Man Booker Prize shortlisted novelist Ruth Ozeki joins us this week to talk about her latest novel The Book of Form and Emptiness which is out now. They chat about how the book took eight years to write, growing up learning to love books in a public library basement, listening to the voices that guide a novel and her past life working as an art director on low budget horror movies! Support the show and hear an extended version, including a story of Ruth's first encounter with Charlotte's Web by subscribing at patreon.com/bookshambles

Ruarri Joseph is a singer-songwriter and frontman for the band William The Conqueror. He's just written his first novel, of the same name, (available for pre-order now) which is an 'auto fiction' or maybe a 'meta biography'. He chats to Robin about the challenges of writing a novel compared to a screenplay or a song, moving away from folk music, the inspiration of Kurt Vonnegut and George Saunders and a whole lot more. Hear an extended edition of this, and all other episodes, by subscribing to our Patreon at patreon.com/bookshambles

There's been a lot more interest in plants and trees in the UK recently thanks to David Attenborough's The Green Planet series, so this week we speak with nature writer James Canton about his recent book The Oak Papers which tells the story of an 800 year old oak tree, and our relationship with oak throughout the ages. He and Robin chat about great nature writing, notable underwear stores in Ealing and nature in literature from Homer to Chatwin to Macdonald and beyond. Support the podcast on Patreon to hear extended episodes each week. Go to patreon.com/bookshambles

This week's episode is a young readers special. Robin chats to author Louie Stowell about her new book for younger readers, Otherland and is also joined by high school librarian Julie Baugh. They chat about what kids and young adults are reading today, which classics are still popular, the importance of libraries, the wonderful Usborne series of books and a whole lot more. There's LOADS of recommendations this week! To hear an extended edition of this week's episode, and every other week too, subscribe at patreon.com/bookshambles

Last year Dara McAnulty, at just 16 years of age, won Non-Fiction Book of the Year at the British Book Awards. Coincidentally, that category was presented by us at The Cosmic Shambles Network, so today, as Dara’s second book, Wild Child, hits shelves he took time out from studying for his maths exam next week to come on the podcast to chat to Robin and Helen Czerski. They chat about nature, climate, optimism, birds, Oliver Sacks, Andrei Tarkovsky and much more! Support the podcast and hear extended editions by subscribing at patreon.com/bookshambles

Our traditional end of year wrap up of the best things the Shambles crew read in 2021. The books don't have to have been released in 2021 of course, just read this year. With Josie on maternity leave Robin holds down the fort with loads of special guests including Chris Hadfield, Helen Czerski, Anil Seth, Isy Suttie, Steve Backshall, Helen Zaltzman and more. Please note that this episode was originally streamed live on December 30th 2021 so that will explain the varying audio quality of the guests! To support the show subscribe at patreon.com/bookshambles

This week Robin chats to US author Jessica Nordell about her Royal Society Prize shortlisted book, The End of Bias. Back when Jessica was a journalist she struggled to get a particular, timely article published by any national print. Until she submitted it under the name J.D. Nordell, instead of Jessica, and it was accepted immediately. Thus began the research on society's unconscious bias that led to her acclaimed book. To hear an extended edition, and support the podcast, subscribe at patreon.com/bookshambles

Louis Barfe is an author and former journalist who has written some of the most lauded biographies of classic British comedians. He has written some of the definitive life stories of the likes of Les Dawson and Ken Dodd and in his latest book, Sunshine and Laughter, he tells the unique story of one Britain's most loved double acts, Morecambe and Wise. He joins Robin to talk about the book, classic British comedy, where it still seeps into today's comedy and who he'd most love to research for a future biography. Get an extra ten minutes of chat by subscribing to the Book Shambles Patreon at patreon.com/bookshambles

Author Zena Barrie joins Book Shambles today to chat to Robin about her first novel, Your Friend Forever. They chat about what made the former theatre manager write her first book, how autobiographical it is and how in her youth she would write to loads of celebrities although the only people that ever replied was Kelloggs, the cereal company. There's also chat on Adrian Mole, Lemn Sissay, Scottish pop music and a whole lot more. As always, longer episode for Patreon supporters. Become one at patreon.com/bookshambles

Robin's science book came out the same day last month as Adam Rutherford and Hannah's Fry first book together, Rutherford and Fry's Complete Guide to Absolutely Everything. The Cosmic Shambles Network is also looking after Robin's 100 Bookshop Tour and working with JSM Events' Rutherford and Fry tour so it just makes sense to bring it all together on an episode of Book Shambles. They chat about the heavy lifting of the word 'abridged' in the title, science education, the nature of curiosity, authors with difficult to pronounce names and Hannah's decision to resign from the Science Museum. Get signed copies of both Robin and Adam and Hannah's book from cosmicshambles.com/bookshop Support the show at patreon.com/bookshambles to hear an extended edition of this and all other episodes of the podcast.