Book Shambles

It's our Halloween special and sometimes co-host Bec Hill returns to Book Shambles today to talk to Robin about her new kids horror book, The Slime, the first in a 13 book series called Horror Heights! They talk about creating the series, creativity in lockdown, favourite fictional slime, the influence of RL Stine and Paul Jennings and the joy of growing up with a librarian for a Mum. Listen to an extended edition of this episode, and all the others, by supporting us on patreon at patreon.com/bookshambles

On today's episode Robin is joined by the writer, editor and broadcaster Liz Frazer to talk about her new book, and bestseller, Coming Clean: A True Story of Love, Addiction and Recovery. They chat about the different faces and perception of alcoholism in individuals and society, mental health, the importance of diaries and how recovery applies to both an addict and the partner of an addict. Please note this episode contains discussions around topics that may be upsetting to some listeners.To support the show, and get extended episodes, subscribe at patreon.com/bookshambles

Our favourite Canadian returns to the podcast this week, it's astronaut Commander Chris Hadfield. Chris has just released his first ever work of fiction, a historical thriller titled The Apollo Murders. He joins Robin, and guest co-host Helen Czerski, to talk about his favourite thrillers, what it was like moving into the world of fiction, making sure the space science was accurate and the future of human spaceflight itself. Around 10 extra minutes of chat this week for Patreon supporters so sign up at patreon.com/bookshambles

Robin Ince's brand new book The Importance of Being Interested: Adventures in Scientific Curiosity is out TODAY! Go grab a signed copy from our bookshop now at cosmicshambles.com/bookshop. To celebrate we did a livestream launch event early this week with Robin talking about the book with our Shambles chum, musician, composer and comedian Tim Minchin. So we've made that conversation available on the podcast this week complete with bonus introduction from Robin and his Science Shambles co-host Dr Helen Czerski. You can watch the full livestream on our YouTube channel. Robin and Tim chat about what they love about science, cosmic vertigo, putting big ideas into song and why you should definitely get the vaccine. Support the podcast by subscribing at patreon.com/bookshambles for extended episodes and more.

Francesca Stavrakopoulou was a guest on the first series of Tips for Existence and now that her first book, God: An Anatomy, has just been released we'd excited to have her on Book Shambles with Robin and Josie to talk about it. They chat about how Francesca had to write the book she wished existed when she was in university, why examining God upsets people and whether God went to the toilet or not... Extended edition for Patreon supporters as ever so please subscribe at patreon.com/bookshambles

On this week’s episode our guest is Kathryn Mannix, a palliative care doctor and author. Kathryn self proclaims that her Mastermind subject would be death, and in her new book Listen she uses her years of experience to deconstruct our difficulty with difficult conversations. This conversation, on the podcast, isn’t difficult but why is it so hard to talk about death, coming out or even answering honestly when someone asks ‘How are you?’. Please note that this episode does contain conversations around subjects some people may find upsetting. To support the podcast, and hear and extended version of this and every other conversation, subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/bookshambles.

This week our guest couldn't make the interview at the very last minute. Which was unfortunate because obviously we wanted to talk to them and also it meant we didn't have an episode for this week. So since Robin and Josie were already on the Zoom call, they just interviewed each other for half an hour. Hope you enjoy. Normal service will resume next week. Support the show at patreon.com/bookshambles

James Baldwin is one of the most recommended and discussed authors on this podcast so this week's guest is someone who literally wrote the book on Baldwin. Eddie Glaude is a Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University and his latest book is Begin Again: James Baldwin's America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own. he talks to Robin about Baldwin, race in America and what society needs to do to move forward, face up to its past. To hear a super extended version of this interview complete with Baldwin clips and more you can subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/bookshambles and hear it on the Tips for Existence podcast.

Anil Seth has been researching consciousness for over twenty years and now he's released his first book on the subject, Being You. He joins Robin and Josie to talk about the book and what we do and don't know about consciousness. Are trees consciousness? What is panpsychism? Are there levels of consciousness? Why do some people see the letter B as purple? And now that he's finished writing a book what fiction can he escape into? Extended edition for Patreon supporters of course. Subscribe and support at patreon.com/bookshambles

As part of The Cosmic Shambles Network's takeover of The Speakeasy at this year's Latitude Festival, Dr Helen Czerski was joined by Professor Dan Davis for a live Book Shambles / Science Shambles crossover show. They chat about Dan's new book The Secret Body: How the New Science of the Human Body Is Changing the Way We Live, glowing jellyfish, doing science without a hypothesis, how immune cells are changing how they behave and a whole lot more. To support the podcast, and the CSN at large, subscribe via Patreon at patreon.com/bookshambles

