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39 of the best literary and book podcasts for book lovers

From light-hearted conversational podcasts, to live talks from world-renowned writers, these shows are the perfect audio fix for book lovers who like to delve beyond the book. 

What a life it would be to read books all the time – just reading all day, inhaling stories like air. But we can't, because in life we have to do things like driving and bathing our kids and putting up shelves in which books, alas, are just plain dangerous.

Fortunately, for those moments, we have podcasts, which are the next best thing. So, here are 39 of the best literary podcasts, from discussion groups to reviews to author interviews, to dive deeper into the world of books.

The Penguin Podcast

Where else to start than with our very own Penguin Podcast? Featuring leading writers and pioneering thinkers, this fortnightly conversation asks authors to bring along a selection of objects through which we explore their inspirations, aspirations and the struggles they've faced along the way. Recent guests include Alexander McCall Smith, Paula Hawkins, Adam Kay and Zadie Smith – and with objects as varied as a replica Roman sword, a wooden carving of two cats and a bone-cutting saw there's never a dull moment on this podcast.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Acast  | Amazon Alexa

The Maris Review

Cultural critic and write Maris Kreizman talks to authors (and celebrities) about their own books and the books they love, as well as the TV shows and films they’ve watched, music they’ve loved, and what they’ve been reading online. Recent guests include George Saunders, Rumaan Alam and Kiese Laymon.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts

On the Road with Penguin Classics

This new podcast from the Penguin Classics’ team takes a stroll around the world’s favourite books. Hosted by editor, and author of The Penguin Classics Book, Henry Eliot, each week the podcast will head to a different literary location to explore a book in the company of readers. 

Books & Boba

If you’re looking to expand your knowledge of Asian and Asian American authors, Books & Boba is the podcast for you. It covers a range of genres, from historical fiction and graphic novels to science fiction and thrillers. As well as author interviews, the podcast picks a book for its book club each month, and has updates on recent news in the book world. 

The Puffin Podcast

We’re definitely biased when we say this is currently the best children’s podcast out there. But it really is the best children’s podcast out there! Hosted by comedian, actor, and Celebrity Gogglebox star Babatúndé Aléshé, every episode he and two Puffineers team up to take young listeners on an adventure to a magical world. They’re also joined each week by one of our awesome Puffin authors – guest appearances so far have included  Greg James , Jen Carney , and Humza Arshad . 

Listen on:  Apple Podcasts  |  Google Podcasts  |  Acast  |  Spotify

Sentimental Garbage

Journalist and author Caroline O’Donoghue talks to other female writers about that most unjustly maligned genre, chick-lit. Far from a guilty pleasure, chick-lit, she argues, should be celebrated as legit documentations of the female experience. It's not all serious feminism, though. It's fun, thoughtful and wildly entertaining as she and guests examine the books and culture that make chick-lit so special.

Listen on:  Apple Podcasts  | Acast  

This is a podcast dedicated entirely to audiobooks. Hosts Brad and Britney – best pals for more than a decade – review the hottest new releases, interview narrators and authors and discuss industry news with all the energy and enthusiasm of two kids in a sweetshop. Which isn't to say they can't do serious. They can. They're a joy to listen to.

Listen on:  Apple Podcasts  | Stitcher  | Google Podcasts

The Great Books Podcast

The thinking podcaster's podcast, this, from highbrow American magazine The National Review. Author, journalist and academic Pr. John J. Miller is joined by an array of esteemed literary experts to dive deep into literature's greatest classics, from the work of Evelyn Waugh , Herman Melville and James Joyce to Charles Dickens , Shakespeare and more.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts  | Stitcher

The History of Literature

Author and literature expert Jacke Wilson journeys through time to examine history's greatest literary moments and achievements, from dissecting the lives of our greatest authors to the writers who went to war to the Epic of Gilgamesh . The perfect audio companion for anyone who cares where literature is, and where it has come from.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts

Read Learn Live

The mission of this highly-engaging and informative podcast is to help readers 'improve [themselves] through literature'. In each episode, host Jon Menaster conducts an in-depth interview with a well-known author to understand not only what makes them tick, but how, and why, they wrote their books.

Listen on:  Apple Podcasts  |  Android  | Spotify

Hurry Up and Read

Host Jason Balmet reads through classic Christian books as he delves into the minds of the most influential Christian writers throughout the course of history. With a new episode every day, five days a week, he breaks each reading session down to 20-minute chunks to keep listeners engaged and on track.

Listen on: Apple Podcast | Google Play

Selected Shorts

This is one of the best storytelling podcasts around. Produced by National Public Radio’s WNYC radio station in New York, Selected Shorts is a live event in which screen and stage actors read classic and new short fiction before a live audience. Over the years it has been hosted by a glittering line of well-known actors, authors, and entertainers such as David Sedaris, Stephen Colbert, Cynthia Nixon and Jane Kaczmarek.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Acast  | NPR  | Stitcher

Anything But Silent

Libraries don’t just keep our stories safe; they’re where new ones begin. That’s the premise of the ‘buzzing, creative and brave’ in-house podcast from the British Library. Cleo Laskarin, from the building’s exhibitions team, interviews all manner of guests, from famous writers to the people who make the British Library tick, on subjects ranging from how Minecraft is opening up literary worlds to library druids from the west of England.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts  | Spotify  | Google podcasts

VINTAGE Books

The VINTAGE Podcast releases weekly and covers author interviews, book news and discussions on bookish subjects ranging from literary fiction to graphic novels, cookery to crime fiction, history and travel to biography and poetry.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Acast

This Is Spoke

Hosted by director and journalist Fenn O'Meally and grime MC Big Zuu, This Is Spoke is an uncensored and unapologetic podcast that explores today's most important issues with some of the UK’s hottest writers, musicians and artists. Expect conversations about heritage, beauty standards, money, queer culture and everything in between!   

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Acast  | Spotify

Backlisted, brought to you by Unbound, aims to give new life to old books. Regular presenters John Mitchinson and Andy Miller enter into a lively discussion with a guest to convince their listeners to read a book while arguing why it has stood the test of time. From Dickens and Jilly Cooper to the more obscure, in two years Backlisted has become one of the most popular book podcasts around. 

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Soundcloud  | Overcast

‘The hosts are relatable and their enthusiasm and passion for books is contagious.’ ‘It feels like I’m hanging out with friends.’ The reviews say it all – Mostly Lit is a laid-back listen and millennial-focused experience that showcases the crossover in wellness, literature and pop-culture.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Acast 

The Guardian Books Podcast

The  Guardian Books podcast is a weekly delve into the world of writing. It features some of the world’s best authors through in-depth interviews while discussing wider trends, round-ups, prize winners and retrospectives on classic works. 

You’re Booked

Journalist Daisy Buchanan hosts this chatty podcast which allows listeners to snoop through guest’s bookshelves and discover the books that made an impact on them. Daisy’s dulcet tones are worth a listen alone, but tune in for fun conversations with recent guests including Dolly Alderton and Elizabeth Day.

The New Yorker: Fiction

The imitable New Yorker’s podcast on the biggest happenings in fiction runs monthly, with their fiction editor Deborah Treisman at the helm. Listen along for some of the biggest names in literature such as Dave Eggers, Roddy Doyle and Tess Hadley.

The Stories That Changed My Life

Regular guests share the stories that have made a mark on them. Priding itself on being a ‘books podcast for the non-bookish’, recent guests include journalists Lauren Bravo and Zing Tsjeng. Join them as they reminisce in a mash-up of good old fashioned storytelling and Desert Island Discs.

Listen on:  Apple Podcasts  |  Acast

London Review Bookshop Podcast

This is a great podcast if you want to hear authors talk and present. The London Review Bookshop hosts live events and thankfully records them for your listening pleasure. With over 200 episodes, there are plenty to choose from including readings, debates and discussions.

Books and Authors

BBC Radio 4’s resident books podcast, expect in-depth literary discussions on the latest tomes in true Radio 4 style. Recent guests include industry heavyweights such as Pulitzer-winning Jennifer Egan and Booker Prize nominee Richard Powers.

Freedom, Books, Flowers & the Moon

A weekly podcast focusing on culture and ideas by the Times Literary Supplement .  Inspired by Oscar Wilde’s question, ‘With freedom, books, flowers, and the moon, who could not be happy?’ expect interrogation on everything from Bronte to Reddit.

Literary Friction

Hosted by friends Carrie and Octavia, Literary Friction is a monthly conversational podcast. On each show, built around a theme, the hosts interview up-and-coming and more established authors. There are lively discussions, personal recommendations and more…

It’s been 30 years since Ayatollah Khomeini called on his fellow Muslims to murder Salman Rushdie for blasphemy following the publication of The Satanic Verses . There were book burnings, firebombings and the novel’s Japanese translator was stabbed to death. This 10-part series, from BBC Radio 4, tells the story of that story from both sides of the controversy in vivid and thrilling detail.

Banging Book Club

Banging Book Club is the the result of three friends who read a book about sex and gender together, covering topics such as intersectional feminism to Aristotle and Dante. This podcast has sadly now finished but there are still 47 episodes to wrap your ears around.

There’s a fresh stance in this weekly podcast about ‘books, writing, reading, and racoons’. The hosts dive into books they love, but most interestingly books they hate, too. Join them in an open and honest conversation where they digress and take tangents to discuss the latest happenings in lit.

Listen on:  Apple Podcasts  |  Acast 

Not Another Book Podcast

‘The podcast that says what you’re thinking but too afraid to say.’ This three-woman fronted show showcases the latest African writing in a chat format showcasing both popular and unpopular opinions. Packed with relatable insights, Not Another Book Podcast is for listeners that like to keep up with trends.

The Invisible College

Another of BBC Radio 4’s outputs, The Invisible College is for anyone with a love of creative writing. Featuring lessons from the greats in literature including Ted Hughes and Allen Ginsberg, listeners can learn everything from how to create characters to dealing with writers block.

Smart Podcast, Trashy Books

A weekly witty podcast that focuses on the romance genre. Host Sarah Wendell interviews everyone from bloggers to editors about swoon-worthy love stories. Expect a distinct lack of seriousness that includes reviews, author appearances and the latest romantic recommendations.

Black Chick Lit

Black Chick Lit is a bi-monthly podcast that discusses books written by, and created for, Black women. This conversational podcast run by hosts Dani and Molli involves wine - and a lot of laughing.

Listen on:  Apple Podcast s |  Google Play

Created by book website Book Riot, Hey YA focuses on the latest in the world of young adult novels. Hosts Eric and Kelly discuss everything from new releases to forgotten classics, on-screen adaptions and even current issues in the genre.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher 

Bad Book Reviews Podcast

A podcast that takes itself a little less seriously, The Bad Book Reviews Podcast offers authors the opportunity to joke about their terrible reviews and while also taking on board the critiques.

Listen on:  Stitcher

Metro Book Chat

Brought to you by the Metro Newspaper , Metro Book Chat sees their regular bookish print section brought to life in podcast form. Join them as they chat through book news with the latest authors and bloggers in the world of publishing.

Simon Mayo’s Books of the Year

Presenter Simo Mayo invites some of the world’s most exciting authors into the studio for a cheery conversation about their latest books. Described by a listener as ‘like meeting up with old friends’, watch out for our very own Lee Child and Kate Atkinson.

The Literary Salon

World-class writers join host Damian Barr where they read from their biggest and boldest works in front of a live audience in exciting locations. There are exclusives and world premieres, the past line up has included Bret Easton Ellis and Jojo Moyes.

Moms Don’t Have Time To Read Books

Zibby Owens has been described as ‘New York’s most powerful book-fluencer’. A writer and mother of four herself, she knows the struggle of being too busy to read books. MDHTTRB is her remedy. In each short episode, she interviews an author about their work, asking the questions readers have for their favourite books. Launched in 2018, this highly-entertaining, and blisteringly-popular, podcast (that, by the way, isn’t just for mums) gives busy book lovers a way to stay up to date with the world of books.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Podbean

So Many Damn Books

If you like drinking cocktails while listening to people chat about books, then this is the podcast for you. The effervescent duo Christopher Hermelin and Drew Broussard talk to well-known authors about reading, literature, publishing, and how to make it through your ever-growing stack of books you want to read, all while drinking a themed cocktail of their own design (usually linked to the author in question). It’s certainly one of the more fun literary podcasts on the circuit right now. 

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

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Blog – Posted on Wednesday, Aug 23

40+ best book review podcasts of 2024.

You might have heard about Bookstagram, BookTok, and BookTube, but have you found your favorite bookish podcast yet? With over a third of the world’s population turning to reading during the Coronavirus pandemic, podcasting in general, and podcasts about books specifically, are seeing a huge boom.

With plenty of book podcasts and reading clubs to choose from, we’ve scoured the airwaves and curated more than 40 of the best podcasts that entertain, inspire, review , and — most importantly — recommend the best books for your reading pleasure.

General book review podcasts

Let’s start with the giants, these podcasts are big and talk about all things books, from literary fiction to niche nonfiction. The books come from both big trad publishers and little indie presses and what ultimately ties them together is the stories at the heart of it all, the experiences of the authors, and the advice we all wish we’d heard earlier. 

1. The Maris Review

Hosted by the cultural critic and bestselling author of Slaughterhouse 90210 , Maris Kreizman, the Maris Review  goes beyond the book covers and tries to get to the core of what inspires authors, from films, to music, to popular phenomena.

Coming to the microphone with warmth, depth of knowledge, and thoughtfulness, Maris’ goal is to let her guests shine and she has a true gift for pulling each morsel of literary goodness from her guests, one succulent bite at a time. Listening to the Maris Review will solidify your love for reading and instill an insatiable hunger for more books — RIP your TBR list.

Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Lit Hub Radio

2. NPR Book of the Day

Want to know if a book is worth reading in 15 minutes or less? NPR’s got your back! The much-loved, bite-sized radio show is a popular podcast that regardless of genre, mood, style, or author, seeks to make reading accessible to everyone, while tackling the big questions of our time.

Whether you’re searching for your next read, or a recommendation for a friend, NPR’s short-form interviews got you covered, keeping you up-to-date with the latest bookish news and your shelves stacked. 

Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Amazon Music

3. Book Fight

Despite the podcast name, Mike Ingram and Tom McAllister are good friends, writers, and long-time editors for Barrelhouse literary magazine and publisher. Taking a lighthearted approach, Mike and Tom engage their audience with humor, candor, and insights into the world of publishing and writing, welcoming listeners to sit in on genuine conversations rather than lectures while answering the question we’re all asking ourselves: what should I read next?

Each week they’re joined by authors whose work ask tough questions, offer harder answers, and seek to connect us all through our love of literature — no fighting involved. 

Apple | Spotify

4. The LRB Podcast

Decreed the ‘leading magazine of culture and ideas of Europe’, the London Review of Books podcast is a weekly conversation on literature hosted by Thomas Jones and Malin Hay. Often joined by their editors across the pond and other writerly guests, the hosts dive deep into the question of what makes great literature great .

With a goal to enliven and enrich their audience, the show is like waking your brain up with a (legal) stimulus better than coffee. From looking at how Ovid influenced the writing of Chaucer to how we can understand contemporary giants like David Foster Wallace through the lens of #MeToo, no work or angle is left unturned with LRB. You’ll find yourself relistening to episodes not just for the joy the podcast brings, but to sharpen your own critical reading and appreciation for the written word. 

Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts

5. The Worst Bestsellers

Writer Kait and librarian Renata read books so you don’t have to. Well, that’s not quite true. Intrigued by the appeal of bestsellers, the two read the latest ‘Big Thing’ to try to understand what people love about them, and maybe, what you could love too — or why you might want to avoid it. 

Filled with plenty of humor and joy, Kait and Renata invite listeners into their cozy space and ask themselves “How did this get made?” or “How is something so questionable in quality this big ?”. Swearing they’re not snobs, they read everything with an open yet critical mind and are quick to indulge in a laugh at the book’s expense,never the reader. 

Homepage | Apple | Stitcher | Spotify | Deezer

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6. What Should I Read Next?

Aptly named What should I read next? , Anne Bogel’s podcast seeks to give readers all over the ether an answer to that very question. Each week, Anne — also known for her Modern Mrs Darcy blog — sits down with a reader and learns what they love, what they hate, and what they’ve read before, all in a bid to guide them towards what they should read next. With an encyclopedic mind for books (and a great team to back her up), Anne’s suggestions are always on point, as she has something up her sleeve for every type of reader. A bookish agony aunt of sorts, Anne wants you to read and love what you read. Don’t we all Anne, don’t we all…

Apple | Spotify | Overcast | Stitcher | Google Podcasts

7. Fully Booked

From the editors of Kirkus Reviews, Fully Booked : is a podcast unafraid to tell you which books to pass on and which are worth your time.

More like a coffee shop discussion, Fully Booked hosts regular author take-overs, inviting you directly into their minds and keeping the content constantly fresh. So clear your reading schedule: this podcast will keep you “fully booked” for the foreseeable future. 

Apple | PodcastOne | Spotify  

8. Book Riot

In Book Riot’s mainstage podcast, the editors of the website, Jeff and Rebecca, offer exciting and satisfying book recommendations to their listeners: titles that may otherwise have flown below your radar or bestsellers you were ready to write off. 

With eyes and ears on the publishing industry, they discuss everything from self-publised gems to traditionally published giants. They’re unapologetic about their opinions — making for an entertaining listen — but do not claim to be all-knowing tyrants of taste. Readers should all find their own happy space in literature, and Book Riot wants to help you do just that.

Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher  

9. You’re Booked

Ever wonder what’s on your favorite author’s shelf? Or what book they borrowed and never returned to the library? Daisy Buchanan’s You’re Booked asks questions like “What is a forbidden book you read under the covers?”, or “What intellectual-doorstopper do you pretend to have read?”

If you love books and loooove learning why people pick what they do, then Daisy’s podcast is for you. From treasured memories of reading, to wasted hours of scribble, Daisy and her guests seek to help readers read more and revel in the company of other book lovers.

Apple | Spotify | Acast

10. Celebrity Memoir Book Club

Claire Parker and Ashley Hamilton are two New York comedians who read celebrity memoirs to give you the low-down in a fun and informative way. The hilarious duo wade through the sometimes delightful, sometimes insightful, but mostly egocentric world of celebrity memoirs with such humor and wit that their review can be just as good as the book itself. 

The Celebrity Memoir Book Club is a hilarious take on an industry that often takes itself too seriously. This is the perfect podcast to settle into if you just want to have a good time and love a bit of juicy gossip. 

Apple | Spotify | Audioboom | Youtube

11. The Stacks

Traci Thomas is your host for The Stacks book review podcast, and if your TBR list isn’t bursting already, this is an absolute must-listen. Probing her guests with questions relating to which reads changed their life, which authors made them see the world in a new light, and how politics and race are now more important than ever in writing, Traci and her guests breaks down a new book every week — one onion layer at a time. Even if not every book takes your fancy, the discussion is thought-provoking, humorous, and always engaging. It's well-worth your time.

Apple | Podcast Addict

12. KCRW Bookworm

KCRW Bookworm began airing in 1989 with the goal of making reading accessible, encouraging both entertaining and thoughtful writing, and provoking listeners to make reading a lifelong habit.

Legendary Michael Silverblatt interviews guests from every corner of the publishing world and the show is underpinned by a deep love for reading not just as a pastime, but a way of life.

Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio

13. London Review Bookshop Podcast

Not to be confused with the LRB podcast, the London Review Bookshop podcast is recorded in the eponymous bookshop in Bloomsbury, London, where two new authors come together each episode to discuss life, love, books, and writing in front of a live crowd of customers. 

From fiction to poetry, nonfiction, and politics, this show gives authors a soapbox to stand on and makes for an intellectually stimulating and entertaining listening experience that will give you plenty of fodder for debate. 

14. Radio 4 Books & Authors

BBC’s radio stations are institutions in and of themselves, but their podcast Books & Authors on channel 4 is something else altogether. Compiling two similar shows into one book review podcast — Open Books and A Good Read is hosted by Harriet Gilbert and discusses her favorite reads, upcoming titles, and the books you really should read. Cobbled together with guests you’ll love, these articulate and witty discussions are often just as interesting as the books themselves, so come prepared for books to be read, thoughts to be had, and friends to be made. 

Apple | Spotify | BBC Sounds

15. The Guardian Books Podcast

Though it officially aired its last episode in 2022, we highly recommend that you go back and mine the rich backlog of The Guardian Books podcast for a phenomenal source of in-depth interviews with authors from all over the world. Covering every topic and genre under the sun, the hosts know how to sell a book to their readers, while also deepening your knowledge and understanding of the context it was written in. If you’re looking for one of the greats of book reviews — and maybe some backlist titles to add to your shelves — this is it.

Homepage | Apple | Spotify | Soundcloud

16. Between the Covers

If you’re in search of a profound listening experience, then go no further. David Naimon’s Between the Covers is the rich and well-researched conversation on literature you never knew you were missing, produced by the Portland-based publishers Tin House. And if you don’t want to take our word for it, it has been recognized by none others than the Guardian, Book Riot, the Financial Times, and BuzzFeed as “one of the most notable book podcasts for writers and readers around.” 

Making sure to research his guests thoroughly, David approaches each episode with care, inviting writers of all ages and voices to take you on a journey into the world of books, guiding you towards not only the next book you could read, but the next story you could love. 

Apple | Stitcher

17. All the Books

All the Books is a podcast dedicated to new releases, specializing in what’s hot, what’s new, what’s quirky, and what’s recommended.

Full of recommendations to pick and choose from, host Liberty Hardy (and her adorable cats) are purr-fect companions for your morning commute, a stroll through the forest, or an evening in front of the fireplace. As entertaining as it is witty, the goal of this show is to to keep you informed and make sure you don’t miss your favorite author’s newest title or any upstart debutants

Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts

18. Debutiful

If you really want to keep an eye out for the next big thing, this debuts-only club, hosted by Adam Vitcavage, is a podcast entirely devoted to first time book publications. Together with his guests, Adam talks about writing habits, inspiration, and the process of getting your first book published.

If the book doesn’t always sound like your jam, there’s a wealth of knowledge and inspiration to be had in each episode, as authors share ideas and intriguing suggestions for craft practice as well as candid glimpses into what goes into the ‘making-of’ a debut...

19. TwoLitChicks

Hosted by writers and avid readers Julia Boggio and Ed Crocker, TwoLitChicks is a podcast about loving books and loving writing books. Setup like a Desert Island Discs, the hosts talk with authors about the books they read which changed their lives and how that affected their writing. Divulging books published across the entire publishing spectrum, be they traditionally or self-published , Julia and Ed get to the core of what makes these authors and their work tick. From beautiful debuts to written-word masters, TwoLitChicks cracks plenty of eggs of writerly wisdom.

20. Slate’s Audiobook Club

You’re already looking for podcasts on books, so why not podcasts on audiobooks? Hosted by Slate magazine’s critics, this audiobook podcast is perfect if you’re looking for insights on what does well in the audio format. Taking the form of a panel review show, the group discusses classics, new releases, underdogs, and forgotten gems, always with the auditory experience in mind. 

For readers who are listeners , this pod will give you plenty of solid recommendations to choose from. That’s if you can remember to write them down. Your TBR has been warned.

Diversity in publishing podcasts

While self-publishing allows many more voices to be heard and stories to be told, one of the most important changes taking place in the industry at large is the opportunities for diversity in publishing . The podcasts below champion voices that have not always been given their due space, discussing award winning works and stories that will shape our next generations .

21. Well-Read Black Girl

Glory Edim is not only the writer and founder of the Well-Read Black Girl book club, but also an advocate of the written word through the podcast medium. Her goal has always been to give readers the literary booster shot they never knew they needed and, as a host, she seeks deep and honest conversations to bring us all together via books. The WRBG podcast explores not just the power of books, but their place in a world where art, social justice, and literature are colliding. From paying homage to iconic literary women, to promoting the most important voices of today, Glory and her guests discuss what they’re reading, what it means to be “well-read,” and what you should pick up next.

Apple | Spotify | Stitcher

22. Minorities in Publishing

When Jenn Baker began the Minorities in Publishing podcast her goal wasn’t just to bridge the gap in diversity in publishing, but to blow the doors down and give authors the love they deserve. With topics ranging far and wide, Jenn discusses the publishing industry, books and authors writing fantastic stories, and the best tips for those wishing to write themselves. 

With authors and genres spanning from children’s , to YA , graphic novels , upmarket fiction and beyond, the goal here is to show you how many storytellers roam this planet with unique stories to tell, making us believe we can do it too. 

Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | TuneIn Radio

23. Storykeepers Podcast

Hosted by Jennifer David and Waubgeshig Rice, Storykeepers is unlike any other book review podcast around. They only champion Indigenous voices. From authors, publishers, booksellers, to readers, Storykeepers treasures the experiences of Indigenous, First Nation, Inuit, and Métis stories.

Whether it’s debating an idea, laughing over a character, or discussing the changing landscape and opportunities within Indigenous publishing, Jennifer and Waubgeshig aim to bring these fantastic stories and authors to more people’s attention. Don’t miss this one.

Apple | Spotify | Amazon

Coming to you from Amman, Jordan, and Rabat, Morocco, friends Ursula Lindsey and M Lynx Qualey, talk about all things books and publishing in the modern Arabic-speaking world. 

Named after the first printing press established in Egypt in 1820, Bulaq is indispensable for anyone wanting a contextualized view of translated Arabic works in English. Together, Ursula and M Lynx discuss the books which are changing them, have changed them, and that they hope might change you too, showcasing the richness of modern Arabic literature.

Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Deezer | Anghami | Castbox

25. What’s My Therapist Reading?

Hosted by therapists Caleb Matthews and Mary Hoofnagle, What’s My Therapist Reading? is a podcast dedicated to both fiction and nonfiction titles, but with a twist. Their emphasis is on bringing visibility to mental health, physical and mental disabilities, and if their representations in literature help or hinder people’s understanding. From episodes dealing with autism to family dynamics, the two discuss triggers in books and how the intended audience of a book may differ to a reading audience. Diversity in publishing is leading to more and more titles being released that represent all of the reading audience, not just the loudest voices.

Apple | Spotify  

26. Books & Boba

Hosted by Marvin Yueh and Reera Yoo, Books & Boba discusses Asian and Asian American literature , looking at everything from contemporary fiction, historical fiction , sci-fi , fantasy , YA, nonfiction , thrillers , graphic novels, and memoirs — always delivering great recommendations and thoughtful insights.

With the dynamism and banter of best friends, Marvin and Reera spotlighting the industry at large, while highlighting emerging authors alongside (sometimes) forgotten classics. Run, don’t walk to your nearest podcast distributor to tune in.

Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Radio Public

Romance fiction book review podcasts

Are you looking for the next read to sweep you off your feet ? Presenting you with sizzling heroes and smoldering heroines, these podcasts spread the word on the biggest genre in publishing and bring the authors behind the stories to the forefront. Read on to find your perfect match.

27. Big Gay Fiction Podcast

Husbands Jeff Adams and Will Knauss created the Big Gay Fiction podcast for one reason and one reason only: to spread their love of queer fiction , and specifically romance queer fiction. Each week, they bring in authors they adore, books that they want to spotlight, and ideas worth discussing in the queer space of publishing.

