The Book Pile

By Kellen Erskine and David Vance

What's The Book Pile about?

A podcast where comedians tell you about books so you never have to read! (Now including fiction!) Kellen does standup; Dave writes ads; together they highlight lessons from the world’s best books--and some of the worst. New episode every Monday!

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The Book Pile episodes:

06.18.2024
Swan Song, by Robert R. McCammon
A magic girl (barely), a sociopath boy who thinks he's a knight, a strong guy who got fired from wrestling, and a bad guy with a mouth where his ear should be but only sometimes, I know this sounds made...
06.11.2024
Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson
Okay, we know there are many political controversies surrounding Elon Musk. But if you can, just try to clear your mind and approach this episode without prejudice. Wait, don’t clear your mind that much! That was all your memories! Quick,...
05.28.2024
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Interestingly, this is also the title of the world’s saddest and shortest autobiography. Also on this episode, Kellen and Dave pitch a much better sequel to Jurassic Park. * JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES! https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * If you want to read/listen to Catching Fire and...
05.20.2024
Re-Issue: The Return of the King
JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES! https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * Rediscover this gem of a Book Pile episode (originally episode #92) that we dug up and polished from July of 2022! Dave brings up Sauron's oversight on Mt. Doom; Kellen thinks Frodo fell short; Dave...
05.13.2024
Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott
JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES! https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * Picture a bird. Pretty cool, right? Now open your eyes. There’s another bird by that bird. I bet you feel so racist. Anyway, Bird by Bird is a beautifully written, witty, unpretentious book about writing. ...
05.06.2024
Re-Issue: The Big Short
JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES! https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * Rediscover this gem of a Book Pile episode (originally episode #84) that we dug up and polished from May of 2022! The Big Short is a little nostalgic jaunt back into the greatest financial collapse of...
04.30.2024
The Prophet, by Kahlil Gibran
JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES! https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * Look, we’re going to level with you. If we describe this episode's book right here, you’ll leave. The description sounds boring. Your feeble attention span has been weakened by the internet age. So just trust...
04.23.2024
Re-Issue: The Inner Game of Tennis
JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES! https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * Rediscover this gem of a Book Pile episode (episode #99) that we dug up and polished from 2022! The Inner Game of Tennis describes an innovative approach to better, easier mastery of tennis and other activities....
04.15.2024
A 2nd LOOK AT: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES! https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * We look at the first Harry Potter book again now that Kellen has read it a second time and Dave has continuously been listening to it since he was born. Also, we are trying to...
04.08.2024
Favorite Poems with CHAD DANIELS!
JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * Kellen and comedian Chad Daniels talk about each others favorite poems. Also, Chad recalls an incredible moment during a Foo Fighters concert; and both of them admit to some of the things that they purchase...
04.01.2024
The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin
JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES and to submit the name of your favorite poem for us to discuss on a very-near-future episode with Chad Daniels! https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * The Three-Body Problem proves that you can take a mathematical equation and turn it into...
03.27.2024
Re-Issue: Lateral Thinking, by Edward de Bono
JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES and to submit the name of your favorite poem for us to discuss on a very-near-future episode with Chad Daniels! https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * Rediscover Lateral Thinking, a book ahead of its time as far as developing the human...
03.18.2024
THE ROAST OF Star Wars: The Force Awakens (the novelization of the movie), by Alan Dean Foster
JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EpiSoDEs! https://patreon.com/TheBookPile * The king returns. Alan Dean is back, and he’s more Alan Dean than ever. Break out the thesauruses as we do a live roast of his novelization of The Force Awakens. Plus, Kellen teaches you...
03.12.2024
Star Wars: Splinter of the Mind's Eye, by Alan Dean Foster
JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EpiSoDEs! https://patreon.com/TheBookPile * To buy the book and support the podcast, click HERE! https://amzn.to/43ejtlH * This book (for reals) was George Lucas's plan B just in case Star Wars: A New Hope bombed. The idea was to use the story of...
03.04.2024
Excellent Advice for Living, by Kevin Kelly
JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EpiSoDEs! https://patreon.com/TheBookPile * To buy the book and support the podcast, click HERE! https://amzn.to/3P5Gy4c * Nothing could summarize this book better than this Amazon review we found: “This book provides many useful hints that will have you agreeing.” Indeed, we were...
02.26.2024
The Body: A Guide for Occupants, by Bill Bryson
JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EpiSoDEs! https://patreon.com/TheBookPile * To buy the book and support the podcast, click HERE for The Body https://amzn.to/49pRTV1 * Have you ever laughed while reading a book about the human anatomy (and not just with giggles and pointing)? Bill Bryson writes in...
02.19.2024
Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EpiSoDEs! https://patreon.com/TheBookPile * To buy the book and support the podcast, click HERE for Watchmen https://amzn.to/3uCrELW * “Who watches the watchmen?” That is the central question of this book, asked over and over. And yet they never answer it! So what...
