Episodes

  • Life on Books takes on the Hot Ones Challenge!

    Life on Books takes on the Hot Ones Challenge!
    Dec 12 2025
    Join our book club! / lifeonbooks Get the Freedom App to remove distractions and read more books:https://freedom.sjv.io/N9074OJoin the Life on Books mailing list to stay up to date on all of our latest book giveaways, projects, and more!https://linktw.in/BRYAnVhWant to read one book from every country? Check out our resource online:https://linktw.in/ZeoltyWant to know my all time favorite books? Click the link below!https://bookshop.org/shop/lifeonbooksFollow me on Instagram: / alifeonbooks Follow Andy on Instagram / metafictional.meathead Books mentioned in this episode:The Pale King by David Foster Wallacehttps://amzn.to/47PeURQhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780316...Satantango by Laszlo Krasznahorkaihttps://amzn.to/3KDGzxuhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780811...List of William Vollmann's Published Works: / works-of-william-143602359 The Melancholy of Resistance by Laszlo Krasznahorkaihttps://amzn.to/4pFjl9lhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780811...Confessions of a Mask by Yukio Mishimahttps://amzn.to/4q26Rs5https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780811...One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquezhttps://amzn.to/4rN7Uh9https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780060...Gravity’s Rainbow by Thomas Pynchonhttps://amzn.to/4rXp1x6https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780143...Stoner by John Williamshttps://amzn.to/4iOCaEzhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781590...Hard Rain Falling Don Carpenterhttps://amzn.to/48Lnr8uhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781590...Killer Angels by Michael Shaarahttps://amzn.to/4aDv4R6https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780345...Cloud Splitter by Russel Bankshttps://amzn.to/4poKkpwhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780060...Hell’s Angels by Hunter S. Thompsonhttps://amzn.to/4a3rbERhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780345...Babel by RF Kuanghttps://amzn.to/495VWYOhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780063...Yellowface by RF Kuanghttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780063...https://amzn.to/4pzlF1KBetween Two Fires by Christopher Bhuelman
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    1 hr and 30 mins
  • The greatest historical fiction of all time?

    The greatest historical fiction of all time?
    Nov 21 2025
    William Vollmann is often spoken about due to his prolific writing, but he may also be one of the most important American writers alive today. From climate change, to poverty, to the history of the indigenous peoples of the Americas and to the second World War, William Vollmann has written about many of the most polarizing topics in our cultural conversations.Today we do a deep dive on his National Book Award winning work: Europe Central.Join our book club! (we're donating $10 to Firstbook.org for every new member who joins during the month of November!) / lifeonbooks Get the Freedom App to remove distractions and read more books:https://freedom.sjv.io/N9074OJoin the Life on Books mailing list to stay up to date on all of our latest book giveaways, projects, and more!https://linktw.in/BRYAnVhWant to read one book from every country? Check out our resource online:https://linktw.in/ZeoltyWant to know my all time favorite books? Click the link below!https://bookshop.org/shop/lifeonbooksFollow me on Instagram: / alifeonbooks Follow Andy on Instagram / metafictional.meathead Books mentioned in this episode:Europe Central by William Vollmannhttps://amzn.to/3JozJLohttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780143...The Pale King by David Foster Wallacehttps://amzn.to/47PeURQhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780316...Butterfly Stories by William T. Vollmannhttps://amzn.to/4a3xDeUhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780802...Frankenstein by Mary Shelleyhttps://amzn.to/4peNuf8https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780141...Poor People by William T. Vollmannhttps://amzn.to/4a5nSgjhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780060...Whores for Gloria by William T. Vollmannhttps://amzn.to/4oWuu5ihttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780307...Ask the Dust by John Fantehttps://amzn.to/3LN1LRThttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780060...A Table for Fortune by William T. Vollmannhttps://amzn.to/4oxK2fyhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781648... An Afghanistan Picture Showhttps://amzn.to/3LOmIfaSee more of Vollmann’s works here:
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    1 hr and 19 mins
  • How we became the best book podcast in the world