Their interview style is as friendly as it is charming, making their listeners feel as comfortable as their guests. If you’re looking for witty views on the MM genre and more than a few great reads to add to your pile, then Jeff and Will have more than enough up their sleeves.

Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Amazon Music | Youtube

28. The Sapphic book review

Hosted by Laura Green, the Sapphic Book Review champions all things Sapphic fiction. From reviews of books to interviews with the authors themselves, Laura asks hard-hitting questions which shed new light on sapphic love in literature. If you’ve been wondering which book you should read next and have been struggling to find your sapphic lit fix, Laura has you covered.

Homepage | Apple | Spotify | Amazon Music | Overcast | Castro

29. Sentimental Garbage

Whether it makes you blush or makes you cry, Caroline O’Donoghue’s Sentimental Garbage is a book review podcast that advocates for all the books we love — even if society makes us feel like we shouldn’t. Beginning as a self-professed chick-lit podcast, with some good Sex and the City detours, Sentimental Garbage has grown larger to encompass a wider definition of guilty pleasures.

Caroline’s goal is interviewing authors and guests that are oh so relatable because, at the end of the day, a good book is like a companion. Trading quick quips, Caroline and her guests are always a pleasure to listen to as they discuss books they love and hate, tropes they despise and get giddy over, and characters that make them swoon. For them, stories are not about how much you know by the end, but about how much you feel. 

Apple | Deezer | Acast  

Children & YA lit book review podcasts

Whether you’re trying to encourage your kids to read more, are searching for the next Percy Jackson or Hunger Games , or learning how to make your dreams a reality — the pods below are all about books, authors, and writing in the Children’s, Middle Grade, and Young Adult sphere.

30. Hey YA!

What Book Riot is doing for Young Adult lit is what everyone else wants to do. Their Hey YA podcast may not feature Outkast, but brings great reads to the growing generation. With stories and styles from everyone’s favorite genres, Kelly, Eric, and Sarah recommend books which aim to be as inclusive as possible, as page-turning as possible, as hashtagable as possible, and — more than that — books readers of all ages can see themselves in. 

If your TBR list isn’t bursting at the seams after discovering Hey YA then you haven’t listened close enough. No longer just a stepping stone to great literature, YA has eeked out a legitimate and thriving space of its own, so if you think YA deserves more attention, then you’ll find like-minded people here.

Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher

31. First Draft Podcast

First Draft with Sarah Enni at the helm is a podcast for storytellers to talk about how art informs their lives. Sarah comes to each episode with the honest intention of getting to know her guests, asking great questions and getting even better answers. First Draft will introduce you to new sides of the publishing industry, while discussing the next best-book-you-haven’t-read-yet.

While not strictly children’s and YA, Sarah does talk to a lot of children’s and YA authors. She underlines the importance of these works because it is often the books we read as children that define us as adult readers. Though currently on hiatus, you can still revel in the long list of past episodes available via select podcast distributors.

32. Write or Die Podcast

Write or Die isn’t just about the joy of storytelling, but about the gritty, infuriating, and pull-your-hair moments when you want to give up but don’t. Claribel A. Ortega and Kat Cho are both powerhouse authors in the YA realm and invite you to join them on their Write or Die podcast, where you’ll learn to love even the parts of publishing you hate. 

Bursting with inspiration, this podcast is about the stories which make the storytellers. Great for writers of all ages and genres, the lessons here are just as fantastic as the books they discuss. If you’re looking for a light in the dark tunnel of writing, this is it.

Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Radio Public | Pocket Casts

33. 88 Cups of Tea

While Yin Chang is perhaps better known for her work as an actor, she’s always been a prolific reader and writer. Driven to help others tell their story, 88 Cups of Tea is a space to sit with industry professionals and authors and get to the heart of what drives them. From inciting incidents to query letters , Yin delivers all she can to help writers find their way.

Of course, along the way she discusses plenty of books, inspiring and thought-provoking quotes, and the realities of publishing. 88 Cups of Tea has built a community of readers and writers that inspire and entertain each other in the process of creating the next big thing. Pens down and ears up, and get ready to find your reading or writing mojo with this podcast.

Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Player FM

34. This Creative Life

Whether leading solo-episodes or riding shotgun with a guest, Sara Zarr sits down to shine a light on the bizarre and satisfying world of writing in her podcast This Creative Life . Focusing on the practical tips and psychological aspects of writing, This Creative Life makes a point of inviting guests to share their life experiences and how they came to write their books. 

From plotting to pantsing, This Creative Life is a podcast which inspires writers to constantly evolve and create. It is the act of creation which nourishes us, and the act of telling our stories which makes them real. From children’s to YA and beyond, no story is too small or too big to be told, or no failure too grand to come back from. Sarah endeavors to inspire the next generation to tell the story of their generation.

Apple | Spotify | Amazon Music

35. Your Kid’s Next Read

If children are our hope for a better future, then Allison Tait and Megan Daley are going to help you find the books to foster your kids reading habits. Co-founders of the Your Kid’s Next Read community, these author and teacher-librarians kept receiving and asking themselves the same questions so they made YKNR to try to find answers. Discussing everything from YA blockbusters, middle grade adventures, and junior fiction to getting those training wheels off, their book recommendations are top notch.

Full of tips to get your little ones loving reading, they also recommend what else they could be into. This podcast is lighthearted, fun, engaging, and geared towards helping your kid find their next read. If you want to bulk up your kids reading list, or encourage those who wish to spread their wings and write, this one’s for you. 

Homepage | Apple | Spotify

‘Classics’ of literature book review podcasts

We all have lists of books we wished we’d read, have meant to have read, or just never got around to reading. These podcasts are for you. More than that, they make the case for why the classics are deemed ‘classics’, and give a few recommendations for books to read before you die along the way.

36. Backlisted

When the book is just as much a guest as the guest themselves, you know you’re onto a winning formula. Hosted by John Mitchinson and Andy Miller, Backlisted invites writers to bring a book they wish more people knew about. Championing the underdogs, these episodes are often thoughtful observations on style and writing, referencing great ideas which may have gone unnoticed by the public at large. 

This is a podcast for those who want to read widely and expand their idea of what constitutes a ‘classic’, beyond Austen and Dickens , and contemplate what distinguishes truly outstanding writing.

Homepage | Apple | Acast | Overcast

37. Overdue

We all have those books we’ve been meaning to read; the ones that sit at the bottom of your TBR list, dusty and mothballed under the weight of everything else. Podcasters Andrew and Craig are the same, but now they’re doing something about it. Overdue tackles those classics you should’ve read, those obscure plays referenced by your obscure writing professor, or just those books you never got around to reading. Just as funny as it is analytical, Andrew and Craig delve into books you’d never thought to read and the ones you claim you’ve read — from childhood oddities to canon soliloquies, Overdue brings book reviews to a whole new, hilarious level. Get your pen ready to take some notes.

38. Novel Pairings

Self-professed nerdy bookworms Sarah and Chelsey, the hosts of Novel Pairings , are on a mission to make the classics readable, relatable, and, most importantly, relevant. Armed with good taste, better banter, and incredible recommendations, Novel Pairings breaks down the false perception that you have to be ‘educated’ to enjoy classics and keeps the classics exciting while avoiding the pomp. 

Sci-fi/fantasy & comics podcasts

Speculative fiction has fired up the imaginations of readers and writers for centuries. With hundreds of classics already written in this space, these podcasts keep an eye to the past while looking towards the future, diving into little-known sub-genres and household favorites alike. Tune in: there are new worlds to be explored!

39. The Legendarium Podcast

Welcome to the lands of speculation and worldbuilding.Hosted by Craig, Ryan, Kyle, and Stephanie, the Legendarium Podcast is an epic call to adventure for all things sci-fi and fantasy. 

Appreciating the classics as much as the new releases, the Legendarium quartet and their guests offer glimpses at the industry, views on books they love and hate, and recommendations on what to read next. If you want to hang out and listen to your favorite authors talk shop, grab a tankard of ale or a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster, and prepare to be entertained.

40. SFF Yeah!

SFF Yeah! fails in only one thing: keeping your book-buying ban intact. Sharifah and Jenn divulge their favorites as well as regretted reads, taking the time to discuss what works and what doesn’t, along with what makes it uniquely special in the speculative genre. Aware that we’re all different, if there’s anything they feel that might be triggering, Sharifah and Jenn always preface books and ideas with a warning, but, as we’re all here for the books (and a little bit of the chatter) they’re not shy to predict your next favorite read. Heck, it’s the future! Even if it’s 1984 …

41. The Stack

If you like the graphic novel artform then this is the space for you. This tasty podcast comes to you every week from the Comic Book Club and is hosted by Alex, Just, and Pete, discussing all things comics and visual storytelling.

Like a mashup of your much preferred roller rink DJ (err yeah) and a real book review radio show, the Stack aims to get you loving comics and appreciating the craft of this artform as much as you would any other. With good taste, good chats, and even better recommendations, they could make even the staunchest Marvel fan into a DC dabbler.

Apple | Podbean | Google Podcasts | Radio Public | iHeart Radio

If you’re looking for more auditory content, why not check out our article on the 60 best audibooks of all time or our tips on where you can find free audiobooks ?

Continue reading

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The 53 Best Book Series of All Time

With new books being published every single day, figuring out your next read can be a daunting task. Lucky for you, we’ve created a list of the 53 best book series of all time — ranging from fantasy and science fiction to romance and thriller — to keep you occupied for days (o...

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Kindle Unlimited: Is It Worth the Subscription?

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Close Readings

The lrb podcast, the belgrano diary, at the bookshop, lrb readings, history of ideas, great auks, liam shaw and thomas jones, 29 august 2024.

The great auk was a flightless, populous and reportedly delicious bird, once found widely across the rocky outcrops of the North Atlantic. By the 1860s it was extinct, its decline sharpened by specimen...

Jane Austen, Simone de Beauvoir and Herodotus

What do Jane Austen, Simone de Beauvoir and Herodotus have in common? They all appear in three of this year’s Close Readings series, in which a pair of LRB contributors explore an area of literature...

How to Read Genesis

James butler and malin hay, 29 august 2024.

The Book of Genesis begins with the creation of the universe and ends with the death of Jacob, patriarch of the Israelites. Between these two events, successive generations confront the moral tests set...

The First Pandemic?

Josephine quinn and malin hay, 28 august 2024.

In the 160s CE, Rome was struck by a devastating disease which, a new book argues, may have been the world’s first pandemic. Josephine Quinn joins Malin to discuss contemporary theories about the Antonine...

The Belgrano affair reaches its climax as the stories of Narendra Sethia and Clive Ponting connect. The two whistleblowers appear in court and the diary makes its final journey.

Lieutenant Sethia is accused of a second crime: the theft of HMS Conqueror’s log books. Two journalists and the Serious Crime Squad try to hunt him down. 

The Crown Jewels

Armed with the diary, Tam Dalyell goes on the attack – but the cover-up continues. A second whistle-blower from within the Ministry of Defence is arrested for a breach of the Official Secrets Act.

Small Lies Big Lies

Lieutenant Sethia quits the navy and moves to the Caribbean. He thinks the Falklands War is behind him, but back in the UK, an eccentric, anti-war MP notices a discrepancy in the government’s account...

Political Poems: ‘Goblin Market’ by Christina Rossetti, feat. Shirley Henderson and Felicity Jones

Mark ford and seamus perry, 29 august 2024.

‘Goblin Market’ was the title poem of Christina Rossetti’s first collection, published in 1862, and while she disclaimed any allegorical purpose in it, modern readers have found it hard to resist...

Among the Ancients II: Lucan

Emily wilson and thomas jones, 29 august 2024.

In his prodigious, prolific and very short career, Lucan was at turns championed, disavowed and finally forced into suicide at 25 by the emperor Nero. His only surviving work is Civil War, an account...

Medieval LOLs: ‘Sir Gawain and the Carle of Carlisle’

Mary wellesley and irina dumitrescu, 29 august 2024.

The character of Gawain, one of King Arthur’s leading knights, recurs throughout medieval literature, but the way he’s presented underwent a curious development during the period, moving closer and...

Human Conditions: ‘Hope against Hope’ by Nadezhda Mandelstam

Pankaj mishra and adam shatz, 24 august 2024.

Nadezhda Mandelstam’s Hope against Hope is a testimony of life under Stalin, and of the ways in which ordinary people challenge and capitulate to power. It’s also a compendium of gossip, an account...

James Butler, Rebecca Howe & Rowan Williams: Love’s Work

James butler, rebecca howes and rowan williams, 24 july 2024.

To mark the publication of a new edition of Gillian Rose’s Love’s Work, the hosted a discussion of Rose’s masterpiece and its legacy, featuring James Butler, Rebekah Howes and the former Archbishop...

Lauren Oyler & Leo Robson: No Judgement

Lauren oyler and leo robson, 24 july 2024.

Lauren Oyler is one of our rowdiest and sharpest literary critics, twice causing the LRB website to crash from too much traffic, and author of the novel Fake Accounts. No Judgement is her first collection...

Fernanda Eberstadt & Olivia Laing: Bite Your Friends

Fernanda eberstadt and olivia laing, 24 july 2024.

Fernanda Eberstadt’s Bite Your Friends is both a history of the body as a site of resistance to power, and a subversive memoir, drawing on a cast of outrageous heroes including Diogenes, Saint Perpetua,...

Clair Wills & Alice Spawls: Missing Persons

Clair wills and alice spawls, 24 july 2024.

When Clair Wills was in her twenties, she discovered she had a cousin she had never met. Missing Persons, or My Grandmother’s Secrets is a detective story, memoir and cultural history of Ireland’s...

