Book Shambles

This week Robin is joined by the author, journalist and activist Joan Smith, alongside guest co-host Bec Hill. They focus on Joan's new acclaimed book Home Grown: How Domestic Violence Turns Men Into Terrorists as well as touch on some of her previous work of both fiction and non fiction. Due to the subject nature of her most recent book please be aware this episode contains open discussion about domestic violence, sexual violence and terrorism. Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions of each and every episode.

In the first Book Shambles of 2020, Robin is joined by his Science Shambles co-host Helen Czerski to chat with comedian and author Russell Kane. They chat about Russell's new book Son of a Silverback, the reactions to it from other alpha-man silverbacks and children thereof, as well as Evelyn Waugh, personalising comedy, emotional equality, Michael Rosen and much more. Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions of each and every episode. 15 bonus minutes await pledgers this week including a discussion about why Brian Cox doesn't like jokes about octopuses...

It's our annual books of the year edition of Book Shambles recorded with various guests back stage at the Compendium and Nine Lessons shows. In this year's edition Robin chats to Josie Long, Michael Legge, Pete Etchells, Claudia Hammond, Gecko, Chris Lintott, Chris Hadfield, Jo Neary, Suzi Gage, Lucie Green, Ben Moor, Tim Peake, Lucy Rogers, Peter Buckley Hill, Melinda Burton and Trent Burton. Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles

It’s Christmas Eve, so that means ghost stories surely? Robin is joined, for a Book Shambles Extra, by Johnny Mains. Book Shambles listeners may best know Jonny as the co-editor of Dead Funny and Dead Funny Encore, but he’s also a horror historian and author. They chat about his lost collections of old ghost stories written by women, including the new anthology, Remember the Dead at Christmas, Johnny’s work in progress book on Freaks and the thrill of finding rare books in second hand book stores. Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions and other goodies.

Our comics experts, Nathaniel Metcalfe and Tom Oldham joined Robin for an update on what'd good in comics and offer some excellent Christmas gift ideas. They chat about new work from Lala Albert, Vic Pratt, Daniel Clowes, Martin Scorese's take on Marvel movies and also try to work out why people didn't like mother! when it's clearly an excellent film. Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions of each and every episode. 15 bonus minutes await pledgers this week.

Angela Saini's Superior: The Return of Race Science has featured in a lot of Books of the Year lists of late so we thought it high time we had Angela on the show to chat about it, and her other work. She chats with Robin about what she discovered in researching for the book, books that inspired her growing up and the advantages of having an engineer for a father. Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions and other goodies.

Professor Jon Butterworth is a regular at many of our live shows and he's also written two top selling popular science books about physics, his latest, A Map of the Invisible, has recently come out in paperback. So he dropped by the studio to chat about it with Josie and Robin as well as climate change, where science meets politics, reading more fiction and Josie's update on Dark Matter. Support the show on Patreon at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Author Scarlett Thomas joins Robin and a returning Josie this week to chat about her new book Oligarchy. They look at the inspiration provided by boarding schools, the work of Elizabeth Taylor (not that one), Muriel Spark and Angela Carter. Also Robin and Josie both have a bit of a cold. Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions of each and every episode.

Author John Higgs is in the studio this week with Robin and Bec to talk about all things William Blake, which makes sense being that John has just written a new essay on him for the Tate Exhibition and as a major new book coming out next year about Blake. They also talk about AI, climate and the future, the subject of John's latest book The Future Starts Here as well as Elizabeth Taylor, Matt Haig and discover The Beatles were quite good. Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions of each and every episode. In this week's extended edition find out why Tomorrowland wasn't as bad as Bec thought it would be...

Robin is joined by author Lisa Blower this week to talk about her latest book, It's All Gone Dark Over Bill's Mother's. They chat about highlighting different voices in fiction, caravan holidays, Kit De Waal and the beauty of a novella. Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions of each and every episode. 10 bonus minutes await pledgers this week.

Best selling science fiction author Peter F. Hamilton joins Robin and Bec in studio this week to talk about what goes into creating massive 'space opera' worlds like that of his latest book Salvation Lost. They talk about science fiction influences, which sci-fi books got turned into movies that were actually good and why Robin's local library wouldn't allow him to order a book by Eric Idle... Support the podcast by pledging at patreon.com/bookshambles for as little as $1 a month to get extended episodes and more.

