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The Book Pile

Latest episodes

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May 16, 2022 • 28min

Get in Trouble by Kelly Link

A short story is defined as a story that said it was taller on Tinder. Today’s book is a whole short story collection by magical realist Kelly Link. Plus, Dave is hiring an actor to play him on Instagram, and Kellen uses Latin so you know he’s intelligent.*To buy the book, Get in Trouble, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/43PQDXH*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 50 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.
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May 9, 2022 • 24min

The Big Short by Michael Lewis

Sometimes during a time of global disease and war, it’s nice to read a little escapism about the worst financial collapse of our lifetimes. Today’s book is The Big Short. It’s by Michael Lewis, who has a talent for writing about global tragedies (2008 market crash, COVID-19, baseball). Plus, Kellen becomes a communist (knew it!). And Dave learns what an air fryer is, completing his journey into manhood.*To buy the book, The Big Short, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3DAMlsn*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 50 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.
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May 2, 2022 • 28min

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Do you like murder mysteries? Romance? Revenge? Gone girls? The police? Treasure hunts? Sociopaths? Mysterious pregnancies? If you answered yes to everything, it’s kind of weird that you like ALL those things, but boy is this episode for you! Plus, Dave doesn’t think we always have to be special, and Kellen has some thoughts on red flags.*To buy the book, Gone Girl, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/45aiSRM*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 50 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.
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Apr 25, 2022 • 27min

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

Succeeding in Hollywood takes lots of practice, and that’s why Matthew McConaughey has put in 10,000 hours of being handsome. Today’s book is about how hard McConaughey’s career wasn’t. Plus, Kellen has some questions about Magic Mike and Dave has some aphorisms that were probably written by a human.*To buy the book, Greenlights, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/44J6CIe*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 50 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.
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Apr 18, 2022 • 33min

DEBATE: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

The hosts of the podcast debate their differing opinions on 'The Grapes of Wrath' by John Steinbeck, with one loving it and the other hating it. They discuss lessons from the book, the subjective nature of taste, the debate on learning, and the exploration of the book's structure and setting. They also analyze the portrayal of tractors and tractor drivers and highlight the importance of understanding the complexities of characters and themes in the novel.
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Apr 11, 2022 • 27min

Helgoland by Carlo Rovelli

Helgoland is a spy thriller with lots of romance, great comedy, and hilarious, entertaining characters. You will love it as… okay, it’s actually about quantum mechanics, but if we told the truth, you would skip this episode. Plus, Kellen doesn’t think quantum physics actually changes your life, and Dave teaches physics via his favorite method – talking down to you.*To buy the book, Helgoland, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3rU0JcQ*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 50 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.
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Apr 4, 2022 • 31min

The Calvin and Hobbes 10th Anniversary Book by Bill Watterson

A wonderful book with rare commentary from a reclusive author. As you know, Calvin and Hobbes was a Trojan horse comic strip, written by a pastor to get kids interested in the teachings of John Calvin. . . Also, Dave hates on Garfield and Kellen hates on Garfield. What, I’m sorry, we hate Garfield. How did it get so big? Who is reading this.*To buy the book, The Calvin and Hobbes, AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3KmJRSl*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 50 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.
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Mar 28, 2022 • 33min

The Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan

Did history stress you out in high school? Not really your favorite subject? Well today we break down history in a fun, comedic way, and then at the end we test you and give you a grade that decides your whole future! Plus, Kellen wants you to know that not all of California is covered in feces, and Dave introduces his new best friend, Prester John.(Also, stick around for the end song for a final correction of a vegetable fact.)*To buy the book, The Silk Roads, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/45923a4*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 50 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.
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Mar 21, 2022 • 35min

HALF-ROAST: The Skeleton Crew by Stephen King

Stephen King knows that a short story collection is like an album – as long as you have a few hits, the rest can be crap. Today is our half-roast of Skeleton Crew! Plus, Dave has some fun ideas about the nature of suffering and Kellen thinks Stephen King’s endings need work. (What do you bet Stephen eventually dies in some random, uninteresting way?)*To buy the book, The Skeleton Crew, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/455hC2r*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 50 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.
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Mar 14, 2022 • 37min

The Storyteller by Dave Grohl

Dave Grohl has lived a fascinating creative life that includes being part of Nirvana and Foo Fighters, collaborating with Paul McCartney and Tom Petty, and being the most featured musical artist on SNL. But in a billion years, he’ll be just as forgotten as the rest of us, so why try? (Today’s episode brought to you by nihilism!) Plus, Kellen wants your kids to drop out of high school and Dave wants you to get good at the drums by ruining your teeth!*To buy the book, The Storyteller, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3Ozz1e6*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 50 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.

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