Life On Books Podcast

Millions of books are published each year, and with a back catalogue of nearly 130 million books since the printing press was invented in 1440, you have a lot of books to choose from...so how do we pick the right books to read? That's the topic of today's episode, where we break down how we select books to buy and read. Join the Life on Books mailing list to stay up to date on all of our latest book giveaways, projects, and more! https://linktw.in/BRYAnVh Want to read one book from every country? Check out our resource online: https://linktw.in/Zeolty Want to know my all time favorite books? Click the link below! https://bookshop.org/shop/lifeonbooks Follow me on Instagram:   / alifeonbooks   Follow Andy on Instagram   / metafictional.meathead   This video was created with: Sony A7IV https://amzn.to/3WGit8i Sigma 24-70 https://amzn.to/3yjDPis Aputure 300X https://amzn.to/4fnxwv0 Aputure Light Dome https://amzn.to/3WptlGk Rode Wireless Mics https://amzn.to/3YpavBW Shure SM7B https://amzn.to/46vyQbk#books #booktube #reading

Of course, medium length is being used subjectively here, and perhaps it's because this length of book makes up most of the published books in the world, but still, it seems that people don't often discuss their favorites that are specifically between 300-500 pages. So on today's episode, that's exactly what we do! Here are all of the books in today's episode, but first, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter: https://linktw.in/BRYAnVh Solenoid Mircea Cartarescu https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781646... Marshland Otohiko Kaga https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781628... Death in the Andes Mario Vargas Llosa https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780312... Conversation in the cathedral Mario Vargas Llosa https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780060... The feast of the goat Mario Vargas Llosa https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780312... Catch 22 Joseph Heller https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781451... The sympathizer Viet Thanh Nguyen https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780802... 1984 George Orwell https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9788119... Last Boat out of Shanghai Helen Zia https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780345... All the pretty horses Cormac McCarthy https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780679... The crossing Cormac McCarthy https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780679... The cities of the plain Cormac McCarthy https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780679... Hard rain falling Don Carpenter https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781590... The adventures of huckleberry Finn Mark Twain https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781598... Omensetter’s luck William H. Gass https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780141... Been down so long it looks like up to me Richard Fariña https://amzn.to/3yclILs On the road Jack Kerouac https://amzn.to/4dilgtP A tale of two cities Charles Dickens https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781543... Libra Don Delillo https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780140... If this is a man/the Truce Primo Levi https://amzn.to/3yaIUK3 Warlock Oakley Hall https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781590... Between two fires Christopher Buehlman https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9798662...

The "Best Books of The 21st Century" list...left something to be desired. In this episode, Andy and I discuss which books would be in our top 10, as well as books from the 21st century we're most looking forward to reading. Which books would you put in your top 10 and why? Also, be sure to join our mailing list! https://linktw.in/BRYAnVh Books mentioned in this episode: Also, be sure to join our mailing list! https://linktw.in/BRYAnVh Books mentioned in this episode: Pachinko Min Jin Lee https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781455... The Good Earth Pearl S. Buck https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781982... Americanah Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780307... The Manifold Destiny of Eddie Vegas Rick Harsh https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781953... Pay as you go Eskor David Johnson https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781952... Hell's Angels Hunter s Thompson https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780345... City of Thieves David Benioff https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780452... Same Bed Different Dreams Ed Park https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780812... Tree of Smoke Denis Johnson https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780312... Angels Denis Johnson https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780060... Inherent Vice Thomas Pynchon https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780143... Gravity’s Rainbow Thomas Pynchon https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780143... The Anarchist Who Shared My Name Pablo Martin Sanchez https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781941... Don Quixote Miguel De Cervantes https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780062... The Count of Monte Cristo Alexandre Dumas https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780140... The Road Cormac McCarthy The Road Cormac McCarthy The Sympathizer Viet Thanh Nguyen https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780802... Septology Jon Fosse https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781945... Fury Clyo Mendoza https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781644... Ducks, Newburyport Lucy Ellmann https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781771... The Recognitions William Gaddis https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781681... All the Pretty Horses Cormac McCarthy https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780679... Pirate Hunters Robert Kurson https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780812... Shadow divers Robert Kurson https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780375... The Instructions Adam Levin https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781952... Tinkers Paul Harding https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781942... Baron Wenckheim’s Homecoming Laszlo Krasznahorkai https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780811... A Bended Circuity Robert S. Stickley War Trash Ha Jin https://amzn.to/4fddtz8 A Naked Singularity Sergio de la Pava https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780226... First They Killed my Father Loung Ung https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780756... Herscht 07769 Laszlo Krasznahorkai

