The Library of Lazy Thinking Podcast

Are you ready to get stupidly excited about maths?

No?

Granted—it’s not a state most of us ever find ourselves in. But trust me, it’s time to get your brainbox psyched for some equational madness.

Why?

Because once you’ve wandered in the mind-expanding labyrinth that is Benjamin Labatut’s When We Cease to Understand the World, you’ll be ripping down posters of Paul Mescal and pinning up hot, secretive snaps of Marcus De Sautoy.

And don’t think my incredible guest for this episode will do anything to sway you against my excitement, the brilliant Joe Dunthorne is as bowled over by this book as I am.

Indeed, welcome to The Library of Lazy Thinking Podcast, with me, your host, Glenn Fisher.

As you may well know by now, in each episode, I'm joined by a guest from the world of books and culture to talk about a specific book they'd like to put in the library.

There's no plan and no agenda, just two people lazily thinking about literature.

If you enjoy the show and would like to help us (and get your hands on a coveted Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge), you can become a supporter of the library by upgrading your subscription.

But either way, please do like and share the show—it all helps.

In this episode, as I say, my very special guest is the author and poet, Joe Dunthorne. We discuss his pick for the library, the 2020 novel When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamin Labatut.

About Joe

Joe Dunthorne was born and brought up in Swansea. He is the author of three novels and one collection of poetry, including Submarine, which has been translated into fifteen languages and made into an acclaimed film directed by Richard Ayoade, and Wild Abandon, which won the 2012 Encore Award. Children of Radium is his first work of non-fiction. He lives in London.

About Benjamin

Benjamín Labatut was born in Rotterdam in 1980 and grew up in The Hague, Buenos Aires, and Lima. He has published two award-winning works of fiction prior to When We Cease to Understand the World, which is his first book to be translated into English. Labatut lives with his family in Santiago, Chile.

Links to obscure (and not so obscure) things mentioned in this episode

* Order When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamin Labatut and Joe’s new book Children of Radium from my local independent bookshop in Sheffield here.

* Some more insight into Benjamin Labatut’s process in a Guardian interview here.

* Find Joe on Instagram here.

* Find Glenn on Instagram here.

* Find The Library of Lazy Thinking on Instagram here.

About the Library

The Library of Lazy Thinking is a place to hang out and learn more about books. If you’d like to support the library and get access to everything here, you can become a paid member (and get an exclusive The Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge). All support goes back into the library, helping to organize live events, exclusive merchandise, and more podcasts.

About Glenn

Glenn Fisher is a writer—wait, Glenn Fisher is me. I’m the one writing this. Let’s drop the third-person act. My writing has been published in Lunate, The Paris Bitter Hearts Pit, 3am Magazine, Dogmatika, and Litro Magazine. I write about books and interview other writers and artists here in The Library of Lazy Thinking. I live in Sheffield and work as a freelance copywriter. I have had a best-selling non-fiction book published on the subject called The Art of the Click. It was published by Harriman House and shortlisted for Business Book of the Year. It has been translated into Simplified Chinese and Korean. I also have a dog called Pablo. He is harder to translate. Indeed, most of my life revolves around trying to understand his often unreasonable demands. Meanwhile, I am currently working on my first novel about a man who accidentally kidnaps a pig. Brave/insane agents: hit me up.

“A sex memoir.”

“The gayest book ever written.”

“Filthy.”

Reading the blurbs about Edmund White’s most recent memoir, The Loves of My Life, you might think the book is going to be one thing…

In reality, it’s quite another.

A fascinating, tender, and ultimately universal account of life, love, and, well, yes… to top it all, there’s enough sex in there to make Hugh Hefner blush.

To spare my own blushes, I’m thankful to be joined to discuss the book by a brilliant Irish writer and novelist, the quite excellent, Megan Nolan.

She joined me from across the pond—where she’s currently living in New York—to explain why she loves the book and White’s writing generally, and it all makes for another great episode of the show.

Indeed, welcome to The Library of Lazy Thinking Podcast, with me, your host, Glenn Fisher.

As you may well know by now, in each episode, I'm joined by a guest from the world of books and culture to talk about a specific book they'd like to put in the library.

There's no plan and no agenda, just two people lazily thinking about literature.

If you enjoy the show and would like to help us (and get your hands on a coveted Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge), you can become a supporter of the library by upgrading your subscription.

But either way, please do like and share the show—it all helps.

In this episode, as I say, my very special guest is the author of Acts of Desperation and Ordinary Human Failings, Megan Nolan. We discuss her pick for the library, the 2025 memoir The Loves of My Life by Edmund White.