The Great Political Poems

David runciman, seamus perry and mark ford, 26 july 2024.

David talks to Mark Ford and Seamus Perry, hosts of Political Poems, about what makes a great political poem. Can great poetry be ideological? How much does context matter? And is it possible to tell...

Great Political Fictions: ‘Fathers and Sons’

David runciman, 26 july 2024.

This week’s Great Political Fiction is Ivan Turgenev’s Fathers and Sons (1862), the definitive novel about the politics – and emotions – of intergenerational conflict.

Great Political Fictions: ‘Mary Stuart’

This week’s Great Political Fiction is Friedrich Schiller’s monumental play Mary Stuart (1800), which lays bare the impossible choices faced by two queens – Elizabeth I of England and Mary Queen...

Great Political Fictions: ‘Gulliver’s Travels’

This week’s episode on the great political fictions is about Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels (1726) – part adventure story, part satire of early-eighteenth-century party politics, but above...

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8 of the best podcasts for book lovers

Book worm? You're going to want to subscribe to these…

Books are pretty much the best thing ever, right? Whether it’s a cosy winter’s night or a warm summery day, there’s not a lot better in life that sitting down with a good read and getting totally lost in your imagination.

But there are only so many books to read, and besides, with the best will in the world, we book worms can’t spend all day every day with our heads in a paperback. So what else can we book-lovers do to get our fix? Cue, literary podcasts.

There are so many excellent books-based podcasts available to download, featuring discussion groups, reviews and author interviews. Here, we choose eight of the best.

The Guardian Books Podcast

A weekly look at the world of books, poetry and great writing presented by Claire Armitstead, Richard Lea, and Sian Cain. With in-depth interviews with leading authors and investigations looking at writing trends, this is the perfect book worm’s companion.

The Times Literary Supplement Podcast

Inspired by Oscar Wilde’s question, “With freedom, books, flowers, and the moon, who could not be happy?”, the TLS brings listeners a wide-ranging weekly podcast on books and ideas, discussing everything from empathy to liberalism.

Literary Friction

Literary Friction is a lively monthly conversation about books and ideas, hosted by friends Carrie and Octavia. Each month the pair interview an author about their book and build the show around a related theme. There’s also book recommendations and a little music, too.

BBC Radio 4 Open Book

Mariella Frostrup hosts this podcast, which looks at new fiction and non-fiction books, talks to authors and publishers and unearths lost classics.

The New Yorker Fiction Podcast

A monthly reading and conversation with the New Yorker fiction editor Deborah Treisman. Recent guests include Salman Rushdie and Lorrie Moore.

Literary Disco

Friends and self-proclaimed book nerd Julia, Tod and Rider read and discuss books, essays and stories in this podcast, which features everything from poetry and plays to children’s books.

BBC World Book Club

A monthly book club featuring discussion about classics and interviews with prize-winning authors. Recent guests include Sebastian Barry, Sophie Hannah and Jane Gardam.

London Review Bookshop Podcasts

Recordings of the author and reader discussions the happen twice-weekly and the London Review Bookshop. Expect lively debates and a mix of guests including Mary Beard, Ali Smith and Ruby Tandoh.

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The Book Review

The New York Times

The world's top authors and critics join host Gilbert Cruz and editors at The New York Times Book Review to talk about the week's top books, what we're reading and what's going on in the literary world. Listen to this podcast in New York Times Audio, our new iOS app for news subscribers. Download now at nytimes.com/audioapp

Categories: Arts

Listen to the last episode:

As part of its recent "100 Best Books of the 21st Century" project, The New York Times Book Review is interviewing some of the authors whose books appeared on the list. This week, Isabel Wilkerson joins host Gilbert Cruz to discuss her 2010 book about the Great Migration.

Previous episodes

• 506 - 21st Century Books Special Edition: Isabel Wilkerson on 'The Warmth of Other Suns'  Mon, 26 Aug 2024 <p>As part of its recent "100 Best Books of the 21st Century" project, The New York Times Book Review is interviewing some of the authors whose books appeared on the list. This week, Isabel Wilkerson joins host Gilbert Cruz to discuss her 2010 book about the Great Migration.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 505 - Book Club: 'My Brilliant Friend,' by Elena Ferrante  Fri, 23 Aug 2024 <p>The New York Times Book Review recently published a list of The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century. The top choice was “My Brilliant Friend,” by Elena Ferrante, translated by Ann Goldstein. In this week’s episode, MJ Franklin discusses the book with fellow editors Joumana Khatib, Emily Eakin and Gregory Cowles.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 504 - 21st Century Books Special Edition: Jennifer Egan on 'A Visit from the Goon Squad'  Mon, 19 Aug 2024 <p>As part of its recent “100 Best Books of the 21st Century" project, The New York Times Book Review is interviewing some of the authors whose books appeared on the list. This week, Jennifer Egan discusses discuss her Pulitzer-winning novel about the music industry, "A Visit From the Goon Squad."<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 503 - Liz Moore on Her Summer Camp Mystery "The God of the Woods"  Fri, 16 Aug 2024 <p>A summer camp in the Adirondacks. A rich girl gone missing, 14 years after her older brother also disappeared. A prominent local family harboring dark secrets. On this week’s episode, author Liz Moore chats with Gilbert Cruz about her new novel “The God in the Woods.”<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 502 - What We're Reading This Summer  Fri, 9 Aug 2024 <p>On this week’s episode, host Gilbert Cruz chats with his colleagues Joumana Khatib and Anna Dubenko about the books that have been occupying their attention this season.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 501 - 21st Century Books Special Edition: George Saunders on 'Lincoln in the Bardo'  Mon, 5 Aug 2024 <p>As part of its recent "100 Best Books of the 21st Century" project, The New York Times Book Review is interviewing some of the authors whose books appeared on the list. This week, George Saunders joins host Gilbert Cruz.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 500 - Sarah Jessica Parker on Her Life in Publishing  Fri, 2 Aug 2024 <p>Since 2016, the renowned actress has also worked in publishing, bringing her name and love of books to imprints at two companies. In this episode, she discusses what that work has meant to her.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 499 - 21st Century Books Special Edition: Min Jin Lee on 'Pachinko'  Mon, 29 Jul 2024 <p>As part of its recent "100 Best Books of the 21st Century" project, The New York Times Book Review is interviewing some of the authors whose books appeared on the list. This week, Min Jin Lee joins host Gilbert Cruz.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 498 - Book Club: Let's Talk About "The Talented Mr. Ripley," by Patricia Highsmith  Fri, 26 Jul 2024 <p>Highsmith’s classic thriller mixes glamour, betrayal, self-invention and murder. What’s not to love?<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 497 - 21st Century Books Special Edition: Colson Whitehead on 'The Underground Railroad'  Mon, 22 Jul 2024 <p>As part of its recent "100 Best Books of the 21st Century" project, The New York Times Book Review is interviewing some of the authors whose books appeared on the list. This week, two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Colson Whitehead joins host Gilbert Cruz to discuss his 2016 novel.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 496 - What It's Like to Write a King Arthur Tale  Fri, 19 Jul 2024 <p>Lev Grossman, author of "The Magicians" and its two sequels, joins host Gilbert Cruz to talk about writing his version of Camelot in "The Bright Sword: A Novel of King Arthur."<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 495 - The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century  Fri, 12 Jul 2024 <p>This week The New York Times Book Review rolled out the results of an ambitious survey it conducted to determine the best books of the 21st century so far. On this week’s episode, Gilbert Cruz chats with some fellow editors about the results of that survey and about the project itself.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 494 - Book Club: 'Headshot,' by Rita Bullwinkel  Fri, 28 Jun 2024 <p>Rita Bullwinkel’s impressive debut novel, “Headshot,” follows eight teenagers fighting in a youth women’s boxing tournament. Each chapter details a match between fighters, bout after bout, until finally a champion is declared. In this week’s spoiler-filled episode, the Book Review’s MJ Franklin discusses the book with his colleagues Joumana Khatib and Lauren Christensen.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 493 - Griffin Dunne on His Joyful and Tragic Family Memoir  Fri, 21 Jun 2024 <p>The actor and director Griffin Dunne joins host Gilbert Cruz to talk about his family memoir, "The Friday Afternoon Club."<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 492 - 10 Books to Check Out This Summer  Fri, 14 Jun 2024 <p>Summer is upon us and you're going to need a few books to read. Book Review editors Elisabeth Egan and Joumana Khatib join host Gilbert Cruz to talk through a few titles they're looking forward to over the next several months.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 491 - Elin Hilderbrand on Her Final Nantucket Summer Book  Fri, 7 Jun 2024 <p>For many years now, Elin Hilderbrand has published a novel every summer set on the island of Nantucket. With her 30th book, 'Swan Song,' the bestselling author says she will step off that hamster wheel and try something new. On this week's episode, she and host Gilbert Cruz talk about her career, what she's reading, and what's next.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 490 - Let's Talk About Percival Everett's 'James'  Fri, 31 May 2024 <p>In this spoiler-filled conversation, a panel of Book Review editors discuss Percival Everett's reworking of Mark Twain's “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn."<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 489 - Writing About NASA's Most Shocking Moment  Fri, 17 May 2024 <p>The year 1986 was notable for two big disasters: the Chernobyl nuclear accident in the Soviet Union and the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger in the United States. The journalist Adam Higginbotham wrote about Chernobyl in his 2019 book, “Midnight in Chernobyl.” Now he’s back, with a look at the American side of the ledger, in his new book, “Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space.” On this week’s episode, Higginbotham tells host Gilbert Cruz why he was drawn to both disasters, and what the Challenger explosion revealed about weaknesses in America’s space program.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 488 - Fantasy Superstar Leigh Bardugo on Her New Novel  Fri, 10 May 2024 <p>In the world of fantasy fiction, Leigh Bardugo is royalty: Her Grishaverse novels are mainstays on the young adult best-seller list and her adult novels “Ninth House” and “Hell Bent” established her as a force to reckon with in dark academia. This week on the podcast, Gilbert Cruz talks with Bardugo about her first work of historical fiction, "The Familiar."<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 487 - Colm Toibin on His Sequel to 'Brooklyn'  Fri, 3 May 2024 <p>Colm Tóibín’s 2009 novel “Brooklyn” told the story of a meek young Irishwoman, Eilis Lacey, who emigrates to New York in the 1950s and slowly begins building a new life for herself. On this week’s podcast, Tóibín talks to Sarah Lyall about the sequel, "Long Island," and how he came to write it.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 486 - Book Club: Dolly Alderton's 'Good Material'  Fri, 26 Apr 2024 <p>In this week’s episode, MJ Franklin discusses Dolly Alderton's hit book "Good Material" with his colleagues Emily Eakin and Leah Greenblatt. (Caution: Spoilers abound!)<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 485 - 100 Years of Simon & Schuster  Fri, 12 Apr 2024 <p>The publisher has gone through a lot of changes since its founding in 1924. Its current chief executive, Jonathan Karp, talks about the company’s history and its hopes for the future.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 484 - Looking Back at 50 Years of Stephen King  Fri, 5 Apr 2024 <p>This month marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of Stephen King’s first novel, “Carrie.” On this week’s episode, host Gilbert Cruz talks to the novelist Grady Hendrix, who read and re-read many of King’s books over several years for a writing project, as well as King superfan Damon Lindelof, the TV showrunner behind shows such as “Lost” and “The Leftovers.”<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 483 - Books That Make Our Critics Laugh  Fri, 29 Mar 2024 <p>Dwight Garner, Alexandra Jacobs and Jennifer Szalai weigh in on 22 of the funniest novels since “Catch-22.”<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 482 - Talking to Tana French About Her New Series  Fri, 22 Mar 2024 <p>The great Irish crime novelist Tana French joins Sarah Lyall to talk about her new novel "The Hunter," a sequel to 2020's "The Searcher."<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 481 - Talking ‘Dune’: Book and Movies  Fri, 15 Mar 2024 <p>The Times’s critic Alissa Wilkinson discusses Frank Herbert’s classic science fiction novel and Denis Villeneuve’s film adaptations.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 480 - Book Club: Let’s Talk About ‘Erasure,’ by Percival Everett  Fri, 8 Mar 2024 <p>A scathing satire about race, publishing and identity politics, Everett’s acclaimed 2001 novel is the basis of the Oscar-nominated movie “American Fiction.”<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 479 - Tommy Orange on His "There There" Sequel  Fri, 1 Mar 2024 <p>Tommy Orange’s acclaimed debut novel, “There There” centered on a group of characters who all converge on an Indigenous powwow in modern-day Oakland, Calif. His follow-up, “Wandering Stars,” is both a prequel and a sequel to that book. This week, Orange visits the podcast to discuss his new work as well as the book he has read most in his life, Clarice Lispector's "The Hour of the Star."<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 478 - The Rise and Fall of The Village Voice  Fri, 23 Feb 2024 <p>Dwight Garner discusses a new oral history of the venerable alt-weekly, Tricia Romano’s “The Freaks Came Out to Write.”<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 477 - Let's Talk About 'Demon Copperhead'  Fri, 16 Feb 2024 <p>On this week's episode, a roundtable conversation about Barbara Kingsolver’s “Demon Copperhead,” a riff on “David Copperfield” that moves Charles Dickens’s story to contemporary Appalachia and grapples with topics from poverty to ambition to opioid addiction.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 476 - 4 Early-Year Book Recommendations  Fri, 9 Feb 2024 <p>The early part of a year can mean new books to read, or it can mean catching up on older ones we haven’t gotten to yet. This week, Gilbert Cruz chats with the Book Review’s Sarah Lyall and Sadie Stein about titles from both categories that have held their interest lately.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 475 - 'Killers of the Flower Moon': Book and Movie Discussion  Fri, 2 Feb 2024 <p>A.O. Scott joins for a spoiler-filled conversation about both David Grann's "Killers of the Flower Moon" and Martin Scorsese's Oscar-nominated film adaptation.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 474 - Talking the Joys and Rules of Open Marriage  Fri, 26 Jan 2024 <p>Molly Roden Winter and her husband have been married for 24 years. But since 2008 they have also dated other people — an arrangement that Winter details in her new memoir, “More: A Memoir of Open Marriage.” In this week’s episode, Sarah Lyall chats with Winter about her book, her marriage and why she decided to go public.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 473 - Our Early 2024 Book Preview  Fri, 19 Jan 2024 <p>It's gonna be a busy spring! On this week’s episode, we talk about some of the upcoming books we are anticipating most keenly over the next several months, including new work from Salman Rushdie, Percival Everett, Tana French and Erik Larson.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 472 - Steven Soderbergh on His Year in Reading  Fri, 12 Jan 2024 <p>Every January, the director Steven Soderbergh posts a detailed list of his previous year's cultural consumption — every movie and TV series watched, every book read. On this week's episode, we talk books!<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 471 - Book Club: 'The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store'  Fri, 22 Dec 2023 <p>In our last episode of 2023, we convene to talk about James McBride's novel — one of the year's most celebrated books.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 470 - How to Tell the Story of a Giant Wildfire  Fri, 15 Dec 2023 <p>John Vaillant, the author of “Fire Weather” (one of our 10 Best Books this year), discusses climate change and the fire that devastated a Canadian petroleum town in 2016.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 469 - Our Critics' Year in Reading  Fri, 8 Dec 2023 <p>Dwight Garner, Jennifer Szalai and Alexandra Jacobs look back on the books that have stuck with them in 2023.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 468 - 10 Best Books of 2023  Tue, 28 Nov 2023 <p>They're here!<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 467 - Talking Barbra Streisand and Rebecca Yarros  Fri, 10 Nov 2023 <p>Book Review editor Gilbert Cruz talks to reporter Alexandra Alter about Rebecca Yarros, author of the smash "romantasy" hit "Fourth Wing," and critic Alexandra Jacobs, who reviewed Barbra Streisand's sprawling new memoir.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 466 - Why is Shakespeare's First Folio So Important?  Fri, 3 Nov 2023 <p>The Book Review's Sarah Lyall talks with Adrian Edwards, head of the Printed Heritage Collections at the British Library, about a new edition of Shakespeare’s First Folio.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 465 - Happy Halloween: Scary Book Recommendations  Fri, 27 Oct 2023 <p>It's scary story season. The Book Review's Gilbert Cruz talks to fellow editors Tina Jordan and Sadie Stein about their favorites.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 464 - How Did Marvel Become the Biggest Name in Movies?  Fri, 20 Oct 2023 <p>Host Gilbert Cruz is joined by writers and podcasters Joanna Robinson and Dave Gonzales to talk about their new book “MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios."<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 463 - What Big Books Have Yet to Come Out in 2023?  Fri, 13 Oct 2023 <p>Book Review editor Gilbert Cruz is joined by Joumana Khatib to talk about the biggest titles yet to arrive in 2023.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 462 - What It's Like to Write a Madonna Biography  Fri, 6 Oct 2023 <p>A conversation with Mary Gabriel, whose substantial new biography offers a comprehensive and surprising look at Madonna'a life and career.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 461 - Audiobooks are the Best  Fri, 29 Sep 2023 <p>You love books. You love podcasts. Ergo, we assume you love audiobooks. This week we’ve devoted our entire episode to the form.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 460 - Zadie Smith on Her New Historical Novel  Fri, 22 Sep 2023 <p>Zadie Smith joins the podcast to talk about her new novel "The Fraud." And we talk about the recent controversy involving the National Book Awards and erstwhile host Drew Barrymore.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 459 - Elon Musk's Biography and Profiling Naomi Klein  Fri, 15 Sep 2023 <p>Times critic Jennifer Szalai talks about Walter Isaacson's biography of the world's richest man and her recent look at the writer and activist Naomi Klein.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 458 - Talking to Stephen King and September Books to Check Out  Fri, 8 Sep 2023 <p>Stephen King joins the podcast to talk about his new thriller "Holly." And Joumana Khatib gives us a look at six of the month's most anticipated releases.<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->
• 457 - Amor Towles Sees Dead People  Fri, 18 Aug 2023 <p>The novelist discusses his career and his recent essay about cadavers in crime fiction, and the actor Richard E. Grant talks about his memoir and his love of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.”<a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"></a></p> -->

