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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
Translation
Jewish Literature
Existentialism
Hiroshima
Atomic Bomb
The Spectator
Nuclear Deterrence
Cold War
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes453Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsBooksSociety & Culture

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Latest Episodes

Nat Jansz joins Sam Leith to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Moomin novels. The first of these, Comet in Moominland, was revised by author Tove Jansson a decade after the original publication date. To celebrate the anniversary Sort of Books, co... more

Sam Leith's guest on this week's Book Club podcast is the crime writer Peter James. Peter has contributed the introduction to a new edition of the classic thriller The Eagle Has Landed, which is 50 years old this month. He tells Sam what it was that ... more

My guest in this week’s Book Club podcast is Luke Kemp. In his new book Goliath’s Curse: The History and Future of Societal Collapse, Luke seeks lessons from prehistory to understand how societies grow and flourish, what kills them, and where we are ... more

his week’s Book Club podcast is Ben Schott. The author of the world- (or downstairs-loo-) conquering Schott’s Original Miscellany returns with Schott’s Significa, a deeply reported and constantly surprising book in which he uses the private languages... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

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
Roger Lewis
biographer of Peter Sellers
author
Episode: Roger Lewis: The Life and Death of Peter Sellers
Andrew Bayliss
Associate Professor at the University of Birmingham and author of Sparta, The Rise and Fall of an Ancient Superpower
University of Birmingham
Episode: Andrew Bayliss: Sparta – The Rise and Fall of An Ancient Superpower
Lea Ypi
Academic and author, her latest work is 'Indignity: A Life Reimagined'.
Episode: Lea Ypi: Indignity
Nicola Barker
Novelist and author of "Tony Interrupter"
Episode: Nicola Barker: TonyInterruptor
Karin Slaughter
Crime and thriller writer known for her gripping narratives.
Episode: Karin Slaughter: We Are All Guilty Here
Carl Zimmer
Science writer and author of 'Air-Borne: The Hidden History of the Life We Breathe'
Episode: Carl Zimmer: The Hidden History of the Life We Breathe

Host

Sam Leith
Host and Literary Editor with deep insights into literature and current cultural discussions.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 424 ratings
  • 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 Kingdom14 days 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 States3 months ago
  • Excellent podcast for book lovers

    Always interesting, with a wide range of books and authors. Highly recommended.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    gileden
    Israela year ago
  • What exactly is the point of Sam Leith?

    A Fleet St nepo baby par excellence, Sam Leith is the OE wet who failed ever upwards. This podcast is dross but it is at least marginally better than his dribble p- output for the Speccie.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Miscellany
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • One of the very best

    Sam Leith is a charming and terrifically informed and thoughtful reader and interviewer. This podcast never disappoints and is the best books cast I’ve found.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dbev79
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the podcast for its engaging and thoughtful conversations, highlighting the quality of the interviews and the depth of literary discussion.
Overall, the expertise of the host and the caliber of the guests are frequently praised, reinforcing the podcast's reputation as a significant platform for literary engagement.
Critiques mention occasional misalignment between the content and listeners' expectations, depending on personal preferences for literary genres.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#59
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#160
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#185
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#135
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#163
Italy/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#17
New Zealand/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ben Schott: An Unexpectedly Essential Guide to Language
Q: What do you think the big sell is?
The gondoliers—it's a beautifully structured piece reflecting Venice.
Ben Schott: An Unexpectedly Essential Guide to Language
Q: Can you tell me what's the origin of this book?
It started with restaurant codes, sparked by my wife's badge from a party.
Irvine Welsh: Men In Love – Trainspotting Sequel
Q: Do you feel sometimes you're like, this world is now remote to me or is it?
I think I've felt it not so much at the time... Now I felt a bit more in the last few years because with the immiseration of the working classes, everybody seems to be struggling.
Irvine Welsh: Men In Love – Trainspotting Sequel
Q: What do you mean by that? I mean, are they four different versions or aspects of yourself?
I think every character you write is a different aspect of yourself. Hopefully a very deeply buried one in some cases.
Nicola Barker: TonyInterruptor
Q: Is that to do with the way, you say the novel possibly feels irrelevant, that like novels have traditionally dealt with kind of sets of relationships between human beings?
Yes, Barker discusses how younger generations often don't understand traditional narratives, which leads her to question the relevance of novels in today's culturally disrupted landscape, pondering the impact of digital narratives versus traditional storytelling.

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 captivating literary interviews and discussions that explore a diverse range of recent releases across genres, including poetry and non-fiction. Hosted by a knowledgeable and engaging figure, conversations often spotlight contemporary issues in literature and extend to broader societal themes. Expect deep dives into the authors' thoughts, their creative processes, and how their work reflects or challenges current cultural narratives. Unique in its insightful blend of literary critique and thoughtful engagement with authors, the show not only appeals to book lovers but also to those interested in understanding the evolving landscape of literature and its intersection with society.

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. The Edition
4. The LRB Podcast
5. Backlisted

How many episodes of The Book Club are there?

The Book Club launched 9 years ago and published 453 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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What guests have appeared on The Book Club?

Recent guests on The Book Club include:

1. Peter James
2. Luke Kemp
3. Sudhir Hazareesingh
4. Roger Lewis
5. Andrew Bayliss
6. Lea Ypi
7. Nicola Barker
8. Karin Slaughter

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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