Better the Bookshelf Podcast
120 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago - ★★★★ - 18 ratingsUPCOMING BOOKS:
Ep. 65 - Let's Catch Up...
Ep. 66 - The Player of Games by Iain M. Banks
Ep. 67 - The Trees by Percival Everett
Better the Bookshelf is a bookclub-esque podcast hosted by Richard Daly and Ryan Kuether. We read to decide what to keep on our personal bookshelves and we podcast because we like the sound of our own voices.
Twitter: @betterbookshelf
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Episodes
Ep. 64 - New Years Eve Mountainside Chat
December 31, 2022 13:18 - 38 minutes - 70.8 MBRich and Ryan were together in Switzerland and had a chat about their 2022 book experience and podcast resolutions for 2023.
Ep. 63 - Tell Me I'm Worthless by Allison Rumfitt
December 27, 2022 14:47 - 46 minutes - 87.4 MBRich and Ryan read Allison Rumfitt's trans-horror novel that Rich found as a suggestion on Twitter. Are there ties to the "Haunting of Hill House"? Should they take more Twitter recommendations? Come for their muddled cold-ridden voices, stay for the advent calendar style selection of their next book at the end.
Ep. 62 - The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
November 21, 2022 23:00 - 57 minutes - 110 MBTime for a story about a haunted house... or is it? Rich and Ryan take on Jackson's terror classic, "The Haunting of Hill House."
Ep. 61 - The Overstory by Richard Powers
November 07, 2022 23:00 - 1 hour - 126 MBIt's time for a heavy-hitter. This Pulitzer Prize-winning book beat Rich and Ryan down a bit, take a listen and find out why!
Ep. 60 - At the Mountains of Madness by H.P. Lovecraft
October 26, 2022 09:45 - 50 minutes - 96.2 MBHappy spooky season! It's time for some H.P. Lovecraft. Let's see what monsters Rich and Ryan find lurking in the Mountains of Madness.
Ep. 59 - The Book of Strange New Things by Michael Faber
September 19, 2022 22:00 - 1 hour - 114 MBLet's talk about Jesus in space and aliens whose faces look like fetuses. That's right, it's time for Rich and Ryan to get into some literary science fiction.
Ep. 58 - Linconln Highway by Amor Towles
September 04, 2022 22:00 - 50 minutes - 95.9 MBA new book and a new co-host! Check our Rich and Ryan's meander through Amor Towles's latest book "The Lincoln Highway."
Announcement: New Episodes! New Host?!
August 17, 2022 10:27 - 53 seconds - 1.71 MBAnnouncement time! New bi-weekly episodes starting 5 September 2022. Welcome in the Rich & Ryan era of slightly irreverent book chats.
Ep. 57 - WE'RE BACK BABY! - Better The Bookshelf Podcast
September 20, 2021 19:58 - 27 minutes - 38.2 MBWe are back in action faithful listeners!
Ep. 56 - Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
August 17, 2020 15:15 - 51 minutes - 97.1 MBJacob and Ryan discuss Gillian Flynn's dramatic murder/trauma debut novel, Sharp Objects and make a big announcement about the future of the podcast.
Ep. 56 - Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn - Better The Bookshelf Podcast
August 17, 2020 15:15 - 51 minutes - 97.1 MBJacob and Ryan discuss Gillian Flynn's dramatic murder/trauma debut novel, Sharp Objects and make a big announcement about the future of the podcast.
Ep. 55 - In The Garden Of Beasts by Erik Larson - Better The Bookshelf Podcast
July 22, 2020 01:17 - 1 hour - 138 MBJacob and Ryan talk about another Erik Larson best seller and ties to modern politics.
Ep. 55 - In The Garden Of Beasts by Erik Larson
July 22, 2020 01:17 - 1 hour - 138 MBJacob and Ryan talk about another Erik Larson best seller and ties to modern politics.
Ep. 54 - Brave New World by Aldous Huxley - Better The Bookshelf Podcast
July 03, 2020 19:12 - 1 hour - 134 MBJacob and Ryan wrap up their required reading dystopian themed novels with Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.
Ep. 54 - Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
July 03, 2020 19:12 - 1 hour - 134 MBJacob and Ryan wrap up their required reading dystopian themed novels with Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.