02.12.2024
The 4-Hour Workweek, by Timothy Ferriss with GUEST HOST Dave Nihill!
JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EpiSoDEs! https://patreon.com/TheBookPile * To buy the books and support the podcast, click HERE for The 4-Hour Workweek! https://amzn.to/3uFGSj7 * We would've written an intro to this episode, but we didn't have time now that I guess we're only working 4 hours...
02.05.2024
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory & THE ROAST OF Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EpiSoDEs! https://patreon.com/TheBookPile * To buy the books and support the podcast, click HERE for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! https://amzn.to/3HPkXZX or HERE for Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator! https://amzn.to/3UtoNiN * Wonka is available to stream this week, and in honor of it,...
01.29.2024
Dopamine Detox, by Thibaut Meurisse
JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES! https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * Today's book: Dopamine Detox: A Short Guide to Remove Distractions and Get Your Brain to Do Hard Things Ever done a detox? Did it work? Will we ever know? This book contains about 20% very...
01.22.2024
Our Favorite Books of 2023!
Last year, Kellen and Dave both broke their personal record for number of books read, and in this episode they list their top ten picks. Plus, Kellen comes into 2024 on a mission to roast some Berenstain Bears, and Dave...
01.15.2024
On Writing (the memoir portion), by Stephen King
JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES and to purchase a CAMEO-STYLE video greeting from Dave and Kellen! (Gift to a friend or family member!) https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * Want to purchase On Writing and support the podcast? (Or just that first one?) Click here! Free...
01.12.2024
Misfit by Gary Gulman WITH GUEST GARY GULMAN!
Buy Gary’s book, Misfit: Growing Up Awkward in the '80s: https://www.amazon.com/Misfit-Growing-Up-Awkward-80s/dp/1250777062 Gary’s standup special, Born on Third Base: https://www.max.com/movies/gary-gulman-born-on-3rd-base/3c80efb5-7891-463e-87b9-9e8ca7d8e6c7 Gary’s standup special, The Great Depresh: https://www.max.com/movies/gary-gulman-the-great-depresh/6b6e6992-a485-42f7-b41e-ff11441da6ab Dave’s book / game, The Starlings: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp We interviewed a comedy hero of ours, Gary...
12.27.2023
Re-issue: A Christmas Carol (now with a new introduction!)
JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES and to purchase a CAMEO-STYLE video greeting from Dave and Kellen! (Gift to a friend or family member!) https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * Dave’s graphic novel escape room: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp * Rediscover A Christmas Carol with the wonderful Tim Curry narrating! Also rediscover...
12.19.2023
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES and to purchase a CAMEO-STYLE video greeting from Dave and Kellen! (Gift to a friend or family member!) https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * Dave’s graphic novel escape room: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp * Would you like to read the Grinch? Would you read it in...
12.15.2023
The Man Who Invented Christmas, by Les Standiford
JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES and to purchase a CAMEO-STYLE video greeting from Dave and Kellen! (Gift to a friend or family member!) https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * So there's this book called A Christmas Carol which is about a guy trying to save money when...
12.04.2023
THE LIVE ROAST OF: Angels and Demons, by Dan Brown
JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES and to purchase a CAMEO-STYLE video greeting from Dave and Kellen! (Gift to a friend or family member!) https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * Dave’s graphic novel escape room: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp * Imagine if Indiana Jones were less sexy, more wrong, and way more...
11.27.2023
Thanksgiving Mini-Episode 2023
Happy belated Thanksgiving (to whom it may apply...)! Here's a mini-episode courtesy of Dave, where he covers his Top 5 book recommendations of books he loves that no one else ends up liking at all (do you agree?) We'll be back...
11.20.2023
The Year of Magical Thinking, by Joan Didion
JOIN OUR NEW PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES! https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * Dave’s graphic novel escape room: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp * The Year of Magical Thinking covers the heaviest of subjects: really big hippopotamuses. No, it's grief, and do you already see how hard it is to cover a serious...
11.14.2023
Boy: Tales of Childhood, by Roald Dahl
JOIN OUR NEW PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES! https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * This week Kellen discusses (with himself) an autobiography by Roald Dahl, who of course wrote Matilda, The BFG, The Twits, The Witches, and one novel that actually wasn't terrifying for children about a chocolate...
11.08.2023
Trick Mirror, by Jia Tolentino
FOR TICKETS TO OUR LIVE SHOWS ON NOVEMBER 11th! For FREE tickets use promo code "LETSIMPROV" Tickets for 7pm show: The Roast of the novelization of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, by Alan Dean Foster https://www.improvbroadway.com/events/7-pm-improv-comedy-special-live-taping-at-the-hive-collaborative-not-the-improvbroadway-theater-2-4 Tickets for 9:30pm show: The Roast of Angels...
11.06.2023
A Patreon BONUS Episode!
Our next official episode will come out tomorrow when we cover the book Trick Mirrors by Jia Tolentino. So for now, enjoy last week's BONUS episode (Mini-Episode #12) from the Patreon! And consider joining the Patreon for access to ALL of...
10.31.2023
Start Ugly, by David DuChemin
