A Book Shambles EXTRA this week, free and unedited for everyone. Robin chats extensively with sleep expert and neuroscientists Matthew Walker about his new book, Why We Sleep, out this week. They chat about the evolution of sleep, dreams, Jung defecating on cathedrals, alien abductions, the writing of Carl Sagan, Knausgaard and more. Next week will be a 'normal' episode with an extended edition for Patreon supporters like usual. You can become a Patreon for as little as $1 an episode (maximum of...
Sep 28, 2017•52 min
Poet Lemn Sissay joins Robin and Josie this week to talk about his first major acting role, being a poet as a full time job, some of his early poetry inspirations including Oku Onuora, Grace Nichols and Langston Hughes and the rise of great young, new poets such as Kate Tempest. Become a Patreon supporter of the show for as little as $1 an episode to get exclusive bonus episodes, extended editions of each episode and the chance to win great book prizes. patreon.com/bookshambles
Sep 21, 2017•40 min
Kate Grenville is one of Australia's most celebrated novelists. Her most acclaimed work, The Secret River, won multiple awards worldwide and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. But her new book, The Case Against Fragrance, out this week, is a change of pace and her first real foray into non-fiction and specifically science. While we were out in Australia she chatted to Robin and Josie about her life's work, having too many footnotes, great Australian writers, sexism in literature, historical f...
Sep 14, 2017•39 min
The final of the episodes recorded during the Edinburgh Fringe and Robin and Josie are joined by Baileys and Goldsmith prize winner, the novelist Eimear McBride. They chat about her latest work The Lesser Bohemians and the process of writing the acclaimed A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing as well as great songwriters, James Joyce, Beckett, Edna O'Brien and much more. Also Josie still has a bag of frozen peas on her knee. Become a supporter of the show at patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended epis...
Sep 07, 2017•39 min
Recorded in Edinburgh the day after the horrific events in Charlottesville, Robin and Josie chat with American comedian, writer and podcaster Greg Proops. They chat about politics and race in the US right now, and some of the best books on the subject. Which leads to the best dystopian fiction novels and conspiracy theories, but also the literature landscape in Edinburgh so it's not all doom and gloom. Also, Josie has a bag of frozen peas on her knee. To hear an extended edition of all of this s...
Aug 31, 2017•40 min
Actor, writer (and broadcaster) Robert Webb (Peep Show, That Mitchell and Webb Look) joined Robin and Josie in Edinburgh to chat about his first book, How Not To Be a Boy, out next week. They chat about imaginary friends and getting picked last for PE as well as work by John Updike, Clive James, Roald Dahl, Rupert Everett and more. To hear the extended version of this, and many other episodes (as well as lots of exclusive bonus episodes) become a patron of Book Shambles for as little as $1 an ep...
Aug 24, 2017•37 min
In the first of the episodes we recorded at this year’s Fringe Festival, Josie and Robin are joined by writer and performer Erin McGathy (Community, HarmonQuest) who is in Edinburgh with her solo show MurderTown. As such there’s much talk of murder mystery novels rom the likes of Agatha Christie and Jim Thompson. Plus books on rituals, self help, James Joyce, Flann O’Brien and the great American classics Erin read at high school. To hear an extended version of this, and other episodes, plus bonu...
Aug 17, 2017•43 min
Robin and Josie are used to working with a keyboard player who became a physicist, but this week they're joined by a physicist who became a keyboard player, not to mention legendary songwriter, best selling author and founding member of Australia's biggest band, Cold Chisel. Don Walker joins the show to chat about writing songs, his book Shots plus Jorge Luis Borges, Gore Vidal, Ray Bradbury and much more. And remember, to hear the extended 1 hour version of the show become a patron at patreon.c...