About Megan

Megan Nolan was born in 1990 in Waterford, Ireland, and is currently based in New York. Her essays and reviews have been published by the New York Times, White Review, Guardian and Frieze amongst others. For her debut novel, Acts of Desperation, Nolan was the recipient of a Betty Trask Award, shortlisted for the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award, and longlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize. Ordinary Human Failings was longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction, and shortlisted for the Nero Book Award for Fiction, the Gordon Burn Prize, and the RSL Encore Award.

About Edmund

Edmund White is a gay American novelist, memoirist, playwright, biographer and essayist. He is the recipient of Lambda Literary's Visionary Award, the National Book Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award, and the PEN/Saul Bellow Award for Achievement in American Fiction. France made him Chevalier (and later Officier) de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1993. White is known as a groundbreaking writer of gay literature and a major influence on gay American literature and has been called "the first major queer novelist to champion a new generation of writers."

Links to obscure (and not so obscure) things mentioned in this episode

* Order The Loves of My Life by Edmund White and Megan’s novels Acts of Desperation and Ordinary Human Failings from my local independent bookshop in Sheffield here.

* Ian Williams from Don Caballero (and now Battles) in a scene from High Fidelity.

* Find Megan on Instagram here.

* Find Glenn on Instagram here.

* Find The Library of Lazy Thinking on Instagram here.

About the Library

The Library of Lazy Thinking is a place to hang out and learn more about books. If you’d like to support the library and get access to everything here, you can become a paid member (and get an exclusive The Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge). All support goes back into the library, helping to organize live events, exclusive merchandise, and more podcasts.

About Glenn

Glenn Fisher is a writer—wait, Glenn Fisher is me. I’m the one writing this. Let’s drop the third-person act. My writing has been published in Lunate, The Paris Bitter Hearts Pit, 3am Magazine, Dogmatika, and Litro Magazine. I write about books and interview other writers and artists here in The Library of Lazy Thinking. I live in Sheffield and work as a freelance copywriter. I have had a best-selling non-fiction book published on the subject called The Art of the Click. It was published by Harriman House and shortlisted for Business Book of the Year. It has been translated into Simplified Chinese and Korean. I also have a dog called Pablo. He is harder to translate. Indeed, most of my life revolves around trying to understand his often unreasonable demands. Meanwhile, I am currently working on my first novel about a man who accidentally kidnaps a pig.

Strange. Surreal. Smart.

The uncanny world Camilla Grudova imagines across the various stories that make up The Doll’s Alphabet is one in which you’re never quite sure what’s around the corner.

Thankfully, we have Claire Carroll, another brilliant short story writer—and all-round excellent egg—to hold our hand and help us begin to unpick the intricacies of this beguiling collection.

Or not.

Maybe we don’t need to figure everything out, and maybe we don’t need to completely understand what it all means.

Who knows? But we’ll have some fun thinking about it, and some quite wonderful book chat.

Indeed, welcome to The Library of Lazy Thinking Podcast, with me, your host, Glenn Fisher.

As you may well know by now, in each episode, I'm joined by a guest from the world of books and culture to talk about a specific book they'd like to put in the library.

There's no plan and no agenda, just two people lazily thinking about literature.

If you enjoy the show and would like to help us (and get your hands on a coveted Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge), you can become a supporter of the library by upgrading your subscription.

But either way, please do like and share the show—it all helps.

In this episode, my very special guest is the author of The Unreliable Nature Writer, Claire Carroll. We discuss her pick for the library, the 2017 short story collection The Doll’s Alphabet by Camila Grudova.

About Claire

Claire Carroll lives in Somerset, UK, and writes experimental fiction about the intersection of nature, technology, and desire. She is also a PhD researcher at Bath Spa and Exeter Universities, where she explores how experimental writing – particularly short stories and prose-poetry – can reimagine how humans relate to the natural and non-human world. Claire’s short stories and poetry have been published by journals including Gutter Magazine, perverse, Lunate Journal, The Oxonian Review, and Short Fiction Journal. In 2021, her short story My Brain is Boiling with Ideas was shortlisted for The White Review’s Short Story Prize, and her short story Cephalopod was the recipient of the Essex University & Short Fiction Journal Wild Writing Prize. Both pieces are taken from The Unreliable Nature Writer, Claire’s collection of linked short stories that examines the interconnection of climate anxiety, surviving late capitalism and dealing with personal loss.

