The Guardian Books podcast

The Guardian Books podcast is our weekly look at the world of books, presented by Claire Armitstead, Richard Lea and Sian Cain. In-depth interviews with authors from all over the world, discussions and investigations make this the perfect companion for readers and writers alike

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Episodes

Eugenia Cheng and Tim Radford on finding solace in science – books podcast

This week, we turn away from the crowds of catastrophist headlines and dystopian fiction and discover hope in the world of science

Sep 04, 2018•43 min

Daisy Johnson and Michael Hughes on Classical adaptation - books

We hear from two novelists who have taken inspiration from Greek myth. And the Guardian’s chief culture, writer Charlotte Higgins, discusses all things classical, plus what’s been going on at Edinburgh book festival

Aug 28, 2018•50 min

Paul Kildea on Chopin and Amy Sackville on Velázquez – books podcast

Paul Kildea explores how Frédéric Chopin wrote his Preludes and what became of them after his death, while Amy Sackville looks at power and PR through the lens of Diego Velázquez

Aug 21, 2018•39 min

Navigating modern life with Matt Haig and Christina Dalcher on feminist dystopias – books podcast

We explore the unhealthy nature of modern life with Haig in Notes on a Nervous Planet, while Dalcher talks about her thriller Vox

Aug 14, 2018•41 min

Jericho Brown on poetry, religion and race in the US – books podcast

American poet Jericho Brown talks about his latest collection The New Testament

Aug 07, 2018•35 min

Refugees, in their own words – books podcast

On this week’s show, we walk with a group who are using Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales to tell the stories of the displaced, and speak to a publisher who wrote a novel with refugees in a Beirut camp

Jul 31, 2018•1 hr 7 min

Michael Ondaatje and the Booker longlist – books podcast

We look at the runners and riders in this year’s Man Booker longlist, and hear from Golden Booker winner Michael Ondaatje at a Guardian Live event

Jul 24, 2018•33 min

Marcus du Sautoy and James Bridle – books podcast

We talk about the troubling future of tech with artist and writer James Bridle, and the idea of infinity with Marcus du Sautoy

Jul 17, 2018•40 min

Summer reading and Ross Raisin on how to be a great writer – books podcast

We discuss holiday reading habits and what we’ll be reading this year, and the novelist Ross Raisin explains why he has published a writing guide

Jul 10, 2018•45 min

The rise of autofiction, with Olivia Laing and Christina Patterson – books podcast

A trend for authors to use their real lives as a template for stories has been widely noted. Two writers who complicate this picture join us to look for the facts

Jul 03, 2018•29 min

Psychedelic drugs: Michael Pollan on the history, science and experience of taking them – books podcast

The famously hands-on journalist talks about his colourful history of psychedelic drugs and their potential for treating addiction, depression and PTSD

Jun 26, 2018•44 min

What is it like being a first-time novelist today? – books podcast

On this week’s show, we discuss the challenges – and joys – of becoming an author with Paula Cocozza and Preti Taneja

Jun 19, 2018•31 min

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