FOR TICKETS TO OUR LIVE SHOWS ON NOVEMBER 11th! Click here! Tickets for 7pm show: The Roast of the novelization of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, by Alan Dean Foster https://www.improvbroadway.com/events/7-pm-improv-comedy-special-live-taping-at-the-hive-collaborative-not-the-improvbroadway-theater-2-4 Tickets for 9:30pm show: The Roast of Angels and Demons, by Dan Brown https://www.improvbroadway.com/events/9-30-pm-improv-comedy-special-live-taping-at-the-hive-collaborative-not-the-improvbroadway-theater-1-9 * JOIN...
10.23.2023
Sphere, by Michael Crichton
FOR TICKETS TO OUR LIVE SHOWS ON NOVEMBER 11th! Click here! Tickets for 7pm show: The Roast of the novelization of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, by Alan Dean Foster https://www.improvbroadway.com/events/7-pm-improv-comedy-special-live-taping-at-the-hive-collaborative-not-the-improvbroadway-theater-2-4 Tickets for 9:30pm show: The Roast of Angels and Demons, by Dan Brown https://www.improvbroadway.com/events/9-30-pm-improv-comedy-special-live-taping-at-the-hive-collaborative-not-the-improvbroadway-theater-1-9 * JOIN...
10.17.2023
4 Big Announcements! (7 total!)
JOIN OUR NEW PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES! https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile Kellen lists off 7 big announcements (three BIG big announcements).
10.10.2023
RANKED: The Top 7 Scariest Books (to Kellen...)
JOIN OUR NEW PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES! https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile Today Kellen lists the books that have scared him the most from the time he was a child up until this year (please don't make fun of him...). It's Halloween month! Or "pumpkin harvest...
10.03.2023
The Office: An Oral History, by Andy Greene
JOIN OUR NEW PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES! https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile Jim and Pam. Dunder Mifflin. “That’s what she said.” These are just a few of the phrases we’re putting in this description to really maximize SEO. Join us as we cover the history of...
10.02.2023
NEXT EPISODE COMES OUT TOMORROW OCT 3RD!
JOIN OUR NEW PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES! https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile Join us tomorrow for the next full episode! This week, we're covering the book The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s: An Oral History. But on today's tiny episode,...
09.25.2023
RANKED: Top 10 Funniest Books!
JOIN OUR NEW PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES! https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile Today Kellen ranks the top ten books that have made him laugh. SPOILER ALERT! Don't read the Amazon links below if you want to be SuRpRisED by this episode's Top 10 list... But if you...
09.18.2023
A Room of One’s Own, by Virginia Woolf
JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES! https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * When one of your co-hosts was in high school, the house was so cramped that he slept in a room of 5 boys, while one baby slept in the closet, and another baby slept in...
09.11.2023
Cat jokes and the novel Post Office with GUEST comedian Zoltan Kaszas
JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES! https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * Zoltan Kaszas joins Kellen as they discuss having difficult names, zig-zagging career paths, big weird corporate functions they've performed for, and (eventually) Zoltan's favorite book.
09.09.2023
Happy Birthday Kellen! + Trailer for Patreon Mini-Episode #4: How many times has Dave read Harry Potter?
JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES! https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * Kellen wishes a happy birthday to himself and shares what his greatest desire is. Also, we've included half of our most recent Mini-Episode from the The Book Pile's Patreon! Enjoy it! * Kellen Erskine has appeared on...
09.04.2023
My Brilliant Friend, by Elena Ferrante
JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES! https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * My Brilliant Friend is a book that BOTH of us agree is a timeless, emotional masterpiece, and if either host says they were ever BORED, then that host is JOKING and LYING and UGLY. Please...
08.28.2023
RANKED: The Top 10 Book Pile Episodes You Have To Listen To!
JOIN OUR NEW PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES! https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * Today Kellen lists the Top 10 Best Episodes of The Book Pile from the last 12 months (episodes 100 - 150), with quotes, highlights, stories, and teasers for each of them (Have you listened...
08.21.2023
Murder on the Orient Express, PLUS Kellen & Dave celebrate their 149th episode!
OUR PATREON IS LIVE! GET BONUS CONTENT FROM THE BOOK PILE WHILE SUPPORTING US! CLICK RIGHT BELOW THIS SENTENCE! https://patreon.com/TheBookPile * Exciting news today as we announce the launch of our Patreon! Also, today we cover one of Agatha Christie’s most famous whodunnits,...
08.14.2023
RANKED: Biographies (from worst to best...)
Kellen ranks his top 12 biographies from worst to best, and he's probably wrong. From Einstein to the Dave Grohl (same guy, basically), there's something here for everybody, especially if you're Kellen. Have a listen, and have fun disagreeing! If you...
08.07.2023
Humans, by Brandon Stanton
To buy this book (Kindle or hardcover!) and support the podcast, click here! https://amzn.to/43U0dZr * Kellen and Dave were very sad when this book became a best-seller, since we had already published a book of the same title (ours was a cookbook). Join...
07.31.2023
RANKED: Michael Crichton Books
Kellen is a big fan of Michael Crichton, and who isn't? (Dinosaurs and Crichton's four ex-wives, that's who...) This is the correct list of Crichton's thrillers from worst to best, and as with all lists of entertainment, you are going...
07.24.2023
THE ROAST OF: Jaws, by Peter Benchley
Before it was a great movie, it was a un-great book. And this shark book would have been much better if it stuck to writing about sharks. Instead, it is about the “shark” of adult life: extramarital infidelity. It is...
07.17.2023
Tuesday, by David Wiesner
If you're scared of frogs, you're going to HATE this book! Because--to you--the only thing worse than a frog would be a FLYING FROG. On this mostly solo episode, Kellen discusses one of his favorite picture books, (but he calls...

