Sam Leith is a charming and terrifically informed and thoughtful reader and interviewer. This podcast never disappoints and is the best books cast I’ve found.

The ever fascinating Robert Douglas-Fairhurst was a great guest and the subsequent episode with Borch Jacobsen was intriguing and soberly radical. Excellent podcast.

All the interviews on this podcast are typically informative and well done as a rule however I just had a good surprise today. Tessa Dunlop was interviewed about Army Girls. I didn’t expect it to be as fascinating and vivid as it turned out to be—nothing negative about her of course —it’s just that military topics are not usually what I turn to with interest. She was outstanding and I loved every minute of the interview. Can’t wait to get the book now.

Generally it’s very good and by far the best of its kind available, better than radio 4’s equivalents now. Occasional slips, like Frances Wilson on Lawrence—spoiled by irritating laughter throughout.

Turn up the host mic volume please—don’t wish to miss a single witty word.

Great interviewer, great interview. The book sounds intriguing. Thank you for this podcast. Especially loved the comment, “May we all die as well.”

The guests are consistently interesting. They are asked thoughtful questions and allowed to answer them, without being continuously interrupted. How novel & unlike many BBC Radio 4 podcasts, sadly. I look forward to new episodes & learn something every time I listen. Bravo!

Informed guests. Intelligent discussion. What more could you want?

Host Sam Leith is amazing -- he certainly gives the impression that he reads all the books from cover to cover, and he never lacks for an intelligent, witty, empathetic question or comment -- and his various guests are generally fascinating, articulate, and blessedly free of pomposity. Really, it's almost palate-cleansing to listen to these polite, illuminating, good-humored chats, especially after a diet of raw political podcasts. (P.S. Speaking of politics, I find it particularly welcome that, for the most part, these bookish conversations are relatively free from the familiar left-wing bias that one might expect from a bunch of contemporary British and American literary types.)

This podcast offers a charming and well-read host who appreciates literature, gives industry insight and gives niches their due.

Listening to the "is monogamy dead?" podcast, I am appalled. Monogamy is what all normal people want even if they can't find it. The sexual revolution has ruined so many lives. Why can't someone please speak the truth? Please wake up!