These are, without a doubt, the best short books ever written! In our opinion. We all love the feeling of accomplishment when you finish a huge 1,000 tome, but honestly, sometimes you just want to rip through a book without feeling like it's dragging on forever! That's why there's short books and novellas! In this episode Andy and I break down our favorite short books and what we love about them. While many new authors today may be writing short novels because they take less time to write, and people have shorter and shorter attention spans, writing a thought provoking and memorable short book can be tough. Consider that the author has fewer pages to pack their narrative punch. So if you're looking for a great short book, consider one of the books on this list! And if you want to support the show, consider buying a book through one of the links below! Solenoid Mircea Cartarescu https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781646... Fatal John Lescroart https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781501... Blinding Mircea Caratarescu https://amzn.to/3YiUUnx Marshland Otohiko Kaga https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781628... Gravity's Rainbow Thomas Pynchon https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780143... Fury Clyo Mendoza https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781644... The Good Earth Pearl S Buck https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781982... $100M Offers Alex Hormozi https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781737... Murder of Frogs Don Carpenter https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780486... Fridays at Enrico’s Don carpenter https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781619... American Gods Neil Gaiman https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780062... Gates of Fire Steven Pressfield https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780553... 100 years of solitude Gabriel Garcia Marquez https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781417... The Hobbit JRR Tolkien https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780618... Count of Monte Cristo Alexandre Dumas https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780140... World war Z Max Brooks https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780307... A fever in the Heartland Timothy Egan https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780735... Same Bed Different Dreams Ed Park https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780812... JR William Gaddis https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781681... Infinite Jest David Foster Wallace https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780316... Lookout Cartridge Joseph McElroy https://amzn.to/4f0MgQf Fundamentals of Sports Training L. Matveyev Catch 22 Joseph Heller https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781451... America and the Cult of the Cactus Boots: a diagnostic Phillip Freedenburg You bright and Risen Angels William T. Vollmann https://amzn.to/3VYpQqd Hurricane Season Fernanda Melchor https://amzn.to/3WksUhR This Other Eden Paul Harding https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781324... Enon Paul Harding https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780812... Cannery Row John Steinbeck https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780140... The Pearl John Steinbeck https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780140... The Master and Margarita Mikhail Bulgakov https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780143... Between the world and me Ta-Nahisi Coates https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780812... In the heart of the heart of the country William H. Gass

There's probably few things more difficult for a writer than figuring out exactly how to start a book. Afterall, the first line of a novel is essentially a "hook." If you don't reel people in, they'll likely put it down and pick up something else instead. Think about some of the most famous opening lines, like Charles Dickens in a Tale of Two Cities: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times". Or Melville's Moby Dick: "Call me Ishmael". In this episode, Andy and I dive into some our favorite opening lines, passages, and pages. What are some of your favorite book openers? Here are the books mentioned in this episode: Hard Rain Falling by Don Carpenter https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781590173244 Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson https://amzn.to/3xCGfIC Angels by Denis Johnson https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780060988821 Solenoid by Mircea Cartarescu https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781646052028 Memed My Hawk by Yashar Kemal https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781590171394 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781417735983 The Long Ships by Frans G. Bengtsson https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781590173466 The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781982147174 Hamas: From Resistance to Regime by Paola Caridi https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781644211892 Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780316066525 Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780143039945 Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780679728757 It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781501110368 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780345816023 A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780141439600 Jorge Luis Borgs Collected Fictions https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780140286809 The Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781455540013 The Fish That Ate the Whale by Rich Cohen https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781250033314 Something Happened by Joseph Heller https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780684841212 Catch-22 by Joseph Heller https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781451626650 The Recognitions by William Gaddis https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781681374666 Moby Dick by Herman Melville https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780142437247 The Stranger by Albert Camus https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780679720201 The Brother by Rein Raud https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781940953441 The Instructions by Adam Levin https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781952119736 Pay as you Go by Eskor David Johnson https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781952119743 East of Eden by John Steinbeck https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780140186390 Mason and Dixon by Thomas Pynchon https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780312423209