About Camila

Camilla Grudova lives in Edinburgh. She holds a degree in Art History and German from McGill University, Montreal. Her fiction has appeared in The White Review and Granta. Her critically acclaimed debut collection, The Doll's Alphabet, was published in 2017. Her first novel, Children of Paradise, was longlisted for the Women's Prize. Her most recent book is a second collection, The Coiled Serpent. In 2023 she was named one of Granta's Best of Young British Novelists, a once-in-a-decade accolade.

Links to obscure (and not so obscure) things mentioned in this episode

* Order The Doll's Alphabet by Camila Grudova and Claire’s The Unreliable Nature Writer from my local independent bookshop in Sheffield here.

* Nick Lizard’s review I mention is available on the Guardian website here.

* Find Claire on Instagram here.

* Find Glenn on Instagram here.

* Find The Library of Lazy Thinking on Instagram here.

About the Library

The Library of Lazy Thinking is a place to hang out and learn more about books. If you’d like to support the library and get access to everything here, you can become a paid member (and get an exclusive The Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge). All support goes back into the library, helping to organize live events, exclusive merchandise, and more podcasts.

About Glenn

Glenn Fisher is a writer—wait, Glenn Fisher is me. I’m the one writing this. Let’s drop the third-person act. My writing has been published in Lunate, The Paris Bitter Hearts Pit, 3am Magazine, Dogmatika, and Litro Magazine. I write about books and interview other writers and artists here in The Library of Lazy Thinking. I live in Sheffield and work as a freelance copywriter. I have had a best-selling non-fiction book published on the subject called The Art of the Click. It was published by Harriman House and shortlisted for Business Book of the Year. It has been translated into Simplified Chinese and Korean. I also have a dog called Pablo. He is harder to translate. Indeed, most of my life revolves around trying to understand his often unreasonable demands. Meanwhile, I am currently working on my first novel about a man who accidentally kidnaps a pig.

Find a quiet pub that hasn’t been renovated for at least twenty years, preferably longer.

Order a preposterous drink, one that involves Cinzano, and a pint of ale to wash it down.

Ask for a bag of crisps (or a more elaborate bar snack given a cigarette inside won’t be possible) and, once you’ve paid the tab (with cash rummaged from the lint-filled pocket of your crumpled, ill-fitting suit), take a seat in the corner.

Oh, and do all of this in the middle of the afternoon, so it’s light outside, and thus you’re filled with a sense of rule-breaking freedom.

Sorted?

Good. You can now join me and Richard Foster to discuss the great Kingsley Amis and one of his darkly comedic later novels, Ending Up.

Indeed, welcome to The Library of Lazy Thinking Podcast, with me, your host, Glenn Fisher.

As you may well know by now, in each episode, I'm joined by a guest from the world of books and culture to talk about a specific book they'd like to put in the library.

There's no plan and no agenda, just two people lazily thinking about literature.

If you enjoy the show and would like to help us (and get your hands on a coveted Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge), you can become a supporter of the library by upgrading your subscription.

But either way, please do like and share the show—it all helps.

In this episode, my very special guest is the author of Flower Factory and The Punk Rock Birdwatching Club, Richard Foster. We discuss his pick for the library, the 1974 novel Ending Up by Kingsley Amis.

About Richard

Richard Foster is a writer and artist living in the Netherlands. Richard is best known as a writer for The Quietus and Louder than War, and for his work at the famous avant-garde cultural centre, WORM. His debut novel, Flower Factory, was published by Ortac Press in 2022, followed by The Punk Rock Birdwatching Club in 2025.

About Kingsley

Sir Kingsley William Amis CBE was an English novelist, poet, critic, and teacher. He wrote more than 20 novels, six volumes of poetry, a memoir, short stories, radio and television scripts, and works of social and literary criticism. He is best known for satirical comedies such as Lucky Jim (1954), One Fat Englishman (1963), Ending Up (1974), Jake's Thing (1978) and The Old Devils (1986). His biographer Zachary Leader called Amis "the finest English comic novelist of the second half of the twentieth century". In 2008, The Times ranked him ninth on a list of the 50 greatest British writers since 1945. He was the father of the novelist Martin Amis.

Links to obscure (and not so obscure) things mentioned in this episode

* Order Ending Up by Kingsley Amis and Richard’s The Punk Rock Birdwatching Club from my local independent bookshop in Sheffield here.

* The BBC Documentary on Amis mentioned in the conversation can be found here.

* An interview with a younger Amis can be found here.

* Find Richard on Instagram here.

* Find Glenn on Instagram here.

* Find The Library of Lazy Thinking on Instagram here.

