The Book Club

Joanna Kavenna, an inventive novelist known for her philosophical fiction and author of Seven, discusses her unique approach to storytelling and game design. She shares her experience creating a board game that reflects complex community dynamics. The conversation tackles how AI challenges human playfulness and the limits of algorithmic life. Kavenna also explores themes of loss, consciousness, and the humorous balancing act in narrative structures, while embedding real-world memories into her fictional universe.

C. Thi Nguyen, a philosophy professor and author of The Score, delves into the contrasts between games and real life. He discusses how scoring systems liberate in gaming yet enslave in reality, dissecting the societal perils of our dependence on metrics. Nguyen highlights the nuances stripped away by quantification and the trust issues that arise from forced transparency. Using yo-yo culture, he illustrates private meanings beyond public metrics. Ultimately, he ties the conversation back to Aristotle, emphasizing the importance of rich activity over mere outcomes.

Philip Hensher, a renowned novelist and chief book reviewer, shares his top reads of the year, including Tashall’s emotional The South and Mick Herron’s intricately crafted Slough House. They dive into the art of literary biography, discussing emotional labor and the challenges faced by biographers. Notable trends in publishing catch their attention, from the surge in AI titles to discussions on slavery in cultural contexts. Hensher also highlights the revival of horror through younger writers, reflecting modern anxieties post-lockdown.

The Spectator’s associate editor Toby Young sits down with master storyteller Bernard Cornwell, author of more than 50 international bestselling novels, including The Last Kingdom and much-loved Sharpe series. They delve into Cornwell’s life and career, discuss the real history behind his riveting tales of war and heroism and explore the enduring appeal of historical fiction. This event marks the launch of Sharpe’s Storm, a bold new chapter in the saga of Richard Sharpe, set amid the chaos of 1813 France.This discussion was part of The Spectator's speaker series. To see more on our upcoming events – including an Americano Live and a post-Budget briefing – go to events.spectator.co.uk.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcastsContact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest on this week’s Book Club podcast is Jonathan C. Slaght, whose new book is Tigers Between Empires: The Journey to Save the Siberian Tiger from Extinction. He tells me about these remarkable animals, the remarkable people who studied them, and how their fates have been entwined with the shifting politics of post-Soviet Russia.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcastsContact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest in this week’s Book Club podcast is James Geary, talking about the new edition of his classic The World in a Phrase: A Brief History of the Aphorism. He tells me about what separates an aphorism from a proverb, a maxim or a quip; about the long history of the form and his own lifelong infatuation with it; and about whether – given our dwindling attention span and appetite for zingers on social media – we can expect to be living through a new golden age of aphorism.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcastsContact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s Book Club podcast I’m joined by debut author Leon Craig to talk about her novel The Decadence – a story of millennial debauchery in a haunted house which uses a knowing patchwork of literary influences from Boccaccio and Shirley Jackson to Martin Amis and Mark Z. Danielewski to make an old form fresh. She discusses how and why it took her so long to write, how she first acquired a taste for the gothic, and why she thinks the horror novel, that seeming relic of the 1970s, is making such a dramatic comeback.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcastsContact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Myers joins Sam Leith to discuss his book Jesus Christ Kinski, which he describes as a ‘novel about a film about a performance about Jesus’. Klaus Kinski was one of Germany’s biggest actors of the 20th Century – but he was also one of the most controversial, and Ben questions if he was one of the worst people to have ever lived. In this novel, Kinski returns for a one-man performance about Jesus Christ, and it nearly becomes his last as the audience turn on him and violence is threatened.  Ben tells Sam about how he came to be fixated on Kinski, why the worst people can be some of the most compelling and why there are no great movies about writers. Plus, how exposed are artists to cancel culture when making art about evil characters?Produced by Patrick Gibbons.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcastsContact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia and author of The Seven Rules of Trust, dives into the vital role of trust in today’s polarized climate. He addresses a recent critique from Elon Musk, highlighting their complex relationship. Wales also explores why most people are trustworthy despite concerns about vandalism on Wikipedia. Discussing the toxicity of social media, he contrasts it with positive internet communities. Lastly, he shares insights on the challenges and legal threats facing Wikipedia while championing the need for trust in both social media and societal discourse.

In this engaging discussion, historian Graham Robb, celebrated for his narrative histories, shares insights from his book, The Discovery of Britain. He recounts how a spontaneous bike journey sparked a time-traveling exploration of the UK's history. The conversation reveals his groundbreaking cartographic discoveries, shedding light on Iron Age Britain and the myths surrounding King Arthur. Robb also unpacks the complexities of identity, class, and engagement with historical misconceptions, all while weaving personal anecdotes into a rich tapestry of Britain's past.