Ep. 53 - 1984 by George Orwell - Better The Bookshelf Podcast
June 16, 2020 16:58 - 1 hour - 143 MBJacob and Ryan discuss George Orwell's dystopian novel, 1984, and its themes in modern American politics, among other things.
Ep. 53 - 1984 by George Orwell
June 16, 2020 16:58 - 1 hour - 143 MBJacob and Ryan discuss George Orwell's dystopian novel, 1984, and its themes in modern American politics, among other things.
Ep. 52 - The Devil In The White City by Erik Larson
May 19, 2020 15:28 - 58 minutes - 106 MBJacob and Ryan discuss Erik Larson's rich historical nonfiction novel about the building of Chicago's 1893 Worlds Fair (World's Columbian Exposition) and the horrific activities of serial killer H.H. Holmes who used the event to find his prey.
Ep. 52 - The Devil In The White City by Erik Larson - Better The Bookshelf Podcast
May 19, 2020 15:28 - 58 minutes - 106 MBJacob and Ryan discuss Erik Larson's rich historical nonfiction novel about the building of Chicago's 1893 Worlds Fair (World's Columbian Exposition) and the horrific activities of serial killer H.H. Holmes who used the event to find his prey.
Ep. 51 - Good Bones by Maggie Smith
May 06, 2020 13:38 - 1 hour - 118 MBJacob and Ryan swoop through Maggie Smith's poetry collection on motherhood.
Ep. 51 - Good Bones by Maggie Smith - Better The Bookshelf Podcast
May 06, 2020 13:38 - 1 hour - 118 MBJacob and Ryan swoop through Maggie Smith's poetry collection on motherhood.
Ep. 50 - Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James - Better The Bookshelf Podcast
April 08, 2020 16:17 - 59 minutes - 114 MBJacob and Ryan have a sour conversation about Fifty Shades of Grey, with a bit of Tiger King sprinkled in.
Ep. 50 - Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
April 08, 2020 16:17 - 59 minutes - 114 MBJacob and Ryan have a sour conversation about Fifty Shades of Grey, with a bit of Tiger King sprinkled in.
Ep. 49 - The Outsider by Stephen King
March 16, 2020 18:06 - 1 hour - 132 MBJacob and Ryan dive into Stephen King's "The Outsider." Read the book, watch the great HBO adaptation, or do both, and then jump in and enjoy our discussion! Stick around until the end for LOTS of upcoming books and past recommendations to help get you through COVID-19.
Ep. 49 - The Outsider by Stephen King - Better The Bookshelf Podcast
March 16, 2020 18:06 - 1 hour - 132 MBJacob and Ryan dive into Stephen King's "The Outsider." Read the book, watch the great HBO adaptation, or do both, and then jump in and enjoy our discussion! Stick around until the end for LOTS of upcoming books and past recommendations to help get you through COVID-19.
Ep. 48 - The Spy Who Came In From The Cold by John le Carre
March 02, 2020 14:59 - 58 minutes - 111 MBJacob and Ryan talk about spies and all that entails.
Ep. 48 - The Spy Who Came In From The Cold by John le Carre - Better The Bookshelf Podcast
March 02, 2020 14:59 - 58 minutes - 111 MBJacob and Ryan talk about spies and all that entails.
Ep. 47 - Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt - Better The Bookshelf Podcast
February 18, 2020 06:00 - 1 hour - 132 MBThe theme of depressing childhood books continues with a discussion of Frank McCourt's Pulitzer prize-winning memoir.
Ep. 47 - Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
February 18, 2020 06:00 - 1 hour - 132 MBThe theme of depressing childhood books continues with a discussion of Frank McCourt's Pulitzer prize-winning memoir.
Ep. 46 - The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
February 03, 2020 17:32 - 1 hour - 114 MBJacob and Ryan discuss structure and themes of racism and violence in Colson Whitehead's most recent novel, "The Nickel Boys."
Ep. 46 - The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead - Better The Bookshelf Podcast
February 03, 2020 17:32 - 1 hour - 114 MBJacob and Ryan discuss structure and themes of racism and violence in Colson Whitehead's most recent novel, "The Nickel Boys."
Ep. 45 - Blankets by Craig Thompson - Better The Bookshelf Podcast
January 20, 2020 06:00 - 57 minutes - 110 MBJacob and Ryan discuss the graphic novel as a medium and get in-depth with some of their own related experiences growing up.