About the Library

The Library of Lazy Thinking is a place to hang out and learn more about books. The library is free—like all libraries should be. But if you’d like to support the library, you can make a small monthly donation by becoming a paid member (and get an exclusive The Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge). All donations go back into the library, helping to organize live events, exclusive merchandise, and more podcasts.

About Glenn

Glenn Fisher is a writer—wait, Glenn Fisher is me. I’m the one writing this. Let’s drop the third-person act. My writing has been published in Lunate, The Paris Bitter Hearts Pit, 3am Magazine, Dogmatika, and Litro Magazine. I write about books and interview other writers and artists here in The Library of Lazy Thinking. I live in Sheffield and work as a freelance copywriter. I have had a best-selling non-fiction book published on the subject called The Art of the Click. It was published by Harriman House and shortlisted for Business Book of the Year. It has been translated into Simplified Chinese and Korean. I also have a dog called Pablo. He is harder to translate. Indeed, most of my life revolves around trying to understand his often unreasonable demands. Meanwhile, I am currently working on my first novel about a man who accidentally kidnaps a pig.

Weird.

A bit creepy.

Not quite sure what’s going on.

…but enough about me.

Let’s talk about What Happens at Night by Peter Cameron, which is weird, a bit creepy and, though it’s a fascinating and enjoyable read, you’re never quite sure what’s going on.

Thankfully, we have a fine guide to hold our hand through the twists and turns in the narrative as I’m joined by the brilliant—and Booker-nominated no less!—Sophie Mackintosh.

The blurbists say this book is Wes Anderson meets David Lynch.

But is it?

Listen in and you’ll find out.

Indeed, welcome to The Library of Lazy Thinking Podcast, with me, your host, Glenn Fisher.

As you may well know by now, in each episode, I'm joined by a guest from the world of books and culture to talk about a specific book they'd like to put in the library.

There's no plan and no agenda, just two people lazily thinking about literature.

If you enjoy the show and would like to help us (and get your hands on a coveted Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge), you can become a supporter of the library by upgrading your subscription.

But either way, please do like and share the show—it all helps.

In this episode, as I say, my very special guest is the author of The Water Cure, Blue Ticket, and Cursed Bread, Sophie Mackintosh. We discuss her pick for the library, the 2020 novel What Happens at Night by Peter Cameron.

About Sophie

Sophie Mackintosh is the author of three novels: The Water Cure, Blue Ticket, and Cursed Bread. Her debut novel was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2018 and won a Betty Trask Award 2019. Cursed Bread was longlisted for the Women's Prize 2023. She has been published in Granta, The White Review, and TANK magazine among others.

About Peter

Peter Cameron is the author of several novels, including Andorra, The Weekend, and Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You. His short fiction has appeared in The New Yorker, The Paris Review, Rolling Stone, and many other literary journals, and his work has been adapted for screen. Cameron divides his time between New York City and Sandgate, Vermont.

Links to obscure (and not so obscure) things mentioned in this episode

* Order What Happens at Night by Peter Cameron and Sophie’s most recent novel, Cursed Bread from my local independent bookshop in Sheffield here.

* Find Sophie on Instagram here.

* Find Glenn on Instagram here.

* Find The Library of Lazy Thinking on Instagram here.

About the Library

The Library of Lazy Thinking is a place to hang out and learn more about books. The library is free—like all libraries should be. But if you’d like to support the library, you can make a small monthly donation by becoming a paid member (and get an exclusive The Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge). All donations go back into the library, helping to organize live events, exclusive merchandise, and more podcasts.

About Glenn

Glenn Fisher is a writer—wait, Glenn Fisher is me. I’m the one writing this. Let’s drop the third-person act. My writing has been published in online literary journals Lunate, The Paris Bitter Hearts Pit, 3am Magazine, Dogmatika, and Litro Magazine. I write about books and interview other writers and artists here in The Library of Lazy Thinking. I live in Sheffield and work as a freelance copywriter. I have had a best-selling non-fiction book published on the subject called The Art of the Click. It was published by Harriman House and shortlisted for Business Book of the Year. It has been translated into Simplified Chinese and Korean. I also have a dog called Pablo. He is harder to translate. Indeed, most of my life revolves around trying to understand his often unreasonable demands. Meanwhile, I am currently working on my first novel.