Isy Suttie was one of our first guests on the podcast many years ago now and as her first ever novel, Jane is Trying, hits shelves this month she returns to talk about with Robin and Josie. They chat about the experience of not writing a novel to sound like a novel, not letting Isy's mum read it, being concerned that coffee granules could be cancerous moles and a whole lot more! Extended edition for Patreon supporters as always. Sign up at patreon.com/bookshambles

This week on Book Shambles Josie and Robin are joined by the Swedish journalist Katrine Marçal to talk about her new book Mother of Invention: How Good Ideas Get Ignored in an Economy Built for Men. They chat about how this means we had a man on the moon before we had suitcases with wheels and how electric cars are 'just for girls'. Extended edition for Patreons as ever. Subscribe at patreon.com/bookshambles

You might recognise journalist Rachel England's voice from the Brain Yapping podcast that she co-hosts with Dean Burnett on The Cosmic Shambles Network but today she's a guest on Book Shambles as her first book has just been released. Everyday Activism: How to Change the World in Five Minutes, One Hour or a Day is full of ideas for people who want to make things better, but aren't sure where to start. Robin and guest co-host Helen Czerski talk about changing your search engine, not mowing your lawn and changing the meaning of activism itself. Support the show on Patreon at patreon.com/bookshambles

Rupert Thomson is the author of thirteen highly acclaimed novels and an award winning memoir. He has spent timing living all around the world and his latest novel, Barcelona Dreaming, comes from the six years he spent living in the Spanish city. He talks to Robin and Josie about the book, the city and what it's like finding out one of your novels was on David Bowie's 100 Greatest Books of All Time List. As ever, extended edition available for Patreon supporters. Sign up at patreon.com/bookshambles

Professor Karl Deisseroth is an emergency psychiatry physician. He's been responsible for some breakthrough scientific discoveries in optogenetics in which he developed ways to allow turning specific brain cells on or off, with light. This week he joins Robin to talk about that process and his new book on mental health and human empathy, Connections. Please note due to a couple of technical hitches, and last minute schedule changes, this week's episode is a little shorter than normal and Josie was unable to join us. Back to normal next week! Support the podcast and get all sorts of bonus goodies at patreon.com/bookshambles

John Robb is a musician from bands like The Membranes but also one of the UK's most respected music journalists. This week he joins Robin and Josie to talk the re-release of his book Death to Trad Rock all about the explosion of the niche post-punk scene and why it never broke through into the mainstream. They also chat about the bands of today that reflect the bands of that period like Idles, music's influence on comedy and when John was the first person to interview Nirvana long before they were famous. To hear an extended edition of this, and all episodes, of Book Shambles subscribe at patreon.com/bookshambles

Pragya Agarwal is a behavioural scientist who’s written a number of excellent books on the subject but her most recent book, (M)otherhood: On the choices of being a woman, is her most personal book yet as it examines how we as a society look at motherhood. She joins Robin and Josie this week to chat about the book, how each new book consumes her, childbirth, menopause and much more. As ever, Patreon supporters get an extended edition which this week includes tales of Robin’s self isolation and a particularly memorable evening at the Fringe… Subscribe at patreon.com/bookshambles

Recorded live online as part of the More Than Words Literary Festival, Robin and Josie are joined by comedian and writer Michael Spicer who you probably best know as the 'Room Next Door' guy. They chat about his recently released first book, The Secret Political Advisor, creating comedy during the pandemic, the state of satire and a whole lot more. To hear an extended version you an subscribe at patreon.com/bookshambles

Comedian, actor, writer and podcaster Jessie Cave joins Robin and Josie this week to talk about her debut novel Sunset which is out now. They talk about why she chose to write about grief, hating being on stage, working with her family and worrying that whatever the book ended up being it'd just be labelled as 'Harry Potter chick lit'. A warning as well that this episode contains some talk about sexual assault and death that may be upsetting for some listeners. Extended edition for Patreon supporters as always. Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles to hear an extra 10 minutes of conversation.

