Ask Penguin

Literary power couple Zadie Smith and Nick Laird chat to Nihal Arthanayake about their collaborative project, ‘Weirdo’, a children’s book about the quiet power of being different, featuring exquisite illustrations from Magenta Fox. In this episode, Zadie and Nick discuss the joy of removing words from their work, the virtues of rawness in writing, and the inspiration they take from the internal life of their aging pug, Maud. #PenguinPodcast  ‘Weirdo’ is available to buy as an audiobook now - https://apple.co/3eC4wkr  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ghanaian-American novelist Yaa Gyasi talks to Nihal Arthanayake about her second novel, ’Transcendent Kingdom’. Using objects like a photo of a mouse and a SZA song, the author of the award-winning ‘Homegoing’ chats to Nihal about her Ghanaian heritage, liking your own characters, and discussing mental illness in African cultures. #PenguinPodcast’Transcendent Kingdom’ is available to buy as an audiobook now - https://apple.co/3e0h7Oa Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author and ex-publicity director Ashley Audrain talks to Nihal Arthanayake about her wildly successful debut novel, ’The Push’. Using objects like a popular Canadian children’s book and a Brandi Carlile song, Ashley chats to Nihal about the contradictions of motherhood, the catharsis of exploring our deepest fears on a page, and how parenting and writing co-exist. #PenguinPodcast’The Push’ is available to buy as an audiobook now - https://apple.co/2QFIHIv Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Professor of Black Studies and author Kehinde Andrews talks to Nihal Arthanayake about his latest book, ’The New Age of Empire’. Using objects like his dad’s British passport, a keyring, and an iconic hip-hop album, they chat about embracing Black culture as a teenager, reckoning with the concept of ‘Britishness’ and the commercialisation of Black music. #PenguinPodcast’'The New Age of Empire’ is available to buy as an audiobook now - https://apple.co/3eJ5OvH Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coinciding with World Book Day, writer and former junior doctor Adam Kay chats to Isy Suttie about his first children’s book, ‘Kay’s Anatomy’.Using objects like a letter from Alan Bennett and a Victorian bone cutting saw as a springboard, they discuss writing as a coping mechanism, relearning the piano and his undying love of Pulp. #PenguinPodcast‘Kay’s Anatomy’ is available to buy as an audiobook now - https://apple.co/3uP4n4q Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

British Art Historian and former Director of the British Museum Neil MacGregor chats to Nihal about the new audiobook of ‘A History of the World in 100 Objects’.Neil has chosen 4 of those objects plus an entirely new one (object 101!) including a Jade Axe and an Akan Drum. He chats to Nihal about how their meaning can change over time #PenguinPodcast‘A History of the World in 100 objects’ is available to buy as an audiobook now - https://apple.co/3dfSbUb Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author and playwright Ali Smith chats to Nihal about her 2014 multi award-winning novel ‘How to be Both’, which has just been released as an audiobook.In this episode, Ali reveals how she takes herself out of her comfort zone, why we should give books a chance when reading them and her love of silent film. #PenguinPodcast 'How to be Both' will be available to buy as an audiobook now - https://apple.co/2Z6TNaz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hafsa Zayyan, co-winner of Stormzy’s #Merky Books New Writer’s Prize, chats to Nihal about her debut novel ‘We Are All Birds Of Uganda’.She chats to Nihal about completing the book in six months and why a sense of belonging and home is so important no matter where you live. Hafsa also brings along some of the objects which inspire her, including letters from her late Nigerian grandfather #PenguinPodcast‘We Are All Birds Of Uganda' is available to buy as an audiobook now - https://apple.co/39MMI3SWIN a year’s supply of audiobooks! To be in with a chance to win, tap the link and tell us what you think about the Penguin Podcast. https://bit.ly/PodcastSurvey2020 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Owen Jones, Guardian columnist and Labour party activist chats to Nihal about the tumultuous rise and fall of Corbynism via his new book ‘This Land’. Owen explains why he doesn’t like writing and brings objects that help him get past that, including music from The Boxer Rebellion and his cats Kier and Rickman. #PenguinPodcast‘This Land: The Story of a Movement’ is available to buy as an audiobook now - https://apple.co/38pSVSy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second part of this special edition Nihal Arthanayake chooses some more clips from a selection of his favourite episodes. This includes why Nigella Lawson has to travel with tea bags, how Jonathan Coe became a warm-up act on a cruise ship, and why Andrew Hunter Murray was inspired by a dog at Slough Railway Station.#PenguinPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.