Just who do you think you are?Stop actin' like some kind of starJust who do you think you are?Take it like a man, baby, if that's what you are

'Cause I'm movin' on up, you're movin' on outMovin' on up, nothin' can stop meMovin' on up, you're movin' on outTime to break free, nothin' can stop me, yeah

When Heather Small of the early 90s rhythm outfit M People sang those words, I wonder if she was—in some small way—protesting the oppression of a capitalist class system that requires any attempt at social mobility to be performed individually and not as a collective?

Then I read the rest of the lyrics and understand she was likely bemoaning some shabby ex who sounds like a right weasel.

Still, we must wonder.

For certain, I know the “novel” Change by Édouard Louis is focused on social mobility and all the personal and political struggles that come with it.

I know this—in a large part—thanks to the excellent chat I had about the book with the brilliant poet and author, Keiran Goddard.

Indeed, welcome to The Library of Lazy Thinking Podcast, with me, your host, Glenn Fisher.

As you may well know by now, in each episode, I'm joined by a guest from the world of books and culture to talk about a specific book they'd like to put in the library.

There's no plan and no agenda, just two people lazily thinking about literature.

If you enjoy the show and would like to help us (and get your hands on a coveted Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge), you can become a supporter of the library by upgrading your subscription.

But either way, please do like and share the show—it all helps.

In this episode, as I say, my very special guest is the poet and author, Keiran Goddard. We discuss his pick for the library, the 2024 novel Change by Édouard Louis.

About Keiran

Keiran Goddard is a writer and social commentator. He is the author Strings (2013), For The Chorus (2016) Votive (2019), Hourglass (2022) and I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning (2024).  His books and articles have been published internationally and he is writes regularly for the Guardian.  He is represented by Clare Conville at CW. 

About Édouard

Édouard Louis is the author of The End of Eddy, History of Violence, Who Killed My Father, A Woman's Battles and Transformations, and Change, and the editor of a book on the social scientist Pierre Bourdieu. His work has been translated into more than thirty languages, making him one of the most celebrated writers of his generation worldwide.

Links to obscure (and not so obscure) things mentioned in this episode

* Order Change by Édouard Louis and Keiran’s most recent novel, I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning from my local independent bookshop in Sheffield here.

* You can find a link to Keiran’s original review of the book for the Guardian here.

* Find Kerian on Instagram here.

* Find Glenn on Instagram here.

* Find The Library of Lazy Thinking on Instagram here.

About the Library

The Library of Lazy Thinking is a place to hang out and learn more about books. The library is free—like all libraries should be. But if you’d like to support the library, you can make a small monthly donation by becoming a paid member (and get an exclusive The Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge). All donations go back into the library, helping to organize live events, exclusive merchandise, and more podcasts.

About Glenn

Glenn Fisher is a writer—wait, Glenn Fisher is me. I’m the one writing this. Let’s drop the third-person act. My writing has been published in online literary journals Lunate, The Paris Bitter Hearts Pit, 3am Magazine, Dogmatika, and Litro Magazine. I write about books and interview other writers and artists here in The Library of Lazy Thinking. I live in Sheffield and work as a freelance copywriter. I have had a best-selling non-fiction book published on the subject called The Art of the Click. It was published by Harriman House and shortlisted for Business Book of the Year. It has been translated into Simplified Chinese and Korean. I also have a dog called Pablo. He is harder to translate. Indeed, most of my life revolves around trying to understand his often unreasonable demands. Meanwhile, I am currently working on my first novel.

Give over, Gatsby.

Zip it, Zuckerman.

Away with you, Angstrom.

There’s a new hero in the Great American Novel…

And she goes by the name Alice Blackwell.

But wait… there’s another twist. Turns out Alice isn’t an Alice at all. She’s a Laura. Laura Bush. And wait, her husband ain’t no Charlie… it’s George damn Dubya.

What the hell is going on? Why am I imagining Blair’s old buddy having sex? Has someone slipped a Rumsfeld in my Dick Cheney?

No. When it comes to American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld, it’s all true. Well, some of it is—and the other bits… it’s hard to know. Thankfully, I’m joined by a wonderful guest in the form of the brilliant writer and journalist, Hattie Crisell, to help us unpick fact from fiction and unpack one hell of a novel.

Indeed, welcome to The Library of Lazy Thinking Podcast, with me, your host, Glenn Fisher.

As you may well know by now, in each episode, I'm joined by a guest from the world of books and culture to talk about a specific book they'd like to put in the library.

There's no plan and no agenda, just two people lazily thinking about literature.

If you enjoy the show and would like to help us (and get your hands on a coveted Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge), you can become a supporter of the library by upgrading your subscription.

But either way, please do like and share the show—it all helps.

