The Observer Book Club

In this episode, The Observer's Literary Editor Tom Gatti speaks to Douglas Stuart - the Booker prize-winning author of Shuggie Bain and Young Mungo. Douglas' deeply affecting new novel, John of John is set on Scotland's Western Isles and follows a father and son bound together by love and shame, in a community shaped by a beautiful landscape and an unforgiving faith. Tom and Douglas discuss island life, how British fiction failed the working classes and what it means to belong – and Douglas tells us about some very unusual knitting. Recorded live at the Observer's London Newsroom.

In this episode, The Observer's Literary Editor Tom Gatti speaks to Deborah Levy, one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary literature, about her new book, My Year in Paris with Gertrude Stein.​ Blending memoir, literary criticism and fiction, Deborah Levy leads us through Parisian streets, salons and archives in search of the woman whose ideas and desires shaped modernism – with several detours to look for a missing cat. Recorded live at the Observer's London Newsroom.    

In this episode, the editor of The Observer's New Review Tim Adams speaks to trailblazing publisher, editor and author Margaret Busby about her illuminating new book Part of the Story. Drawing on six decades at the heart of British publishing - from being the UK's youngest and first Black female publisher to championing overlooked voices across the African diaspora - Busby reflects on a career of breakthroughs, barriers and bold choices. 

In this episode, the Observer's climate editor Jeevan Vasagar speaks to the acclaimed nature writer Robert Macfarlane about his new book, Is a River Alive? Recorded live at the Observer's London Newsroom.  

In this episode The Observer's Deputy Comment Editor Erica Wagner speaks to award-winning author Naomi Alderman, as she discusses her latest book, Don't Burn Anyone at the Stake Today.  It's an electrifying exploration of how the digital era is reshaping our world as the internet floods us with knowledge, opinion and misinformation, dividing us and upending our sense of history.  

In this episode, the Observer's Deputy Comment Editor Erica Wagner speaks to award winning writer, journalist and broadcaster, Afua Hirsh, about her book - Decolonising My Body.  They discuss beauty standards, non-western rituals and celebrating our bodies - and Afua even shares the advice she received from Oprah Winfrey.   

In this episode of The Observer Book Club, national news editor, Claudia Williams, talks to author and podcaster Emma Gannon, about her latest book, A Year of Doing Nothing. Recorded live at the Observer's London newsroom.

In this episode of The Observer Book Club, editor-in-chief, James Harding, talks to the Dutch historian and author, Rutger Bregman, about his latest book, Moral Ambition. Recorded live at the Observer's London newsroom.