Neuroscientist and best selling author Dean Burnett is a regular contributor to the Cosmic Shambles Network and this week he returns to the Book Shambles podcast to chat to Robin and Josie about his latest book Psycho-Logical, the problems surrounding mental health care in the UK, dealing with grief in the pandemic and some of the continuing misconceptions of mental health issues. On the extended Patreon edition you can hear a long discussion about Section 28 and also Josie's laptop dies... Subscribe and support at patreon.com/bookshambles

On today's episode Josie and Robin chat to the writer Lauren Oyler. A prolific writer of articles for publications like Harper's and the New Yorker, as well as having ghostwritten for many people, her first novel is Fake Accounts about a a woman who discovers her boyfriend is an anonymous internet conspiracy theorist. They chat about the challenges of writing a novel instead of feature articles, the problems with social media in 2021, favourite novels and, of course, lots of other stuff. To hear an extended edition of this episode subscribe to Patreon on patreon.com/bookshambles

Geoff Dyer returns to the podcast to talk to Robin and Josie (who is late arriving because her daughter broke the TV...) about his new book See/Saw: Looking at Photographs, which is out now. They talk about photography, favourite photographers, writing about niche topics for a wide audience and humour in photography. To hear an extended edition of this episode with 15 bonus minutes subscribe to Patreon on patreon.com/bookshambles

On today's episode Robin and Josie are joined by Annie Macmanus (who you may better know as Annie Mac from Radio1) to talk about her debut novel Mother Mother. They chat about her fears of moving into an entirely different creative arena, how the literary and music worlds compare and creating playlists for books. Bonus chat as always for Patreon supporters. Subscribe at patreon.com/bookshambles

Musa Okwonga is a writer, poet, podcaster and author about everything from politics to football. His new book is a memoir titled One of Them, about his time at Eton college as a young black man and delves into the effect these sorts of institutions have had on Britain's political life. He talks to Robin and Josie about why he had to write the book, what his school friends from the time think about it, and Eton, now and where Britain is headed. Support the show on Patreon for all sort of extras and bonus content including extended episodes. An extra 20 minutes of conversation for Patreon supporters awaits you on this episode. Sign up at patreon.com/bookshambles

This week Robin and Josie are joined by author Yasmin Khan to talk about her knew book Ripe Figs which is part cookbook, part travel book that traces recipes from the Mediterranean from the time of Ottoman rule to the influence of recent refugee communities. They chat about the inspiration for the book, favourite recipes, first cookbooks, best cookbooks and the best food from around the world. To hear more chat, subscribe to the extended version on Patreon at patreon.com/bookshambles

Comedian and Bake Off host Tom Allen joins Robin and Josie this week to talk about his memoir No Shame, which is out now. They chat of growing up in the suburbs, doing Julie Andrews numbers at high school plays and early comedy gigs in New Cross. They also discuss in detail how many celebrities admit to soiling themselves in their autobiographies... To hear an extended edition of this episode subscribe to Patreon on patreon.com/bookshambles. 15 extra minutes of chat and chaos this week including in depth analysis of The Glades shopping centre in Bromley.

Two guests on this week's episode. Firstly Robin chats to A.L. Kennedy who returns to the podcast to chat about her new collection of short stories We Are Attempting to Survive Our Time and why she finds writing short stories a different, and sometimes harder, challenge than writing a novel. And then in the second half of the episode Josie talks to philosopher and author Tom Whyman about his book Infinitely Full of Hope: Fatherhood and the Future in an Age of Crisis and Disaster. They chat about how the book was written pre-COVID and how being full of hope now is still possible, if more of a challenge! To hear the full versions of both of these chats subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/bookshambles

Robin and Josie are joined by author Douglas Stuart, winner of the 2020 Booker Prize for his debut novel Shuggie Bain ahead of it's release in paperback. They chat about the book's decade long gestation, growing up in Glasgow under Thatcher and the importance of getting more working class stories into popular fiction. As always, an extended version of this episode is available for Patreon supporters. This week Douglas welcomes Josie to Glasgow and Robin delights in the art and music that's come out of the Scottish city. Subscribe at patreon.com/bookshambles Using books as a jumping off point, each week award winning comedians and bibliophiles Josie Long and Robin Ince and a special guest dive into interesting, passionate and shambolic discussions.

On today's episode Josie and Robin are joined by the actor, comedian and writer Katy Wix to talk about her new book, Delicacy: A Memoir about Cake and Death. They chat about the book, stories of the Fringe, jugglers who can't juggle and then, eventually, Josie just can't keep her love of Stath Lets Flats in any longer... To hear a super bumper edition with 25 minutes of extra chat, become a Patreon supporter of the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles

Two science authors on the show today, both with new books that look at different ways of what makes us human. First up it's Shambles regular, Ginny Smith chatting to Robin and Josie about her new book Overloaded: How Every Aspect of Your Life is Influenced by Your Brain Chemicals, which is out today! And then they chat with Melanie Challenger about her new release, How to Be Animal: A New History of What It Means to Be Human. Book Shambles Patreon supporters can listen to longer interviews with each author. Over 40 minutes of bonus content for you this week. You can sign up at patreon.com/bookshambles

This week's Book Shambles is a cross over event. Physicist, and one of the world's biggest selling science authors, Carlo Rovelli has a new book out today, Helgoland. He joined Robin for a conversation for our Patreon exclusive series Tips for Existence but we're making some of that conversation around the book available for free here on Book Shambles. To hear the full Tips for Existence episode, which is 40 minutes longer, you can sign up at patreon.com/bookshambles Other guests in that series include Neil Gaiman, Tim Minchin, Ann Druyan and Brian Greene.

