Cover image of The Book Club

The Book Club

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

Ranked #1

Podcast cover

Daniel Markovits: The Meritocracy Trap

Daniel Markovits: The Meritocracy Trap

Sam is joined by Daniel Markovits, the Guido Calabresi Professor of Law at Yale Law School. In his new book The Meritocr... Read more

6 Nov 2019

31mins

Ranked #2

Podcast cover

Robert Alter: The Hebrew Bible

Robert Alter: The Hebrew Bible

In this week’s books podcast, Sam's guest is Robert Alter - who has just published the fruits of decades of labour in th... Read more

23 Jan 2019

32mins

Similar Podcasts

Ranked #3

Podcast cover

Bret Easton Ellis: White

Bret Easton Ellis: White

In this week’s books podcast Sam is joined by Bret Easton Ellis. The author of Less Than Zero, American Psycho and Imper... Read more

8 May 2019

47mins

Ranked #4

Podcast cover

Summer Reads

Summer Reads

With Alex Clark and Damian Barr.Presented by Sam Leith.

20 Jul 2017

20mins

Most Popular Podcasts

Ranked #5

Podcast cover

Tom Holland: Dominion

Tom Holland: Dominion

In this week's Book Club, Sam's guest is the historian Tom Holland, author of the new book Dominion: The Making of the W... Read more

4 Dec 2019

45mins

Ranked #6

Podcast cover

Michael Lewis: The Undoing Project

Michael Lewis: The Undoing Project

With Michael Lewis, author of Moneyball, The Big Short and his new book, The Undoing Project. Presented by Sam Leith.

21 Dec 2016

26mins

Ranked #7

Podcast cover

Adam Tooze: How a decade of financial crises changed the world

Adam Tooze: How a decade of financial crises changed the world

How are the subprime collapse in the US and the Eurozone crisis that came after linked? Why did a cartel of mega-wealthy... Read more

23 Aug 2018

31mins

Ranked #8

Podcast cover

Jonathan Meades: The Plagiarist in the Kitchen

Jonathan Meades: The Plagiarist in the Kitchen

With Jonathan Meades, author of The Plagiarist in the Kitchen.Presented by Sam Leith.

29 Jun 2017

23mins

Ranked #9

Podcast cover

David Brooks: The Second Mountain

David Brooks: The Second Mountain

The star New York Times columnist David Brooks has never been afraid to go beyond the usual remit of day-to-day politics... Read more

31 Jul 2019

15mins

Ranked #10

Podcast cover

Stiff Upper Lip: The best and worst of British boarding schools

Stiff Upper Lip: The best and worst of British boarding schools

With Alex Renton, author of Stiff Upper Lip, and Ysenda Maxtone Graham, author of Terms and Conditions.Presented by Sam ... Read more

20 Apr 2017

21mins

Ranked #11

Podcast cover

The Hatred of Poetry: Ben Lerner on the problem of verse

The Hatred of Poetry: Ben Lerner on the problem of verse

With Ben Lerner, author of The Hatred of Poetry and No Art.Presented by Sam Leith.

7 Nov 2016

24mins

Ranked #12

Podcast cover

Hilary Spurling on Anthony Powell

Hilary Spurling on Anthony Powell

With Hilary Spurling, author of a new biography of Anthony Powell.Presented by Sam Leith.

9 Nov 2017

31mins

Ranked #13

Podcast cover

Ian Kershaw: Rollercoaster: Europe 1950-2017

Ian Kershaw: Rollercoaster: Europe 1950-2017

In this week’s books podcast, Sam Leith talks to Sir Ian Kershaw about his new book Rollercoaster: Europe 1950-2017. Her... Read more

30 Aug 2018

27mins

Ranked #14

Podcast cover

The Minister and the Murderer

The Minister and the Murderer

With Stuart Kelly, author of The Minister and the Murderer: A Book of Aftermaths. Presented by Sam Leith.

8 Feb 2018

24mins

Ranked #15

Podcast cover

Melvyn Bragg on William Tyndale

Melvyn Bragg on William Tyndale

With Melvyn Bragg, author of William Tyndale: A Very Brief History.Presented by Sam Leith.

16 Nov 2017

27mins

Ranked #16

Podcast cover

Stig Abell: How Britain Really Works

Stig Abell: How Britain Really Works

With Stig Abell, Editor of the Times Literary Supplement and LBC talk radio host. Stig talks about Britain's magnificent... Read more

26 Apr 2018

28mins

Ranked #17

Podcast cover

Murray Lachlan Young: How Freakin' Zeitgeist Are You?

Murray Lachlan Young: How Freakin' Zeitgeist Are You?

With Murray Lachlan Young.Presented by Sam Leith.

27 Apr 2017

26mins

Ranked #18

Podcast cover

Simon Heffer: The Age of Decadence

Simon Heffer: The Age of Decadence

In this summer rewind, Sam Leith talks to the journalist and historian Simon Heffer, originally released in October 2017... Read more

9 Aug 2018

31mins

Ranked #19

Podcast cover

What do T.S. Eliot's letters reveal about his life and loves?

What do T.S. Eliot's letters reveal about his life and loves?

In this week’s Book Club podcast, we’re talking about the life and loves of the greatest poet of the twentieth century. ... Read more

8 Jan 2020

38mins

Ranked #20

Podcast cover

Anne Applebaum: Red Famine

Anne Applebaum: Red Famine

With Anne Applebaum, author of Red Famine: Stalin's War on Ukraine.Presented by Sam Leith.

21 Sep 2017

24mins

“Podium: AI tools for podcasters. Generate show notes, transcripts, highlight clips, and more with AI. Try it today at https://podium.page”