In a Halloween special, comedian and author John Robertson joins Book Shambles this week to talk of his novel, The Little Town of Marrowville with Robin and Bec. Then they talk about the spooky tales of childhood books from horror anthologies to Paul Jennings and the most unsettling things in fiction... Who's that woman standing by the window? The one without any eyes... Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions of each and every episode. 15 bonus minutes await pledgers this week.

Lemn is back for part two after a shortened first (that was actually his second) visit to Book Shambles. Robin and Lemn, with Natalie Haynes a super sub for Josie Long, carry on their conversation about 'My Name is Why' and how it has connected with readers in the wider world. All mixed in with tales of Lenny Henry, Julian Barnes and Welsh Miners Workers Libraries. Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions of each and every episode. 10 bonus minutes await pledgers this week. Lemn will be joining Robin at the Royal Albert Hall on May 17th 2020 as part of Sea Shambles, a huge variety spectacular show along with Steve Backshall, Helen Czerski, British Sea Power, Josie Long and many more! Tickets at cosmicshambles.com/seashambles

Lemn Sissay returns to Book Shambles to chat about his bestseller 'My Name is Why' to chat with Robin and Josie. This is part one of Lemn's return because there was a travel issue, which means this episode is shorter than normal, but we've recorded a full episode with Lemn, with Robin and Natalie Haynes because the following week, Josie was away, and that'll be out next week... In the meantime enjoy this chat of poetry, Harry Potter and lost book shops... Support the podcast by pledging to patreon.com/bookshambles

Author Dan Richards' new book Outpost is all about journeying into the wilderness and finding the edges of civilisation. But Robin and Dan got very sidetracked and didn't talk about that. So go get a copy of Dan's book after you've listened to a conversation about Wind in the Willows, miscast fictional detectives, Winnie the Pooh audiobooks and Keith Moon's interactions with grandmothers... Support the podcast by pledging as little as $1 a month on Patreon at https://patreon.com/bookshambles

Robin, and returning guest co-host Natalie Haynes, are joined by astronomer and astronomy writer Colin Stuart to talk about his new book Rebel Star. They chat about what we know about the sun, and how we know it, the dangers of space weather and why Natalie has issues with both Ray Bradbury and Christopher Nolan... Support the show at patreon.com/bookshambles to hear extended episodes.

Our first ever guest on Book Shambles was Stewart Lee, and with his new book, March of the Lemmings, just released he's back in the studio this week with Robin to chat about it. Given the new book is about Brexit, there's a lot of chat about Brexit, finding the comedy in, but also talk of Steve Jones, William Blake, Marvel comics and what Robin and Stew need to do to make sure they remain members of the metropolitan liberal elite... To hear the extended edition of this, and all, episodes, support the podcast at https://patreon.com/bookshambles Pic by Steve Ullathorne

This week it's all about the classics as Robin is joined by two classicists, Natalie Haynes and Charlotte Higgins. They chat about the best translations of The Odyssey, how much filth the monks permitted, why the classics are frowned upon as 'too high brow' and good entry points for getting into these great Greek tales. Also, spoiler alert, this episode contains spoilers for a number of works written about 3000 years ago. Support the podcast at http://patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions of each and every episode. Please note: Although discussed in the context of work written in the 8th century BC, this episode does contain mentions of sexual violence and suicide.

Our guest this week was meant to be Lemn Sissay but a mix up with timings meant Robin and Josie found themselves alone in the studio for 40 minutes or so. So what better way to fill the time than catch up with what they've been reading since they last saw each other a couple of months ago! Jean Rhys, Alistair Humphreys, Shirley Jackson, Roger Deakin and more! Support the podcast by pledging at http://patreon.com/bookshambles

Renowned physicist and broadcaster Prof Jim Al-Khalili has just written his first work of fiction, the sci-fi novel Sunfall. So he joins Robin and Bec in studio to talk about what that experience was like, making sure the science is right in fiction, favourite sci-fi authors and much more. Extended edition available, as always, to Patreon supporters. Become one at https://patreon.com/bookshambles

This week one of the most recognisable voices in British radio, Mark Radcliffe, joins Robin and Bec to talk about his new book Crossroads: In Search of the Moments That Changed Music. They chat about the book, why The Beatles aren't the perfect band, why Jimi Hendrix was the perfect guitarist and how Black Sabbath might've invented heavy metal after a machining accident. Also Bec recounts her brief career cameo as a drummer... Support the podcast at https://patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions of each and every episode.

