, Historian
Episode: Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Jung Chang
Martin Edwards
Crime novelist, Diamond Dagger recipient, president of the Detection Club, author of 24 novels
Author / Crime Writing
Episode: Martin Edwards and Tom Shakespeare
Tom Shakespeare
Social scientist and bioethicist, disability researcher at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Episode: Martin Edwards and Tom Shakespeare

Host

Harriett Gilbert
Host of A Good Read, known for her engaging discussions with authors about their favorite books, fostering deep literary conversations and drawing out personal connections to literature.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 1.4k ratings
  • Love this program!

    Thanks for your consistently fascinating broadcasting. The recent panel episode with Naomi Alderman about the future was especially great. Keep up the great work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bob Garfield
    United States2 years ago
  • Bit of a shock

    I was very surprised that the ep with Christopher Eccleston played with no content warning. I was in the car, so had no view of show notes. To be exposed to the conversation about depression when I felt suicidal was upsetting. My responsibility but i’ll avoid the podcast in future.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Mole68
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • A good read.

    Harriet’s breadth of reading and her open minded approach are not always displayed by her guests who sometimes have an axe to grind.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Sad in Oz
    Australia2 years ago
  • Love for Harriet

    I just love A good read as a program, and Harriet as presenter. She's interested, erudite and has a daring taste in books

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    moniekbaars
    Netherlands2 years ago
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    2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the engaging and thoughtful discussions around literature, often highlighting the personal connections made by the guests.
Many listeners find the diversity of book recommendations refreshing, helping them to discover new authors and genres.
Reviewers praise Harriett Gilbert's hosting skills, noting her ability to facilitate conversations that are both insightful and entertaining.
Some audience members express a desire for more detailed show notes, indicating a desire for improved resources to accompany the episodes.
There are occasional critiques about the depth of discussion, with some feeling that certain guests may not contribute as richly as others.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#142
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#206
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#61
New Zealand/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#69
Chile/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#70
Ireland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#77
Singapore/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Roma Agrawal and Kate Lister
Q: Do you only read books closely related to your work?
Kate explains that she mostly reads history books due to her profession, but she wants to branch out and read things beyond her usual scope.
Maryam Moshiri and Doug Naylor
Q: Do you now read more children's books, both for work and pleasure?
Yes, I've found myself reading more children's books to understand the genre better and to see how authors balance accessibility with depth, which has broadened my own reading habits and appreciation for authors like Rundell.
Maryam Moshiri and Doug Naylor
Q: Right. Well, Maryam Moshiri, what did you make of this?
I loved it and found it surprisingly relatable; it shows how children's books can speak to adults when written with a dual audience in mind, and it sparked ideas about how literature for younger readers can influence grown-ups.
Maria Balshaw and Léa Ypi
Q: Maria Balshaw: What is your choice of A Good Read?
Léa and Maria discuss The Overcoat as a study in dignity, identity, and the way institutions affect individuals, drawing parallels to contemporary concerns about social recognition and the pressure of appearances.
Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Jung Chang
Q: Jung Chang, would you start us off? What have you chosen as A Good Read?
I chose Hans Christian Andersen, drawn from memories of reading his stories in China and drawn to the darker, more complex undercurrents of his fairy tales.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Frequently Asked Questions About A Good Read

What is A Good Read about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content features rich discussions around literature, focusing on various themes including personal narratives, historical contexts, and societal issues presented through diverse book selections. Guests typically share their personal connections to the books, providing unique insights into their significance and the emotional responses they evoke, whether discussing classic literature, contemporary narratives, or explorations of identity and trauma. The engaging dialogues encourage an appreciation for the power of storytelling, often highlighting the nuances of character development and thematic depth, making it an excellent resource for avid readers and those seeking to expand their literary horizons.

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

How many listeners does A Good Read get?

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How many subscribers and views does A Good Read have?

To see how many followers or subscribers A Good Read 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 A Good Read?

These podcasts share a similar audience with A Good Read:

1. A Good Read
2. Bookclub
3. Take Four Books
4. Great Lives
5. World Book Club

How many episodes of A Good Read are there?

A Good Read launched 17 years ago and published 937 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 A Good Read?

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 A Good Read?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for A Good Read from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for A Good Read?

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What guests have appeared on A Good Read?

Recent guests on A Good Read include:

1. Maryam Moshiri
2. Doug Naylor
3. Victoria Pile
4. Julian Baggini
5. Lolita Chakrabarti
6. Guy Leschziner
7. Jung Chang
8. Martin Edwards

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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