Slate's Audio Book Club

5.0 (1)
BOOKS

Join Slate’s critics for monthly discussions of new and important books. Read the book club selections and then listen in as our critics hold lively—and sometimes heated—debates about the works.

03/30/2018

"The Sparsholt Affair" by Alan Hollinghurst

Laura Miller, Alex Barasch, and Gabriel Roth discuss the new novel by Alan Hollinghurst, The Sparsholt Affair, a multigenerational saga about gay life. Following this episode, the Audio Book Club will be going on hiatus. From the hosts and producers of the show, thanks for listening. Join Slate Plus for full, ad-free access to Audio Book Club and your other favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Audio Book Club show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit ⁠⁠slate.com/bookclubplus⁠⁠ to get access wherever you listen.

59 min
02/27/2018

"The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

Laura Miller, Jacob Brogan, and Charlie Jane Anders discuss Ursula K. Le Guin's classic science fiction novel "The Left Hand of Darkness". Please fill out the Slate podcast survey at slate.com/podcastsurvey Join Slate Plus for full, ad-free access to Audio Book Club and your other favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Audio Book Club show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit ⁠⁠slate.com/bookclubplus⁠⁠ to get access wherever you listen.

57 min
01/29/2018

"Her Body and Other Parties" by Carmen Maria Machado

Katy Waldman, Parul Sehgal, and Laura Bennett discuss Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado. This episode is Katy's last episode as host of the Audio Book Club, but watch this space for more about the future of the show. Join Slate Plus for full, ad-free access to Audio Book Club and your other favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Audio Book Club show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit ⁠⁠slate.com/bookclubplus⁠⁠ to get access wherever you listen.

50 min
12/19/2017

"The Odyssey" by Homer; Translated By Emily Wilson

Katy Waldman, Parul Seghal, and Meghan O'Rourke discuss Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey by Homer. Next month's book will be Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado. Join Slate Plus for full, ad-free access to Audio Book Club and your other favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Audio Book Club show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit ⁠⁠slate.com/bookclubplus⁠⁠ to get access wherever you listen.

1h 10m
11/28/2017

"Manhattan Beach" by Jennifer Egan

Katy Waldman, Laura Miller, and Meghan O'Rourke discuss the novel Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan. Our selection for next month will be Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey. Join Slate Plus for full, ad-free access to Audio Book Club and your other favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Audio Book Club show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit ⁠⁠slate.com/bookclubplus⁠⁠ to get access wherever you listen.

53 min
10/30/2017

"What Happened" by Hillary Clinton

Katy Waldman, Meghan O'Roark, and Emily Bazelon discuss Hilary Clinton's memoir, What Happened. Next month's book will be Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan. Join Slate Plus for full, ad-free access to Audio Book Club and your other favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Audio Book Club show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit ⁠⁠slate.com/bookclubplus⁠⁠ to get access wherever you listen.

1h 3m
09/26/2017

"Conversations with Friends" by Sally Rooney

Laura Bennett, Katy Waldman, and Meghan O'Rourke discuss Sally Rooney's debut novel Conversations with Friends, and idea-driven novel about a group of four young people in Dublin struggling with ideology and identity. Next month's book with be What Happened, by Hillary Clinton. Join Slate Plus for full, ad-free access to Audio Book Club and your other favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Audio Book Club show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit ⁠⁠slate.com/bookclubplus⁠⁠ to get access wherever you listen. Slate's Audio Book Club is brought to you by Audible. Audible has the best audiobook performances, the largest library and the most exclusive content. You’ll feel something when you listen. Learn more at Audible.com/audiobookclub Sun Basket sends organic and sustainable ingredients to your door, so you can prepare delicious meals in around 30 minutes! Choose from Paleo, Lean & Clean, Gluten-Free, Vegetarian, and Family options. Go to SunBasket.com/ABC to get $35 off your first order.