On this episode of Book Shambles Robin Ince and Bec Hill are joined by former winner of the Royal Society Book Prize for science books, Gaia Vince. They chat about her award winning book, Adventures in the Anthropocene, the state of the climate, hope for the future of humanity and urinating in the wild... Get extended episodes and support the podcast by pledging at https://patreon.com/bookshambles

Robin is once again joined by guest co-host Bec Hill and their special guest this week is Wellcome Book Prize winner Will Eaves. They chat about Will's award winning novel Murmur plus Alan Turing, Montaigne, Andy Stanton and the role of mirrors in fiction... Support the podcast and everything at the CSN by pledging as little as a dollar a month at patreon.com/bookshambles Robin's tour dates at robinince.com, CSN events at cosmicshambles.com and Bec's at www.bechillcomedian.com Murmur is available wherever you buy books.

On this week's episode Robin and guest co-host Bec Hill are joined by comedian, novelist and 'Grumpy Old Woman' Jenny Eclair to chat about her new novel Inheritance. They chat about Jenny's lack of a plan when she starts writing, being a pioneering 'woman in stand up', John Niven and cling film... Support the show on Patreon to get extended episodes each and every week. Go to https://patreon.com/bookshambles

It's a Book Shambles - Griefcast crossover this week as Cariad Lloyd joins Robin and (eventually) guest co-host Bec Hill in the studio. They chat about the best books that deal with grief, Jane Austen and the allure of a Penguin classic.A bumper 20 extra minutes awaits Patreon supporters this week. Become one at http://patreon.com/bookshambles

On an Apollo 50th special we talk to a number of people about a single book, Arthur C Clarke’s 1986 book ‘July 20th 2019’ in which he imagines what life might be like on the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. Recorded mostly at the Latitude Festival on said anniversary, with book in hand, Robin chats to Chris Lintott, Helen Czerski, Kevin Fong and Suzie Imber about their impressions of Clarke’s vision. Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions of each and every episode. This week Patreon’s get an entire bonus guest, as Robin chats about the book with Hannah Critchlow.

The second episode recorded live from The Elgar Room at the Royal Albert Hall, Robin and Josie are joined by comedian Reginald D Hunter. They chat about what's changed in Reginald's comedy in the twenty years he's been in the UK, the books his sisters made him read, the power of Charlie Brown, Richard Wright, Neil Postman and much more. Also this week, play the fun guessing game of who it was Josie was talking about that we had to bleep out... Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions of each and every episode. Both Reg and Josie are up at this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe with brand new shows so be sure to check them out.

We are back! Recorded live from the Elgar Room at the Royal Albert Hall, Robin and Josie are joined by actor Wendell Pierce (The Wire, Treme) who is currently winning acclaim for his lead turn in Death of a Salesman at The Young Vic. They chat about Arthur Miller and the potency of the Loman family being portrayed by an African American cast, bad accents in The Wire, Taylor Branch, Kate Grenville and more. Support Book Shambles and the Cosmic Shambles Network by pledging as little as $1 a month at http://patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended episodes, free tickets to events and much more! Tickets for the West End transfer of Death of a Salesman can be found at http://salesmanwestend.com

With Robin and Josie both on tour at the moment, and Book Shambles on a small break, we thought you might enjoy a bit of a Book Shambles / Science Shambles crossover episode. Helen Czerski is still in the host chair subbing for Robin and this week she is joined by cosmologist and best selling science author Marcus Chown. His latest book, Infinity in the Palm of Your Hand, looks at fifty bonkers things about the Universe and the two try to dig into as many as possible. Would it matter if the Sun was made of bananas? Can you fit all of humanity in a sugar cube... Support the podcast, and the Cosmic Shambles Network by pledging at patreon.com/bookshambles

