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The Book Show

ABC Australia
Climate Change
Booker Prize
Literature
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes463Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArts

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Latest Episodes

Conservative politician and bestselling author, Jeffrey Archer has died at 86. In one of the final interviews of his life, he recounts how his changing financial, personal and political fortunes propelled his writing career.

Jeffery Archer's own lif... more

Why Shaun Micallef's latest novel DeAth Takes a Holiday features a cast of gothic characters including a vampire suffering from ennui, zombie slaves and the resurrection of the skeletal remains of Queen Victoria's husband.

What happens when you have... more

Geraldine Brooks explains how she stumbled across the story that inspired her 17th century plague novel, Year of Wonders and Zoe Foster Blake channels her favourite getaways and strong female friendships in her latest novel Group Chat.

For Radio Nat... more

Kim Scott was so disturbed by how Noongar people were depicted in the Western Australian archive that he wrote Benang: From the Heart. Plus Kate Grenville explains the origins of her latest genre-bending book and how The Secret River became a novel. ... 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

Geraldine Brooks
Author of Year of Wonders
Author
Episode: Geraldine Brooks on 25 years of wonder and Zoe Foster Blake's girlfriend getaways
Zoe Foster Blake
Author of Group Chat
Author
Episode: Geraldine Brooks on 25 years of wonder and Zoe Foster Blake's girlfriend getaways
Kim Scott
Noongar writer, Miles Franklin winner of Benang
Self (author)
Episode: Kim Scott and Kate Grenville went to the library, and came away with a story
Tim Winton
Author of Cloudstreet
Penguin/ McPhee Gribble (historical)
Episode: Tim Winton returns to Cloudstreet while Holly Ringland pines for the 90s
Holly Ringland
Author of The World Beneath Her Feet
Fourth Estate
Episode: Tim Winton returns to Cloudstreet while Holly Ringland pines for the 90s
Helen Garner
Author of Monkey Grip and veteran Australian writer
Australian author
Episode: Why Helen Garner won't read Monkey Grip again
Jordan Prosser
Author of Blue Giant
Author, producer of contemporary Melbourne fiction
Episode: Why Helen Garner won't read Monkey Grip again
Maxine Beneba Clarke
Author and poet, author of The Hate Race; panelist
—
Episode: Top 100 Australian Books is here. Three Aussie stars pick their fave reads
Nadine Garner
Actor; panelist
—
Episode: Top 100 Australian Books is here. Three Aussie stars pick their fave reads

Host

Claire Nichols
Host of The Book Show; engages authors with thoughtful, in-depth questions and contextual knowledge.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 257 ratings
  • The Book Show

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Itsallhistory
    Australia7 months ago
  • Love the show and host

    Great interviews of great books 😉

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nat Fig
    Australiaa year 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 States2 years 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
    Australia6 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Some episodes have sparked discussions about coverage balance and pacing.
Shows are described as a go-to for book lovers and industry professionals alike.
Guests consistently deliver insightful, well-prepared interviews.
Listeners praise the host's warmth and depth of literary knowledge.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#218
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#3
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#12
Australia/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#94
Philippines/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#97
Switzerland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#99
New Zealand/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Kim Scott and Kate Grenville went to the library, and came away with a story
Q: Why did you decide to read the last paragraph of Benang aloud at the end?
Scott wants to anchor the discussion in the book's closing message that 'We are still here,' linking it to themes of persistence and reclamation of Noongar language and place.
Kim Scott and Kate Grenville went to the library, and came away with a story
Q: How did you approach maintaining the energy and rage you describe while writing Benang?
Kim Scott explains that the energy shifted from rage to a broader aim of dismantling the language of the archives to tell a truer, more nuanced story and to reframe inheritance and identity.
The Big Little Lies sequel Liane Moriarty never planned to write
Q: Why did you eventually decide to write a sequel to Big Little Lies after initially resisting the idea?
The author explains that while she initially wanted to protect the characters and keep them in a happy place, the opportunity to explore a new set of characters and a different facet of the same world became compelling, especially as the TV adaptation introduced fresh dynamics and expectations.
Omar Musa celebrates his 2026 Miles Franklin win for Fierceland
Q: Can you tell me how you found out, Omar?
He was informed by a judge while on a research trip in the Southern Philippines, which he recounts as a surreal moment leading to the celebration of his book.
Spritz and bubble tea with Andrew Sean Greer and Naomi Ishiguro
Q: What drew you to combine urban fantasy with themes of diaspora and belonging in Rainshadow Orphans?
Ishiguro says she wanted a world that could be fun and magical for younger readers while still engaging with serious questions about identity, belonging, and migration, blending influences from Japanese folklore, anime, and wider diasporic experiences.

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 Show

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

A literary discussion show that centers on fiction and its creators, featuring long-form conversations with prize-winning authors, innovative storytellers, and emerging voices. Topics span thematic analysis of recent novels, writing process, cultural heritage, memory, and how real-world contexts—politics, history, and social issues—inform storytelling. Noteworthy moments often emerge from blending craft notes with personal anecdotes, exploring art, identity, and the imagined worlds authors build. The format tends to favor thoughtful, in-depth interviews that appeal to avid readers, book industry professionals, and potential sponsors seeking author-facing storytelling with strong listener engagement.

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 four 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. Sydney Writers' Festival
3. Chat 10 Looks 3
4. A Podcast of One's Own with Julia Gillard
5. Secret Life of Books

How many episodes of The Book Show are there?

The Book Show launched 9 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. Geraldine Brooks
2. Zoe Foster Blake
3. Kim Scott
4. Tim Winton
5. Holly Ringland
6. Helen Garner
7. Jordan Prosser
8. Maxine Beneba Clarke

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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