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A Good Read
Podcast · Free

A Good Read

BBC Radio 4

Guests and host share the books they love most in a warm, long-running conversation.

12 recent episodesFree to stream
Patrick Grant and Mary-Ann Ochota
This time the community clothing entrepreneur and host of The Great British Sewing Bee Patrick Grant chooses his favourite book along with fellow guest anthropologist and broadcaster Mary-Ann Ochota.The books are:Parsnips Buttered by Joe Lycett The Flow by Amy Jane Beer Heatwave
1 Apr 202627:40
Maryam Moshiri and Doug Naylor
Newsreader Maryam Moshiri and Red Dwarf creator Doug Naylor discuss their chosen books, including Bridget Jones's Diary, with Harriett Gilbert.Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding, chosen by Maryam MoshiriWhy You Should Read Children's Books, Even Though You Are So Old and Wis
23 Mar 202627:42
Victoria Pile and Julian Baggini
THE LIVES AND LOVES OF A SHE DEVIL by Fay Weldon, chosen by Victoria Pile THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA by Ernest Hemingway, chosen by Julian Baggini CLEAR by Carys Davies, chosen by Harriett GilbertComedy writer and director Victoria Pile joins philosopher and author Julian Baggini to
16 Mar 202627:43
Lolita Chakrabarti and Dr Guy Leschziner
This week's books are: How to Measure a Cow by Margaret Forster (chosen by Lolita Chakrabarti) The House of God by Samuel Shem (chosen by Guy Leschziner) A Very Easy Death by Simone de Beauvoir (chosen by Harriett Gilbert) The producer is Eliza Lomas for BBC Audio Bristol Join us
9 Mar 202627:47
Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Jung Chang
The children's author Frank Cottrell-Boyce and the author of Wild Swans and Big Sister Little Sister Red Sister Jung Chang choose their good reads.Where Should We Run To by Alan Garner chosen by Frank Cottrell-Boyce Death of A Naturalist by Seamus Heaney chosen by Harriett Gilber
2 Mar 202627:39
Martin Edwards and Tom Shakespeare
This week's books are:Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie, chosen by crime writer Martin Edwards At Swim-Two-Birds by Flann O'Brien, chosen by sociologist, bioethicist and comedian Tom Shakespeare Thursday Night Widows by Claudia Pineiro, chosen by Harriett GilbertJoin us over on
23 Feb 202627:31
Maria Balshaw and Léa Ypi
This week's books are: Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler chosen by Maria Balshaw. The Overcoat by Nikolai Gogol (translated by Isabel Hapgood) chosen by Léa Ypi. Small Bomb at Dimperley by Lissa Evans chosen by Harriett Gilbert.The producer is Eliza Lomas for BBC Audio Br
17 Feb 202627:40
Robin Ince and Philip Hensher
This week's books are:Water Shall Refuse Them by Lucie McKnight Hardy, chosen by comedian Robin Ince Pnin by Vladimir Nabokov, chosen by Harriett Gilbert Esther Waters by George Moore, chosen by writer Philip HensherProducer Sally Heaven, BBC Audio Bristol
9 Feb 202627:35
Gwyneth Lewis and Annabel Abbs
This week's books are: Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner chosen by the Welsh poet and writer Gwyneth Lewis The LIving Mountain by Nan Shepherd picked by author Annabel Abbs Emma by Jane Austen chosen by Harriett Gilbert ahead of the writer's 250th birthday in December 2025
8 Dec 202527:45
Michelle Ogundehin and Lisa St Aubin de Terán
Michelle Ogundehin is a broadcaster, magazine editor and author also known as a presenter on TV's Interior Design Masters. She and author Lisa St Aubin de Terán give their book recommendations. Michelle's is 4000 Weeks: Time Management For Mortals by Oliver Burkeman which she
1 Dec 202527:52
Roma Agrawal and Kate Lister
WEDLOCK: HOW GEORGIAN BRITAIN'S WORST HUSBAND MET HIS MATCH by Wendy Moore, chosen by Kate Lister GRAYSON PERRY: PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG GIRL by Wendy Jones, chosen by Harriett Gilbert PLASTIC EMOTIONS by Shiromi Pinto, chosen by Roma AgrawalStructural engineer Roma Ag
24 Nov 202527:48
Richard Benson and Amy Sackville
THE YEARS by Annie Ernaux chosen by Richard Benson THE CORNER THAT HELD THEM by Sylvia Townsend Warner chosen by Amy Sackville COFFEE AND CIGARETTES by Ferdinand von Schirach chosen by Harriett GilbertWriter and former editor of the Face Richard Benson talks to fellow writer Amy
17 Nov 202527:41