    How we became the best book podcast in the world
    Nov 14 2025
    Join our book club! / lifeonbooks Get the Freedom App to remove distractions and read more books:https://freedom.sjv.io/N9074OJoin the Life on Books mailing list to stay up to date on all of our latest book giveaways, projects, and more!https://linktw.in/BRYAnVhWant to read one book from every country? Check out our resource online:https://linktw.in/ZeoltyWant to know my all time favorite books? Click the link below!https://bookshop.org/shop/lifeonbooksFollow me on Instagram: / alifeonbooks Follow Andy on Instagram / metafictional.meathead Books mentioned in this episodeEurope Central by William Vollmannhttps://amzn.to/3JozJLohttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780143...The Pale King by David Foster Wallacehttps://amzn.to/47PeURQhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780316...Tram 83 by Fiston Mwanza Mujilahttps://amzn.to/49Qxxaohttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781941...The Villains Dance by Fiston Mwanza Mujilahttps://amzn.to/4hXVlvdhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781646...A Table for Fortune by William T. Vollmannhttps://amzn.to/4oxK2fyhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781648...Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conradhttps://amzn.to/4p9cu7xhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780141...Crime and Punishment by Fyodor DostoevskyEast of Eden by John Steinbeckhttps://amzn.to/4o9sCpmhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780140...Beloved by Toni Morrisonhttps://amzn.to/484vP2Xhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780525...After the First Death by Robert Cormierhttps://amzn.to/4oNYWOXhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780440...The Chocolate War by Robert Cormierhttps://amzn.to/43ZiHdWhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780375...I am the Cheese by Robert Cormierhttps://amzn.to/47OKTmphttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780375...Catcher in the Rye by JD Salingerhttps://amzn.to/4hZDGmShttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780316...Tunes for Bears to Dance to by Robert Cormierhttps://amzn.to/44ap5PAhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780440...Gates of Fire by Stephen Pressfieldhttps://amzn.to/4r3uUbC
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    1 hr and 31 mins
  • Does our Book Club Have Good Taste?

    Does our Book Club Have Good Taste?
    Nov 7 2025
    Join our book club! / lifeonbooks Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky https://amzn.to/3WFCHOUhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780316...Shadow Ticket by Thomas Pynchonhttps://amzn.to/3W9sPNahttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781594...Europe Central by William Vollmannhttps://amzn.to/3JozJLohttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780143...The Pale King by David Foster Wallacehttps://amzn.to/47PeURQhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780316...Ducks, Newburyport by Lucy Ellmannhttps://amzn.to/4omdvZLhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781771...Frankenstein by Mary Shelleyhttps://amzn.to/477BLHFhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780141...Gargoyles by Thomas Bernhardhttps://amzn.to/4nFiLqshttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781400...The Loser by Thomas Bernhardhttps://amzn.to/4hNwAlehttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781400...Woodcutters by Thomas Bernhardhttps://amzn.to/4oNV2Fkhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781400...Extinction by Thomas Bernhardhttps://amzn.to/4qLiRiPhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781400...Poor People by William T. Vollmannhttps://amzn.to/48VcVgWhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780060....The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumashttps://amzn.to/4oy89uQhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780140...Underworld by Don DeLillohttps://amzn.to/47hQ3qHhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780684...Song of Solomon by Toni Morrisonhttps://amzn.to/4oSEwE7https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781400...Beloved by Toni Morrisonhttps://amzn.to/484vP2Xhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780525...The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeckhttps://amzn.to/4peKiQPhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780143...Angels by Denis Johnsonhttps://amzn.to/3LKHxrDhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780060...Tree of Smoke by Denis J
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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • Our Personal Canon of GREAT BOOKS

    Our Personal Canon of GREAT BOOKS
    Oct 31 2025
    Join our book club! / lifeonbooks Books Mentioned in this Episode:Shadow Ticket by Thomas Pynchonhttps://amzn.to/3W9sPNahttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781594...Europe Central by William Vollmannhttps://amzn.to/3JozJLohttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780143...Poor People by William T. Vollmannhttps://amzn.to/48VcVgWhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780060...Season of Migration to the North Tayeb Salihhttps://amzn.to/4o2Y8Fohttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781590...Imperial by William T. Vollmannhttps://amzn.to/49t4SIihttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780143...Rising up and Rising Down by William T. Vollmannhttps://amzn.to/3X2IfTDhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780060...A Table for Fortune by William T. Vollmannhttps://amzn.to/437yAyJhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781648...East of Eden by John Steinbeckhttps://amzn.to/4o9sCpmhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780140...Love & Terror by William HerrickDon Quixote by Miguel De Cervanteshttps://amzn.to/4qz1VvVhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780142...1984 by George Orwellhttps://amzn.to/435ZTcNhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780451...Brave New World by Aldous Huxleyhttps://amzn.to/3WvPB1Shttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780060...The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdiehttps://amzn.to/4ojr4JAhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780812...Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallacehttps://amzn.to/4nOZYJrhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780812...JR by William Gaddishttps://amzn.to/4nGsGfuhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781681...The Recognitions by William Gaddishttps://amzn.to/4oM265rhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781681...The Tunnel by William H. GassBlood Meridian by Cormac McCarthyhttps://amzn.to/48U4hiLhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780679...Libra by Don DeLillohttps://amzn.to/4qz4nT9
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    1 hr and 39 mins
  • Are Nobel Prize Winners Worth Reading?