Aug 10, 2017•42 min
Another episode we recorded out in Australia, Robin and Josie are joined by award winning comedian Tom Ballard who brought along a little bag of some of his favourite books to discuss. Terry Pratchett, Simon Rich, Owen Jones, JK Rowling and more are all on the menu. And remember, to get extended and bonus episodes of Book Shambles, become a patron at patreon.com/bookshambles And if you happen to be in Edinburgh this month, Robin, Josie and Tom all have shows on at the Fringe Festival.
Aug 03, 2017•40 min
This week we’re diving back into some of the episodes recorded on our Australia and New Zealand tour. This week we speak to comedian Urzila Carlson about writing her memoir, growing up in libraries, dark fairy tales and more. This August Urzila, Robin and Josie all have shows on at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. And remember to support the show on Patreon at patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended episodes, bonus episodes and more.
Jul 27, 2017•44 min
In a second special episode recorded at the Latitude Festival Robin spoke with Susan Calman, Helen Keen and Alice Roberts about everything from sending postcards to four 92 year old bridge players to Game of Thrones and crying over children's books in the bath... Become a Patron of Book Shambles at patreon.com/bookshambles
Jul 25, 2017•35 min
In the first of our many upcoming specials recorded at the 2017 Latitude Festival 2017, Robin Ince chats with a variety of guests about all sorts of bookish delights. Guests on this first special are Jo Neary, Geoff Dyer, Katy Brand, John Luke Roberts and Joanna Cannon. And remember, to hear extended editions of Book Shambles episodes, as well as receive bonus episodes, become a patron of the show at patreon.com/bookshambles
Jul 20, 2017•54 min
The Undercover Economist, Tim Harford, joins Robin and Josie to talk about his latest book 50 Things, great economics writers and why it's perfectly fine to have a messy desk. And remember to support the show on Patreon (patreon.com/bookshambles) for exclusive access to extended episodes.
Jul 13, 2017•36 min
Cultural and art historian Dr Janina Ramirez joins Robin and Josie to talk about medieval literature this week. Gospels, Julian of Norwich, Beowulf and great books on critical art theory are all up for discussion this episode. And remember to support the show on Patreon (patreon.com/bookshambles) for exclusive access to extended episodes.
Jul 06, 2017•35 min
We may well call all our guests broadcasters, but Iain Lee is a proper one. The comedian and TalkRadio host joins Robin and Josie to talk about great books on mental health, the work of Will Storr, Matt Haig, Anna Minton and many more all ending in a massive Vonnegut love in. This is the free 35 minute version of the episode. To listen to the full 1 hour edition, become a patron of the show at patreon.com/bookshambles
Jun 29, 2017•35 min
A special mini-episode of Book Shambles this week as Robin and Josie go all broadsheet and breakfast TV and present their recommended summer reading, or nuclear winter if you prefer, list. Expect Rebecca Fox, Oscar Zarate, Kate Grenville, Sabrina Mahfouz, Nikesh Shukla and more. Support the podcast via Patreon at cosmicshambles.com/bookshambles
Jun 22, 2017•20 min
The first of our episodes recorded in New Zealand saw Robin and Josie joined by nanotechnologist, science communicator and writer Dr Michelle Dickinson (who you might better know as Nanogirl). Michelle's first book is out in October so they chat about that as well as the work of Michael Crichton, Atul Gawande, Barbara Baynton and more. There's also a quite gross story about scratching one's head... Support the show at patreon.com/bookshambles
Jun 15, 2017•58 min
During a break from filming the new season of his sitcom The Ex PM, Robin and Josie are joined by one of Australia’s most celebrated comedic writers and performers, Shaun Micallef. They chat about his latest book The President’s Desk, favourite comedian biographies, a mutual love of silent film and the difficulty writing Trump based satire in Australia.
Jun 08, 2017•56 min
UK audiences may best know Judy Nunn as Ailsa Stewart from Home and Away, but she is also one of Australia's most successful novelists of period fiction. She joined Robin and Josie to chat her latest book, Spirits of the Ghan, plus the work of Pat Barker, RM Ballantyne and how to make sound effects with cabbages.