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Culture | Books

10 of the best literary podcasts for book lovers

Nothing compares to reading a book, but literary podcasts do offer their listeners different ways to enjoy them, from hearing an author’s voice and getting the lowdown on the latest novels to discovering some magnificent lost gem you’ve never heard of.

The trick here is to be selective when choosing which episode to listen to, as it’s only as good as the author on it.

Confessions with Giles Fraser

UnHerd columnist and Anglican priest Giles Fraser’s interviews with “interesting, well-known people”, many, though not all, of whom are authors, focus on “how their beliefs shape who they are”. Turkish novelist Elif Shafak talks about agnosticism, faith and doubt, and why populism is the “fake” answer to real problems, while Susan Hill reveals how unresolved grief over the deaths of her mother, her fiancé and her baby daughter played into her ghost stories.

Good for: Serious in-depth discussion.

Frequency: Once a month.

Duration: Just under an hour.

The Penguin Podcast

“But to write a novel from the perspective of Melania would be to spend your time and energy pondering what it’s like to be married to Donald Trump,” Curtis Sittenfeld tells Nihal Arthanayake, apropos of her latest novel, Rodham. Paul McCartney — yes, that one, and author of children’s story Grandude — explains why the thought of meeting Bob Dylan made him nervous, and Bernardine Evaristo talks about growing up poor in a mixed-race household, one of eight children.

Good For: Keeping up with new publications.

Frequency: Fortnightly.

Duration : Just over half an hour.

You’re Booked

Perfect for “literary nosy parkers”, Daisy Buchanan visits writers at home for some deep-delving into their bookshelves. David Nicholls stacks his books alphabetically with Amis up top (he’s got a ladder), while Philippa Perry has read every Jane Austen novel at least 20 times. Check out the new mini spin-off too, Shelf Isolation, about good books to get through lockdown, kicking off with Sara Pascoe.

Good For: Shelf envy.

Frequency: Weekly.

Duration: About an hour.

Literary Friction

Authors discuss the topics du jour with hosts literary agent Carrie Plitt and academic Octavia Bright. Does debut novelist Kiley Reid think social media is destroying our ability to read? What does Garth Greenwell have to say about why intimacy is so important in these socially distanced times? And Topeka School sensation Ben Lerner argues for the power of therapy in ­fiction. Shorter “minisodes” cover anything from Brexit to TS Eliot.

Good For: Authors takes on current affairs.

Frequency : Weekly.

Sentimental Garbage

The Irish journalist Caroline O’Donoghue discusses vintage chick-lit in a refreshingly lightweight tone. Valley of the Dolls? “You should probably have some kind of drink with it,” says her guest, the writer Ella Risbridger. “Oh yeah, I was so drunk reading so much of this,” agrees O’Donoghue​. The Thorn Birds? “Colleen McCullough, not a nice lady, I did some research … she was a bitch.” Guests and titles vary, but O’Donoghue remains the star.

Good For : Not taking itself too seriously.

BBC Radio 4 Book Club

James Naughtie hosts; listeners put questions to authors. Was anger or art the impetus for The Handmaid’s Tale?, Margaret Atwood is asked (by Eimear McBride). What diagnosis would a psychologist give Eleanor (Oliphant)?, Gail Honeyman is asked. How much research did Colson Whitehead do on enforced sterilisation when plotting The Underground Railroad?

Good For: Authors high, low and every brow.

Frequency: Every Sunday.

Duration: 28 minutes.

Ever been tempted to read The Journal of a Disappointed Man by W. N. P. Barbellion? Or Excellent Women by Barbara Pym, or The Blessing by Nancy Mitford? What about Ian Fleming’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service? John “Unbound” Mitchinson, journalist Andy Miller and guests use a jocular chat-show format to discuss the books that got away, and lots of banter .

Good For: Hearing original blurbs of obscure books.

Duration: 50 minutes.

Simon Mayo’s Books of the Year

Radio presenter Mayo and former BBC sidekick Matt Williams invite authors from Adele Parks to Sophie Hannah, from Lee Child to Jung Chang, to plug their books and chat about whatever takes their fancy. Followed by a Q&A, with the authors giving their favourite author recommendations. Parks likes Muriel Spark; Hannah prefers Agatha Christie.

Good For: A few laughs along the way.

Duration: Anything from 15-50 minutes.

Frank Skinner’s Poetry Podcast

On Philip Larkin: “A lot of people talk about representation. Women want to see more women in strong positive roles; people of colour likewise. I feel represented by a weedy, unattractive, grumpy bloke who seems to have a sparkling inner life.” On Famous Bigshots by Caroline Knox: “I don’t actually know why I love it completely and I don’t completely know what it means, but sometimes love is blind.”

Good For: Heartfelt takes on poems.

Duration: 30 minutes.

The Slightly Foxed Podcast

You’re sitting at a well-scrubbed kitchen table in “cosy Hoxton Square” with SF editors Gail Pirkis, Hazel Wood and friends, a dog at your feet, wine on the go, yakking about “off the beaten track” books. Topics covered include the power of the English countryside, the connection between the parochial and the universal, and why royal biographies and novels can be so gripping.

Good For: More rarified listening.

Duration: 38 minutes.

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7 Book Review Podcasts for Discovering New Books

Book review podcasts are an engaging way to discover new books. Check out these podcasts across different genres, including All The Books!

Arvyn Cerezo

Arvyn Cerezo is an arts and culture writer/reporter with bylines in Book Riot , Publishers Weekly , South China Morning Post , PhilSTAR Life , the Asian Review of Books , and other publications. You can find them on arvyncerezo.com and @ArvynCerezo on Twitter.

View All posts by Arvyn Cerezo

Book review podcasts are an engaging and accessible way to discover new books. Most of us only have so much time to read these days, much less read a book review from our favorite publications, magazines, or blogs. This makes book review podcasts a convenient alternative as you only have to let them run in the background.

Here to look for book review podcasts to listen to while on commute or while doing other stuff at home or work? Look no further because I’ve got lots of them in this list.

These book review podcasts release episodes weekly (or bi-weekly), with an exception to one, feature diverse authors, and underrepresented genres. What’s more, some of the book review podcasts below have lively author discussions that allow for authors to tell more about their books, their writerly lives, and their writing process, among other things.

And if that’s not your cup of tea, there are also shows in here that offer unbiased takes from other folks — without bringing the author into the discussion. Whatever your listening preference is, I’m sure that you can find podcasts in here that are tailored for your ears.

Ahead are seven of the best book review podcasts to get book recommendations and more.

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1. All The Books

This is one of Book Riot’s many podcasts that focuses on new releases every week. Sometimes, however, it also features backlist titles in special episodes called “All The Backlists.”

All The Books runs weekly and is hosted by Liberty Hardy and the editors of Book Riot. What I love about the show is that the hosts go in-depth in discussing books. I like the thoughtful commentary they provide to each title, even giving content warnings if there are. It’s an all-around fun and engaging show!

2. The Book Review by The New York Times

The editors at the New York Times talk about the week’s top books, what they are reading, some news in the book world, and a whole lot more in this podcast. They interview authors and have them tell more about their books. Episodes usually run 45-50 minutes, but sometimes they go up to an hour.

The show has been going on for some 15 years now, so they have a massive archive to listen to. What I love about it is that they feature prominent authors who provide unique insight on their works and answer questions the readers might have.

3. NPR’s Book of the Day

The show runs less than 15 minutes, so it has the perfect length to get your literary fix quickly, keep abreast of new and interesting books, and more. They also talk to authors in this show, chatting with them about their current releases. Borrowing language of the show’s promo, it’s “snackable and skimmable.” Despite its short length, you’ll get to learn a lot from the insightful literary discussions and reviews.

My favorite episodes are when they feature Constance Wu and Celeste Ng.

4. Asian Review of Books

This is a book review publication that focuses on books by Asian authors and books about Asia. In its podcast version, the host talks to authors about their relevant works and also touches on the current issues in the region. I love that this show focuses on authors from a marginalized community, which is kind of rare in bookish podcasts these days.

In here, they mostly discuss fiction and nonfiction books, and the topics can be “newsy” and a bit academic.

5. The Sapphic Book Review

This is a unique book review podcast that features sapphic books written by diverse authors. For the uninitiated, sapphic “includes lesbians, bisexual women, and nonbinary people who align with the term…All lesbian books are sapphic.”

In here, they mostly interview authors, digging deeper about their works. Sometimes, there are casual discussions, too. I love that I get recommended noteworthy books that are not on my radar yet.

6. Fully Booked by Kirkus Reviews

Every week, this show brings in authors for interviews, features the current best-selling titles, and more. When discussing a book, the host mostly quotes from the book reviews published in the magazine itself, and then the author joins the conversation for more context.

It’s a worthwhile podcast if you want to keep yourself posted with new, notable releases. If you read Kirkus Reviews magazine, then this is a must-listen show.

7. The Stack by Comic Book Club

A podcast dedicated to comics? That’s somewhat uncommon. In here, the hosts usually talk about new comic releases. The episodes go over an hour since they discuss titles, issues, artworks, and sometimes, the film counterparts, in depth.

If you read a lot of comics and want to stay in the know, then it’s a no-brainer.

