The Book Club
The SpectatorLiterary interviews and discussions on the latest releases in the world of publishing, from poetry through to physics. Presented weekly by Sam Leith.
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| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 498 | Founded | 10 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | BooksArtsSociety & Culture | |||
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Latest Episodes
Who was the real Sherlock Holmes? In this episode Sam Leith is joined by medical historian and author Lindsey Fitzharris to discuss her new book, Sleuth Hound: The Case of the Real Sherlock Holmes.
Fitzharris tells the extraordinary story of Joseph ... more
For this week’s Book Club, Sam Leith, the Spectator’s literary editor, is joined by Shaun Bythell, proprietor of The Book Shop in Wigtown, Scotland, and author of The Diary of a Bookseller series, to discuss the fourth instalment, The Return of the B... more
In this week’s Book Club podcast, Sam Leith is joined by author Matthew Sweet to discuss his new biography, The Great Dictator, about the bestselling novelist Barbara Cartland.
They explore the extraordinary life behind Barbara Cartland’s instantly ... more
In this week’s Book Club podcast, Sam Leith is joined by psychologist and linguist Steven Pinker to discuss his new book, When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows…
Pinker explores the powerful idea of ‘common knowledge’ - not simply what we know, but... more
Key Facts
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Reviews
- Homophobic publication
Why bother with this podcast? The publication is homophobic and not worthy of support. June 2026 and they publish a hate piece questioning the importance of Pride. Nasty and unnecessary.
Apple Podcasts1Nick Moore Spain
United Kingdom4 months ago - 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 Podcasts5MartyFartyUnited Kingdom8 months ago - Speccie
Such an enjoyable listen. Erudite, funny, knowledgeable and educational.
Apple Podcasts5Mark1962!!United Kingdom9 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 Podcasts54th Generation Blades FanUnited Kingdoma year 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 Podcasts55th Generation Blades FanUnited Kingdoma year ago
Listeners Say
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Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #74 | United Kingdom/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #143 |  Canada/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #179 | United Kingdom/Arts |
Apple Podcasts | #201 |  Italy/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #201 |  Australia/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #6 |  Finland/Arts/Books |
Talking Points
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Audience Metrics
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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?
A weekly literary interview show featuring deep-dive conversations with authors, historians, translators, and scholars. Episodes span poetry, fiction, classics, philosophy, and cultural criticism, often exploring editorial craft, translation choices, and the social contexts surrounding books. Noteworthy is the host's thoughtful, probing style that foregrounds the author's voice while connecting ideas to broader cultural currents. Listeners can expect rigorous yet accessible discussions that appeal to avid readers, academics, and professionals in publishing, education, and media who want nuanced perspectives on recent and classic works alike.
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 TLS Podcast
2. Best of the Spectator
3. London Review Bookshop Podcast
4. Americano
5. Take Four Books
How many episodes of The Book Club are there?
The Book Club launched 10 years ago and published 498 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?
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Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Book Club?
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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Book Club?
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What guests have appeared on The Book Club?
Recent guests on The Book Club include:
1. Lindsey Fitzharris
2. Shaun Bythell
3. Matthew Sweet
4. Steven Pinker
5. John Sellars
6. Anand Gopal
7. Hannah Richell
8. James Marriott
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.