Book Shambles The Cosmic Shambles Network

Artist and writer James Bridle joins Robin this week to talk about his new book, Ways of Being: Beyond Human Intelligence. They hat about AI, Darwin's less popular experiments, science fiction, Ursula K. Le Guin and Robin asks none of the questions from his two sets of notes. To hear an extended version every episode, subscribe at patreon.com/bookshambles

On today's show, Josie talks to author and activist Oly Durose about his new book Suburban Socialism (or Barbarism). They chat about growing up conservative, reclaiming the suburbs, The Simpsons and the stigmas of social housing. Also Josie's baby gurgles adorably throughout the episode. Hear an extended edition, and get lots of other goodies, by becoming a Patreon supporter at patreon.com/bookshambles

Not only is Sarah Polley an Academy Award nominated screenwriter and acclaimed actor and director, but she’s also written Robin’s favourite book of 2022 so far, Run Towards the Danger. In today’s episode she joins Robin to talk about the memoir, the childhood trauma of working with Terry Gilliam, trying to make film sets better for child actors and how sometimes things are actually better if you only give 80% instead of 100. To hear and extended version, support the show, and get all sorts of goodies, subscribe at patreon.com/bookshambles

It's Dinosaur Day at Book Shambles! Or rather, The Last Days of the Dinosaurs, and the first days of the mammals. Helen Czerski is our host this week and she speaks with acclaimed dinosaur writer and fossil fanatic and hunter, Riley Black. They chat about why dinosaurs remain so exciting, what their extinction can teach us about the current ongoing mass extinction event, why we need to talk more about palaeobotany, her new book, and much more. Get extended episodes and a whole lot more by supporting the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles

On today’s episode Professor Jim Al-Khalili returns to the show to talk to Robin and Helen about his new book, The Joy of Science. They chat about how the age of Trump was the impetuous for writing the book, how it became even more timely in the age of COVID, the joy of being wrong and echo chambers on social media. Plus Robin’s plan to build an actual echo chamber… To hear and extended version, support the show, and get all sorts of goodies, subscribe at patreon.com/bookshambles

The multi award winning writer Jocelyn Nicole Johnson joins Robin to talk about her debut novella, My Monticello this week. They chat about the book, how important it was to capture the feeling of a real place, and the long shadow of the events of Charlottesville on her life, and the book. Extended edition for Patreons, of course, at patreon.com/bookshambles