George Saunders discusses ‘A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russian Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life’ (Random House, Jan. 12), in which “a master of contemporary fiction joyously assesses some of the best [short stories] of the 19th century” (starred review). Then our editors offer reading recommendations for the week, with books ... Show More
Yesterday
Ep 502: Kirkus’ Best Fiction Books With Leigh Bardugo
On this special episode, dedicated to Kirkus’ Best Fiction Books of 2026, we welcome No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Leigh Bardugo to discuss Dead Beat (Flatiron Books, Sept. 15), the wildly anticipated final installment in her dark academia Ninth House trilogy. Kirkus: " ... Show More
39m 53s
Nov 3
Ep 501: Holiday Gift Guide With Casey McQuiston
On this special episode, we present the 9th annual Fully Booked Holiday Gift Guide, with special guest Casey McQuiston, author of Red, White & Royal Blue: The Private Correspondence (St. Martin’s Press, Dec. 1)—an epistolary novella that continues the romance between Alex and Pri ... Show More
35m 10s
Oct 27
Ep 500: Chad Harbach
On this week’s episode, Chad Harbach joins us to discuss The Brightness (Little, Brown, Oct. 27), the eagerly anticipated follow-up to his sensational debut novel, 2011’s The Art of Fielding. In a starred review, Kirkus calls The Brightness—which returns readers to fictional West ... Show More
31m 32s
Jan 2021
153: George Saunders (A SWIM IN A POND IN THE RAIN) & Leo Tolstoy's MASTER AND MAN
<p>Guess who zooms in this time? It's George Saunders himself, certified MacArthur Genius, launching his new book about writing and Russian short story masters, <em>A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life. </em>Christ ... Show More
1h 6m
Sep 2024
How Tolstoy and Chekhov schooled George Saunders on life's great lessons
<p>Writer George Saunders on how famous short stories by writers like Chekhov, Tolstoy, Turgenev and Gogol are like miniature models of the world and how they can teach us to transcend our own limitations. (R)</p><p>For many years, author George Saunders taught a writing mastercl ... Show More
49m 42s
Nov 2022
The Many Voices of Booker Prize Winner George Saunders
Sign up for Intelligence Squared Premium here: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/ for ad-free listening, bonus content, early access and much more. See below for details.Described as one of the most important and blazingly original writers of his generation, American author George ... Show More
33m 17s
Jan 2024
Ep411 - George Saunders | The Braindead Megaphone
<p>Acclaimed author George Saunders visits Google to discuss his book "The Braindead Megaphone."</p> <p>"The Braindead Megaphone", George Saunders's first foray into nonfiction, is comprised of essays on literature, travel, and politics. At the core of this unique collection are ... Show More
47m 41s
Jul 2023
Take A Walk On The Wild Side
This week, AE Stallings, the new Oxford professor of poetry, on the lives of poets; and Ann Kennedy Smith considers the different faces of Cornwall.'Sleeping on islands: A life in poetry', by Andrew Motion'The American poet laureate: A history of US poetry and the state', by Amy ... Show More
1h 1m