It's a double header this week! First up Robin and Josie chat with journalist Ben Machell about his book, The Unusual Suspect: The Rise and Fall of a Modern-Day Outlaw and then in the second part Robin chats to Booker Prize shortlisted author of The Shadow King, Maaza Mengiste. If you'd like to hear the full versions of both of these interviews, you can subscribe to the podcast's Patreon at patreon.com/bookshambles

Journalist Nell Frizzell's new book is The Panic Years: Dates, Doubts, and the Mother of All Decisions and it spoke so strongly to Josie that she provided one of the cover quotes so it only makes sense she join her and Robin on the podcast. They chat about the book, motherhood, some of Nell's favourite books about parenting, vegetable growing and much more. To hear an extended edition of this episode subscribe to Patreon on patreon.com/bookshambles. 20 minutes extra this week.

On today's episode, Josie couldn't make the recording and so Robin is joined by a guest co-host, the brilliant Natalie Haynes. They chat to Mark Steel about a new book of collected writings and musings of the late Jeremy Hardy, Speaks Volumes, for which Mark wrote the introduction. They chat about the difference between a comedian and a comic, favourite stories in the book and why it's high time we called a canoe a canoe... To hear an extended edition of this episode subscribe to Patreon on patreon.com/bookshambles where there's a whole bonus twenty minutes this week.

Salena Godden was one of our very first guests on Book Shambles six years ago and now she's back to talk about her debut novel, the hugely acclaimed Mrs Death Misses Death. She chats to Josie and Robin about the book, discovering female authors in her thirties and the process of writing while walking. Support the show on Patreon to get extended editions each and every week. You can do that at patreon.com/bookshambles The extended edition this week includes the potential of cannibal marshmallows covered in death magic...

This week Robin and Josie are joined by the multi-award winning, and Booker Prize long-listed, Irish novelist and short stories writer Kevin Barry. They chat about his latest collection of short stories, That Old Country Music, the grumpiness of Dennis Potter, a hatred of the first draft and the appeal of living by a swamp. To hear an extended edition of this episode subscribe to Patreon on patreon.com/bookshambles

Marian Keyes is one of the most successful Irish writers of all time with her novels having sold over 30 million copies and been translated into 33 languages. With her most recent novel, the Sunday Times #1 bestseller Grown Ups, just landing in paperback she joined Josie and Robin to talk about the book, her writing process, dealing with important issues in 'genre fiction' and much more. As always, you can hear an extended edition of this episode by subscribing to Patreon on patreon.com/bookshambles

You've probably heard us talking about our new audio documentary series An Uncanny Hour on Book Shambles recently. Well we've just finished season one of the show, which features six one hour documentaries on everything from Hawkwind to David Cronenburg. We speak to authors, performers and scientists such as Stewart Lee, Reece Shearsmith and Kier-La Janisse about the weird and the uncanny corners of culture. We thought we'd provide Book Shambles listeners with a 30 minute anthology collection of the first season this week. You can listen to the entire thing by becoming a Patreon supporter of Book Shambles and/or The Cosmic Shambles Network at patreon.com/bookshambles and patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Author Nikesh Shukla returns to the podcast this week to chat to Robin and Josie about his new memoir, Brown Baby. They chat about the importance of humour in non-fiction, the idea of writing a memoir to his children and the amusement derived from dropping Marvel Easter Eggs into the book. They also cover parenting, the pointlessness of Twitter arguments and Nikesh's daughter's desire for the episode to be over so they can have lunch. To hear an extended edition of this episode in which Nikesh recounts the time he had lunch with George Saunders, subscribe to Patreon at patreon.com/bookshambles