Book review podcasts keep us entertained and at the same time informed of new releases. Since some of us are caught up in our lives, these podcasts make it easier for us to discover new favorites.

If you want more bookish content on audio, here are 33 of the Best Book Podcasts for All Genres and New Bookish Podcasts to Listen to in 2022 .

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The best Books & Literature podcasts

Here you can see the best podcasts for Books & Literature from the current iTunes and Spotify charts as of 29.08.2024.

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80 Best UK Book Podcasts

Uk book podcasts.

Here are 80 Best UK Book Podcasts worth listening to in 2024

1. Underwood and Flinch and Other Audiobooks by Mike Bennett

2. Backlisted

3. Books and Authors

4. New Books in British Studies

5. World Book Club

6. Bookclub

7. Hardcore Literature

8. Storynory: Stories for Kids

9. Read On - The Audiobook Show from RNIB

10. Simon Mayo's Books Of The Year

11. book(ish) podcast

12. Beatles Books

13. Tender Buttons

14. Two Girls One Book

15. Confessions of a Book Collector

16. Got Books? Conversations with Booksellers

17. Books of their Lives

18. Bare Books Podcast

19. Talking Sports Books

20. John Sandoe Books

21. Teaching My Cat To Read

22. The Books Podcast

23. The LRB Podcast

24. Tea or Books?

25. London Review Bookshop Podcast

26. The Book Club

27. You're Booked

28. Blank Cover Podcast

29. Comic Book Lessons

30. Fun Kids Book Worms

• UK Book Podcasters

• Underwood and Flinch and Other Audiobooks by Mike Bennett
• Books and Authors
• New Books in British Studies
• World Book Club
• Hardcore Literature
• Storynory: Stories for Kids
• Read On - The Audiobook Show from RNIB
• Simon Mayo's Books Of The Year
• book(ish) podcast
• Beatles Books
• Tender Buttons
• Two Girls One Book
• Confessions of a Book Collector
• Got Books? Conversations with Booksellers
• Books of their Lives
• Bare Books Podcast
• Talking Sports Books
• John Sandoe Books
• Teaching My Cat To Read
• The Books Podcast
• The LRB Podcast
• Tea or Books?
• London Review Bookshop Podcast
• The Book Club
• You're Booked
• Blank Cover Podcast
• Comic Book Lessons
• Fun Kids Book Worms

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Podcast Review

5 Fun and Entertaining Book Club Podcasts

W hether you’re on the go or relaxing at home with a hot beverage, sometimes being alone with your thoughts just isn’t enough. There’s comfort in feeling like you belong somewhere, that you’re a part of a group. No matter how much of a hermit you are, deep down we all long for conversation.

Which is why, if you’re a book lover like me, there’s nothing more gratifying than reading along with a friend or two through a book club. That said, choosing a book club that’s right for you can be an overwhelming task. That’s where book club podcasts can be a great alternative. You can still be in the comfort of your own home or car, and feel like you’re listening to dear friends discuss your most recent read. If you’re looking for a book club podcast to listen to, here are five you should give a try.

Fiction Between Friends

Four childhood friends, Josie, Alisa, Aileen, and Lauren, meet every other week to discuss, banter over, and celebrate different books they have recently read or remember reading in the past. This podcast is perfect for readers who want to feel like they’re in the company of old friends, chatting about life, books they love, and how the two intertwine. The four hosts consist of a librarian, a physics teacher, an ad exec, and an international bestselling author known for her Starcrossed series, who often shares interesting insights into the book world from an author’s point of view. The chemistry between the hosts is what you’d expect from friends who have known each other since the sixth grade. They’re not just fun to listen to, but insightful and endearing.

Black Chick Lit

Black Chick Lit is a clever and insightful podcast hosted by Dani and Mollie, who talk about books written by and for Black women and dive into deep and intelligent conversations about a variety of topics, at times funny, other times inspirational, but always informative. Dani and Mollie will undoubtedly charm you with their wit and their down-to-earth demeanor. And their encyclopedic knowledge of books will win you over from the start. The two hosts delve into some heavy topics, but they always keep it real. They will undoubtedly hook you and take you through all the feels while discussing each book, while also leaving you with precious nuggets of wisdom along the way. The hosts celebrate the diversity and color in the literary world, showcasing just how wonderful and impactful Black literature can be.

Big Queer Book Club

Kendra and Amanda are Midwest queer folk (as they proudly refer to themselves) spreading knowledge and love for queer-centered literature. Each episode focuses on a book written by an LGBTQIA+, or books centered around characters from the community. Different guests from the LGBTQIA+ community in the entertainment world are invited on the weekly podcast to discuss each of the featured books. Kendra and Amanda create a welcoming, safe environment to have frank discussions about representation, inclusiveness, and the importance of queer voices in the literature world today. Whether you’re a friend of Dorothy or not, this podcast is fun, energetic, and one that isn’t to be missed.

Selected Shorts

While not your typical book club podcast, Selected Shorts features different actors and narrators who read aloud a variety of short stories depending on the theme of the episode. The show offers a diverse array of voices and stories meant to be moving or funny, and always entertaining. Selected Shorts gives you the feel of a book-on-tape by having a person read to you so you can just close your eyes, relax and submerge yourself in the world of the story. The episodes often include famous narrators such as Roxane Gay and Cynthia Nixon. It’s a great podcast to listen to when you’re looking for your audiobook fix, but without the 8-12 hour run time.

Novel Pairings

Novel Pairings is a book club podcast that takes the heavy-handed academia out of the classics, making them relatable to anyone interested in hearing how fun and relevant they can be. The show is hosted by two self-proclaimed “nerdy bookworms,” and their infectious energy helps prevent the podcast from sounding like a lecture despite of the pedigree of the books they cover. The hosts discuss and dissect each and every book but with a twist, and a promise to never get bored. With this podcast, you’ll listen to the teachers you wish you had when you were falling asleep in your high school English class.

Janice Deniel Wraase is an avid reader and aspiring writer. She can be reached on Instagram ( @snug_talks ), where she also showcases her book photography.

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The 27 Best Book Podcasts

For when you put your book down.

Every item on this page was chosen by a Town & Country editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

Without further ado, here are 27 recommendations for book podcasts spanning genre (fantasy! romance ! classics!) and location (books in translation! Indigenous authors! books from the Middle East!). There's something for everyone here—just as long as you love to read.

NPR's Book of the Day

Released daily, NPR's Book of the Day podcast is an under 15-minute listen on good reads and book news. As NPR describes , "Whether you're looking to engage with the big questions of our times—or temporarily escape from them—we've got an author who will speak to you, all genres, mood and writing styles included."

It's great for discovering new books to add to your reading list.

Well-Read Black Girl

In 2015, Glory Edim launched Well-Read Black Girl—a book club turned literary festival turned podcast. The podcast launched on February 1, 2022, and Edim wrote on Instagram that she'd "been dreaming of making this podcast for years." The first episodes feature conversations with Min Jin Lee, Tarana Burke, Anita Hill, and Jacqueline Woodson. The podcast will also include interviews with WRBG Book Club members, Black booksellers, and more. It's not to be missed.

Debutiful is a website and podcast where readers can discover new authors through interviews and recommendations. Hosted by Adam Vitcavage, the show only features debut authors—and their fresh voices are key. In each episode, Adam goes in-depth with a writer about their first book and what inspires them. If you're someone who loves reading the acknowledgements section—there's nothing better—this podcast truly delivers.

The Maris Review

Maris Kreizman describes herself as a "writer, editor, reader, fan," and her insights on books are not to be missed. The cultural critic is the author of the bestselling Slaughterhouse 90210: Where Great Books Meet Pop Culture . On her podcast, she talks to authors you should know about their own books and the books they love, the shows and films they’ve watched, the music they’ve listened to, and the links they’ve clicked.

The Book Review

The New York Times Book Review is legendary. Naturally, it makes sense they'd have a podcast to complement their coverage. Each week, authors and critics join host Pamela Paul and editors at Times Book Review to talk about bestselling books, what they're reading, and what's going on in the literary world.

Overdue is a podcast about the books you've been meaning to pick up. Hosts Andrew Cunningham and Craig Getting work through their backlog and share with each other what they've been reading. "Sometimes that means complaining, sometimes that means championing," Craig explains . From classic literature to children's books, they read it all. Literally they have episodes on everything from Fifty Shades of Grey or Homer's Odyssey.

Celebrity Memoir Book Club

In Celebrity Memoir Book Club , New York comedians Claire Parker and Ashley Hamilton read celebrity memoirs so you don't have to. Each episode features a different celebrity memoir—from Emily Ratajkowski 's My Body to Will Smith 's Will —and Claire & Ashley are simply hilarious.

Storykeepers Podcast

Storykeepers: Let's Talk Indigenous Books is a monthly podcast hosted by Jennifer David and Waubgeshig Rice. Each episode, they're joined by a guest host to discuss books by First Nations, Métis, and Inuit authors. Their goal is to "bring conversations about Indigenous books to a wider audience in an audio book-club format." And though they release only one episode a month, it's worth the wait.

The Hey YA podcast from Book Riot focuses exclusively on young adult literature. Hosts Erica Ezeifedi and Tirzah Price discuss great new YA books and favorite classics, and cover book news, adaptations, and so much more. For YA fans: this is for you.

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The Writer's Voice

Ever wanted to hear a New Yorker writer read their story to you? Look no further than The Writer's Voice , where New Yorker fiction writers read their stories from the magazine. A recent favorite was Matrix author Lauren Groff reading her story "Annunciation" from the February 14 & 21, 2022 issue of The New Yorker.

Books & Boba

Books & Boba is a book club dedicated to spotlighting books written by authors of Asian descent. Every month, hosts Marvin Yueh and Reera Yoo pick a book by an Asian or Asian American author to read and discuss on the podcast. They also interview authors and cover publishing news. Notably, they read a wide-range of genres—from fantasy to memoir—so there's something for everyone.

Novel Pairings

Novel Pairings is a podcast "dedicated to making the classics readable, relevant, and fun." Each episode, hosts Sara and Chelsey discuss one classic book and share recommendations for more contemporary reads that feature similar themes.

Three Percent

In the United States, about 3% of all books published are works in translation. The Three Percent podcast, presented by the University of Rochester’s translation program, hopes to bring attention to these books—with the goal that "reading literature from other countries is vital to maintaining a vibrant book culture and to increasing the exchange of ideas among cultures." Chad W. Post of Open Letter Books and Tom Roberge of New Directions and Albertine Bookstore host.

Harry Potter and the Sacred Text

This podcast is so much more than a Harry Potter book club. Rather, as the hosts explain, "this podcast creates time in your week to think about life’s big questions. Because reading fiction doesn’t help us escape the world, it helps us live in it." Hosted by Vanessa Zoltan and Matthew Potts, the show "allows listeners to find meaning through a secular text that they love" by re-reading the Harry Potter books.

On the Road with Penguin Classics

On the Road with Penguin Classics is a literary podcast that takes a stroll around the world's favorite books. In each episode, author Henry Eliot travels to a different literary location to explore a book in the company of remarkable readers. For example, in a season two episode , Henry travels to Dublin to discuss Irish novelist James Joyce.

Book Friends Forever

Ever wanted to know about children's book publishing secrets? Look no further, because best friends Grace Lin and Alvina Ling have the podcast for you. Grace is NYT bestselling author and illustrator and Alvina is the VP and Editor-in-Chief at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

Friends to Lovers

Each week, hosts Mackenzie Newcomb and Lily Herman use romance novels as a jumping off point to talk about sex, relationships, dating, and love. The podcast is presented by Bad Bitch Book Club , an online book club community.

Brooklyn Public Library launched a podcast because, as they explain , "Brooklyn has so many stories to tell, and a lot of them start at the library." The library's flagship podcast, Borrowed, is hosted by librarian Adwoa Adusei and director of marking Krissa Corbett Cavouras. Each episode doesn't feature a book review or interview, but rather, stories from Brooklyn—stories from the library, Brooklyn history, and more. Even if you've never been to Brooklyn, you will like Borrowed . Plus, each episode comes with a reading list. What more could you want?

The LRB Podacst

The LRB Podcast brings you what it sounds like: weekly conversations from The London Review of Books . It's not specifically all about books, but covers everything from Elizabethan True Crime to anti-vaxxers, so you know you will be tuning in to a fascinating conversation.

The Worst Bestsellers

In The Worst Bestsellers , w riter Kait and librarian Renata read bestselling books in an attempt to understand their appeal. As the disclaimer on their website reads: "We want to be clear about something: we’re not snobs, honestly. If somebody only ever reads James Patterson books, or vampire books, or magazines: more power to them, we say. We’re reading these books because we’re curious about what’s popular, and also, reading these books gives us a better idea of what’s popular and how to give good readers advisory. We make jokes about the books we read, but our intent is never to make fun of readers ."

Emily Burack (she/her) is the Senior News Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, culture, the royals, and a range of other subjects. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma , a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Twitter and Instagram .

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Why We’re Still So Obsessed With the Tudors

'The Thursday Murder Club' Movie News

Inside an Infamous Art Grifter's Early Schemes

The Best Books to Read This August

Inside the Coffee-Table Book Economy

10 Best Books About the Olympics

When Ricky Ian Gordon Met Stephen Sondheim

How JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Met

Lev Grossman on Writing a King Arthur for 2024

Inside a New Biography of JFK Jr.

Everything We Know About the Perfect Couple

The LRB Podcast

• SOCIETY & CULTURE
• UPDATED WEEKLY

The LRB Podcast brings you weekly conversations from Europe’s leading magazine of culture and ideas. Hosted by Thomas Jones and Malin Hay, with guest episodes from the LRB's US editor Adam Shatz, Meehan Crist, Rosemary Hill and more. Find the LRB's new Close Readings podcast in on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or search 'LRB Close Readings' wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Great Auks!