Robin is joined by guest co-host Bec Hill to chat to author and psychoanalyst Josh Cohen about his new book Not Working. They chat about the psychology of various authors from Emily Dickinson to David Foster Wallace and why Orson Welles was a workaholic. Also features a cameo from Sunday Times #1 bestseller Matt Parker. Support the podcast to hear extended editions of each episode at http://patreon.com/bookshambles

This week Robin, and returning guest co-host Bec Hill, are joined by acclaimed US author Jarett Kobek. His novel I Hate the Internet is a regularly mentioned favourite on this podcast, so while he was in the UK it seemed only right to get him into the studio. They chat about that book, his new book Only Americans Burn in Hell, video games, virtue in the age of Trump and other favourite authors. Support the podcast at http://patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions of each and every episode.

Author Kerry Hudson joins Robin this week, along with guest co-host Bec Hill, to talk about her new book Lowborn which is out very soon. They talk about classism, poverty, Dennis Potter and the healing power of libraries. To find out more about the charities mentioned in this episode, go to cosmicshambles.com/bookshambles/kerryhudson Support the podcast and everything we do at the CSN by pledging at patreon.com/bookshambles and get extended editions of each and every episode.

This week one of our Shambles bloggers, Pete Etchells, joins Robin and guest co-host Bec Hill, to talk about his brand new book Lost in a Good Game. They chat about the book, video games, Douglas Adams, the Stanford Prison Experiment and much more. Pete's book is out now and you can read his blog at cosmicshambles.com/words/blogs/peteetchells Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions of each and every episode.

This week we welcome back a Book Shambles regular, and recent Sunday Times Number One Bestseller, Philippa Perry. She joins Robin and guest co-host Bec Hill to talk about her new book, The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read, youth fiction, Janne Teller and, ah, Rocky IV... Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions of each and every episode. 10 bonus minutes await pledgers this week.

Everyone from Robin to Alan Moore has talked about Picnic Comma Lightning on the podcast so we thought it high time we had its author, Laurence Scott, on the show to talk about. Joined by guest co-host Bec Hill, they chat about the new reality of the digital age, the Fyre Festival, Nabokov, Virginia Woolf and more. Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions of each and every episode.

Recorded live at the Manchester Science Festival Robin chats to writer and psychologist Charles Fernyhough and neuroscientist Professor Sophie Scott. They chat about Charles latest book The Voices Within, it's influence on Robin's book, some of the most influential books in psychology and doing experiments on your own children... Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions of each and every episode. 20 bonus minutes await pledgers this week.

The journalist and broadcaster Samira Ahmed joins Robin and Josie this week to talk about politics, the joy of library books, the joy of putting in brand new book shelves and some of her favourite books. Also Robin is annoyed Billy Wilder wasn't forced to make more films. Support the podcast and network and get things like extended editions of each episode at patreon.com/bookshambles

US theatre and filmmaker Jessie Nelson (I Am Sam, Corrina, Corrina) was in town last week for the opening of Tony Award nominated musical Waitress for which she wrote the book based on the film of the same name. So Robin caught up with her for a Book Shambles Extra to chat about books that have inspired her, her differing experiences writing for stage and screen and writing her first musical. Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended episodes and much more.

Author JB Morrison, who you might know better as Jim Bob, frontman of Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine, joins Robin and Josie in the studio this week. They talk about moving from songwriter to novel writer and his new memoir In the Shadow of My Former Self which is out very soon. Plus there's chat of Cormac McCarthy, Jean Rhys and Status Quo. Because of course there is. Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions of each and every episode.

