
The Book Pile
A podcast where comedians tell you about books so you never have to read! (Now including fiction!) Kellen does standup; Dave writes ads; together they highlight lessons from the world’s best books--and some of the worst. New episode every Monday!
Latest episodes

Jan 16, 2023 • 2min
NEXT EPISODE WILL COME OUT ON 1/18/23
This is an apology for not getting an episode out on time this week due to Kellen's being ill (with half the country). New episode will come out Wednesday, Jan 18th. Dave and Kellen also share quick stories about what's crawling in their walls.

Jan 9, 2023 • 29min
The Starlings, Episode 1: Airborne, by David Vance, Fabián Cobos, and art team
Today we cover a book written by Dave! (You can currently buy it by searching Kickstarter for “The Starlings Adventure Box”, starting January 10! Or if you’re not the reading type, you can just come to Dave’s house and kill him. Either one solves his career problems.) Plus, Kellen reads the book to his two sons, who immediately outsmart Dave. Check it out!*TheBookPilePodcast@gmail.com*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Quebec. Kellen was named one of TBS's Top Ten Comics to Watch in 2017. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

Jan 2, 2023 • 23min
Thinking in Bets by Annie Duke
Welcome to a new year! We launch 2023 with a book about making good decisions! You should make the good decision to listen to it. Or we will make the good decision to cry. Also, Kellen has beef with Canada and Dave poses his favorite story problem.*To buy the book, Thinking in Bets, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3QgS2n6*TheBookPilePodcast@gmail.com*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Quebec. Kellen was named one of TBS's Top Ten Comics to Watch in 2017. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

Dec 19, 2022 • 32min
Our Favorite Books of 2022!
Join us as we review our Top 10 books/episodes of 2022! (Plus a few more!) We also answer some frequently asked questions about the podcast (dare we pull back the curtain?!) Thank you so much for listening to us this year! We’re truly so grateful. We can’t wait to come at you with more books in 2023.*TheBookPilePodcast@gmail.com*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Quebec. Kellen was named one of TBS's Top Ten Comics to Watch in 2017. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

Dec 12, 2022 • 21min
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Do you think Scrooge ever gets annoyed that, even though this is a book about repentance and change, calling someone a “Scrooge” is still only an insult? Like, culturally, we act like he just stayed evil. It’d be like if you called someone an Oskar Schindler, and what you meant was “Nazi." Plus, Dave reads this book’s PG-13 passages and Kellen wants you to watch video of yourself and suffer.*To buy the book, A Christmas Carol, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3qa49rh*TheBookPilePodcast@gmail.com*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Quebec. Kellen was named one of TBS's Top Ten Comics to Watch in 2017. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

Dec 5, 2022 • 28min
The Righteous Mind, by Jonathan Haidt
This book looks at morality through the lens of evolutionary psychology. Which sounds boring, but we promise, there’s murder and cannibalism! Plus, Kellen sings the REAL Lion King, and Dave is such a Gemini.*To buy the book, The Righteous Mind, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3rLcYZ8*TheBookPilePodcast@gmail.com*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Quebec. Kellen was named one of TBS's Top Ten Comics to Watch in 2017. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

Nov 21, 2022 • 23min
Mistborn: The Final Empire, by Brandon Sanderson
What if you could swallow certain metals and they gave you POWERS? (Well I guess they do in real life, but only boring powers, like how iron just gives you regular blood.) Anyway, this is our discussion of the high fantasy epic that begins the Mistborn trilogy! Plus, Dave talks about the Soviets again and Kellen wants you to get a night job at a motel.*To buy the book, Mistborn, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3Y9DsiW*TheBookPilePodcast@gmail.com*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Quebec. Kellen was named one of TBS's Top Ten Comics to Watch in 2017. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

Nov 14, 2022 • 22min
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John le Carré
Imagine your favorite spy movie! Okay, now take out the spying, the fighting, the hot people, and the hope. That’s basically this book, which is one of Time’s Top 100 Novels. Plus, Kellen plans his perfect crime and Dave tells you too much about torture.*To buy the book, The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3OtIaoD*TheBookPilePodcast@gmail.com*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Quebec. Kellen was named one of TBS's Top Ten Comics to Watch in 2017. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

Nov 7, 2022 • 24min
Surprise Episode!
It's a surprise.*To buy the book, The Oxford Book of Aphorisms, click here!https://amzn.to/3OzaztC*TheBookPilePodcast@gmail.com*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 75 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Quebec. Kellen was named one of TBS's Top Ten Comics to Watch in 2017. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

Oct 31, 2022 • 20min
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Today we cover the most classic of the Sherlock Holmes books, complete with fire-breathing dog! (Fun fact: England DID produce entertainment before the BBC was invented!) Plus, Dave finds a truly wonderful blog and Kellen touts his Reader’s Digest credentials.*To buy the book, The Hound of the Baskervilles, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3KfFVTb*TheBookPilePodcast@gmail.com*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 75 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Quebec. Kellen was named one of TBS's Top Ten Comics to Watch in 2017. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.