This week Josie Long is back from maternity leave and she takes the reigns of the podcast to talk to theatre maker and author Alan Lane about his new book The Club on the Edge of Town. They chat about how when COVID hit, and the theatres had to close, Alan turned his theatre company into a foodbank for those in need, the role of art and creativity in society, and how failing doesn't necessarily mean failing. Support the show at patreon.com/bookshambles

Medical historian Dr Lindsey Fitzharris is our special guest this week, talking to guest host Dr Helen Czerski about her new book, The Facemaker. Her book looks at the story of the visionary surgeon who rebuilt the faces of the First World War's injured heroes, and in the process ushered in the modern era of plastic surgery. Her and Helen talk about the challenges around researching the book, how his work has impacted medical science today and how there are no 'glorious dead' in war. To hear and extended version, support the show, and get all sorts of goodies, subscribe at patreon.com/bookshambles

The acclaimed comedian Daniel Sloss joins Robin on the podcast to today to talk about his book, Everyone You Hate Is Going to Die, which has just been released in paperback. They chat about translating a stand up voice to the page, great comedy books and in a week where it's been very much in the news, they discuss the role of offense in comedy. Over 10 mins of extra chat for Patreon subscribers this week, plus loads of other exclusives. Sign up at patreon.com/bookshambles

Robin is currently on a world tour with Brian Cox and that means there's a whole world of secondhand bookshops to explore. Those adventures form a big part of his brand new podcast, Taking the Universe Around the World. So on Book Shambles this week we're sharing the first episode of that new series. Three episodes out already and a new episode each work. All the subscribe links at cosmicshambles.com/horizonsdiary or just search for it on all your podcast apps. And support us at patreon.com/bookshambles

We spend a lot of time at Shambles talking about science, so on today's episode of Book Shambles we're going to talk about how the media should and shouldn't talk, and write, about science. Helen Czerski guest hosts once again and she chats with Fiona Fox from the Science Media Centre who has just released a fascinating book, Beyond the Hype: The Inside Story on Science's Biggest Media Controversies. They chat COVID, vaccines, David Nutt, GM food and a whole lot more. Support the podcast by subscribing for extended episodes at patreon.com/bookshambles (Robin returns next week by the way, and Josie the week after that all things going to plan!)

This week Helen Czerski takes the host chair once again to talk to zoologist, author and broadcaster Jules Howard about dogs. His new book, Wonderdog, looks at the evolving science of dogs. How has humankind's favourite pet defied science and changed the way we think about animals overall, particularly in the field of cognitive research. From early research (WARNING: Some of this is a bit grim and may be disturbing to some listeners), through moving on from considering dogs as 'dumb wolves' to the cutting edge understanding of dog behaviour and companionship today. Subscribe to the podcast via patreon.com/bookshambles to hear extended episodes

On today's episode Robin is joined by comedian Rachel Parris to talk about her new, and first, book, Advice from Strangers. She chats with Robin about writing the book, the pressure of remembering not everything has to be funny, Jane Austen, the difficulties of writing satire right now and the book on the music she really wants to write next. Hear an extended version, and get lots of other goodies bby subscribing to our Patreon at patreon.com/bookshambles

This week Robin is joined by artist and author Lauren John Joseph to talk about their new novel, At Certain Points We Touch. They chat about the book, literary influences and places that inspire creativity, particularly in their home town of Liverpool. To hear and extended version, subscribe at patreon.com/bookshambles

Tonight the ever brilliant Inside No. 9 returns to our screens for series 7 and so it is that Reece Shearsmith returns to Book Shambles! He joins Robin to talk about the new series, favourite episodes, great horror short stories and more. They're also joined by horror writer and historian Johnny Mains who, together with Robin, will be editing the third volume of Dead Funny, horror stories by comedians, of which Reece will be contributing. You can support it on Unbound, just search for Dead Funny. And you can support Book Shambles, and hear an extended version of this and all other episodes at patreon.com/bookshambles

Our guest today is the author of one of the most lauded books of 2021, the superb Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe. One of the awards it garnered last year was the highly prestigious Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction and one of the judges on the panel last year was our own Dr Helen Czerski, so this week we've handed over the solo reigns of the podcast to Helen. She talks to Patrick about the book, the research, the threats, legal and beyond and how the Sacklers are an example of an entirely broken system. Extended version and other goodies for podcast supporters at patreon.com/bookshambles