A Book Shambles / Science Shambles crossover. Robin is joined in studio by Professor Gina Rippon and Dr Julia Shaw to talk about their new science books, The Gendered Brain: The New Neuroscience That Shatters the Myth of the Female Brain and Making Evil: The Science Behind Humanity's Dark Side. They dive into topics like the lack of women in STEM, the myth of the male and female brain, false memories, why we are all capable of doing awful things, toxic masculinity, prison libraries and much more. Subscribe for free to the Science Shambles podcast to get the full episode. Support the podcast, and the Cosmic Shambles Network by pledging at patreon.com/bookshambles

The final episode we recorded at the Royal Albert Hall, Robin and guest co-host Sarah Kendall are joined by solar physicist and author Professor Lucie Green. Recorded right after Alan Moore's episode from last week, Lucie fact checks Alan's graphic novels and then chats about building satellites in sheds, Judge Dredd regrets, space based poetry, speed reading Tina Fey and her own book about the sun. Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions of each and every episode. 15 bonus minutes await pledgers this week.

Recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall, Robin is joined by guest co-host Sarah Kendall and Alan Moore. They chat about where real science has influenced Alan's works, why Trump's election might be a result of too many superhero films and the best motorway services in and around Milton Keynes.Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions of each and every episode. There's a whole twenty extra minutes of Robin, Alan and Sarah this week.

Kate Davies debut novel, In at the Deep End, comes out this week. Josie read an advanced copy and fell in love with it so we got Kate into the studio to chat about it with her and Robin. Not only that, she came armed with a list of her favourite books divided into categories! So the three of them dig into the best sexy, queer and funny books from Zadie Smith to Diana Athill, Stephen Fry and beyond. Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions of each and every episode.

This week Philippa Perry joins Robin as co-host and they chat with writer and performer Rebecca Peyton. They talk about the process of working with editors, psychotherapy, the joy of a good sad book and the work of Joseph Heller, Min Jin Lee, Joseph Conrad and more. Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions of each and every episode.

This week's episode is a comics special as Robin is joined in studio by our resident comics expert, comedian Nat Metcalfe and Tom Oldham of Breakdown Press. They chat about Douglas Dixon, Ken Reid, Lando and why too many comics these days are starting to read like storyboards for a future Netflix series. As always there's an extended version for Patreon pledgers and this week features and extra 15 minutes. Support us at patreon.com/bookshambles

For pretty much as long as we've been producing Book Shambles, Josie has been recommending everyone read the Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante. She even had the first book on her cape in Cosmic Superheroes. So with the My Beautiful Friend series just coming out we thought we should do a Ferrante special with Josie and two other mega fans. So joined by Sara Pascoe and Tania Edwards, they dig into her work and many other tangents. Fair warning though, spoilers abound. Support the CSN at patreon.com/bookshambles and get extended episodes of Book Shambles. Over 20 minutes extra in this week's episode!

A triple podcast crossover this week as Vitriola's Michael Legge subs in for Josie Long and our guest is The Allusionist's Helen Zaltzman in the studio with Robin. They chat about favourite showbiz memoirs and diaries, Scientology books and the time Iggy Pop stage dived at an eleven year old and landed on his face. Extended edition for Patreon supporters as always. Become one at patreon.com/bookshambles

Geneticist, author and broadcaster Dr Adam Rutherford joins Robin and Josie in the studio this week to talk about many things including his latest book, The Book of Humans. They chat about the peril of writing books that will go out of date, bad misuses of genetics, who was racist even by Victorian standards and Adam tries to remember the difference between The Odyssey and The Iliad. Extended version available exclusively to our Patreon supporters. Become one at patreon.com/bookshambles

We lots of specials and time specific episodes towards the end of 2018, so we've yet to put out the final episode we recorded live at the Edinburgh Fringe, so here it is! Robin is joined by comedian and author Mark Watson and the new writing team Ambrose Parry, comprised of crime writer Christopher Brookmyre and anaesthetist Dr Marisa Haetzman. They chat about the differences between writing crime and historical fiction, stand up and novels and the best way to seek revenge against high school bullies in your books. Support the show at patreon.com/bookshambles and get extended editions of each episode

Robin and Josie have both been guests on RHLSTP so we thought it high time that we had Richard Herring on Book Shambles. He joins us in the studio to chat about favourite early comedy books from the likes of Monty Python and Not the Nine O'Clock News and then they try to work out how the Amazon book charts work as Robin and Rich's latest books battle it out on the 'Jokes and Riddles' charts. To hear an extended version of this, and almost every other episode too, you can become a patreon supporter of the show at patreon.com/bookshambles