In this episode, as I say, my very special guest is the excellent writer, journalist, and podcaster, Hattie Crisell. We discuss her pick for the library, the 2008 novel American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld.

About Hattie

Hattie Crisell is a writer, journalist, and podcaster. Alongside stints as acting fashion editor of The Times and acting features director of Grazia, she has also written for The Guardian, The Telegraph, Elle, Vogue, and The New York Times. In 2019 she created the podcast In Writing with Hattie Crisell, on which she interviews writers of all kinds about how and where they write, and what they've learned about doing it well. Her first book, inspired by the podcast, In Writing: Conversations on Inspiration, Perspiration, and Creative Desperation was published in 2024 by Granta Books.

About Curtis

Curtis Sittenfeld is the bestselling author of seven novels: Prep, The Man of My Dreams, American Wife, Sisterland, Eligible, Rodham, and Romantic Comedy, which was picked for Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club. Her first story collection, You Think It, I’ll Say It, was published in 2018 and also picked for Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club. Her books have been selected by The New York Times, Time, Entertainment Weekly, and People for their “Ten Best Books of the Year” lists, optioned for television and film, and translated into thirty languages. Her short stories have appeared in The New Yorker, The Washington Post, and Esquire, and in the Best American Short Stories anthology, of which she was the 2020 guest editor. Her non-fiction has appeared in The New York Times, Time, Vanity Fair, The Atlantic, Slate, and on “This American Life.”

Links to obscure (and not so obscure) things mentioned in this episode

* Order American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld from my local independent bookshop in Sheffield here.

* And you can order Hattie’s book In Writing: Conversations on Inspiration, Perspiration, and Creative Desperation here.

* Listen to Hattie's interview with Curtis Sittenfeld here.

* See some of George W. Bush’s paintings here. (I have no clue if they’re all real, but some of them are.)

* Find Hattie on Instagram here.

* Find Glenn on Instagram here.

* Find The Library of Lazy Thinking on Instagram here.

About the Library

The Library of Lazy Thinking is a place to hang out and learn more about books. The library is free—like all libraries should be. But if you’d like to support the library, you can make a small monthly donation by becoming a paid member (and get an exclusive The Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge). All donations go back into the library, helping to organize live events, exclusive merchandise, and more podcasts.

About Glenn

Glenn Fisher is a writer—wait, Glenn Fisher is me. I’m the one writing this. Let’s drop the third-person act. My writing has been published in online literary journals Lunate, The Paris Bitter Hearts Pit, 3am Magazine, Dogmatika, and Litro Magazine. I write about books and interview other writers and artists here in The Library of Lazy Thinking. I live in Sheffield and work as a freelance copywriter. I have had a best-selling non-fiction book published on the subject called The Art of the Click. It was published by Harriman House and shortlisted for Business Book of the Year. It has been translated into Simplified Chinese and Korean. I also have a dog called Pablo. He is harder to translate. Indeed, most of my life revolves around trying to understand his often unreasonable demands. Meanwhile, I am currently working on my first novel.

Get ready to feel a new passion for life.

Get ready to notice things you’ve never noticed before…

Speak to people you’d usually pass in the street…

…and generally seek out a deeper connection to the world around you.

How come?

Because in this latest episode, not only are we talking all things Kerouac… but we’re doing so with the frankly inspiring David Keenan.

This is the “magic God stuff” as Jack has it. And it is nothing less than “magical,” as both David and I agree.

Indeed, welcome to The Library of Lazy Thinking Podcast, with me, your host, Glenn Fisher.

As you may well know by now, in each episode, I'm joined by a guest from the world of books and culture to talk about a specific book they'd like to put in the library.

There's no plan and no agenda, just two people lazily thinking about literature.

If you enjoy the show and would like to help us (and get your hands on a coveted Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge), you can become a supporter of the library by upgrading your subscription.

But either way, please do like and share the show—it all helps.

In this episode, as I say, my very special guest is the brilliant David Keenan. We discuss his pick for the library, the 1973 novel Visions of Cody by Jack Kerouac.

About David

David Keenan is the author of six critically acclaimed novels; the cult classic This is Memorial Device, which won the London Magazine Prize; For the Good Times, which won the Gordon Burn Prize and was shortlisted for the Encore Award; The Towers The Fields The Transmitters, Xstabeth, which was shortlisted for the Dublin Literary Award, Monument Maker, which was a Rough Trade Book of the Year and Industry of Magic & Light. He is also the author of England's Hidden Reverse, a history of the UK's post-punk and Industrial music scenes. He has been writing about music since he was seventeen years old, most consistently for The Wire, and between 2004-2014 he co-ran the cult Glasgow record shop Volcanic Tongue.

