

The Book Pile
Kellen Erskine and David Vance
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!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 12, 2021 • 30min
The Elements of Style by William Strunk and E. B. White
The Elements of Style is one of the most popular writing books of all time, so it seemed a natural fit for this, the most popular podcast of all time. Plus, Kellen believes “alright” is two words (he is technically right, but morally wrong). And Dave makes an Oprah quote worse.*To buy the book, The Elements of Style, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3rQ1djX*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.

Apr 5, 2021 • 29min
Deep Work by Cal Newport
Discover the art of boosting productivity with insights from Cal Newport's 'Deep Work.' Laugh along as the hosts share tales of a remarkable juggler and grapple with the absurdity of social perceptions. They shed light on the pitfalls of multitasking and the importance of focus, all while navigating personal distractions in quirky places like laundromats. Explore how external pressures can spark creativity, and learn strategies to prioritize meaningful work over trivial tasks for a more efficient and focused life.

Mar 29, 2021 • 33min
World War Z by Max Brooks
In World War Z, Max Brooks paints a well-researched picture of a zombie apocalypse, something we at The Book Pile take very seriously. Plus, Kellen talks about why this book doesn’t adapt well into a movie (just into a podcast!). And Dave says we should be nicer to preppers (because they have guns).*To buy the book, World War Z , or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3YkWdAb*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.

Mar 22, 2021 • 35min
Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull and Amy Wallace
In Creativity, Inc. the cofounder of Pixar teaches lessons about creativity -- such as, every animated movie should emotionally devastate a child. Plus, Kellen knows a shocking amount about box office numbers, and Dave has a sad story about almost meeting Ed Catmull.*To buy the book, Creativity, Inc, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3DEBVIf*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.

Mar 15, 2021 • 30min
Born Standing Up by Steve Martin -- with guest Matthew Broussard!
In Born Standing Up, special guest Matthew Broussard discusses Steve Martin’s memoir and the many lessons from standup comedy. (Steve, Matthew, and Kellen have over 43 years of standup experience between them.) (Dave has 0 but he is a very nice boy.) Plus, Kellen talks about the worst time he made fun of an audience, and Dave tells a story about horse-racing, just to let you know his life is troubled.*To buy the book, Born Standing Up, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3qeApcK*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.

Mar 8, 2021 • 27min
THE ROAST OF: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
In How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie teaches you how to view other humans as objects you can manipulate to get what you want. (We aren't fans.) Come hear us roast it! Plus, Kellen talks about sneaking past a talkative neighbor, and Dave has some news about Charles Manson and the Nazis.*To buy the book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3Ok9Mv1*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.

Mar 1, 2021 • 33min
Quiet by Susan Cain
In Quiet, Susan Cain discusses the ways in which society undervalues and stigmatizes introverts. (Don’t tell them they’re quiet, they hate that.) Plus, Kellen tells about life as an introverted comedian, and Dave just sorta remains his loud, extrovert self.*To buy the book, Quiet, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/44TCwlk*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.

Feb 22, 2021 • 33min
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban--with guest Natalie Madsen!
Special guest Natalie Madsen joins to talk about the third Harry Potter book, and how to make your third creation just as successful as the first two (Nat has three kids). Plus Kellen airs his grievances with time travel, and Dave tells a sad story about Krispy Kreme.*To buy the book, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3rZIdQ2*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.

Feb 15, 2021 • 36min
Freakonomics by Stephen J. Dubner and Steven Levitt
In Freakonomics, we learn how economics can improve your daily life and help you achieve your goals. (Like Kellen’s goal of a good financial future for his kids, and Dave’s goal of joining the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors.) Plus, Kellen talks about the things that will and won’t kill you, and Dave tells stories about comedians attacking dictators.*To buy the book, Freakonomics, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/45bslID*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.

Feb 8, 2021 • 28min
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen explores the challenge of finding love in a time when you weren't allowed to touch people. Plus, Kellen has strong feelings about the stakes in rom coms, and Dave loves Mrs. Bennet.*To buy the book, Pride and Prejudice, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3DKSt1a*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.*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.