Rephonic
Artwork for New Books in Intellectual History

New Books in Intellectual History

New Books Network
Colonialism
Democracy
Philosophy
Education
Nationalism
Capitalism
Marxism
Slavery
Ethics
Plato
Conservatism
Political Philosophy
French Revolution
Thomas Jefferson
Liberalism
Aristotle
History Of Science
Political Theory
Climate Change
Liang Qichao

This podcast is a channel on the New Books Network. The New Books Network is an academic audio library dedicated to public education. In each episode you will hear scholars discuss their recently published research with another expert in their field. Discover our 150+ channels and browse our 28,000+ episodes on our website: ⁠newbooksnetwork.com⁠ Subscribe to our free weekly Substack newsletter to ... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes1044Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureHistory

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for New Books in Intellectual History

Latest Episodes

Exemplarity and Allusion in Macrobius' Saturnalia (Oxford UP, 2026) offers a new framework for interpreting interactions with classical source material in Macrobius’ Saturnalia. It argues that the Saturnalia, an educational dialogue from the fifth ce... more

Tamil Buddhism and Brahminism in Modern India: Deep Resistance Against Caste (Oxford University Press, 2026) explores

Tamil Buddhism in modern India, focusing on its emergence

as a response to caste-based oppression during the late nineteenth and more

Despite being one of the leading thinkers of the second wave feminist movement, today Shere Hite is little known, little written about, and, unsurprisingly, little read. Her groundbreaking book, The Hite Report, was the first feminist exploration of ... more

Thomas Paine: Collected Writings (Princeton University Press, 2026) is the first major new edition of Paine’s works, bringing together all his writings in six breathtaking volumes that dramatically revise our previous understanding of his activities ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

What's Left of Philosophy
What's Left of PhilosophyLillian Cicerchia, Owen Glyn-Williams, Gil Morejón, and William Paris
Theory & Philosophy
Theory & PhilosophyDavid Guignion

Recent Guests

Andy Byford
Historian and author of Science of the Child in Late Imperial and Early Soviet Russia
Durham University
Episode: Andy Byford, "Science of the Child in Late Imperial and Early Soviet Russia" (Oxford UP, 2020)
Charles Stivale
Distinguished professor emeritus at Wayne State University, Detroit
Wayne State University
Episode: Charles J. Stivale, "Unfolding the Deleuze Seminars, 1970–1987: Summaries and Commentary" (Edinburgh UP, 2025)
Catherine Fletcher
Historian of Renaissance Italy
Manchester Metropolitan University
Episode: Catherine Fletcher, "The Firearm Revolution: From Renaissance Italy to the European Empires" (Princeton UP, 2026)
Jonathan Daly
Historian and author of The Man Who Knew Russia, Richard Pipes, Humanist and Cold Warrior
University of Illinois Chicago
Episode: Jonathan Daly, "The Man Who Knew Russia: Richard Pipes, Humanist and Cold Warrior" (Stanford UP, 2025)
Alexander Vandewalle
Author of Characters and Characterization in Mythological Video Games
Ghent University (implied)
Episode: Alexander Vandewalle, "Characters and Characterization in Mythological Video Games" (Bloomsbury, 2026)
Josiah Ober
Professor; author of The Rise and Fall of Classical Greece; Stanford University
Stanford University
Episode: Legacy of the Ancient Greeks: On Classical and Modern Democracy with Josiah Ober
Marinus De Jong
Author of A Church for a Secular World, associate professor at the Neo-Calvinism Research Institute
Theological University of Utrecht
Episode: Marinus De Jong, "A Church for a Secular World: The Development of Klaas Schilder's Ecclesiology" (Brill, 2025)
Pamela Walker Laird
Author of Self-Made: The Stories that Forged an American Myth
University of Colorado Denver
Episode: Pamela Walker Laird, "Self-Made: The Stories that Forged an American Myth" (Cambridge University Press, 2025)
Curtis Dozier
Associate Professor of Greek and Roman Studies at Vassar College
Vassar College
Episode: Curtis Dozier, "The White Pedestal: How White Nationalists Use Ancient Greece and Rome to Justify Hate" (Yale UP, 2026)

Host

Miranda Melcher
Host of The New Books Network; guides interviews and episode introductions; scholarly orientation.

Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars from 121 ratings
  • Excellent book selection, not always great interviews

    The concept was always unique. These books, mostly from academic presses and mostly in the humanities, have long failed to receive the attention they deserve. There are obviously limits to how many books in these areas can be reviewed in the NYT, NYRB and the LRB and other publications of that type. Yet in the field of intellectual history the quality of the interviewers is highly variable. One must be instantly suspicious of those such as Morteza Hajizadeh who are a fixture in this series, revi... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    sidneyhart
    United Statesa year ago
  • Such a great show

    Great discussions - thanks!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    C Rattat
    United Statesa year ago
  • Unqualified interviewers

    Not sure how a 'grants researcher' for medicine & science qualifies as an interviewer on issues dealing with intellectual & religious history. The bench at NB Network can't be that shallow can it?