About Jack

Jean-Louis Lebris de Kérouac, known as Jack Kerouac, was an American novelist and poet who, alongside William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg, was a pioneer of the Beat Generation. Perhaps his most famous work is On the Road, which has gained cult status across generations.

Links to obscure (and not so obscure) things mentioned in this episode

* Order Visions of Cody by Jack Kerouac and David’s incredible book This is Memorial Device from my local independent bookshop in Sheffield here.

* Listen to Jack Kerouac read from Visions of Cody here.

* Find David on Instagram here.

* Find Glenn on Instagram here.

* Find The Library of Lazy Thinking on Instagram here.

About the Library

The Library of Lazy Thinking is a place to hang out and learn more about books. The library is free—like all libraries should be. But if you’d like to support the library, you can make a small monthly donation by becoming a paid member (and get an exclusive The Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge). All donations go back into the library, helping to organize live events, exclusive merchandise, and more podcasts.

About Glenn

Glenn Fisher is a writer—wait, Glenn Fisher is me. I’m the one writing this. Let’s drop the third-person act. My writing has been published in online literary journals Lunate, The Paris Bitter Hearts Pit, 3am Magazine, Dogmatika, and Litro Magazine. I write about books and interview other writers and artists here in The Library of Lazy Thinking. I live in Sheffield and work as a freelance copywriter. I have had a best-selling non-fiction book published on the subject called The Art of the Click. It was published by Harriman House and shortlisted for Business Book of the Year. It has been translated into Simplified Chinese and Korean. I also have a dog called Pablo. He is harder to translate. Indeed, most of my life revolves around trying to understand his often unreasonable demands. Meanwhile, I am currently working on my first novel.

Can you ever paint a complete picture of a person on the page?

The often-overlooked German writer Christa Wolf figured she’d give it a damn good go.

The result?

A strange, sad, and in some ways challenging book that was “half banned” by the German Democratic Republic.

Why was it deemed so provocative? Did Wolf manage to capture the whole of someone in her book? And why did my GCSE German teacher so roundly mock me for saying castle?

These are all questions the wonderful Catherine Taylor helps me to answer in this latest episode.

Indeed, welcome to The Library of Lazy Thinking Podcast, with me, your host, Glenn Fisher.

As you may well know by now, in each episode, I'm joined by a guest from the world of books to talk about a specific book they'd like to put in the library.

There's no plan and no agenda, just two people lazily thinking about literature.

If you enjoy the show and would like to help us (and get your hands on a coveted Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge), you can become a supporter of the library by upgrading your subscription.

But either way, please do like and share the show—it all helps.

In this episode, as I say, my very special guest is author of The Stirrings, Catherine Taylor. We discuss her pick for the library, the 1968 novel The Quest for Christa T. by Christa Wolf.

About Catherine

Catherine Taylor was born in Waikato, New Zealand, and grew up in Sheffield, South Yorkshire from the age of three. She studied English and Philosophy at Cardiff University and has worked in the book industry since 1992, for, variously, the British Library, Microsoft Encarta, Amazon, The Folio Society, and most recently as the deputy director of English PEN. She is a book critic and features writer for Guardian Review, New Statesman, FT Life & Arts, The Economist, Times Literary Supplement, Irish Times, Prospect, and the i. She is co-founder of the Brixton Review of Books, a non-profit literary quarterly, and editor of The Book of Sheffield: A City in Short Fiction (Comma Press, 2019), which was chosen as the Big City Read 2020 by Sheffield Libraries. Catherine's first book, The Stirrings: A Memoir in Northern Time was published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson in 2023 and won the 2024 TLS Ackerley prize for memoir and life writing.

About Christa

Christa Wolf was a German novelist and essayist. She is considered one of the most important writers to emerge from the former East Germany. Her books include Cassandra, Model Childhood, and The Quest for Christa T.

Links to obscure (and not so obscure) things mentioned in this episode

* Order The Quest for Christa T. by Christa Wolf and Catherine’s fascinating book The Stirrings from my local independent bookshop in Sheffield here.

* Learn more about Christa Wolf here.

* Find Catherine on Instagram here.

* Find Glenn on Instagram here.

About the Library

The Library of Lazy Thinking is a place to hang out and learn more about books. The library is free—like all libraries should be. But if you’d like to support the library, you can make a small monthly donation by becoming a paid member (and get an exclusive The Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge). All donations go back into the library, helping to organize live events, exclusive merchandise, and more podcasts.