What's The Book Pile about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Book Pile episodes:

Swan Song, by Robert R. McCammon

Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Re-Issue: The Return of the King

Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott

Re-Issue: The Big Short

The Prophet, by Kahlil Gibran

Re-Issue: The Inner Game of Tennis

A 2nd LOOK AT: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

Favorite Poems with CHAD DANIELS!

The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin

Re-Issue: Lateral Thinking, by Edward de Bono

THE ROAST OF Star Wars: The Force Awakens (the novelization of the movie), by Alan Dean Foster

Star Wars: Splinter of the Mind's Eye, by Alan Dean Foster

Excellent Advice for Living, by Kevin Kelly

The Body: A Guide for Occupants, by Bill Bryson

Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons

The 4-Hour Workweek, by Timothy Ferriss with GUEST HOST Dave Nihill!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory & THE ROAST OF Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

Dopamine Detox, by Thibaut Meurisse

Our Favorite Books of 2023!

On Writing (the memoir portion), by Stephen King

Misfit by Gary Gulman WITH GUEST GARY GULMAN!

Re-issue: A Christmas Carol (now with a new introduction!)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

The Man Who Invented Christmas, by Les Standiford

THE LIVE ROAST OF: Angels and Demons, by Dan Brown

Thanksgiving Mini-Episode 2023

The Year of Magical Thinking, by Joan Didion

Boy: Tales of Childhood, by Roald Dahl

Trick Mirror, by Jia Tolentino

A Patreon BONUS Episode!

Start Ugly, by David DuChemin

Sphere, by Michael Crichton

4 Big Announcements! (7 total!)

RANKED: The Top 7 Scariest Books (to Kellen...)

The Office: An Oral History, by Andy Greene

NEXT EPISODE COMES OUT TOMORROW OCT 3RD!

RANKED: Top 10 Funniest Books!

A Room of One’s Own, by Virginia Woolf

Cat jokes and the novel Post Office with GUEST comedian Zoltan Kaszas

Happy Birthday Kellen! + Trailer for Patreon Mini-Episode #4: How many times has Dave read Harry Potter?

My Brilliant Friend, by Elena Ferrante

RANKED: The Top 10 Book Pile Episodes You Have To Listen To!

Murder on the Orient Express, PLUS Kellen & Dave celebrate their 149th episode!

RANKED: Biographies (from worst to best...)

Humans, by Brandon Stanton

RANKED: Michael Crichton Books

THE ROAST OF: Jaws, by Peter Benchley

Tuesday, by David Wiesner

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