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Artwork for Books of Some Substance

Books of Some Substance

David Southard and Nathan Sharp
Existentialism
The Brothers Karamazov
Colonialism
J.M. Coetzee
Family
Dostoevsky
Henry Miller
One Hundred Years Of Solitude
Philosophy
Solitude
Waiting For the Barbarians
Imperialism
The Sheltering Sky
Tropic Of Cancer
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Moral Messaging
Torture
Morality
Crisis Of Conscience
Power Dynamics

The unofficial podcast of literary misfits everywhere who want to engage with books of "substance" (i.e. serious, respected, heavy, philosophical, classic), or at least considered such.

PublishesInfrequentlyEpisodes115Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsBooksFiction

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Artwork for Books of Some Substance

Latest Episodes

Murder, faith, redemption, justice, morality, and a reckoning with one's beliefs about the world! This is The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

In this episode of the Books of Some Substance podcast, we (Nathan Sharp and David Southard) dis... more

In this episode of The Books of Some Substance podcast, Nathan and David get into the first half of Fyodor Dostoevsky's masterpiece, The Brothers Karamazov (Books 1-6; Parts 1 and 2).

From the novel's dense, philosophical style and its stark contra... more

In this episode of the Books of Some Substance podcast, hosts Nathan Sharp and David Southard reunite with our old friend Eric Heiman (whose life and experiences connect closely to the novel on this episode) to discuss the intricate and poignant nove... more

Exploring 'One Hundred Years of Solitude' by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Join hosts David Southard and Nathan Sharp in the Books of Some Substance podcast as they kick off Season 3 with an in-depth discussion on Gabriel Garcia Marquez's seminal Latin A... more

Key Facts

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Hosts

Nathan Sharp
Host who engages in lively discussions about significant literary works and philosophical themes.
David Southard
Co-host engaging in thoughtful analysis of literature, often bringing personal insights into discussions.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 224 ratings
  • Great Discussions

    Been listening on and off to these dudes for years. A shame they lost Nick and are down to two, but Nathan and David are great at making the show conversational and philosophical, like chatting with friends about a good book.

    If you read the book ahead, this is the podcast for you, so don’t expect long plot summaries. Instead it is conversation about big ideas and literary craft.

    Keep up the great work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AdamZeeno
    South Koreaa year ago
  • Henry Miller

    Another great episode from the BOSS lads. Bring on series three!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JoshMate105
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Thank you!

    You’ve been my partners in Proust as I work through In Search of Lost Time. You always seem to speak what’s in my heart and am embarrassed to admit but you also remind me of the beauty of the prose and flashes of incredible insight. I love hearing passages read aloud. This show is soul food.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hduydeg
    United States2 years ago
  • Love the discussions! Highly recommended after you finish the book.

    I always look forward to hearing the podcast episode on the book after reading it. It has actually motivated me to finish reading the book even more. This podcast has helped me appreciate more variety of books, even if they may be challenging.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Steeeeve1
    Canada2 years ago
  • Proust

    Agree,

    Great work , Guys.

    Fabulous discussion

    Thank you

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Alan Sherlock
    United Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Some critiques mention a divergence from literary studies, with concerns about personal biases in discussions.
The conversational and philosophical tone is praised for making complex literary topics accessible while maintaining depth.
Listeners appreciate the deep discussions and thought-provoking analysis of classic literature, often feeling like part of a personal book club.
Overall, the community feels inclusive and engaged, with many expressing a love for the insights shared in episodes.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#192
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#161
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#88
Mexico/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#209
Switzerland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#217
Denmark/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#224
Mexico/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

112 - The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky (1 of 2)
Q: Can you for somebody who has never read this, never thought about it, has no idea what we're talking about? What's the basic plot? What's going on?
The first half of this book is centered around the fractious family dynamics of a father and his three sons, focusing on their conflicts over love and money.
106 - The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles
Q: What do you make of Kit?
Kit is portrayed as a complex character who grapples with her identity and the duality of her desires. The hosts discuss her navigation between oblivion and societal norms, reflecting the existential dread present in the narrative.

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 Books of Some Substance

What is Books of Some Substance about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focused on exploring significant literary works, the discussions primarily revolve around classic and philosophical texts, engaging deeply with themes of morality, family dynamics, existentialism, and personal agency. The hosts encourage listeners to reflect on how literature relates to their lives, often connecting personal insights with broader philosophical questions. This podcast is distinctive in its conversational style that mimics personal book club discussions, making complex literary concepts more accessible and relatable to its audience. Episodes often feature books like 'The Brothers Karamazov' and 'One Hundred Years of Solitude,' presenting not just plot summaries, but extensive analyzations of characters and thematic arcs, appe... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Books of Some Substance?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Books of Some Substance:

1. The History of Literature
2. Backlisted
3. Hermitix
4. Hardcore Literature
5. Entitled Opinions (about Life and Literature)

How many episodes of Books of Some Substance are there?

Books of Some Substance launched 10 years ago and published 115 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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