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Artwork for Burned By Books

Burned By Books

New Books Network
Zambia
Grace Zulu
LGBTQ+ Rights
Iris Mwanza
Ordinary Human Failings
Gender Equality
The Nude
Desire
Storytelling
LGBTQ Identity
Endpapers
Say Hello To My Little Friend
Real Americans
AIDS
Corruption
London
C. Michelle Lindley
Cultural Identity
Korean American Literature
Post-9/11 New York City

A podcast for writers and readers who are obsessive about their books. Interviews with established and up-and-coming writers, and recommendations for the best in contemporary fiction, poetry, and drama. Chris Holmes. Chris is Chair of Literatures in English and Associate Professor at Ithaca College. He writes criticism on contemporary global literatures. He is the co-director of The New Voices Fes... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes196Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsBooksFiction

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Artwork for Burned By Books

Latest Episodes

Toni Morrison, Nobel Laureate and one of our most beloved writers, has inspired generations of readers. But her artistic genius is often overshadowed by her monumental public persona, perhaps because, as Namwali Serpell puts it, “she is our only tru... more

Daniel Poppick is a poet and novelist. He is the author of the poetry collections Fear of Description, selected for the National Poetry Series, and The Police. His work appears in The New Yorker, The Paris Review Daily, The Drift, Harper's, BOMB, The... more

It starts with an itch.

In homes across the country, women ages eighteen to thirty-five begin to slow down.

Tired. Blank. Restless.

Drawn to the Pacific Ocean like it’s calling them home. They abandon their lives—jobs, families, their very selves. An... more

Joe Mungo Reed is the author of the novels Hammer and We Begin Our Ascent, one of the best novels about sport that I’ve ever read. He Teaches creative writing at the University of Cambridge and lives in London.

Recommended Books:

Flesh, David Szala... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Ben Ratliff
Author and former music critic for the New York Times
NYU
Episode: Ben Ratliff, "Run the Song: Writing About Running About Listening" (Graywolf Press, 2025)
D. Graham Burnett
Henry Charles Lea Professor of the History of Science at Princeton University.
Princeton University
Episode: The Friends of Attention, "Attensity! A Manifesto of the Attention Liberation Movement" (Crown, 2026)
Alyssa Loh
Filmmaker, co-directed 'Twelve Theses on Attention'.
Episode: The Friends of Attention, "Attensity! A Manifesto of the Attention Liberation Movement" (Crown, 2026)
Peter Schmidt
Program Director of the Strother School of Radical Attention.
Strother School of Radical Attention
Episode: The Friends of Attention, "Attensity! A Manifesto of the Attention Liberation Movement" (Crown, 2026)
Laura Larson
Owner of Odyssey Bookstore
Odyssey Bookstore
Episode: Booksellers Best of 2025
Lisa Swayze
General Manager of Buffalo Street Books and Executive Director of the bookstore's new literary non-profit
Buffalo Street Books
Episode: Booksellers Best of 2025
Stephanie Reents
Author of We Loved to Run and The Kissing List
Episode: Stephanie Reents, "We Loved to Run" (Hogarth, 2025)
Emily Hunt Kivel
Author of the debut novel Dwelling, exploring contemporary issues through a fairy tale lens.
Episode: Emily Hunt Kivel, "Dwelling" (FSG, 2025)
Zoe Dubno
A writer from New York. Happiness and Love is her first novel.
Episode: Zoe Dubno, "Happiness and Love" (Scribner, 2025)

Host

Chris Holmes
Host of Burned By Books; engages in in-depth literary interviews and book discussions.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 72 ratings
  • The sound of gushing praise

    I have come to contemporary fiction a bit late in my reading life. Now that I have plenty of time on my hands (having taken early retirement five years ago) and determined to avoid the destructive addiction of today’s online political discourse, I turned to literature as a balm. Chris Holmes’ podcast seemed a nice way to hear about new writing, especially novels, which I find more satisfying than short stories. There are a few things to be said in praise of this podcast. Unlike the Book Review p... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    sidneyhart
    United States2 years ago
  • Eclectic

    I am impressed by the variety of books reviewed here. The host’s enthusiasm and thoughtful preparation for these discussions makes this a great listen. Well done!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Se. Valpolicella
    United States2 years ago
  • It is indeed

    ...the best podcast about literature that exists. Generous and penetrating. I've been listening for years; how come I haven't left a review until now? A real personal failure!