The great auk was a flightless, populous and reportedly delicious bird, once found widely across the rocky outcrops of the North Atlantic. By the 1860s it was extinct, its decline sharpened by specimen collectors and at least one volcanic eruption. Human-driven extinction was ‘almost unthinkable’ until the auk’s disappearance, Liam Shaw writes. He joins Tom to discuss when, where and why the great auk died out. Find further reading on the episode page: https://lrb.me/aukspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jane Austen, Simone de Beauvoir and Herodotus

What do Jane Austen, Simone de Beauvoir and Herodotus have in common?  They all appear in three of this year’s Close Readings series, in which a pair of LRB contributors explore an area of literature through a selection of key works. This week, we’re revisiting some of the highlights from subscriber-only episodes: Clare Bucknell and Colin Burrow on Emma, Judith Butler and Adam Shatz on The Second Sex, and Emily Wilson and Thomas Jones on Herodotus’ Histories. To listen to these episodes in full, subscribe to Close Readings: Directly in Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3Md5fd5 In other podcast apps: https://lrb.me/audio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Read Genesis

The Book of Genesis begins with the creation of the universe and ends with the death of Jacob, patriarch of the Israelites. Between these two events, successive generations confront the moral tests set for them by God, and in doing so usher in the Abrahamic religious tradition. In Reading Genesis, Marilynne Robinson argues for the continued relevance of Genesis as a foundational text of Western culture. James Butler joins Malin to discuss Robinson’s account in the light of a long, rich and conflicted history of interpretation. Find further reading on the episode page: https://lrb.me/genesispod Sponsored link: Learn more about the Royal Literary Fund here: https://rlf.org.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The First Pandemic?

In the 160s CE, Rome was struck by a devastating disease which, a new book argues, may have been the world’s first pandemic. Galen began his career treating ’the protracted plague’ with viper flesh, opium and urine, but despite his extensive documentation, we still don’t know what a modern diagnosis would be. Josephine Quinn joins Malin to discuss contemporary theories about the Antonine Plague and what ice cores and amulets can tell us about the disease’s impact. Further reading on the episode page: https://lrb.me/romanplaguepod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Wittgenstein’s ‘Tractatus’

When Wittgenstein published his Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus in 1921, he claimed to have solved all philosophical problems. One problem that hasn’t been solved though is how best to translate this notoriously difficult work. The expiry of the book’s copyright in 2021 has brought three new English translations in less than a year, each grappling with the difficulties posed by a philosopher who frequently undermined his own use of language to demonstrate the limitations of what can be represented. Adrian Moore joins Malin Hay to discuss what Wittgenstein hoped to achieve with the only work he published in his lifetime and to consider how much we should trust his assertion that everything it contains is nonsensical. Find further reading and listening on the episode page: https://lrb.me/tractatuspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patrick McGuinness: Back to Bouillon

Patrick McGuinness reads his diary from our 6th June issue about his family’s hometown of Bouillon in Belgium. He reflects on the linguistic and national barriers he crossed to return there each year; on the changes wrought on the town by the end of the industrial era; and on the ways that history and global politics can shape a locality beyond recognition. Read the diary here: https://lrb.me/mcguinnesspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the Republican National Convention: Day Four

It’s the final day of the Republican National Convention. Andrew O'Hagan and Deborah Friedell dissect Trump’s marathon acceptance speech and ask what a second term could look like. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the Republican National Convention: Day Three

At day three of the Republican National Convention, Andrew O'Hagan and Deborah Friedell discuss what a second Trump presidency would mean for American foreign policy. They compare notes on J.D. Vance's memoir Hillbilly Elegy, and reflect on his keynote speech. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing: The Belgrano Diary

On 2 May 1982, the British submarine HMS Conqueror sank the Argentinian warship, the General Belgrano, killing 323 men. It was the bloodiest event of the Falklands War – and the most controversial. The account of the sinking given by Thatcher's government was inaccurate in every crucial detail – and the truth would only emerge from the pages of a private diary, written by an officer onboard the submarine. The Belgrano Diary is a story of war in the South Atlantic, iron leadership, cover-ups and conspiracies, crusading politicians and competing journalists, and an unlikely whistleblower. A new six-part series from the Documentary Team at the London Review of Books, hosted by Andrew O’Hagan. Episode One coming 28 March. Find it wherever you're listening to this podcast. Archive: ‘Good Morning Britain’/ITV/TV-Am Parliamentary Recording Unit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

LRB Close Readings

Shows with Subscription Benefits

Close Readings is a new multi-series podcast subscription from the London Review of Books. Two contributors explore areas of literature through a selection of key works, providing an introductory grounding like no other. Listen to some episodes for free here, and extracts from our ongoing subscriber-only series. How To Subscribe In Apple Podcasts, click 'subscribe' at the top of this podcast feed to unlock the full episodes. Or for other podcast apps, sign up here: lrb.me/closereadings Close Readings Plus If you'd like to receive all the books under discussion in our 2024 series, and get access to online seminars throughout the year with special guests and other supporting material, sign up to Close Readings Plus here: https://lrb.me/plus Running in 2024: On Satire with Clare Bucknell and Colin Burrow Human Conditions with Adam Shatz, Judith Butler, Pankaj Mishra and Brent Hayes Edwards Among the Ancients II with Emily Wilson and Thomas Jones There'll be a new episode from each series every month. PLUS: More series starting in 2025... Get in touch: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Were the Middle Ages funny? To answer that question, Mary Wellesley and Irina Dumitrescu hunt through some of the rudest, silliest and surprising works in English literature in search of the Medieval sense of humour. Mary Wellesley and Irina Dumitrescu are both writers and historians, and regular contributors to the London Review of Books. Sign up to listen to this series ad free and all our subscriber series in full, including Mary and Irina's twelve-part series Medieval Beginnings: Directly in Apple Podcasts: https://lrb.me/medlolapplesignup In other podcast apps: https://lrb.me/medlolscsignup Get in touch: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seamus Perry and Mark Ford return for a second series of their acclaimed, 'revolutionary, *****' (The Times) podcast series looking at the lives and works of poets in the late 19th and 20th centuries. Seamus Perry is Professor of English at the University of Oxford and Mark Ford is Professor of English at University College London. Modern-ish Poets is part of the Close Readings podcast collection from the London Review of Books. To listen to the first series of Modern-ish Poets, and to Seamus and Mark's twelve-part series The Long and Short, sign up to the Close Readings subscription: Directly in Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3pJoFPq In other podcast apps: https://lrb.me/closereadings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam Shatz talks separately to three guests – Judith Butler, Pankaj Mishra and Brent Hayes Edwards – about some of the most revolutionary thought of the 20th century. Judith, Pankaj and Brent will each discuss four texts over four episodes, as they uncover the inner life of the 20th century through works that have sought to find freedom in different ways and remake the world around them. They explore, among other things, the development of arguments against racism and colonialism, the experience of artistic expression in oppressive conditions and how language has been used in politically substantive ways. Authors covered: Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Frantz Fanon, Hannah Arendt, V. S. Naipaul, Ashis Nandy, Doris Lessing, Nadezhda Mandelstam, W. E. B. Du Bois, Aimé Césaire, Amiri Baraka and Audre Lorde. Episodes will appear once a month throughout 2024. Human Conditions is part of the Close Readings podcasts collection from the London Review of Books. Subscribe here or on the London Review of Books channel and access all our Close Readings series in full. Find our channel page here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/channel/london-review-of-books/id6450677311

Close Readings is a new multi-series podcast subscription from the London Review of Books exploring different periods of literature through selections of key works. A new episode will appear every month from each of our Close Readings series running this year. This feed is identical to the 'free' version of Close Readings, which contains free extracts for non-subscribers. Subscribers can listen to all the full episodes in both feeds: https://podcasts.apple.com/ug/podcast/close-readings/id1669485143 RUNNING IN 2024: ON SATIRE with Colin Burrow and Clare Bucknell Authors covered: Erasmus, John Donne, Ben Jonson, Earl of Rochester, John Gay, Alexander Pope, Laurence Sterne, Jane Austen, Lord Byron, Oscar Wilde, Evelyn Waugh and Muriel Spark. HUMAN CONDITIONS with Adam Shatz, Judith Butler, Pankaj Mishra and Brent Hayes Edwards Authors covered: Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Frantz Fanon, Hannah Arendt, V. S. Naipaul, Ashis Nandy, Doris Lessing, Nadezhda Mandelstam, W. E. B. Du Bois, Aimé Césaire, Amiri Baraka and Audre Lorde. AMONG THE ANCIENTS II with Emily Wilson and Thomas Jones Authors covered: Hesiod, Aesop, Herodotus, Pindar, Plato, Lucian, Plautus, Terence, Lucan, Tacitus, Juvenal, Apuleius, Marcus Aurelius. Plus two bonus series, ad free: MEDIEVAL LOLs with Irina Dumitrescu and Mary Wellesley POLITICAL POEMS with Mark Ford and Seamus Perry PLUS: More series starting in 2025 Also part of the Close Readings subscription, the full series of: MEDIEVAL BEGINNINGS with Irina Dumitrescu and Mary Wellesley AMONG THE ANCIENTS with Emily Wilson and Thomas Jones THE LONG AND SHORT with Mark Ford and Seamus Perry MODERN-ISH POETS SERIES 1 with Mark Ford and Seamus Perry (originally featured on the LRB Podcast) Get in touch: [email protected]

Seamus Perry and Mark Ford consider poems which have been understood, admired and perhaps criticised for their politics, ranging across several hundred years of literary history. Mark Ford is Professor of English at University College, London, and Seamus Perry is Professor of English Literature at Balliol College, Oxford. Political Poems is part of the Close Readings podcast collection from the London Review of Books. Listen to this episode ad free, and get full access to all our Close Readings series, including more from Mark and Seamus: Sign up to the Close Readings subscription to listen ad free and to all our series in full: Directly in Apple Podcasts: https://lrb.me/ppapplesignup In other podcast apps: https://lrb.me/ppsignup Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Full access to all our Close Readings series

£4.99/month or £49.99/year

Hosts & Guests

Thomas jones, ratings & reviews, close readings series is outstandingly good.

Barbary Duck

The Close Readings series with Mark Ford & Seamus Perry, discussing the work of one poet each time is outstandingly good & insightful. I have learned so much. A huge resource. Other episodes are generally good too, but the Close Readings are outstanding.

Vocal fry: aaaaaaaaaagh!

The David Foster Wallace episode is disappointingly poor. I don’t say that from a position of reverence — I’m an abuse survivor myself — but because it’s lacking any real content or serious critical analysis and largely consists of unintelligent waffle and silly giggling. The final straw is the hideous vocal fry affected by the American contributor. This ugly U.S. trend cannot die soon enough for me — it renders those who adopt it unlistenable.

Content is good…

Most of the discussions professionally recorded (post Covid) are good but the app doesn’t update. I’ve tried everything.

great content but not the right voice

thedietofbookworms

I love the LRB so much. I read it each week and every time I see an interesting interview or discussion on the podcast I get excited and download it. But I hate to say that the host Tom has a voice not made for radio; he always sounds tired and bored and unfortunately this is infectious when listening to an audio piece. I am certain he’s a fiercely intelligent and great man but I think maybe he should pass on the baton of radio host to another colleague.

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• Channel London Review of Books
• Creator The London Review of Books
• Years Active 2012 - 2024
• Episodes 335
• Rating Clean
• Copyright © LRB (London) Ltd 1980 - 2021
• Show Website The LRB Podcast
• Provider LRB Limited

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H.R. McMaster Doesn’t Think Donald Trump Is Very Good at Making Deals

A new memoir by the onetime national security adviser shows how the former president’s insecurities and weaknesses harmed U.S. foreign policy.

The national security adviser H.R. McMaster at a meeting in the White House in 2017. Credit... Tom Brenner/The New York Times

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By Nicolas Niarchos

Nicolas Niarchos is a freelance journalist whose writing on international relations has appeared in The Nation and The New Yorker. He is at work on a book about the supply chain for battery metals.

• Aug. 27, 2024
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AT WAR WITH OURSELVES: My Tour of Duty in the Trump White House , by H.R. McMaster

Recently on the campaign trail, Donald Trump has talked up his aggressive stance on China, positioning himself as a tough negotiator in a brutal trade war . But a new memoir by Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, one of Trump’s national security advisers, throws that narrative, and many other stories that Trump tells about his time in office, into stark relief.

As McMaster writes in “At War With Ourselves,” the president could sometimes be kept on the straight and narrow with a clever dose of reverse psychology (Xi Jinping wants you to say this, Xi Jinping wants you to say that). But just as often, McMaster shows Trump to have been an unpredictable waffler who undermined himself to the advantage of his competitors on the world stage.

In November 2017, President Trump visited China on the third leg of a 13-day trip around Asia. It was his “most consequential” destination, McMaster explains. As they flew to Beijing, he warned Trump that Xi would try to trick him into saying something that was good for China, but bad for the United States and its allies. “The C.C.P.’s favorite phrase, ‘win-win,’” he recalls telling his boss at one point, “actually meant that China won twice.”

Trump seemed to hear him, but in the Great Hall of the People, the president strayed from his talking points. He agreed with Xi that military exercises in South Korea were “provocative” and a “waste of money” and suggested that China might have a legitimate claim to Japan’s Senkaku Islands. McMaster, his stomach sinking, passed a note to Gen. John Kelly, the chief of staff: Xi “ate our lunch,” it read.

