#3824

Mentioned in 8 episodes

The Season

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Book •

Helen Garner's "The Season" offers a poignant exploration of family, aging, and masculinity through the lens of her grandson's amateur football league.

Garner's signature unflinching style reveals intimate details of her own aging process and her evolving relationship with her grandson.

The book transcends the sporting context, delving into broader themes of generational differences and the complexities of human connection.

Garner's keen observations and witty prose create a compelling narrative that resonates with readers of all ages.

The book's emotional depth and insightful reflections on life's transitions make it a memorable and thought-provoking read.

Mentioned by

Michael Williams

Lindsay Trout-Hughes

Michael Williams

Andrew Limbaugh

Natasha Mitchell

Mentioned in 8 episodes

Recommended by

Russ Roberts

as an enjoyable read, despite some of its content being lost to time.

Ian Leslie on Being Human in the Age of AI

Suggested by

Melissa Febos

for people struggling with old dating patterns.

What a break from sex can teach you

Recommended by

John Williams

as a memoir about what she learned about herself and about love through a year of abstaining from sex and from dating.

What to read this summer

Mentioned by

Lindsay Trout-Hughes

as

Melissa Febos

’ newest book that examines the solitude, freedoms, and feminist heroes she discovered during a year of celibacy.

#151: Melissa Febos — The Art of Memoir: Turn Life Into Art, Undoing Shame, and Choosing The Artist’s Life

Mentioned by

Waylon Wong

when discussing the debutante ball and the limited career options for wealthy women in the late 19th century.

How American heiresses became Dollar Princesses

Mentioned by

Tara McMullin

, who quotes Melissa Febos' therapist about endless hunger.

EP 498: Breaking The Validation Spiral

Mentioned as Helen Garner's most recent book, a story about her youngest grandson's Aussie rules football team.

The savage suburbia of Helen Garner: ‘I wanted to dong Martin Amis with a bat’

Mentioned as a memoir exploring pleasure in a year without sex after the author recognized her addiction to romance.

We Get the Non-Fiction We Deserve: From AI Empires to Wokeness Critiques to a Year Without Sex

Mentioned as Garner's most recent book, telling the story of her youngest grandson's Aussie rules football team.

Best of 2025 … so far: The savage suburbia of Helen Garner: ‘I wanted to dong Martin Amis with a bat’

Recommended by

Michael Williams

as a surprising and delightful read, despite initial reservations about the subject matter.

The best books of 2024

Mentioned by

Dan Savage

as the author of a memoir they will be discussing on the show.

Savage Lovecast Episode 978

Mentioned by

Michael Williams

as the book

Helen Garner

was writing in the early stages during the recording of the podcast.

Read This: We Went to Helen Garner’s House

Mentioned by

Andrew Limbaugh

as the book the episode will focus on.

In 'The Dry Season,' Melissa Febos chronicles a transformative year of celibacy

Mentioned by

Judith Brett

as a book capturing community-run sporting groups.

Australia votes — what message should we take from this election result?

Mentioned as

Melissa Febos

' new memoir exploring her relationship with love.

Should Romantic Love Be at the Center of Our Lives? (Melissa Febos)

Mentioned by

Natasha Mitchell

as

Helen Garner

's latest book, exploring her love of Australian Rules Football and her grandson.

Helen Garner on footy, boys, and growing old

Recommended by

Adam Ross

for its exploration of self-discovery through celibacy.

Adam Ross, "Playworld: A Novel" (Knopf, 2025)

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