    Are Nobel Prize Winners Worth Reading?
    Oct 24 2025

    Join our book club! / lifeonbooks Get a full list of all of the books mentioned in today's episode here:Get the Freedom App to remove distractions and read more books:https://freedom.sjv.io/N9074OJoin the Life on Books mailing list to stay up to date on all of our latest book giveaways, projects, and more!https://linktw.in/BRYAnVhWant to read one book from every country? Check out our resource online:https://linktw.in/ZeoltyWant to know my all time favorite books? Click the link below!https://bookshop.org/shop/lifeonbooksFollow me on Instagram: / alifeonbooks Follow Andy on Instagram / metafictional.meathead

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    1 hr and 38 mins
  • How to read books

    How to read books
    Oct 17 2025
    Join our book club! / lifeonbooks Get the Freedom App to remove distractions and read more books:https://freedom.sjv.io/N9074OJoin the Life on Books mailing list to stay up to date on all of our latest book giveaways, projects, and more!https://linktw.in/BRYAnVhWant to read one book from every country? Check out our resource online:https://linktw.in/ZeoltyWant to know my all time favorite books? Click the link below!https://bookshop.org/shop/lifeonbooksFollow me on Instagram: / alifeonbooks Follow Andy on Instagram / metafictional.meathead Books mentioned in this episode:The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas Kuhnhttps://amzn.to/498YSURhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780226...Nexus by Yuval Hararihttps://amzn.to/4nW3nH6https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780593...Europe Central by William T. Vollmann https://amzn.to/47cGpEkhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780143...Shadow Ticket by Thomas Pynchonhttps://amzn.to/3W9sPNahttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781594...Gravity’s Rainbow by Thomas Pynchonhttps://amzn.to/46X9qoRhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780143... Against the Day by Thomas Pynchonhttps://amzn.to/4nSeocehttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780143...Frankenstein by Mary Shelleyhttps://amzn.to/477BLHFhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780141...The Land at the End of the World by Antonio Lobo Antuneshttps://amzn.to/4hett5zhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780393...The Man Who was Thursday by GK Chestertonhttps://amzn.to/4qfbkIMMan Alive by GK Chestertonhttps://amzn.to/4naDcLBhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781514...The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevensonhttps://amzn.to/43far9khttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780141...Endurance by Alfred Lansinghttps://amzn.to/3W9DuHChttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780465...How to Read Like a College Professor by Thomas C Fosterhttps://amzn.to/47axMKnhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780063...Great Expectations by Charles Dickenshttps://amzn.to/47ueCR2https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780141...Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
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    1 hr and 56 mins
  • Every Reader Needs to Watch One Battle After Another

    Every Reader Needs to Watch One Battle After Another
    Oct 3 2025
    Join our book club! / lifeonbooks Get the Freedom App to remove distractions and read more books:https://freedom.sjv.io/N9074OJoin the Life on Books mailing list to stay up to date on all of our latest book giveaways, projects, and more!https://linktw.in/BRYAnVhWant to read one book from every country? Check out our resource online:https://linktw.in/ZeoltyWant to know my all time favorite books? Click the link below!https://bookshop.org/shop/lifeonbooksFollow me on Instagram: / alifeonbooks Follow Andy on Instagram / metafictional.meathead Books Mentioned in this Episode (purchasing through these links helps to support the show)Vineland by Thomas Pynchonhttps://amzn.to/4mMfAg3https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780141...White Noise by Don Dellilohttps://amzn.to/3VJRGXFThe Calf by Leif Hoghaughttps://amzn.to/4mO9n3oTram 83 by Fiston Mwanza Mujilahttps://amzn.to/4pMfjwhhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780143...How to Quiet a Vampire by Borislav PekicGesell Dome by Guillermo Saccomannohttps://amzn.to/40xgAMThttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781940...Europe Central by William T. Vollmanhttps://amzn.to/4nZz5mnhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780143...Moby Dick by Herman Melvillehttps://amzn.to/4nqVB7Mhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780143...Rainbow Stories by WIlliam T. Vollmannhttps://amzn.to/4nysYprhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780140...Fathers and Crows by William T. Vollmannhttps://amzn.to/46JJlbjThe Butterfly Stories by William T. Vollmannhttps://amzn.to/4gPx0Hbhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780802...The Dying Grass by Wiliam T. Vollmannhttps://amzn.to/48JjL8Thttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780143...The Atlas by William T. Vollmannhttps://amzn.to/46ydNXbhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780140...The Kukotsky Enigma by Ludmilla Ulitskayahttps://amzn.to/3KQSR53https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780810...Flowers of Mold by Ha Seong-nanhttps://amzn.to/3IOi9QHhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781940...Schattenfroh by Micahel Lentzhttps://amzn.to/4886Mxthttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781646...Stoner by John Williams
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    1 hr and 19 mins