    Every episode is a gift.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    young4552
    United States4 years ago
  • Refreshing ♥️👍🏽

    I listened to the conversation Chris had with Xochitl Gonzalez and loved to hear questions based on his knowledge of writing and literature! That definitely makes for a better conversation with the authors and when they get excited, the audience gets even more excited about their books.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Luz-y-Traducciones
    United States4 years ago
  • A rare treat

    It’s a pleasure to listen to such rich, compelling interviews with exciting contemporary writers. Highly recommended!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    oregonbookworm
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the deep conversations but note the host's enthusiastic praise can feel effusive to some.
Shows consistently high-quality author interviews with thoughtful questions.
Guests are well-chosen, with strong contributions to contemporary literature.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#41
Russia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#73
Russia/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Friends of Attention, "Attensity! A Manifesto of the Attention Liberation Movement" (Crown, 2026)
Q: What is the significance of using the manifesto format for your movement?
The manifesto format serves as a call to action, galvanizing citizens to rally against attention commodification and unite for change.
The Friends of Attention, "Attensity! A Manifesto of the Attention Liberation Movement" (Crown, 2026)
Q: Can you offer a definition of attention and give us a sense of the stakes for how it is being stolen from us?
Attention is understood as central to our capacity to care for each other, with a call for reconnecting to various kinds of attention beyond just attention spans.
The Friends of Attention, "Attensity! A Manifesto of the Attention Liberation Movement" (Crown, 2026)
Q: Who and what are the Friends of Attention and how did this movement come into existence?
The Friends of Attention are a loose coalition of artists and activists formed after experiencing the socio-political implications of attention commodification at the Sao Paulo Biennial in 2018.
Ben Ratliff, "Run the Song: Writing About Running About Listening" (Graywolf Press, 2025)
Q: Can you talk a little about how you think about songs as something that can be completed, and how that connects you to an understanding of the body and motion?
Ratliff emphasizes the importance of the middle of a song and how the act of running can reveal insights into music without preconceived outcomes.
Ben Ratliff, "Run the Song: Writing About Running About Listening" (Graywolf Press, 2025)
Q: What was it about this sort of longing to be out of isolation, to have a different experience with your city that kind of brought about or was a catalyst to that kind of new thinking about the music?
Running became an obsession and a way to engage with the world during COVID, allowing Ratliff to rethink his connection to music and place.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Burned By Books

What is Burned By Books about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A literary conversation show focused on contemporary fiction, poetry, and drama, featuring in-depth author interviews and book recommendations. Episodes center on authors discussing their latest works, writing processes, and themes ranging from feminism and identity to design, memory, and social issues. The show frequently features authors alongside book ecologies like independent bookstores and publishing voices, offering listeners thoughtful discourse, critical perspectives, and tangible takeaways for readers and industry professionals alike. Notable strengths include sustained author dialogues, a clear literary bent, and guests who span novelists, critics, and scholars, which can appeal to writers, editors, and avid readers seeking deepe... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Burned By Books?

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1. The Book Review
2. NPR's Book of the Day
3. Writers on Writing
4. Pop Culture Happy Hour
5. The Interview

How many episodes of Burned By Books are there?

Burned By Books launched 6 years ago and published 196 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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What guests have appeared on Burned By Books?

Recent guests on Burned By Books include:

1. Ben Ratliff
2. D. Graham Burnett
3. Alyssa Loh
4. Peter Schmidt
5. Laura Larson
6. Lisa Swayze
7. Stephanie Reents
8. Emily Hunt Kivel

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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