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The Infinite Library

John Hagele
Thomas Pynchon
Birthgrave
The Return Of the King
The Lord Of the Rings
Joan Didion
Romantasy
Vajra Chandrasekera
Dunfords Travels Everywhere
J. R. R. Tolkien
Tanith Lee
Dark Souls
2666
Play It As It Lays
Herrero Genocide
Bleeding Edge
Samuel R. Delany
Major Arcana
A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary For Lovers
A Court Of Thorns and Roses
Reincarnation

A podcast about books, mortality, and what to do with your limited time with both. Hosted by John & Ben.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes84Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArts

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Artwork for The Infinite Library

Latest Episodes

Somehow we didn't even notice that this was Episode 69 while we were recording. We sincerely apologize to our listeners for the lack of 69-related bits.

We hope that, despite our oversight, you enjoy Part 2 of our series on "The Tunnel" by William G... more

John and Ben get topical and talk about John's #1 Op's new movie: Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey". We chat about our relationships with the source material, Christopher Nolan's aesthetic sensibility (or lack thereof), Emily Wilson's translation and... more

This week, we have two Bens! Ben's friend Ben Rosenzweig joins us to discuss "The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge" by Rainer Maria Rilke. We discuss our personal relationships with Rilke's work, love and death, and how this book smacks of gender.

more

We begin our Summer 2026 series on "The Tunnel" by William Gass. Topics of conversation include, literary Big Boys, Gass' problematizing of academic humanism, and The Fasicism of the Heart.

As always, we hope that you enjoy the conversation.

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Recent Guests

Claire Jacobson
Friend of the pod, guest expert on romantasy
Episode: Episode 59 - "A Court of Thorns and Roses" by Sarah J. Maas (feat. Claire)
TJ Martinson
Professor, author, and pension expert
Episode: Episode 55 - "Shadow Ticket" by Thomas Pynchon
Nate Schmidt
Assistant Professor of English at Indiana State University; managing editor of Criticism Collective, Gamers with Glasses
Indiana State University
Episode: Episode 51 - "The Return of the King" by JRR Tolkien, Part 1 (feat. Nate Schmidt)
Molly Tanzer
Third-time returning guest, author
Writer, speaker
Episode: Episode 47 - "The Master and Margarita" by Mikhail Bulgakov (feat. Molly Tanzer & Melissa)

Hosts

Ben
Co-host of The Infinite Library; appears across episodes with a focus on literary analysis and contextual interpretation.
John
Co-host of The Infinite Library; leads through close reading, theoretical framing, and cultural commentary.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 33 ratings
  • Not a bad podcast

    But such a painful number of ‘likes’ invade every sentence these guys say.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Iambic12345
    United States17 days ago
  • Amazing readers

    I found this podcast by accident because I was reading Roberto bolano and wanted to hear what others had to say about this bonkers book— but these guys were the best and most insightful, and I’ve had fun listening ever since. I would love to know about books they’re reading in advance so I could read along!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Zeldipopsisgrest
    United Statesa month ago
  • Just a couple of excited nerds who actually know what they're talking about. Highly recommend because of how much fun the hosts have with each other.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    OneManDustBowl
    2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Well-researched contextual depth
Thoughtful literary analysis
Clear, nuanced discussions of difficult topics

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#232
United Kingdom/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 60 - "My Heart is a Chainsaw" by Stephen Graham Jones
Q: What draws you to horror, and how does My Heart is a Chainsaw fit into that love?
The group explains horror as an immersive experience and a way to feel fears safely, with the novel's generosity—the way it teaches about slashers without talking down to readers—being a key appeal.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Infinite Library

What is The Infinite Library about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A sharp, literature-centered discussion show that supervises deep dives into novels and literary movements, often weaving in cultural context, historical references, and authorial intentions. Episodes consistently unpack narrative structure, genre boundaries, and thematic questions—memory, power, identity, race, sexuality, and language—through close readings, contextual research, and host-driven interpretations. Dialogue tends to oscillate between close textual analysis and broader cultural critique, with occasional notes on translation, reception, and the publishing world. Notable strengths include sustained attention to stylistic innovation and a willingness to challenge traditional readings, making it a compelling listen for fans of cont... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Infinite Library?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Infinite Library:

1. Chapo Trap House
2. TRUE ANON TRUTH FEED
3. Know Your Enemy
4. Pendejo Time
5. Ones and Tooze

How many episodes of The Infinite Library are there?

The Infinite Library launched 3 years ago and published 84 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Infinite Library?

Recent guests on The Infinite Library include:

1. Claire Jacobson
2. TJ Martinson
3. Nate Schmidt
4. Molly Tanzer

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