In this podcast we take a trip to Andy's new apartment, where we sit down to discuss what it means to be "well read", if you should intentionally try to "read diversely" and of course, we talk a lot about books. What does it mean to you to be "well read"? Are you there yet, or do you think it's a lifelong pursuit? Books discussed in this episode: Vulture Capitalism by Grace Blakeley https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781982180850 Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781568364278 Broughtupsy Christina Cooke https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781646221882 The Brother by Rain Raud https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781940953441 Lost Empress by Sergio De La Pava https://amzn.to/3Vxf36a Tell them of Battles and Elephants by Mathias Enard https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780811227049 The Instructions by Adam Levin https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781952119736 Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780143039945 Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780679728757 Moby Dick by Herman Melville https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780142437247 Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780805086843 Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780812976717 Women and Men by Joseph McElroy https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780979312397 The Lost Scrapbook by Evan Dara https://amzn.to/45Bu7UI #literature #books #guyswhoread

Today on the Life on Books Podcast we are doing a deep dive on the hidden literary gem of Hard Rain Falling by Don Carpenter. Hard Rain Falling was Carpenter's debut novel, and despite it being the work of a master of his craft, Carpenter's career never seemed to materialize in the same way as his contemporaries. In Hard Rain Falling you won't be wowed by pyrotechnic prose, or need to keep a dictionary nearby as is the case with so many respected authors. Instead what you'll get is a gritty, bleak, and unique story that sinks its hooks into you and won't let you go until you've finished. In our modern time, so many books are described as "daring" "bold" or "ambitious" but often fail to live up to those claims. Hard Rain Falling is all of those things, and more. In 1966, when the novel debuted, tackling topics like race relations, gay romance, class struggle, questioning the morality of the prison system and capitalism were all taboo subjects, yet Carpenter fearlessly took these head on. Don Carpenter has been called the "American Dostoevsky" and after reading Hard Rain Falling, I'm inclined to agree. Here are all the books mentioned in the podcast: Hard Rain Falling by Don Carpenter https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781590... Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson https://amzn.to/3RPVvcj Angels by Denis Johnson https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780060... The Garden by Aiden Scott Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780679... What Kingdom by Fine Grabal https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781953... An Apprenticeship of Pleasures by Clarice Lispector https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780811... Vulture Capitalism by Grace Blakely https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781982... History a Mess by Sigrun Palsdottir https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781940... Hamas from Resistance to Regime by Paola Caridi https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781644... Memed, My Hawk by Yashar Kemal https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781590... Fox by Dubravka Ugresic https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781940... On the Edge of Reason by Miroslav Krieza https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780811...

In this episode, we travel to the 5 college's booksale in Lebanon, New Hampshire, and on the way we take your book related questions. We talk about our favorite places to read, what it means to have success in the literary space, whether we prefer waffles or pancakes, and so much more. As always, here are the books mentioned in this episode Gravity’s Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon https://amzn.to/3QRHOZN Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780143039945 The Tunnel by William Gass https://amzn.to/3wJsAza Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781628974638 Berserk by Kentaro Miura https://amzn.to/4bteVv0 Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781506711980 Watchmen by Alan Moore https://amzn.to/3QY1UBz Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781779501127 V for Vendetta by Alan Moore https://amzn.to/4dTwTsg Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781779511195 Cain’s Jawbone by Edward Powys Mathers https://amzn.to/3yD4whO  Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781800180796 Baron Wenckheim’s Homecoming by Laszlo Kraznahorkai https://amzn.to/3UTEWMZ Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780811226646 Pay as you Go by Eskor David Johnson https://amzn.to/44UObRL Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781952119743 Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck https://amzn.to/3KfBCqN Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780140177398 Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose https://amzn.to/3QRvHMo Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781501179402 Passing by Nella Larsen https://amzn.to/3V80KpE Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780142437278 The Passion According to GH by Clarice Lispector https://amzn.to/3UZUAXw Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780811219686 Vulture Capitalism by Grace Blakely https://amzn.to/4bLXG7X Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781982180850 Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa https://amzn.to/3QROCXl Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781568364278 Tell them of Battles, Kings and Elephants by Matthias Enard https://amzn.to/3UThyPP Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780811227049 Then I am Myself the Word by Christof Koch https://amzn.to/3KdnVbR Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781541602809 Oblivion by David Foster Wallace https://amzn.to/3KcZKu0 Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780316010764 The Pale King by David Foster Wallace https://amzn.to/3QYqcvo Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780316074223  In the Spirit of Crazy Horse by Peter Matthiessen https://amzn.to/3WYIIau Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780140144567 Grunts by John C. McManus https://amzn.to/3KdUaYi Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780451233417 The Eighth Life by Nino Haratischvilli https://amzn.to/4dKfORL Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781950354146