“At War With Ourselves” is intended to be a companion to “ Battlegrounds ,” McMaster’s 2020 assessment of U.S. foreign policy backsliding since the Cold War, but it works well as a stand-alone and serves as essential reading for anyone countenancing a potential second round of Trump as a global leader. The general shows how, despite his best efforts to help the president, the supposed master of the “art of the deal” was treated like a “chump” by a roster of the world’s top authoritarians.

Flattery and pomp from leaders like Xi, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Russian president Vladimir V. Putin seem to have been all that was required to get in Trump’s good graces. In 2018, McMaster found Trump in the Oval Office scrawling a cheerful note to Putin across a New York Post article reporting that the Russian president had denigrated the American political system but called Trump a good listener. Like a child with his Christmas wish list, the leader of the free world asked McMaster to send it to the Kremlin. It was especially bad timing: Evidence was coming to light that Putin had directed an assassination on British soil. McMaster did not forward the note, later explaining to an infuriated Trump that his letter would “reinforce the narrative that you are somehow in the Kremlin’s pocket.”

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Finding the books that get people talking

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We believe reading is better when we do it together. That’s why we founded our book clubs and why we founded The Book Club Review podcast – to turn the solitary act of reading into a shared experience.

Loved the book? Loathed it? So much the better. We’re all about big opinions. We live for the great debate, the heated discussion, the ‘I see what you’re saying, but here’s why you’re wrong’ rant. With good humour. With respect. But with commitment too. Because the world has forgotten that disagreement is good for us. That it’s the friction of debate that sparks off new ideas, new perspectives – just like a good book. Bring the two together and there’s really nothing better.

So, listen in. We promise lively and frank reviews and recommendations, both from us and from members of our book clubs, plus interviews with book clubs, book shops and book lovers of all stripes. Just be warned, your TBR pile is about to grow exponentially.

Three types of episodes

We report back on the book read most recently by one of our book clubs. What did they make of it? Did it spark debate? And whether they loved it or loathed it, the big question is always was it a good book club book?

We interview book clubs and book lovers of all stripes. From Emily’s Walking Book Club to the Proust Book Club of Paris. From Francesca Wilkins of the Margate Bookshop to illustrious Renaissance man Simon Schama.

What do we read when we’re not reading book club books? We report in on the books we get to choose and whether or not they might make for good book club books after all.  You’ll be surprised where our reading takes us.

Meet your hosts

Laura Potter

Laura started her career in book publishing, with a stint as the editorial assistant at the academic journal  Canadian Literature . A move to London from her native Vancouver followed, where she worked as an editor at V&A Publishing and Thames & Hudson. She then left authors behind – except in the pages of a book – to work for the award-winning creative agency Reed Words. She’s now back in Vancouver reading as much as ever and recording remotely.

Kate Slotover

Kate started out in editorial before moving into book design at Thames & Hudson. You may well have one of her beautifully designed books on your shelves. Highlights include A Year in the Life of Facehunter , Reuters Our World Now  series, The Advertising Concept Book , and a large-format 25th anniversary edition of New York graffiti-classic  Subway Art .

Ready to listen?

Dip into a selection of our episodes below. or browse all our episodes here ..

Hello Laura and Kate.

How much I love your podcast. I listen while I’m lifting weights in the morning, getting ready for work or, like today, washing the car!

I’m ready to join a book club and wondered if you knew of any online that have space for a member?

I enjoy books all across the board. That’s why I enjoy your podcast so much!

Take care, Renee

Dear Renee,

I somehow missed this on the website dashboard and because I don’t ever have much of a reason to look at the ‘about us’ page (because I know all about us) I didn’t see your comment until just now. Did you find a good book club to join? I do hope so. A couple of suggestions if not – are you in the UK? If so, my local bookshop and bar, Bookbar has a brilliant online bookclub with a fantastic author line-up. You receive the book, have time to read it and send in the questions and then get to enjoy the discussion with authors like Brit Bennett and Curtis Sittenfeld. Have a look at https://www.bookbaruk.com/events

Further afield, and maybe this is a bit wishful in terms of costs – I do think it would be amazing though, if you become a Friend of the famous bookshop Shakespeare & Co in Paris (250 euros p/a) you get membership to their quarterly book club: https://friendsofshakespeareandcompany.com

Online and for free I rather like The Duchess of Cornwall’s reading room. Every few weeks they highlight a particular book she loves, if you follow them on Instagram you can read along and you get snippets of interviews with authors.

Another free one to try, the Sykes and Savidge book club – if you google it you will find Simon’s YouTube channel where he explains how it works. They read a book a month, it’s a great selection and they have good sparky discussions.

Thanks so much for your comment, we’re so happy you’re enjoying the show.

Hey there! 👋🏼 It’s us from Anikabooks.com! Just wanted to check in and see how you’re doing. We were hoping to team up with you, remember? We’re still excited to make it happen! So, what’s the plan? Let’s chat more about it, shall we? 📚👶🏽

Love you both and love the podcast. I really also enjoyed the New York Times list and all the conversations that it has spawned and take seek pride in having read so many of the best ones. I also liked your podcast about it and I just wanted to say that Kate must’ve drunk a lot of coffee before that podcast because she was SO enthusiastic and had SO MANY strong opinions, and there was A LOT of her voice on that tape! I loved it.

Also like the bravery of advocating for Alex Ross and I Am I Am alongside much more obvious choices like Hilary and The Known World. I agree Elena Ferrante doesn’t pass the snob test – maybe Knaussgard instead??

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New Times, New Thinking.

Inside the court of Adolf Hitler

Richard J Evans’s group biography of the Third Reich’s enforcers provides a revelatory account of the Nazi mind.

By William Boyd

Joseph Goebbels, Hermann Göring, Heinrich Himmler, Ernst Röhm, Albert Speer, Joachim von Ribbentrop. The roll-call is still grimly familiar some 80 years on from this motley and deeply unsavoury crew’s heyday. And I have to confess to a disquieting familiarity with these monsters’ lives as I spent many months in 2000 and 2001 researching and writing a six-hour TV drama series about Hitler’s astonishing rise to power over the years between 1913-33 – an unparalleled transformation from a homeless, mentally unstable, penniless vagrant in Vienna to the all-powerful chancellor of Germany in Berlin. I have shelves full of memoirs, histories, diaries and biographies of all the key Nazi players. The series was commissioned by the BBC and 20th Century Fox but was never made (Fox lost its nerve), but its conception – it wasn’t based on any book – absorbed and educated me in the history of the Third Reich and its noxious denizens. So, to open Hitler’s People was to renew acquaintances I thought I had left far behind. Scales fell from my eyes.

The premise behind Richard J Evans ’s utterly absorbing book is that a biographical approach to the history of the Third Reich will tell us more about the perverse culture and power struggles of those key personages who made up Hitler’s inner circle – and whose influence extended further down the food chain – than the overarching, geopolitical historical studies would. He presents us with 22 short biographies, or “portraits”, of the players he considers as crucial. They are congregated under four headings: the Leader, the Paladins, the Enforcers, and the Instruments. The result is an extraordinary rogues’ gallery of the Nazi elite and its more menial jobsworths. Intriguingly, although the Nazi programme was overwhelmingly male-driven, Evans identifies similarly enthusiastic cruelty among women in the lower ranks: Ilse Koch, Irma Grese and Gertrud Scholtz-Klink are among those he includes under the “Instruments” rubric. This top-to-toe analysis is as shocking as it is surprising.

Evans is a magisterial presence in the history of Hitler’s Third Reich. His three influential books – The Coming of the Third Reich , The Third Reich in Power and The Third Reich at War – make him pre-eminently suited to assess the significant personalities in the court of Adolf Hitler and, of course, Der Führer, himself, the “Boss”.

Evans starts his brilliant hundred-page biography of Hitler with the sentence: “For the first thirty years of his life, Adolf Hitler was a nobody.” Here lies the utterly compelling paradox. As Evans reminds us, without Hitler there would have been no Third Reich, no Second World War and no Holocaust. How could this deranged young man, selling his mediocre postcards in 1913 Vienna, wearing a yellow cycling cape that failed to disguise his rank body odour, end up as chancellor of Germany 20 years later and, through his crazed ambitions, have plunged the Western world into war and brought about the deaths of millions of people?

There are many possible answers and Evans judiciously analyses all the more recent historical interpretations. We know far more about Nazi Germany today than ever before. The catastrophe and humiliation of the 1918 Armistice; the revolutionary movements and social unrest that then ensued in Germany; the debilitating depression that followed the 1929 Wall Street crash are all useful pieces of evidence that might explain the rise of the Nazi party (the highest vote the Nazis ever achieved was 37 per cent in the 1932 elections) and its drawn-out, bloody, disastrous denouement. But it seems to me that Evans’s biographical approach to understanding this phenomenon is perhaps the new route to some sort of enlightenment.

The Saturday Read

Morning call.

Of all the “Paladins” that Evans examines, the one that fascinates me most – and who played a significant role in my doomed TV series – is Albert Speer. Speer – tall, handsome, cultured, educated – was an architect, and the youngest member of the Nazi inner circle, only 40 years old at the end of the war. Hitler saw him as a putative son and Speer returned the “love”. It was Speer who first articulated the power of Führerkontakt – that bizarre charisma that Hitler, the most insignificant and undistinguished of men, seemed to possess in his pomp. Ernst “Putzi” Hanfstaengl, an urbane, sophisticated American-German who was briefly a kind of PR official to the embryonic Nazi party in the 1920s described Hitler as having all the allure of a “suburban hairdresser on his day off”. And yet Hitler’s singular presence to his acolytes, and the German population, miraculously grew as his power grew. It seemed almost messianic – and he knew absolutely how to cultivate it.

Hitler promoted Speer to become the minister of armaments and munitions in 1942, supervising a vast population of forced labour of some 14 million, which kept the Nazi war machine working to its best ability. Hundreds of thousands of slave-labourers died under Speer’s watch yet, at his trial in Nuremberg after the war, he claimed to be ignorant of every aspect of the Nazi’s ruthless extermination process.

Speer’s “get-out-of-jail” ruse was to assert that, at the very end of the war, he had tried to gas Hitler in the bunker, and those in the bunker with him, and bring about an end to the conflict. Ironies abound – gassing Hitler? He failed, he said, because the ventilation towers of the bunker were too high. However, Speer’s intellectual, classy, soigné manner was persuasive in court. He wasn’t to be executed – he was sentenced instead to 20 years imprisonment. Another brutal irony – Speer’s number two, Fritz Sauckel, was executed for the crimes Speer’s organisation committed. Speer’s incarceration ended in 1966 and his memoir, Inside the Third Reich , became a bestseller and made its author an international celebrity, continually interviewed about his unique familiarity with the Hitlerian court. He spun his story extremely well. Speer died in 1981, after having a stroke in a London hotel while on a visit to his mistress.

Evans is unsparing about Speer, calling him out as a clever, manipulating, unscrupulous liar who finessed his way to avoid his justified execution as one of the mass murderers of the Nazi regime. However, his portraits of the other significant figures in the Hitler entourage are far more nuanced. Evans rejects the knee-jerk depiction of Himmler, Göring and Goebbels, et al, as sociopaths, deviants and losers. His short biographies weigh up all the new evidence and present these ghoulish, mythic personas as rounded, three-dimensional figures. They were, by and large, middle class, and from normal, happy families. They had clearly delineated personalities. Röhm was an accomplished pianist; Goebbels had earned a doctorate; Göring was an enthusiastic if erratic art collector. But all of them owed their ascent to power to one man, Adolf Hitler.

So what about the “Boss”? Evans says that, despite the mass of new material about Hitler, “opinion among historians and biographers remains deeply divided”. But it is clear that this ordinary, disturbed man was transmogrified into a sort of semi-deity that the German populace readily identified with. Evans argues that:

“Constant adulation further corrupted Hitler’s already narcissistic mentality. His arrogance and overconfidence, based on crude racial stereotypes, led him into fatal misjudgements during the war. The Americans, he declared, were “as stupid as chickens”. “The Russian colossus is collapsing under its immobility”. The “English” were “decadent”… From the very beginning, misled by the memory of World War I, Hitler grotesquely overestimated the ability of Germany, a medium-sized European power, to confront and defeat three vast empires, the British, American and Soviet, any one of which possessed resources that far exceeded its own. But for Hitler, economic statistics were irrelevant: what counted in his mind was strength of will, a reflection above all of what he supposed to be the Germans’ racial superiority.”

My conclusion, after spending many months reading and writing about Hitler and his “people”, was that the most cogent interpretation of his behaviour and abhorrent values, from the outset of his rise to power, was that he was insane. This was to be the message of my aborted TV series. “Deluded”, “narcissistic”, “egomaniacal” – similar interpretations don’t do enough to explain his actions. To me, Hitler’s fraught endgame in the bunker in April 1945 was the moment the veils were stripped away. The rambling, thought-disordered, drug-abusing, Parkinson’s-diseased, weirdo-nutter was, writ large, the man he had always been.

Martin Amis , in the afterword to his 2014 novel about the Holocaust, The Zone of Interest , would appear to agree with me. He wrote about Hitler that “we are continuing to beg an enormous question: the question of sanity… And madness, if we impute it (and how can we exclude it?) is bound to frustrate our investigation – because of course we will get no coherence, and no legible why, from the mad.” If you only read one book about Hitler and the short, bleak, horrendous life of Nazi Germany, then this is the one for you. Richard Evans’s superb and important account – with its dark and chilling narrative of Hitler’s eagerly compliant associates, underlings, servants and enforcers – establishes that evil, apocalyptic regime as the most potent warning to our contemporary world.

William Boyd’s novel, “Gabriel’s Moon”, is out 5 September

Hitler’s People: The Faces of the Third Reich Richard J Evans Allen Lane, 624pp, £35

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This article appears in the 21 Aug 2024 issue of the New Statesman, The Christian Comeback