The Bookshelf
ABC AustraliaWhat are you reading, loving or being challenged by? We review the latest in fiction for dedicated readers and for those who wish they read more.
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 589 | Founded | 15 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | BooksArts | |||
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Latest Episodes
Anjet Daanje's The Song of Stork and Dromedary, translated from the Dutch, explores the intimate work of death and care in the eighteenth century. Liane Moriarty returns to the world of Big Little Lies with Big Little Truths, reuniting readers with t... more
We review the latest in fiction for dedicated readers and for those who wish they read more.
Omar Musa joins us after winning the 2026 Miles Franklin Literary Award. Plus, Michael Robotham and Madeleine Gray review Djamel White's Booker Prize-longlisted debut All Them Dogs and Téa Obreht's sweeping new novel Sunrise.
From the nightclubs of 1930s Berlin to the heartache and awkwardness of high school, and into the green rooms and backstage spaces of writers' festivals.
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Reviews
- The Bookshelf
Always informative, interesting and fun. Guests add to the show, but Kate and Cassie hold it all together.
Apple Podcasts5Itsallhistory
Australia6 months ago - Looking for your next reads? Listen to this.
I work in a public library and this podcast keeps me well up to date on books and authors. I base most of my reading selections on this show because the reviews are thoughtful, intelligent and funny. I also love the inclusion of author discussion panels. If you need a good book show- this is my favorite.
Apple Podcasts5Book Shelver
United Statesa year ago - Thumbs up from Reader Retreat independent bookshop
Your insightful recommendations help me select books for my book shelves. I appreciate your honesty and find you all so entertaining. Keep up the great work.
Apple Podcasts5Readers Retreat PSAustraliaa year ago - Platforming transphobes
I was so deeply disappointed to hear you platforming Adichie, a known transphobe. I expect much better from ABC. Shame on you.
Apple Podcasts1M028OAustraliaa year ago - …..
Fewer crime novels please
Love your discussions and banter!
Apple Podcasts5keen listener!Australia2 years ago
Listeners Say
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Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #2 | Australia/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #7 | Australia/Arts |
Apple Podcasts | #228 |  Italy/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #25 |  New Zealand/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #29 |  South Africa/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #61 | South Africa/Arts |
Talking Points
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Audience Metrics
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Bookshelf
What is The Bookshelf about and what kind of topics does it cover?
Structured conversations around contemporary fiction, with deep dives into new Australian titles and international works. The show blends close readings, author interviews, and panel-style debates to explore craft, translation, memory, place, and genre. Episodes often pair fiction with broader literary context—from translation and archival scholarship to regional and global perspectives—while maintaining a warm, accessible vibe. Noteworthy is the recurring mix of established critics, authors, and festival panels, which creates a rich, multi-voiced marketplace for book recommendations and literary analysis that can help listeners discover bold new reads and gain sharper perspectives on storytelling.
Where can I find podcast stats for The Bookshelf?
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Bookshelf. 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 Bookshelf and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
How many listeners does The Bookshelf get?
Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Bookshelf, 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 Bookshelf?
Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Bookshelf, 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 Bookshelf have?
To see how many followers or subscribers The Bookshelf 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 Bookshelf?
These podcasts share a similar audience with The Bookshelf:
1. The Book Show
2. Sydney Writers' Festival
3. Chat 10 Looks 3
4. Big Ideas
5. Conversations
How many episodes of The Bookshelf are there?
The Bookshelf launched 15 years ago and published 589 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 Bookshelf?
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 Bookshelf?
Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Bookshelf 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 Bookshelf?
Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Bookshelf. 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 Bookshelf?
Recent guests on The Bookshelf include:
1. Rowena González
2. Omar Musa
3. Nicole Moore
4. Anna Funder
5. Ashley Hay
6. Bruce Pascoe
7. Madeleine Gray
8. Andrew Sean Greer
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.