50 min
08/30/2017

"The Ministry of Utmost Happiness" by Arundhati Roy

Katy Waldman, Isaac Chotiner, and Laura Miller discuss The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, the sprawling novel by Arundhati Roy about sectarian violence in India. Next month's book will be Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney. Join Slate Plus for full, ad-free access to Audio Book Club and your other favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Audio Book Club show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit ⁠⁠slate.com/bookclubplus⁠⁠ to get access wherever you listen. The Audio Book Club is brought to you by Audible. Audible has the best audiobook performances, the largest library and the most exclusive content. You’ll feel something when you listen. Learn more at Audible.com/audiobookclub And by Sun Basket, delivering fresh, organic ingredients and quick, healthy recipes to your door. Choose from Paleo, Gluten-Free, Vegetarian, and Family options. Find out more at Sunbasket.com/ABC

56 min

See All (128)

Voted “Favorite Political Podcast” by Apple Podcasts listeners. Stephen Colbert says "Everybody should listen to the Slate Political Gabfest." The Gabfest, featuring Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz, is the kind of informal and irreverent discussion Washington journalists have after hours over drinks.Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4.4 (8198)

POLITICS
Anna Sale explores the big questions and hard choices that are often left out of polite conversation.Get more Death, Sex & Money with Slate Plus! Join for exclusive bonus episodes of DSM and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the Death, Sex & Money show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/dsmplus to get access wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4.6 (7396)

RELATIONSHIPS
A show about the law and the nine Supreme Court justices who interpret it for the rest of America.Want more Amicus? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes with exclusive legal analysis. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Amicus show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/amicusplus to get access wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4.6 (3322)

NEWS
The problem with the news right now? It’s everywhere. And each day, it can feel like we’re all just mindlessly scrolling. It’s why we created What Next. This short daily show is here to help you make sense of things. When the news feels overwhelming, we’re here to help you answer: What next? Look for new episodes every weekday morning. Get more of What Next with Slate Plus! Join for exclusive bonus episodes of What Next and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the What Next show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit slate.com/whatnextplus for access wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4.3 (2351)

NEWS
Decoder Ring is the show about cracking cultural mysteries. In each episode, host Willa Paskin takes a cultural question, object, or habit; examines its history; and tries to figure out what it means and why it matters.Get more of Decoder Ring with Slate Plus! Join for exclusive bonus episodes of Decoder Ring and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the Decoder Ring show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/decoderplus for access wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4.6 (2033)

DOCUMENTARY
Slow Burn illuminates America’s most consequential moments, making sense of the past to better understand the present. Through archival tape and first-person interviews, the series uncovers the surprising events and little-known characters lurking within the biggest stories of our time.Want more Slow Burn? Join Slate Plus to unlock full, ad-free access to Slow Burn and your other favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Slow Burn show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/slowburnplus to get access wherever you listen.Season 10: The Rise of Fox NewsHow a cable news channel became a cultural and political force—and how a whole bunch of people rose up to try and stop it.Season 9: Gays Against BriggsA nationwide moral panic, a California legislator who rode the anti-gay wave, and the LGBTQ+ people who stepped up and came out to try and stop him.Season 8: Becoming Justice ThomasWhere Clarence Thomas came from, how he rose to power, and how he’s brought the rest of us along with him, whether we like it or not. Winner of the Podcast of the Year at the 2024 Ambies Awards.Season 7: Roe v. WadeThe women who fought for legal abortion, the activists who pushed back, and the justices who thought they could solve the issue for good. Winner of Apple Podcasts Show of the Year in 2022.Season 6: The L.A. RiotsHow decades of police brutality, a broken justice system, and a video tape set off six days of unrest in Los Angeles.Season 5: The Road to the Iraq WarEighteen months after 9/11, the United States invaded a country that had nothing to do with the attacks. Who’s to blame? And was there any way to stop it?Season 4: David DukeAmerica’s most famous white supremacist came within a runoff of controlling Louisiana. How did David Duke rise to power? And what did it take to stop him?Season 3: Biggie and TupacHow is it that two of the most famous performers in the world were murdered within a year of each other—and their killings were never solved?Season 2: The Clinton ImpeachmentA reexamination of the scandals that nearly destroyed the 42nd president and forever changed the life of a former White House intern.Season 1: WatergateWhat did it feel like to live through the scandal that brought down President Nixon? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4.6 (23792)

HISTORY

View Subscription FAQs

Join Slate’s critics for monthly discussions of new and important books. Read the book club selections and then listen in as our critics hold lively—and sometimes heated—debates about the works.