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The Book Show

ABC Australia
Climate Change
Literature
Booker Prize
Jane Austen
Love
Writing Process
Immigration
Australia
World War II
Mental Health
Australian Literature
Identity Politics
Prophet Song
Percival Everett
Orbital
Parenting
Motherhood
International Space Station
London
James

Your favourite fiction authors share the story behind their latest books.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes463Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsBooks

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Artwork for The Book Show

Latest Episodes

Why Siri Hustvedt wants Paul Auster to return as a ghost.

American novelist and essayist Siri Hustvedt speaks with Claire Nichols about her partner of 43 years, writer and poet Paul Auster. When Auster died in 2024 from complications of lung cancer,... more

Lee Lai has won the 2026 Stella Prize for her graphic novel Cannon, marking the first time a graphic novel has been awarded the $60,000 prize. She tells Claire Nichols why she was surprised to win and why the project of growing up is never finished. more

What do fate and past lives reveal about who we are? Claire Nichols speaks with Veronica Roth and Amitav Ghosh on Seek the Traitor's Son and Ghost Eye.

Award-winning, Indian-born American author Amitav Ghosh explores the mysteries of past lives in h... more

Readers have lovingly followed the fictional lives of Olive Kitteridge and Lucy Barton for more than a decade. Now their creator, Elizabeth Strout introduces a new character to embrace and Claire Nichols finds out why. Plus Amanda Lohrey explains her... more

Key Facts

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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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Recent Guests

Lee Lai
Author and illustrator of Canon
Episode: Lee Lai's graphic novel makes Stella Prize history
Amitav Ghosh
Author of Ghost Eye, best known for the Ibis Trilogy
John Murray (publisher)
Episode: Can we escape fate? Veronica Roth and Amitav Ghosh on past lives and destiny
Veronica Roth
Author of Divergent series and Seek the Traitor's Son
Pan Macmillan (publisher)
Episode: Can we escape fate? Veronica Roth and Amitav Ghosh on past lives and destiny
Elizabeth Strout
Pulitzer Prize–winning author known for Olive Kitteridge and Lucy Barton
Penguin Random House (publisher of The Things We Never Say)
Episode: Elizabeth Strout and Amanda Lohrey on aliens and a man called Artie
Amanda Lohrey
Miles Franklin Award winner for The Labyrinth; author of Capture
Text (publisher); publisher of Capture
Episode: Elizabeth Strout and Amanda Lohrey on aliens and a man called Artie
Michael Winkler
Australian author and writer of Griefdogg
Text Publishing
Episode: Kae Tempest and Michael Winkler talk poetry and pooches
Kae Tempest
British musician, poet, playwright and author
Jonathan Cape (Having Spent Life Seeking)
Episode: Kae Tempest and Michael Winkler talk poetry and pooches
Steve Toltz
Author of A Rising of the Lights
Penguin Books (publisher)
Episode: Steve Toltz rolls the dice
Ian Kemish
Former Australian diplomat, novelist
Two Islands (novel)
Episode: Steve Toltz rolls the dice

Host

Claire Nichols
Host focusing on bringing diverse author insights and literary discussions regarding their publications.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 253 ratings
  • The Book Show

    One of two of the best podcasts around about reading and authors. Love it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Itsallhistory
    Australia3 months ago
  • Love the show and host

    Great interviews of great books 😉

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nat Fig
    Australia7 months ago
  • Brilliant show

    I love this show and the passion and knowledge of the program host Claire Nichols. Her ability to tap in to all different authors is amazing. One of my go to shows.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Paula Rogers
    Australiaa year ago
  • Fave Australian book podcast

    Been a fan since the beginning but especially enjoying the My Biggest Book series. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    shmonblah
    United Statesa year ago
  • Love the show!

    I’m really enjoying listening to your show. Your interviews are always insightful and you manage to engage so warmly with your subjects. I’m also particularly loving the music that’s used, so congrats also to whoever is on the controls behind the scenes. Thankyou!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    All the time on the world
    Australia5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

The host's passion for literature and ability to highlight diverse perspectives is frequently commended.
There are some criticisms regarding the length of episodes, with calls for shorter segments.
Overall, the podcast is viewed as a treasure trove for book lovers who are looking to expand their reading lists.
Listeners praise the insightful interviews with notable authors and the rich discussions about literary themes.
Listeners appreciate the engaging format that combines personal stories with in-depth literary critiques.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#143
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#6
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#24
Australia/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#66
New Zealand/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#174
New Zealand/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#187
Ireland/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Can we escape fate? Veronica Roth and Amitav Ghosh on past lives and destiny
Q: I want to get straight into reincarnation if we can, Amitav. Is this something you believe in?
I'm agnostic about reincarnation, preferring to discuss memory phenomena and how many children report past-life memories, which are supported by a lot of research, though not claimed as literal proof of reincarnation; the focus is on memory, identity, and cultural meaning rather than a fixed metaphysical mechanism.
Steve Toltz rolls the dice
Q: How do you balance dark themes with humor in your writing?
He describes his default style as darkly humorous, aiming to reflect the complexity of life where tragedy and comedy often coexist, and to make readers feel the weight and warmth of human experience.
Shaun Micallef and Jenny Tinghui Zhang deliver K-Pop thrills and vampire chills
Q: What was the appeal of vampires for your book De'ath Takes a Holiday?
Shaun describes using vampires to critique contemporary capitalism and colonial history, giving the vampire an origin story and situating the narrative within a satire-rich Victorian framework that allows for both humor and critique.
Shaun Micallef and Jenny Tinghui Zhang deliver K-Pop thrills and vampire chills
Q: When did you realize this could become a novel?
Jenny explains that obsession and loneliness she observed in fandom seeded the idea for Superfan, evolving from essay-like musings to a narrative exploring community, parasocial bonds, and the costs and joys of fandom.
Shaun Micallef and Jenny Tinghui Zhang deliver K-Pop thrills and vampire chills
Q: How big a K-pop fan are you?
Jenny shares how binge-watching and deep fandom inspired Superfan, including the personal emotional pull and community aspects of following a group like BTS, while also acknowledging the intense, sometimes overwhelming nature of fandom.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Age Range
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Book Show

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

This podcast features engaging conversations with prominent fiction authors as they discuss the themes and narratives behind their latest works. Episodes include in-depth discussions about various genres, writing processes, and personal stories that inspire their literature as well as explorations of complex topics such as identity, motherhood, and social issues. Notably, the podcast emphasizes the importance of storytelling and cultural reflections, making it compelling for avid readers and those interested in contemporary literature. The unique combination of author insights and literary critique positions this series as a valuable resource for book enthusiasts and budding writers alike.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Book Show?

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

How many listeners does The Book Show 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 Show, 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 Show?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Book Show, 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 Show have?

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

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Book Show:

1. The Bookshelf
2. Chat 10 Looks 3
3. A Podcast of One's Own with Julia Gillard
4. Secret Life of Books
5. Conversations

How many episodes of The Book Show are there?

The Book Show launched 8 years ago and published 463 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 Show?

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 Show?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Book Show from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Book Show?

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

Recent guests on The Book Show include:

1. Lee Lai
2. Amitav Ghosh
3. Veronica Roth
4. Elizabeth Strout
5. Amanda Lohrey
6. Michael Winkler
7. Kae Tempest
8. Steve Toltz

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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