Jun 01, 2017•50 min
Welcome to season 6 of Book Shambles with Robin and Josie! We kick off with a bumper episode that is one we recorded out in Australia as part of the Cosmic Shambles LIVE tour. Our guest is Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, science broadcaster, communicator and author of over forty bestselling science books. Topics of discussion include jet lag and climate change, Dr Karl’s own works plus those of Steven Pinker, Richard Holmes, Peter De Vries and much more!
May 25, 2017•1 hr 7 min
In the final episode of this season, psychotherapist and author Philippa Perry joins Robin and Josie this week to talk about some of the best books in her field, as well as her own work. Philippa also brought along some of her favourite books including work by Jane Austen, Harvey Pekar and EF Benson.
Mar 23, 2017•53 min
Children's author and poet A.F Harrold sits down with Robin and Josie to talk about his own work and some his favourite poetry and children's books including the work of Russell Hoban, Brian Patten and Raymond Briggs. Also, in our first ever commercial break, that isn't really a commercial break, Nat Metcalfe pops in to let us know about the best new comics out right now.
Mar 16, 2017•1 hr 4 min
Comedian Dane Baptiste joins Robin and Josie this week to talk about how Malcom X’s biography got him into stand up comedy, how he preferred Beowulf to Judy Blume and the influence of the comic series 2000 AD.
Mar 09, 2017•48 min
Theoretical cosmologist Professor Fay Dowker joins Robin and Josie this week to talk about the science behind Alan Moore's work, Émile Zola, Noam Chomsky, the letters of Albert Einstein and more, including quizzing Josie on the Newtonian physics of her butt on her chair...
Mar 02, 2017•54 min
Stand Up Mathematician and author of Things To Make and Do in the Fourth Dimension, Matt Parker joins Robin and Josie this week. They talk about all things numbers. Best books on maths, books about mathematicians, puzzle books and plenty more. And Matt will be joining Robin, Josie and others for our live tour of Australia and New Zealand in March/April. Details at cosmicshambleslive.com
Feb 23, 2017•58 min
This week Robin and Josie sit down to talk inspirational books with founder and director of the Daughter’s of Eve organisation and FGM campaigner, Nimko Ali. There’s chat of religious texts, George Orwell, Walt Whitman and many more besides.
Feb 16, 2017•48 min
Welcome to Season 5 of Book Shambles, now part of the Cosmic Shambles Network! Artist and writer and Raoul Martinez joins Robin and Josie to kick of Season 5 of Book Shambles. They discuss Raoul's new book Creating Freedom, have a bit of a debate about free will and chat about the work of Howard Zinn, Rebecca Solnit, Noam Chomsky and more.
Feb 09, 2017•47 min
It’s the 50th episode of Book Shambles which just happens to coincide with the launch of the Cosmic Shambles network. Well, we say coincide, we orchestrated it entirely. Anyway, Robin and Josie have a chat about Robocop and what they’ve been reading lately before we take a walk down memory lane with some highlights from the first 49 episodes. Check out the CSN at cosmicshambles.com
Feb 02, 2017•1 hr 2 min
The Costa Book of the Year is announced this week, so we’re joined by the chair of the judging panel, writer and historian Kate Williams. She chats with Robin and Josie about judging the prize, great sci-fi books, history’s great diaries and the perils of historical accuracy in fiction. The Cosmic Shambles network launches next week, sign up now at cosmicshambles.com
Jan 26, 2017•54 min
Josie and Robin are joined by writer Johann Hari to talk about all manner of things. From his new book, ‘Chasing the Scream’ and rebuilding trust with readers, to the work of Rebecca Solnit, Simon Ings, Peter Ackroyd and more. This is a bonus episode, free to all with no charge to our Patreons. Subscribe to the all new Cosmic Shambles which is launching soon at cosmicshambles.com
Jan 23, 2017•48 min
