

Book Shambles
The Cosmic Shambles Network
Using books as a jumping off point, hosts Josie Long and Robin Ince and a different special guest each week, dive into interesting, passionate and shambolic discussions. Part of the Cosmic Shambles Network.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 29, 2019 • 47min
Gaia Vince
On this episode of Book Shambles Robin Ince and Bec Hill are joined by former winner of the Royal Society Book Prize for science books, Gaia Vince. They chat about her award winning book, Adventures in the Anthropocene, the state of the climate, hope for the future of humanity and urinating in the wild... Get extended episodes and support the podcast by pledging at https://patreon.com/bookshambles

Aug 15, 2019 • 50min
Will Eaves
Robin is once again joined by guest co-host Bec Hill and their special guest this week is Wellcome Book Prize winner Will Eaves. They chat about Will's award winning novel Murmur plus Alan Turing, Montaigne, Andy Stanton and the role of mirrors in fiction... Support the podcast and everything at the CSN by pledging as little as a dollar a month at patreon.com/bookshambles Robin's tour dates at robinince.com, CSN events at cosmicshambles.com and Bec's at www.bechillcomedian.com Murmur is available wherever you buy books.

Aug 8, 2019 • 50min
Jenny Eclair
On this week's episode Robin and guest co-host Bec Hill are joined by comedian, novelist and 'Grumpy Old Woman' Jenny Eclair to chat about her new novel Inheritance. They chat about Jenny's lack of a plan when she starts writing, being a pioneering 'woman in stand up', John Niven and cling film... Support the show on Patreon to get extended episodes each and every week. Go to https://patreon.com/bookshambles

Aug 1, 2019 • 45min
Cariad Lloyd
It's a Book Shambles - Griefcast crossover this week as Cariad Lloyd joins Robin and (eventually) guest co-host Bec Hill in the studio. They chat about the best books that deal with grief, Jane Austen and the allure of a Penguin classic.A bumper 20 extra minutes awaits Patreon supporters this week. Become one at http://patreon.com/bookshambles

Jul 25, 2019 • 58min
Apollo 50th Anniversary Special
On an Apollo 50th special we talk to a number of people about a single book, Arthur C Clarke’s 1986 book ‘July 20th 2019’ in which he imagines what life might be like on the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. Recorded mostly at the Latitude Festival on said anniversary, with book in hand, Robin chats to Chris Lintott, Helen Czerski, Kevin Fong and Suzie Imber about their impressions of Clarke’s vision. Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions of each and every episode. This week Patreon’s get an entire bonus guest, as Robin chats about the book with Hannah Critchlow.

Jul 18, 2019 • 42min
Reginald D Hunter
The second episode recorded live from The Elgar Room at the Royal Albert Hall, Robin and Josie are joined by comedian Reginald D Hunter. They chat about what's changed in Reginald's comedy in the twenty years he's been in the UK, the books his sisters made him read, the power of Charlie Brown, Richard Wright, Neil Postman and much more. Also this week, play the fun guessing game of who it was Josie was talking about that we had to bleep out... Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions of each and every episode. Both Reg and Josie are up at this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe with brand new shows so be sure to check them out.

Jul 11, 2019 • 45min
Wendell Pierce
We are back! Recorded live from the Elgar Room at the Royal Albert Hall, Robin and Josie are joined by actor Wendell Pierce (The Wire, Treme) who is currently winning acclaim for his lead turn in Death of a Salesman at The Young Vic. They chat about Arthur Miller and the potency of the Loman family being portrayed by an African American cast, bad accents in The Wire, Taylor Branch, Kate Grenville and more. Support Book Shambles and the Cosmic Shambles Network by pledging as little as $1 a month at http://patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended episodes, free tickets to events and much more! Tickets for the West End transfer of Death of a Salesman can be found at http://salesmanwestend.com

Jun 20, 2019 • 34min
Marcus Chown
With Robin and Josie both on tour at the moment, and Book Shambles on a small break, we thought you might enjoy a bit of a Book Shambles / Science Shambles crossover episode. Helen Czerski is still in the host chair subbing for Robin and this week she is joined by cosmologist and best selling science author Marcus Chown. His latest book, Infinity in the Palm of Your Hand, looks at fifty bonkers things about the Universe and the two try to dig into as many as possible. Would it matter if the Sun was made of bananas? Can you fit all of humanity in a sugar cube... Support the podcast, and the Cosmic Shambles Network by pledging at patreon.com/bookshambles

May 9, 2019 • 45min
Josh Cohen
Robin is joined by guest co-host Bec Hill to chat to author and psychoanalyst Josh Cohen about his new book Not Working. They chat about the psychology of various authors from Emily Dickinson to David Foster Wallace and why Orson Welles was a workaholic. Also features a cameo from Sunday Times #1 bestseller Matt Parker. Support the podcast to hear extended editions of each episode at http://patreon.com/bookshambles

May 2, 2019 • 42min
Jarett Kobek
This week Robin, and returning guest co-host Bec Hill, are joined by acclaimed US author Jarett Kobek. His novel I Hate the Internet is a regularly mentioned favourite on this podcast, so while he was in the UK it seemed only right to get him into the studio. They chat about that book, his new book Only Americans Burn in Hell, video games, virtue in the age of Trump and other favourite authors. Support the podcast at http://patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions of each and every episode.