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The Book Show

Joe Donahue
Hello Beautiful
Wandering Stars
James
Somehow: Thoughts On Love
The Princess Of Las Vegas
Addiction
City In Ruins
Class Differences
Storytelling
Las Vegas
Aging
Oprah Winfrey Book Club
The Vietnam War
The Puzzle Master
Danielle Trussoni
Trauma
Sand Creek Massacre
City On Fire
The Cemetery Of Untold Stories
Princess Diana

Each week on The Book Show, host Joe Donahue interviews authors about their books, their lives and their craft. It is a celebration of both reading and writers.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes200Founded10 years ago
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BooksArts

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Artwork for The Book Show

Latest Episodes

Few contemporary writers have examined the inner life with the intensity and candor of Karl Ove Knausgaard. His latest is “The School of Night.” In it, he interrogates memory, identity, art, and the meaning we try to impose on our lives.

George Saunders is one of the most original voices in American fiction. His new novel, “Vigil,” follows Jill “Doll” Blaine, an afterlife usher summoned to guide an unrepentant oil tycoon toward death. Over one wild night, Saunders confronts power, gr... more

In his newest novel, "Buckeye," Patrick Ryan explores the ways families hold together even as the past threatens to pull them apart. Moving between generations, Ryan explores how we inherit not just our parents’ habits and hopes, but their unfinished... more

Karen Russell's latest, “The Antidote,” is a dust bowl novel and a reckoning with a nation’s forgetting that enacts the settler amnesia and omissions passed down from generation to generation.

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Karl Ove Knausgaard
A Norwegian author known for his introspective and autobiographical writing style
Penguin Press (publisher of The School of Night)
Episode: The Book Show | Karl Ove Knausgaard - The School of Night
George Saunders
Award-winning author known for his unique narratives and explorations of moral themes.
Random House
Episode: The Book Show | George Saunders - Vigil
Patrick Ryan
Author of the novel Buckeye
Random House
Episode: The Book Show | Patrick Ryan - Buckeye
Ann Packer
Author of the novel Some Bright Nowhere and five previous works of fiction.
Harper
Episode: The Book Show | Ann Packer - Some Bright Nowhere
Susan Orlean
A prominent journalist and author known for her in-depth storytelling and explorations of unique subjects.
Avid Reader Press
Episode: The Book Show | Susan Orlean - Joyride
John Irving
John Irving is a distinctive and beloved American novelist known for works like The World According to Garp and the Academy Award-winning screenplay for his Cider House Rules.
Simon & Schuster
Episode: The Book Show | John Iriving - Queen Esther
Jeffrey Archer
Renowned author and member of the House of Lords
HarperCollins
Episode: The Book Show | Jeffrey Archer - End Game
Dan Brown
Author known for his thriller novels, including The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons
Published by Doubleday
Episode: The Book Show | Dan Brown - The Secret of Secrets
Mona Awad
Author of We Love You, Bunny and Bunny
Simon & Schuster
Episode: The Book Show | Mona Awad - We Love You, Bunny

Host

Joe Donahue
Host of interviews with authors discussing their books, lives, and writing processes, creating a celebration of reading and writers.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 51 ratings
  • Love it!

    I just discovered The Book Show and am enjoying it so much! I love hearing some of my favorite authors like Billy Collins (the definition of poetry is awesome), Kaveh Akbar (I'm a huge fan!), and Scott Turow (who knew he had a Chicago or Michigan accent (I think)? Looking forward to catching up! (PS - Joe Donahue sounds like David Letterman, right?!)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mavis M
    United States10 months ago
  • Best Author Interviews Out There

    Such an underrated show in the podcast sphere. I used to listen on the radio back east and it's a treasure trove for listening to some of the best authors.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gingerrsnapped
    United States9 years ago

Listeners Say

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

The discussions are perceived as engaging and thought-provoking, with many expressing a deep appreciation for the host's interviewing style.
Listeners appreciate the high-quality author interviews and insights into the literary world.
Listeners find the podcast to be a treasure trove of literary knowledge and connections to contemporary social issues.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#207
Belgium/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Book Show | Karl Ove Knausgaard - The School of Night
Q: Did you have that from the beginning of an idea?
Knausgaard explains that he incorporated the historical character Marlowe and the myth of Faust into his novel after being inspired by their stories.
The Book Show | Karl Ove Knausgaard - The School of Night
Q: Do you feel, you say you were rewarded by that? Do you still feel personally rewarded by telling that story? Or are there any regrets that linger?
Knausgaard reflects on the complexity of feeling rewarded by his writing, acknowledging the tension between his success and the emotional impact on those he wrote about.
The Book Show | George Saunders - Vigil
Q: Give us a sense of how this particular work of fiction came about.
Saunders reflects on the convergence of thoughts influenced by climate change and the end of life considerations, leading to an exploration of moral responsibility.
The Book Show | Patrick Ryan - Buckeye
Q: What do Cal and Margaret see in each other?
Cal sees stability and a chance at normalcy, while Margaret sees someone non-judgmental and open compared to others in her life.
The Book Show | Patrick Ryan - Buckeye
Q: Why did you decide to make Margaret a character with a spiritual gift?
I wanted to explore how we think about the dead and our lost loved ones, and how that ability would affect her relationships without being seen as a source of amusement.

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?

Featuring in-depth conversations with a variety of influential authors, the content centers around discussions about their latest works, the writing process, and broader themes in literature. Frequent topics include character development, ethical dilemmas in storytelling, the intersection of personal narratives with contemporary societal issues, and explorations of identity and cultural backgrounds. Notably, the engaging format invites listeners to develop a deeper appreciation for literature and invites reflections on the craft of writing itself. The podcast not only highlights new literary releases but also fosters a community around appreciation for both classic and modern works, making it an enticing option for book lovers.

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?

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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 Book Review
2. Fresh Air
3. The New Yorker Radio Hour
4. Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso
5. The Ezra Klein Show

How many episodes of The Book Show are there?

The Book Show launched 10 years ago and published 200 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?

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What guests have appeared on The Book Show?

Recent guests on The Book Show include:

1. Karl Ove Knausgaard
2. George Saunders
3. Patrick Ryan
4. Ann Packer
5. Susan Orlean
6. John Irving
7. Jeffrey Archer
8. Dan Brown

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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