Ep. 45 - Blankets by Craig Thompson
January 20, 2020 06:00 - 57 minutes - 110 MBJacob and Ryan discuss the graphic novel as a medium and get in-depth with some of their own related experiences growing up.
Ep. 44 - 2019 Reading Recap
January 06, 2020 17:08 - 47 minutes - 89 MBJacob and Ryan yuck it up about the 2019 reading list and plans for 2020.
Ep. 44 - 2019 Reading Recap - Better The Bookshelf Podcast
January 06, 2020 17:08 - 47 minutes - 89 MBJacob and Ryan yuck it up about the 2019 reading list and plans for 2020.
Ep. 43 - Silent Night by Stanley Weintraub - Better The Bookshelf Podcast
December 23, 2019 02:23 - 55 minutes - 103 MBJacob and Ryan read a non-fiction history of the famous 1914 Christmas truce of the First World War.
Ep. 43 - Silent Night by Stanley Weintraub
December 23, 2019 02:23 - 55 minutes - 103 MBJacob and Ryan read a non-fiction history of the famous 1914 Christmas truce of the First World War.
Ep. 42 - On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
December 09, 2019 14:26 - 1 hour - 134 MBJacob and Ryan talk about Ocean Vuong's dense prose in his debut novel, "On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous."
Ep. 42 - On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong - Better The Bookshelf Podcast
December 09, 2019 14:26 - 1 hour - 134 MBJacob and Ryan talk about Ocean Vuong's dense prose in his debut novel, "On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous."
Ep. 41 - Kraken by China Miéville - Better The Bookshelf Podcast
November 25, 2019 14:20 - 1 hour - 114 MBJacob and Ryan try to untangle the Kraken's tentacles and make sense of what they just read.
Ep. 41 - Kraken by China Miéville
November 25, 2019 14:20 - 1 hour - 114 MBJacob and Ryan try to untangle the Kraken's tentacles and make sense of what they just read.
Ep. 40 - On The Beach by Nevil Shute - Better The Bookshelf Podcast
November 04, 2019 16:02 - 53 minutes - 101 MBJacob and Ryan discuss Shute's compelling, but less than admirable, book on the impending death of the southern hemisphere by a slow-moving cloud of radioactive fallout after WW3 decimates the northern half of the earth. If a poorly written book still gives you the feels, is it a bad book? Come find out!
Ep. 40 - On The Beach by Nevil Shute
November 04, 2019 16:02 - 53 minutes - 101 MBJacob and Ryan discuss Shute's compelling, but less than admirable, book on the impending death of the southern hemisphere by a slow-moving cloud of radioactive fallout after WW3 decimates the northern half of the earth. If a poorly written book still gives you the feels, is it a bad book? Come find out!
Ep. 39 - The Stranger by Albert Camus - Better The Bookshelf Podcast
October 21, 2019 13:04 - 1 hour - 115 MBJacob and Ryan read a philosophically dense, short novel by the Nobel Laureate, Albert Camus.
Ep. 39 - The Stranger by Albert Camus
October 21, 2019 13:04 - 1 hour - 115 MBJacob and Ryan read a philosophically dense, short novel by the Nobel Laureate, Albert Camus.
Ep. 38 - The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
October 09, 2019 13:54 - 1 hour - 118 MBJacob and Ryan discuss the dense, enlightening debut novel by Viet Than Nguyen.
Ep. 37 - Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes - Better The Bookshelf Podcast
September 16, 2019 05:00 - 1 hour - 128 MBJacob and Ryan do a special YA episode over Jewell Parker Rhodes' "Ghost Boys" and have a discussion on all the troubling, timely topics woven into the book.
Ep. 37 - Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
September 16, 2019 05:00 - 1 hour - 128 MBJacob and Ryan do a special YA episode over Jewell Parker Rhodes' "Ghost Boys" and have a discussion on all the troubling, timely topics woven into the book.
Ep. 36 - Asymmetry by Lisa Halliday - Better The Bookshelf Podcast
September 03, 2019 00:45 - 1 hour - 124 MBJacob and Ryan read the bestselling, masterful debut novel by Lisa Halliday.
Ep. 36 - Asymmetry by Lisa Halliday
September 03, 2019 00:45 - 1 hour - 124 MBJacob and Ryan read the bestselling, masterful debut novel by Lisa Halliday.