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The Book Club

The Spectator
Franz Kafka
Nero
Modernity
Bureaucracy
Kafkaesque
Memory
Nuclear War
The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn
May Day
Agrippina
Jewish Literature
Translation
Existentialism
Atomic Bomb
Hiroshima
A Brief History Of Seven Killings
The Spectator
Cold War
Nuclear Deterrence
Jim

Literary interviews and discussions on the latest releases in the world of publishing, from poetry through to physics. Presented weekly by Sam Leith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes469Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsSociety & CultureBooks

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Artwork for The Book Club

Latest Episodes

My guest on this week's Book Club podcast is the historian Jane Rogoyska, whose new book Hotel Exile: Paris in the Shadow of War tells the bloody story of the Second World War through the lens of Paris's Hotel Lutetia – following a cast of exiled int... more

My guest this week is Francis Spufford, whose fabulous new novel Nonesuch is a fantasy adventure set during the Blitz containing magical Nazis, nerdy TV techs and honest-to-goodness angels. He tells me about fantasy world-building and historical rese... more

My guest in this week's Book Club podcast is the philosophy professor Hanna Pickard, whose new book is What Would You Do Alone in a Cage with Nothing but Cocaine? A Philosophy of Addiction. She tells me why we need a new approach to ‘the puzzle of ad... more

In this week’s Book Club podcast my guest is Eric Schlosser, the investigative journalist whose Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal is being reissued as a Penguin Modern Classic 25 years after its first publication. He tells me w... more

Key Facts

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

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Quite right!
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Recent Guests

Joanna Kavenna
Brilliant novelist and author of 'Seven: How to Play a Game Without Rules'
Episode: Joanna Kavenna: How To Play A Game Without Rules
Jonathan Slaght
Writer and conservationist, author of Tigers Between Empires.
Episode: Jonathan C. Slaght: The Journey to Save the Siberian Tiger from Extinction
James Geary
Writer and author of The World in a Phrase, A Brief History of the Aphorism
Episode: James Geary: A Brief History of the Aphorism
Leon Craig
Writer and author of The Decadence
Episode: Leon Craig: The Decadence
Benjamin Myers
Writer of the novel 'Jesus Christ Kinski'
Episode: Benjamin Myers: Jesus Christ Kinski
Graham Robb
Writer known for blending history, travelogue, and memoir
Author
Episode: Graham Robb: The Discovery of Britain
Peter James
Notable thriller writer
Episode: Peter James: Jack Higgins's The Eagle Has Landed
Luke Kemp
Research Associate at the Center for the Study of Existential Risk at Cambridge and author of "Goliath's Curse, The History and Future of Societal Collapse"
Center for the Study of Existential Risk, Cambridge
Episode: Luke Kemp: The History and Future of Societal Collapse
Sudhir Hazareesingh
Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Episode: Sudhir Hazareesingh: Daring to be Free

Host

Sam Leith
Sam Leith is the literary editor of The Spectator and serves as the host of this engaging literary podcast. He is recognized for his insightful interviewing style and deep knowledge of literature. Leith encourages thoughtful discussions exploring both authors' works and broader literary themes.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 432 ratings
  • This is where the Spectator excels

    This is when the Spectator steps outside of politics and really adds a great deal to arts insight. Both a great listen and challenges assumptions

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MartyFarty
    United Kingdom19 days ago
  • Speccie

    Such an enjoyable listen. Erudite, funny, knowledgeable and educational.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mark1962!!
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Best book show out there

    Sam Leith is such a good interviewer. He’s clearly an intelligent and alert reader; his questions are always designed to get the most out of the authors he is talking to - genuinely insightful and illuminating. Recommended to anyone who is serious about their reading.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    4th Generation Blades Fan
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Best book show out there

    Sam Leith is such a good interviewer. He’s clearly an intelligent and insightful reader; his questions are always incisive, designed to get the most out of the authors he is talking to.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    5th Generation Blades Fan
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • can do without idiotic laughter

    Generally it’s very good and by far the best of its kind available, better than radio 4’s equivalents now. Occasional slips, like Frances Wilson on Lawrence—spoiled by her irritating forced laughter throughout, and again now exactly the same on Muriel Spark.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    sextus Pompeius
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Critics sometimes mention a desire for more focus on certain literary topics or insights into lesser-known authors.
The host's interviewing style is often praised for being insightful yet approachable, making complex topics accessible to a general audience.
Listeners find the literary insights provided during the interviews to be remarkably engaging and informative.
Many appreciate the variety of authors and genres covered, showcasing a breadth of literary culture.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#33
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#83
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#90
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#232
Australia/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#235
Germany/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#42
Ireland/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Francis Spufford: Nonesuch
Q: Did you consult women occasionally and say, is this what it's like?
Yes, I did consult women to get insights into the viewpoint of a 22-year-old woman in 1940.
C. Thi Nguyen: How To Stop Playing Someone Else’s Game
Q: Why are scores in the wider world different from those in games?
Nguyen discusses how scoring systems in the real world can often reduce complex human values into simplistic metrics that limit personal agency, contrasting them with the enriching experience of games.
C. Thi Nguyen: How To Stop Playing Someone Else’s Game
Q: Can you talk a bit about how that came to be a way into your subject?
Nguyen explains that the book is about games and meaningful experiences, mentioning that rock climbing plays a significant role in shaping his understanding of game dynamics and personal fulfillment.
Speaker series: Bernard Cornwell – Sharpe's Storm
Q: To what extent does Sharpe come alive when you're writing a Sharpe novel?
He's a horrible companion, but he's with me all the time. I hear him in my head.
Speaker series: Bernard Cornwell – Sharpe's Storm
Q: Do you ever suffer from writer's block?
No, I absolutely refuse to believe in writer's block. I mean, a nurse does have an excuse. I don't believe in the bloody stuff, writer's block.

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 The Book Club

What is The Book Club about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast features a series of insightful literary interviews and discussions that cover a wide range of topics in the world of publishing. Engaging conversations with authors focus on their latest works, often touching upon themes related to history, culture, and personal narratives. The host expertly guides discussions, ensuring that both literature enthusiasts and casual readers can find value in the content. Listeners can expect to hear from a variety of authors, covering genres from fiction to historical narratives, and exploring the impact of societal issues on literature.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Book Club?

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

How many listeners does The Book Club get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Book Club?

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How many subscribers and views does The Book Club have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Book Club 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 The Book Club?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Book Club:

1. The LRB Podcast
2. Coffee House Shots
3. Past Present Future
4. Backlisted
5. Quite right!

How many episodes of The Book Club are there?

The Book Club launched 9 years ago and published 469 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 The Book Club?

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 The Book Club?

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What guests have appeared on The Book Club?

Recent guests on The Book Club include:

1. Joanna Kavenna
2. Jonathan Slaght
3. James Geary
4. Leon Craig
5. Benjamin Myers
6. Graham Robb
7. Peter James
8. Luke Kemp

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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