When Books Were Fun

Al Anderson and Jeff Scott
  • 4.0 (1)
  • Books
  • Updated Weekly

In which two cranky old men discuss older books that are fun to read, for listeners who want to reconnect to a traditional popular culture.

  1. 2d ago

    When Books Were Fun Episode 016: A Tragedy and a Comedy (rerun)

    In which we discuss Of Mice and Men (1937) by John Steinbeck and take a return visit to Penrod by Booth Tarkington (1914) and consider how changing social mores affect the reading of realistic novels from the past. whenbookswerefun@gmail.com Check out Al’s stories at sonrisestories.com. Check out Jeff’s upcoming book at perebruinpress.com.

    When Books Were Fun Episode 016: A Tragedy and a Comedy (rerun)

  2. Aug 10

    When Books Were Fun Episode 015: Murder and Spies

    In which we discuss And Then There Were None (aka Ten Little Indians) (1939) by Agatha Christie and The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1963) by John le Carre and consider another Christie mystery as well as the roles of mystery and betrayal in spy novels. whenbookswerefun@gmail.com Check out Al’s stories at sonrisestories.com. Check out Jeff’s upcoming book at perebruinpress.com.

    When Books Were Fun Episode 015: Murder and Spies

  3. Aug 3

    When Books Were Fun Episode 014: Death in the North Atlantic

    In which we discuss A Night to Remember (1955) by Walter Lord, a non-fiction account of the Titanic disaster, and The Cruel Sea (1951) by Nicholas Monsarrat, a novel by about British convoys in the North Atlantic during World War II, and reflect on icebergs, U-boats, and hypothermia.  whenbookswerefun@gmail.com Check out Al’s stories at sonrisestories.com. Check out Jeff’s upcoming book at perebruinpress.com.

    When Books Were Fun Episode 014: Death in the North Atlantic

  4. Jul 27

    When Books Were Fun Episode 013: Murder - Gritty and Genteel

    In which we discuss Farewell My Lovely (1940) by Raymond Chandler and The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1916) by Agatha Chrisie and contrast the sub-genres of gritty urban mystery and genteel English country house mystery. whenbookswerefun@gmail.com Check out Al’s stories at sonrisestories.com. Check out Jeff’s upcoming book at perebruinpress.com.

  5. Jul 20

    When Books Were Fun Episode 012: Tarzan

    In which we discuss the Tarzan stories of Edgar Rice Burroughs, particularly Tarzan of the Apes (1912), The Return of Tarzan (1913), The Son of Tarzan (1915), and Jungle Tales of Tarzan (1919). whenbookswerefun@gmail.com Check out Al’s stories at sonrisestories.com. Check out Jeff’s upcoming book at perebruinpress.com.

    When Books Were Fun Episode 012: Tarzan

  6. Jul 13

    When Books Were Fun Episode 011: Comedy - Jeeves and Grand Fenwick

    In which we discuss The Inimitable Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse (1923) and The Mouse That Roared by Leonard Wibberley (1955) and contrast the faux Edwardian humor of the Jeeves stories with Wibberley’s social satire regarding power politics and nuclear weapons. whenbookswerefun@gmail.com Check out Al’s stories at sonrisestories.com. Check out Jeff’s upcoming book at perebruinpress.com.

    When Books Were Fun Episode 011: Comedy - Jeeves and Grand Fenwick

  7. Jul 6

    When Books Were Fun Episode 010: Comedy - Ernest and Crichton

    In which we discuss The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde (1895) and The Admirable Crichton (1902) by J. M. Barrie, noting the humor of the trivial, and the relevance of these two plays to modern society. whenbookswerefun@gmail.com Check out Al’s stories at sonrisestories.com. Check out Jeff’s upcoming book at perebruinpress.com.

    When Books Were Fun Episode 010: Comedy - Ernest and Crichton

  8. Jun 29

    When Books Were Fun Episode 009: Reading Shakespeare

    In which we discuss the plays of William Shakespeare and why reading these plays can often be more entertaining and instructive than seeing them performed. whenbookswerefun@gmail.com Check out Al’s stories at sonrisestories.com. Check out Jeff’s upcoming book at perebruinpress.com.

    When Books Were Fun Episode 009: Reading Shakespeare
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About

In which two cranky old men discuss older books that are fun to read, for listeners who want to reconnect to a traditional popular culture.

Information

  • Creator
    Al Anderson and Jeff Scott
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    When Books Were Fun