About Glenn

Glenn Fisher is a writer—wait, Glenn Fisher is me. I’m the one writing this. Let’s drop the third-person act. My writing has been published in online literary journals Lunate, The Paris Bitter Hearts Pit, 3am Magazine, Dogmatika, and Litro Magazine. I am currently working on my first novel. I write about books and interview other writers and creatives here in The Library of Lazy Thinking. I live in Sheffield and work as a freelance copywriter. I have had a best-selling non-fiction book published on the subject called The Art of the Click. It was published by Harriman House and shortlisted for Business Book of the Year. It has been translated into Simplified Chinese and Korean. I also have a dog called Pablo. He is harder to translate. Indeed, most of my life revolves around trying to understand his often unreasonable demands.

Write drunk, edit sober.

That was Hemingway’s formulation.

But given Patrick Hamilton is said to have been on three bottles of whisky a day by the time he wrote The Slaves of Solitude, I can’t imagine he gave much attention to the second part of Ernie’s advice.

Yet the most miraculous thing—aside from even being able to see his notebook after three bottles of the good stuff—is that Hamilton appears to have written a great work of literature.

As you’ll discover, this often-overlooked novel is a funny, frightening, and fascinatingly insightful study of the British psyche during (and after) the Second World War.

And frankly, I couldn’t have a better person to discuss the book with me—the author of an equally fascinating book (that examines the war in a new light), the brilliant writer and journalist, Luke Turner.

Indeed, welcome to The Library of Lazy Thinking Podcast, with me, your host, Glenn Fisher.

As you may well know by now, in each episode, I'm joined by a guest from the world of books to talk about a specific book they'd like to put in the library.

There's no plan and no agenda, just two people lazily thinking about literature.

If you enjoy the show and would like to help us (and get your hands on a coveted Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge), you can become a supporter of the library by upgrading your subscription.

But either way, please do like and share the show—it all helps.

In this episode, as I say, my very special guest is journalist, author, co-founder of The Quietus, and all round very nice chap, Luke Turner. We discuss his pick for the library, the 1947 novel The Slaves of Solitude by Patrick Hamilton.

About Luke

Luke Turner is a writer and editor. He co-founded the influential music website The Quietus and has contributed to the Guardian, Dazed & Confused, Vice, NME, Q, Mojo, Monocle, Nowness, Somesuch Stories and the BBC among others. His first book, Out of the Woods, was shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize. His second book, Men at War: Loving, Lusting, Fighting, Remembering 1939-1945, was published in 2024. He lives in London.

About Patrick

Anthony Walter Patrick Hamilton was an English playwright and novelist. He was well regarded by Graham Greene and J. B. Priestley, and study of his novels has been revived because of their distinctive style, deploying a Dickensian narrative voice to convey aspects of inter-war London street culture. They display a strong sympathy for the poor, as well as an acerbic black humor. Doris Lessing wrote in The Times in 1968: "Hamilton was a marvelous novelist who's grossly neglected". His two most successful plays, Rope (1929) and Gas Light (1938), were made into famous films: Alfred Hitchcock's Rope (1948); the UK-made Gaslight (1940), followed by the 1944 American version.

Links to obscure (and not so obscure) things mentioned in this episode

* Order The Slaves of Solitude by Patrick Hamilton and Luke’s fascinating book Men at War from my local independent bookshop in Sheffield here.

* You can find The Quietus here.

* Find Luke on Instagram here.

* Find Glenn on Instagram here.

About the Library

The Library of Lazy Thinking is a place to hang out and learn more about books. The library is free—like all libraries should be. But if you’d like to support the library, you can make a small monthly donation by becoming a paid member (and get an exclusive The Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge). All donations go back into the library, helping to organize live events, exclusive merchandise, and more podcasts.

About Glenn

Glenn Fisher is a writer—wait, Glenn Fisher is me. I’m the one writing this. Let’s drop the third-person act. My writing has been published in online literary journals Lunate, The Paris Bitter Hearts Pit, 3am Magazine, Dogmatika, and Litro Magazine. I am currently working on my first novel. I write about books and interview other writers and creatives here in The Library of Lazy Thinking. I live in Sheffield and work as a freelance copywriter. I have had a best-selling non-fiction book published on the subject called The Art of the Click. It was published by Harriman House and shortlisted for Business Book of the Year. It has been translated into Simplified Chinese and Korean. I also have a dog called Pablo. He is harder to translate. Indeed, most of my life revolves around trying to understand his often unreasonable demands.