Alexi Pappas is an author, actor, screenwriter and Olympian to boot. You might have recently seen her in the film Olympic Dreams, alongside Nick Kroll, with whom she also co-wrote it. She competed in track and field for Greece in the 2016 Olympics and has just released her brilliant memoir Bravey, in which she talks about her life, drive and battles with depression. She joins Robin and Josie from the US to chat about the book, getting Maya Rudolph to write the foreword, juggling improv classes and Olympic training and a whole lot more. To hear an extended edition of this episode, as with all episodes, you can pledge at patreon.com/bookshambles

Robin has often mentioned how much he enjoyed Cosey Fanni Tutti's book Art Sex Music so it was only right we finally get her on the show. She joins Robin and Josie to talk about Hull, the counter culture, finding your own path in art and feminism in the 70s. Josie was having all myriad of technical difficulties during this recording so please bear with her! And also please note that there is some discussion about the 'scene' in the 60s and 70s that people may find upsetting. To hear an extended edition of this episode subscribe to Patreon on patreon.com/bookshambles

For our first proper episode of 2021 Josie and Robin are joined by comedian and broadcaster Alan Davies, who is also the author of the new acclaimed memoir, Just Ignore Him. They chat about the process of writing the book, dealing with the past, separating the art from the artist and a whole lot more. Please note that this episode does contain discussion around the subject of abuse. To hear an extended edition of this episode support the show at patreon.com/bookshambles Supporters receive an extra 15 minutes of chat this week in which Alan awards Josie with the best joke of 2020

In our first episode of 2021, Robin and Josie look back on the best things they read in 2020. Most are books that came out last year, but a few aren't, don't hold it against us. From poetry to science to horror, there's something in this long list of recommendations for everyone! Support the show, and hear extended episodes, by signing up at patreon.com/bookshambles

In a somewhat Christmas themed episode Robin is joined by the philosopher Julian Baggini and the former Dean of Guilford to talk about Julian's new book, The Godless Gospel. They chat about the main question of Julian's book, if we take the 'magical' elements out of The Bible, was Jesus a good moral teacher? They also talk about the philosophy of Jesus, the role of, and failures of, religion today, the writing of Richard Holloway and why the resurrection isn't very good narratively. To hear an extended edition of this episode subscribe to Patreon on patreon.com/bookshambles

Jenny Landreth returns to the podcast this week to speak to Josie about her new book Breaking a Leg. They chat about the wonderful world of am-dram, the negative connotations of the word 'amateur' and how Jenny single handedly invented cold water swimming. For reading lists, past episodes etc head to cosmicshambles.com/bookshambles and support the show at patreon.com/bookshambles

Today Robin is joined by author and journalist Susannah Cahalan. Her first book, Brain on Fire, was a smash hit memoir about contracting a rare auto-immune disease, anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis that was turned into a film of the same name with Chloë Grace Moretz playing the role of Susannah. Her new book is The Great Pretender in which she investigates the work of prominent psychologist David Rosenhan and how is famed experiments may not hold up to scrutiny. Note: This was recorded on the same day as last week's episode when Josie was indisposed. To hear an extended edition of this episode subscribe to Patreon on patreon.com/bookshambles

When we said Hallie Rubenhold was going to be a guest on the show we were flooded with comments from people saying The Five, her 2019 book about the lives of the women murdered by Jack the Ripper, was one of their favourite books of the last few years. They're not alone as it was shortlisted for the Wolfson History Prize and won the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-fiction. Robin chats to Hallie about that book, the reaction to it a year on, and what she's working on now. To hear an extended edition of this episode subscribe to Patreon on patreon.com/bookshambles

Janna Levin is a Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Columbia University and a world leading researcher on our understanding of black holes. Her new book, Black Hole Survival Guide, is out this week and she joined us from the US to chat about it. Extended conversation, and lots of other goodies, for Patreon supporters. Sign up at patreon.com/bookshambles

A little while ago we did a Book Shambles Livestream as part of the Royal Albert Home series and now, here it is, in podcast form. Robin and Josie co-host with Science Shambles co-host Helen Czerski and they are joined by astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti to chat about her new book, Diary of an Apprentice Astronaut, as well as musician Tanita Tikaram whose music was taken to space by a number of astronauts, including Samantha. As this was a livestream recording there may be the odd tech glitch not present in a normal episode. Support the podcast by subscribing at patreon.com/bookshambles Donate to the Royal Albert Hall at royalalberthall.com/donate

This week Robin is joined by physician and author Gavin Francis to talk about his obsession with islands, and his new book on the subject Island Dreams. They talk about the psychology and philosophy beyond humans connections to islands and when moving to an island can become more of a nightmare than a dream. Extended conversation, and lots of other goodies, for Patreon supporters. Sign up at patreon.com/bookshambles