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The Infinite Library

John Hagele
Thomas Pynchon
Joan Didion
Romantasy
Dunfords Travels Everywhere
Vajra Chandrasekera
Major Arcana
Herrero Genocide
Bleeding Edge
Play It As It Lays
Samuel R. Delany
A Court Of Thorns and Roses
William Melvin Kelley
A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary For Lovers
Reincarnation
Fairy Tales
Female Representation
Modernism
New York
Malta
Postmodernism

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

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes81Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArts

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Latest Episodes

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.

We're back and it's Pride! As is tradition, John has made Ben read a big gay book, in this case Anne Rice's classic "Interview with the Vampire". Before we discuss the book, we do a brief debrief on last season and Woke 2. Then we dig into the goth g... more

We close out this season by discussing "Rakesfall" by Vajra Chandrasekera. This might be one of the toughest books to have a straightforward conversation about that we've done, but we hope our chit chat is still enjoyable to listen to.

Vajra's Unbud... more

This week, John and Ben discuss Xiaolu Guo's "A Concise-Chinese Dictionary for Lovers". Topics of conversation include the Guo's use of film references, use of non-standard English in fiction, and the arc of modern Chinese history as observed in the ... more

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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

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

5.0 out of 5 stars from 30 ratings
  • 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

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

Chart Rankings

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Apple Podcasts
#150
Denmark/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. The New Yorker: The Writer's Voice - New Fiction from The New Yorker
2. Common Sense with Dan Carlin
3. Chapo Trap House
4. TRUE ANON TRUTH FEED
5. We're Not So Different

How many episodes of The Infinite Library are there?

The Infinite Library launched 3 years ago and published 81 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

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