Rephonic
Artwork for The Book Club

The Book Club

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

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes474Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksSociety & CultureArts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Book Club

Latest Episodes

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

My guest in this week’s Book Club podcast is Yann Martel, talking about coming late to Homer, definitely not being influenced by Pale Fire, why he can’t resist a silly animal, and his new book Son of Nobody.

Become a Spectator subscriber today to ac... more

My guest in this week’s Book Club podcast is Stefan Fatsis, whose classic Word Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabble is 25 years old this year. Stefan tells me how a journalistic project turned into a q... more

My guest in this week’s Book Club podcast is the Booker Prize-winning novelist Howard Jacobson, whose new novel Howl emerges from his rage and despair at the response to the 7 October massacre. He tells me what the novel can do that journalism can’t,... 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.

The Edition
The EditionThe Spectator
The LRB Podcast
The LRB PodcastThe London Review of Books
Americano
AmericanoThe Spectator

Recent Guests

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
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

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 433 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 Kingdom2 months ago
  • Speccie

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mark1962!!
    United Kingdom3 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 Kingdom6 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
#238
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#71
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#132
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#173
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#142
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#224
Australia/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Lionel Shriver: A Better Life
Q: What kind of book do you think A Better Life is—parabole, fairy tale, or something else?
Shriver explains it is a novel of ideas and a thriller in certain classifications, but what matters is plausibility and life-size depiction of events, with a strong emphasis on dialogue to explore perspectives.
Howard Jacobson: Howl
Q: What role does memory and history play in shaping the narrative's portrayal of Israel and Zionism?
The discussion highlights how personal and collective histories, including experiences of antisemitism and diaspora, influence the characters' attitudes and the novel's broader meditation on identity and political legitimacy.
Howard Jacobson: Howl
Q: How does comedy function in addressing heavy themes like antisemitism and conflict?
Comedy is described as a salvation and a way to encompass multiple voices; it tempers rage while revealing the contradictions within society, making the hard topics more navigable for readers.

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?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Book Club, 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 The Book Club?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Book Club, 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 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. Best of the Spectator
2. The TLS Podcast
3. The Edition
4. The LRB Podcast
5. Americano

How many episodes of The Book Club are there?

The Book Club launched 10 years ago and published 474 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?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Book Club 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 The Book Club?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Book Club. 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 The Book Club?

Recent guests on The Book Club include:

1. Yann Martel
2. Stefan Fatsis
3. Howard Jacobson
4. Lionel Shriver
5. Jane Rogoyska
6. Joanna Kavenna
7. Jonathan Slaght
8. James Geary

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