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    t78tt.r
    United States4 years ago
  • Simon Critchley

    The host for that episode asked profoundly dumb question. He almost implied the program was about him and his questions.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Hardy5414
    United States4 years ago
  • Sound needs urgent attention

    Excellent material, but frustrating to have the sound phasing in and out and distorted. Is there a way to record both sound sources and edit together, rather than record a zoom call from just one end? It might help. I’ve had to abandon several tracks because I can’t follow what’s being said.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    JFPhil
    United Kingdom6 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the depth of scholarly discussion and book-focused format.
Sound quality and interview skill vary across episodes, impacting accessibility.
The caliber of guests is strong, with notable critiques about some interviews missing deeper engagement with complex texts.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#47
Singapore/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#200
India/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Emmanuel Ofuasia, "Ìwà: the Process-Relational Dimension to African Metaphysics" (Springer, 2024)
Q: What are the ethical implications of plant consciousness within Ìwà metaphysics for everyday life and diet?
If all entities exhibit consciousness to varying degrees, ethical considerations extend beyond humans to plants and other beings, advocating reverence and non-harm while recognizing cultural practices and religious duties, such as ritual sacrifice in certain African spiritual contexts, and avoiding blanket moralism that excludes non-human agencies.
Emmanuel Ofuasia, "Ìwà: the Process-Relational Dimension to African Metaphysics" (Springer, 2024)
Q: Could you explain the core idea behind the trivalent Ìwà logic and why it is especially suited for African event ontologies?
Ìwà logic embraces three values, including a third that can harmonize seemingly opposing positions, enabling productive relations rather than strict binary opposition; this triadic approach better captures African ontologies where opposites can coexist, and context can modify truth conditions, aligning with African cosmology and practical reasoning about life.
Emmanuel Ofuasia, "Ìwà: the Process-Relational Dimension to African Metaphysics" (Springer, 2024)
Q: Professor Ofuasia, what inspired you to focus on relational pre-sexual ontology, and how does it reshape our understanding of African metaphysics?
The focus on relational pre-sexual ontology emerges from paying attention to overlooked historical connections, especially between Egyptian Kemite philosophy and Yoruba thought, which allows for a more inclusive and cross-cultural metaphysical framework that challenges Greco-European substance metaphysics and opens space for Africa's self-authored epistemology.
Richard Elwes, "Huge Numbers: A Story of Counting Ambitiously, from 4 1/2 to Fish 7" (Basic Books, 2026)
Q: Do you see the universe as fundamentally mathematical, or is math the best language we have to describe it?
The author argues that mathematics is the most powerful language we have for describing the universe across scales, though whether the universe itself is literally mathematical remains an open philosophical question.
Richard Elwes, "Huge Numbers: A Story of Counting Ambitiously, from 4 1/2 to Fish 7" (Basic Books, 2026)
Q: How do modern developments like AI and proof verification influence mathematical exploration?
AI can assist with generating proofs, but remains fallible; proof-checking software can certify the logical steps, suggesting a future where humans and machines collaborate to validate complex mathematics.

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 New Books in Intellectual History

What is New Books in Intellectual History about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Scholarly interviews that center recently published books in intellectual history, philosophy, law, and cultural studies. Conversations tend to unpack the historical context, methodological approaches, and broader implications of the works, with careful attention to how ideas travel across borders and through time. Expect rigorous questions that illuminate conceptual shifts—ownership, nationalism, moral capitalism, and the role of literature, law, and culture in shaping modern societies. A notable strength is the blend of historical depth with topical relevance, plus a roster of guests who are leading researchers in their fields. This program is likely to appeal to academics, graduate students, and intellectually curious listeners who want ... more

Where can I find podcast stats for New Books in Intellectual History?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for New Books in Intellectual History. 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 New Books in Intellectual History and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does New Books in Intellectual History get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for New Books in Intellectual History, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for New Books in Intellectual History?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for New Books in Intellectual History, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does New Books in Intellectual History have?

To see how many followers or subscribers New Books in Intellectual History 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 New Books in Intellectual History?

These podcasts share a similar audience with New Books in Intellectual History:

1. New Books in Critical Theory
2. What's Left of Philosophy
3. Philosophy For Our Times
4. History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps
5. Theory & Philosophy

How many episodes of New Books in Intellectual History are there?

New Books in Intellectual History launched 13 years ago and published 1044 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 New Books in Intellectual History?

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 New Books in Intellectual History?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for New Books in Intellectual History from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for New Books in Intellectual History?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of New Books in Intellectual History. 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 New Books in Intellectual History?

Recent guests on New Books in Intellectual History include:

1. Andy Byford
2. Charles Stivale
3. Catherine Fletcher
4. Jonathan Daly
5. Alexander Vandewalle
6. Josiah Ober
7. Marinus De Jong
8. Pamela Walker Laird

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days