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The Book Club

The Spectator
Franz Kafka
Nero
Modernity
Bureaucracy
Kafkaesque
Memory
Nuclear War
The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn
May Day
Agrippina
Existentialism
Jewish Literature
Translation
Atomic Bomb
Hiroshima
The Spectator
Nuclear Deterrence
Cold War
Jim
The Quality Of Love

Literary interviews and discussions on the latest releases in the world of publishing, from poetry through to physics. Presented weekly by Sam Leith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes459Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksSociety & CultureArts

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Latest Episodes

My guest on this week’s Book Club podcast is Jonathan C. Slaght, whose new book is Tigers Between Empires: The Journey to Save the Siberian Tiger from Extinction. He tells me about these remarkable animals, the remarkable people who studied them, and... more

My guest in this week’s Book Club podcast is James Geary, talking about the new edition of his classic The World in a Phrase: A Brief History of the Aphorism. He tells me about what separates an aphorism from a proverb, a maxim or a quip; about the l... more

On this week’s Book Club podcast I’m joined by debut author Leon Craig to talk about her novel The Decadence – a story of millennial debauchery in a haunted house which uses a knowing patchwork of literary influences from Boccaccio and Shirley Jackso... more

Ben Myers joins Sam Leith to discuss his book Jesus Christ Kinski, which he describes as a ‘novel about a film about a performance about Jesus’. Klaus Kinski was one of Germany’s biggest actors of the 20th Century – but he was also one of the most co... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

James Geary
Writer and author of The World in a Phrase, A Brief History of the Aphorism
Episode: James Geary: A Brief History of the Aphorism
Leon Craig
Writer and author of The Decadence
Episode: Leon Craig: The Decadence
Benjamin Myers
Writer of the novel 'Jesus Christ Kinski'
Episode: Benjamin Myers: Jesus Christ Kinski
Graham Robb
Writer known for blending history, travelogue, and memoir
Author
Episode: Graham Robb: The Discovery of Britain
Peter James
Notable thriller writer
Episode: Peter James: Jack Higgins's The Eagle Has Landed
Luke Kemp
Research Associate at the Center for the Study of Existential Risk at Cambridge and author of "Goliath's Curse, The History and Future of Societal Collapse"
Center for the Study of Existential Risk, Cambridge
Episode: Luke Kemp: The History and Future of Societal Collapse
Sudhir Hazareesingh
Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Episode: Sudhir Hazareesingh: Daring to be Free
Roger Lewis
biographer of Peter Sellers
author
Episode: Roger Lewis: The Life and Death of Peter Sellers
Andrew Bayliss
Associate Professor at the University of Birmingham and author of Sparta, The Rise and Fall of an Ancient Superpower
University of Birmingham
Episode: Andrew Bayliss: Sparta – The Rise and Fall of An Ancient Superpower

Host

Sam Leith
Literary editor and insightful interviewer known for engaging discussions on literature and culture, often drawing on his extensive literary background.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 426 ratings
  • Best book show out there

    Sam Leith is such a good interviewer. He’s clearly an intelligent and alert reader; his questions are always designed to get the most out of the authors he is talking to - genuinely insightful and illuminating. Recommended to anyone who is serious about their reading.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    4th Generation Blades Fan
    United Kingdom15 days ago
  • Best book show out there

    Sam Leith is such a good interviewer. He’s clearly an intelligent and insightful reader; his questions are always incisive, designed to get the most out of the authors he is talking to.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    5th Generation Blades Fan
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • can do without idiotic laughter

    Generally it’s very good and by far the best of its kind available, better than radio 4’s equivalents now. Occasional slips, like Frances Wilson on Lawrence—spoiled by her irritating forced laughter throughout, and again now exactly the same on Muriel Spark.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    sextus Pompeius
    United States5 months ago
  • Excellent podcast for book lovers

    Always interesting, with a wide range of books and authors. Highly recommended.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    gileden
    Israela year ago
  • What exactly is the point of Sam Leith?

    A Fleet St nepo baby par excellence, Sam Leith is the OE wet who failed ever upwards. This podcast is dross but it is at least marginally better than his dribble p- output for the Speccie.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Miscellany
    United Kingdom3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

The content is regarded as insightful, covering a wide range of topics in literature and culture.
Listeners have highlighted the podcast as a leading choice in the literary space.
There is a strong appreciation for the depth of discussion and the quality of guests featured.
Some reviews mention issues with occasional humor that detracts from the discussions.
Listeners praise the host for being an intelligent and engaging interviewer.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#59
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#139
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#174
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#132
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#48
Ireland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#85
New Zealand/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Leon Craig: The Decadence
Q: Is that fair to say that your more contemporary twist on country house novels is to openly address the politics and normative ideas behind it?
That's absolutely fair to say, as these characters are more straightforward about their discomfort in comparison to characters from older novels.
Leon Craig: The Decadence
Q: What was it about it that gripped you and wouldn't let go, and why does it take so long to find your way into it?
The heart of the novel is centered around themes of betrayal and power, questioning innocence, and it took the pandemic to crystallize the true message I wanted to convey.
Leon Craig: The Decadence
Q: Can you start by sort of explaining for the listeners a bit what the setup of The Decadence is?
The Decadence is about six disaffected millennials who go on an extremely illegal pandemic holiday to a country house, engaging in a wild bender while being unaware that the house is haunted.
Ben Schott: An Unexpectedly Essential Guide to Language
Q: What do you think the big sell is?
The gondoliers—it's a beautifully structured piece reflecting Venice.
Ben Schott: An Unexpectedly Essential Guide to Language
Q: Can you tell me what's the origin of this book?
It started with restaurant codes, sparked by my wife's badge from a party.

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 Club

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

An exploration of the literary world, featuring insightful interviews with authors from various genres, this podcast covers a broad spectrum of topics, including literature, philosophy, and contemporary societal issues. Each episode typically focuses on a specific book, allowing guests to share their unique perspectives while engaging in deeper discussions about the themes and contexts of their works. From debuts to well-known literary figures, the conversations often reveal the nuances of writing, the creative process, and the connections between literature and real-life experiences, making it an enriching listen for avid readers and those interested in culture and the arts.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Book Club?

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

How many listeners does The Book Club get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Book Club?

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How many subscribers and views does The Book Club have?

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

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Book Club:

1. The Edition
2. Best of the Spectator
3. The TLS Podcast
4. Americano
5. Coffee House Shots

How many episodes of The Book Club are there?

The Book Club launched 9 years ago and published 459 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 Club?

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 Club?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Book Club 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 Club?

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What guests have appeared on The Book Club?

Recent guests on The Book Club include:

1. James Geary
2. Leon Craig
3. Benjamin Myers
4. Graham Robb
5. Peter James
6. Luke Kemp
7. Sudhir Hazareesingh
8. Roger Lewis

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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