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The Book Club

The Spectator
Social Media
Ludwig Van Beethoven
World War II
Anger
Peter Sellers
Aphorism
Franz Kafka
Thom Gunn
Historical Fiction
Orhan Pamuk
Paradise Lost
The Spectator
Donald Trump
Publishing
Climate Change
Psychoanalysis
The Great Gatsby
Radiohead
Millennials
Free Speech

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes477Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsSociety & CultureBooks

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Latest Episodes

My guest on this week’s Book Club podcast is Sophia Smith-Galer, talking about her new book How to Kill a Language: Power, Resistance, and the Race to Save Our Words. Sophia tells me why languages are vanishing faster than ever before, why it matters... more

My guest on this week’s Book Club podcast is Caroline Bicks, who tells me how she put her academic work on Shakespeare to one side to produce her new book Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King. She tells me why she thinks King’s... more

My guest in this week’s Book Club podcast is the reporter – cartoonist Joe Sacco, talking about his most recent book The Once and Future Riot, about Hindu/Muslim violence in rural India. He tells me how he knows when he’s onto a story, what cartoonin... more

My guest in this week's Book Club podcast is Mason Currey, author of the new book Making Art and Making a Living: Adventures in Funding a Creative Life. He tells me how artists, writers and composers have wrangled through history with the challenge o... more

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Recent Guests

Sophia Smith-Galer
Author of How to Kill a Language, Power, Resistance, and the Race to Save Our Words
Author
Episode: Sophia Smith Galer: How to Kill a Language
Caroline Bicks
Shakespearean scholar and author of Monsters in the Archives, My Year of Fear with Stephen King
University of Maine (former Stephen E. King Chair)
Episode: Caroline Bicks: My Year of Fear with Stephen King
Joe Sacco
Cartoonist and journalist known for Footnotes in Gaza, Palestine, Paying the Land, Safe Area G6rhzde
Cartoonist/Journalist
Episode: Joe Sacco: The Once and Future Riot
Mason Currey
Writer, author of Making Art and Making a Living
Author, book Making Art and Making a Living
Episode: Mason Currey: Making Art and Making a Living
Yann Martel
Prize-winning novelist, author of Life of Pi and Son of Nobody
Author
Episode: Yann Martel: Son of Nobody
Stefan Fatsis
Author of Word Freak, journalist
Author/Writer
Episode: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabble
Howard Jacobson
Novelist and subject of the interview
Author
Episode: Howard Jacobson: Howl
Lionel Shriver
Novelist and Spectator columnist
The Spectator
Episode: Lionel Shriver: A Better Life
Jane Rogoyska
Writer and historian, author of Hotel Exile, Paris in the Shadow of War
Author, Hotel Exile
Episode: Jane Rogoyska: Hotel Exile – Paris in the Shadow of War

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 434 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 Kingdom3 months ago
  • Speccie

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mark1962!!
    United Kingdom4 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 Kingdom5 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 Kingdom7 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 States9 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
#58
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#161
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#223
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#44
Ireland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#102
Ireland/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#182
Finland/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Mason Currey: Making Art and Making a Living
Q: What role does copyright play in an artist's ability to sustain a career?
They discuss how durable value and royalties give artists negotiating power and help build a lasting career, while noting the ongoing tension between monetizing work and preserving artistic integrity.
Mason Currey: Making Art and Making a Living
Q: How have funding models evolved from patrons to modern crowdfunding and royalties?
The discussion traces a throughline from historical patronage to modern models like crowdfunding, subscriptions, and royalties, arguing that funding has always shaped what art gets made and how artists sustain themselves.
Mason Currey: Making Art and Making a Living
Q: What inspired the approach of organizing your book thematically around strategies for putting food on the table?
Currey explains he wanted to tell stories about what choices artists made, how those choices influenced their work and careers, and to show the perennial dilemma of funding art without starving in the process.
Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabble
Q: How did Word Freak influence the popularity of competitive Scrabble?
The book significantly boosted visibility and participation, with the North American championship numbers rising from a few hundred to over eight hundred players in the years after publication, and drew attention from media and aspiring players alike.
Lionel Shriver: A Better Life
Q: Do you intend to persuade readers, or is the book more about presenting competing viewpoints?
Shriver argues that she does not aim to persuade the reader so much as present lucidly expressed perspectives that readers who already share some views will recognize and resonate with, while allowing room for interpretation.

Audience Metrics

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

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Gender Skew
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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?

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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 TLS Podcast
2. London Review Bookshop Podcast
3. Backlisted
4. The LRB Podcast
5. The Edition

How many episodes of The Book Club are there?

The Book Club launched 10 years ago and published 477 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. Sophia Smith-Galer
2. Caroline Bicks
3. Joe Sacco
4. Mason Currey
5. Yann Martel
6. Stefan Fatsis
7. Howard Jacobson
8. Lionel Shriver

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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