
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

Nov 8, 2021 • 37min
THE ROAST OF: The Twilight Saga: NEW MOON by Stephenie Meyer
Have you ever read a book and just known the author’s marriage is terrible? Today’s roast is New Moon -- about a love triangle where the protagonist does NOT love one of the boys, so it’s a janky triangle with a leg that’s way shorter -- the first isosceles love triangle! Plus, Kellen moves on from his Twilight-loving past, and Dave does not move on from his Twilight-hating present.***NOTE***This episode was originally taped in front of a live audience, but the venue's audio software "crashed" and was lost. We apologize to all who were present who now don't get to have that memory recorded. After hearing the news, we recorded as we usually would (cold and alone), but we have included a few minutes of the original live recording as it was captured on an offstage mic. You'll find it at the end of this episode--it's not high quality, but it's something (which could have been the tagline to this book...).***ALSO***If you need a quick recap of this book because you haven't read it (congrats by the way), this is the one where Edward (handsome vampire) breaks up with Bella (dull human) to "protect her," and leaves for most of the book while Bella becomes close friends with Jacob (handsome dull werewolf). And now you're ready.*To buy the book, New Moon, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3OCJwgQ*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.*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 1, 2021 • 28min
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
Jurassic Park helped launch a classic American genre -- a park that seems fun but is actually trying to kill you (Westworld, Something Wicked This Way Comes, Disneyland). Plus, Kellen has a fun description of an ankylosaurus, and Dave thinks there should be a scene in Jurassic Park where a velociraptor is on a beach and sees an ancient velociraptor Statue of Liberty, and is like, “You animals!!!”*To buy the book, Jurassic Park, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3Qll3Oy*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.*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 25, 2021 • 31min
The Prehistory of The Far Side by Gary Larson
The Far Side proves what Kellen’s mocking of Dave proves – good comedy can come from the suffering of others. Today we discuss a book that discusses one of the greatest comic strips of all time. Also, Dave promotes his college band, and Kellen says there are no rules to comedy, but we’ll see if that holds up in court.*To buy the book, The Prehistory of the Far Side, AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3rMobbH*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.*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 18, 2021 • 25min
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Atomic Habits shares tips on developing habits so that you can reach any goal, be it neurosurgeon, nuclear physicist, unpaid comedic podcaster in his 30s, or President. Plus, Dave turns his family members into hostages and Kellen takes a cheat day, on his diet and taxes.*To buy the book, Atomic Habits, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/45aC7L0*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.*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 11, 2021 • 24min
Hit Makers by Derek Thompson
How do things become popular? In Hit Makers, Derek Thompson examines the qualities of massively successful products and people, including iPhones, ESPN, Adele, The Lion King, The Book Pile, and Star Wars. Plus, Kellen tries to trick you by rhyming, and Dave wants to sell you cigarettes.*To buy the book, Hit Makers, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3Ydfmnz*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.*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 4, 2021 • 32min
Physics of the Impossible by Michio Kaku
As Niels Bohr once said, the best way to learn complex physics is by listening to two comedians who are VERY confident they understand it. Physics of the Impossible discusses technologies like teleportation, phasers, and invisibility that may be possible in the future, and boy is it exciting and terrifying! Plus, Dave is one of those dumb UFO crazies and Kellen is one of those lame UFO skeptics.*To buy the book, Physics of the Impossible, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3DVN9bL*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.*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.

Sep 27, 2021 • 24min
The Two Towers by J. R. R. Tolkien
The Two Towers is the book where Viggo Mortenson breaks his toe. It is also the second book in Tolkien’s sprawling Lord of the Rings saga, and unlike Return of the King, it doesn’t have the biggest spoiler right in the title. Plus, Kellen has more critiques of Tolkien’s songwriting, and Dave says Gollum can teach you how to be popular.*To buy the book, The Two Towers, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3rUj75m*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.*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.

Sep 20, 2021 • 29min
Talk Like TED by Carmine Gallo
In Talk Like TED, Carmine Gallo gives tips for giving a TED Talk. But we did some research and, uh… he hasn’t given a TED Talk. So is this allowed now? We can just write How-To books for things we haven’t done? Check out Dave’s new book, How to Date Florence Pugh. Needless to say this book has some helpful advice, some wild guesses, and we're here to help you navigate through all of it, The-Book-Pile style.*To buy the book, Talk Like Ted, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/47eRfsU*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.*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.

Sep 13, 2021 • 28min
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is Rowling’s sixth… okay look, this episode description isn’t going to make any difference, right? Either you’re a Harry Potter fan and you’re going to listen to this episode, or you’re not. Do you think any cute book description here will get you to take the bait? Forget it. Let’s not kid ourselves. This was predestined long before today. Plus, Kellen has more thoughts about how Ron sucks.And as always with our Harry Potter episodes, SPOILERS AHEAD.*To buy the book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3Yet3CO*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.*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.

Sep 6, 2021 • 26min
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Jane Austen began writing Sense and Sensibility as a 20-year-old first-time author, in a time when women had incredible difficulty being published at all and, uh... boy do we have notes! Plus, Dave wants the Dashwood sisters to be exactly the same (in a feminist way!), and Kellen finally shows us his Snape/Colonel Brandon impression.*To buy the book, Sense and Sensibility, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3QeGqRs*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.*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.