In Today's episode we do a reading recap as well as announce the new Life on Books Book Club! Here are all of the books discussed in this episode! Hard Rain Falling by Don Carpenter https://amzn.to/3WynGQ3 Tell them of Battles, Kings, and Elephants by Matthias Enard https://amzn.to/3ye4WeD The Passion According to G.H. by Clarice Lispector https://amzn.to/3WEspQa Oblivion by David Foster Wallace https://amzn.to/3WEGOfk This is Water by David Foster Wallace https://amzn.to/3WAUHek Speedboat by Renata Adler https://amzn.to/3KiJlEF Meditations by Marcus Aurelias https://amzn.to/4dzCJPs Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace https://amzn.to/3UZRKmA The Instructions by Adam Levin https://amzn.to/3WCvjVq JR by William Gaddis https://amzn.to/3UTxeDY The Mystery Dot Doc by Mathew McIntosh https://amzn.to/3yqpqk7 House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski https://amzn.to/3UWDTNG Pachinko by Min Jin Lee https://amzn.to/3WHdip5 Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson https://amzn.to/44Dmfle Angels by Denis Johnson https://amzn.to/3UUJJiB Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy https://amzn.to/3WVXuiD  The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen https://amzn.to/3UYS1Ge The Lime Twig by John Hawkes https://amzn.to/3wC1slu The Melancholy of Resistance by Lazslo Krasznahorkai https://amzn.to/3ynywhP Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor https://amzn.to/3yvWW8D Omensetter’s Luck by William Gass https://amzn.to/4dERkJv The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon https://amzn.to/3WHWZbt Underworld by Don DeLillo https://amzn.to/3K9JB8x White Noise by Don DeLillo https://amzn.to/4dGA4n0 Tinkers by Paul Harding https://amzn.to/4bh2Bhx Mumbo Jumbo by Ishmael Reed https://amzn.to/3UZsVqM Catch-22 by Joseph Heller https://amzn.to/4bC9UQE Warlock Oakley Hall https://amzn.to/44HzEsq Babel by RF Kuang https://amzn.to/3wAsLga

Dr. Christof Koch: Consciousness, Free Will & The Grand Theory of Everything In this episode we interview Dr. Christof Koch, a trained physicist turned neuroscientist who's primary area of research focuses on consciousness. We sit down with Dr. Koch to discuss his latest book "Then I am Myself the World" out in May of 2024 on Basic Books where he recounts his experience with consciousness altering substances, Integrated Information Theory, which is the foundational theory for his research, and of course...what he's currently reading! You can find all of the books mentioned in this episode in the links below. ⁠⁠ In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan ⁠https://amzn.to/3WlhDy4⁠ The Schopenhauer Cure by Irvin Yalom ⁠https://amzn.to/4b1JdoK⁠ When Nietzsche Wept by Irvin Yalom ⁠https://amzn.to/3UnSLDd⁠ The Feeling of Life Itself by Christof Koch ⁠https://amzn.to/3Umeewf⁠ The Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley ⁠https://amzn.to/3Qtn61Y⁠ Oblivion by David Foster Wallace ⁠https://amzn.to/3WkLG91⁠ Determined by Robert Sapolsky ⁠https://amzn.to/3JH1Imc⁠