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Announcing Our New Podcast and Book Club: Books of Your Life with Elizabeth
Dear Readers,
What’s the next best thing to reading an amazing book? Being part of a conversation about amazing books. And that’s what I’m inviting you to do with my new Goodreads podcast and book club: Books of Your Life with Elizabeth.
Over the years, our editorial team has strived to help you discover and discuss great books. We have our newsletters, blog posts, and social channels, but one thing was missing…a way to have more in-depth conversations about books!
Join me as I talk to some of the most creative, dynamic, and interesting people in the world to learn about the books making an impact on their lives.
You can be part of the conversation, too. We’ve created a book club to accompany our podcast, where you can discuss each guest’s recommendations. For every episode, I will share with the group the podcast, my review, and my Kindle Notes & Highlights from the book.
Our first episode is a heart-to-heart with actress Sarah Jessica Parker. She recommends three books, one of which—Golden Child—comes from her new literary imprint, which is focused on publishing books that encourage empathy and open up unfamiliar worlds. Listen to the podcast to learn about the other two books she’s reading as well!
In another episode, you’ll hear from Charity: Water founder Scott Harrison about the new memoir he wrote tracing his incredible journey from New York City club promoter to the founder of a game-changing nonprofit that has brought clean drinking water to more than 8.2 million people in 24 countries. Books such as Simplicity Parenting have helped him approach parenting-work-life balance as he travels the world fund-raising and setting up wells in underserved communities.
My talk with Abby Falik, the CEO of the nonprofit Global Citizen Year, focused on a mutual friend of ours, the author and brilliant neurosurgeon Paul Kalanithi, who wrote When Breath Becomes Air when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. That book completely changed her perspective about her own life.
Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to hear all of my latest interviews and to get great book recommendations from fascinating people. You can listen to episodes of Books of Your Life with Elizabeth on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Stitcher, and wherever you find your favorite podcasts.
Happy reading (and listening),
Elizabeth Khuri Chandler
Goodreads Cofounder & Editor-in-Chief
What’s the next best thing to reading an amazing book? Being part of a conversation about amazing books. And that’s what I’m inviting you to do with my new Goodreads podcast and book club: Books of Your Life with Elizabeth.
Over the years, our editorial team has strived to help you discover and discuss great books. We have our newsletters, blog posts, and social channels, but one thing was missing…a way to have more in-depth conversations about books!
Join me as I talk to some of the most creative, dynamic, and interesting people in the world to learn about the books making an impact on their lives.
Our first episode is a heart-to-heart with actress Sarah Jessica Parker. She recommends three books, one of which—Golden Child—comes from her new literary imprint, which is focused on publishing books that encourage empathy and open up unfamiliar worlds. Listen to the podcast to learn about the other two books she’s reading as well!
In another episode, you’ll hear from Charity: Water founder Scott Harrison about the new memoir he wrote tracing his incredible journey from New York City club promoter to the founder of a game-changing nonprofit that has brought clean drinking water to more than 8.2 million people in 24 countries. Books such as Simplicity Parenting have helped him approach parenting-work-life balance as he travels the world fund-raising and setting up wells in underserved communities.
My talk with Abby Falik, the CEO of the nonprofit Global Citizen Year, focused on a mutual friend of ours, the author and brilliant neurosurgeon Paul Kalanithi, who wrote When Breath Becomes Air when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. That book completely changed her perspective about her own life.
Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to hear all of my latest interviews and to get great book recommendations from fascinating people. You can listen to episodes of Books of Your Life with Elizabeth on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Stitcher, and wherever you find your favorite podcasts.
Happy reading (and listening),
Elizabeth Khuri Chandler
Goodreads Cofounder & Editor-in-Chief
Comments Showing 51-100 of 115 (115 new)
We haven't even had the first full podcast yet, correct? They are just announcing it here with previews from my understanding. I don't care what color or gender an author is, I'm interested in all sorts of views. If it's going to bother a person too much to this degree before it's even began, I would recommend not checking out the podcast at all.
Rainey wrote: "Also the fact that the host of this programme is holding up books of dead white women doesn't give one the impression of inclusion and diversity. A picture is worth a thousand words."
Sure, that she's a fan of Jane Austen, who is a highly respected classic author. Are you saying she shouldn't show a picture of this? What words do you think this says? Should people apologize for the books and authors they consider to be their favorites now???
Rainey wrote: "Also the fact that the host of this programme is holding up books of dead white women doesn't give one the impression of inclusion and diversity. A picture is worth a thousand words."
One dead white woman. Those are all by Jane Austen. Waaa. She's obviously a fan of Jane Austen, who the crap cares?! Wait, aren't you happy it's a woman? God forbid it was a set of Charles Dickens books!! *gasp*
LET US READ! DON'T PODCAST SPEECH. DON"T HELP MAKE AMERICANS TOO DUMB TO READ BOOKS!
to ArniePodcasts are fine if; you one is visually impaired, driving or enduring a blackout.
I need this podcast on Apple Podcasts, please!!
I hope you add the Podcasts to Castbox. I couldn't find it on there, I just stumbled upon your Podcasts today, I am interested in checking it out :-)
Are there any other announcement that I do not know of?
SURE, podcasts for the blind! If you can see, READ,
or say goodbye to your brain
and goodbye to American lit.
A person who would rather listen to tape than read is a sad victim of our dumbing-down and dumbed-down culture. LiterARY books are for for intelligent audiences. A man recently bragged that he'd read Two Years Before the Mast! This (wonderful) book was a kids' book in the 19th Century when we Americans were far more literate than we tv-goons are now.
Cute title for those of us old enough to remember 'Life with Elizabeth'. I hold other comments until I actually listen.
can you make this available on other podcast apps? Overcast is one of the most popular apps now but even on apple.
Have people commenting on the guests seriously not googled them? I am not American but surely Abby Falik would seem like a PoC in the US too? Plus having a middle-eastern surname there won't be as easy as having a European one. Also noticed she went to Stanford, like the GR founders.
Elizabeth's father is from Lebanon. (And is a professor at Stanford.)
Antonomasia wrote: "but surely Abby Falik would seem like a PoC in the US too"You would think. I didn't want to cast aspersions on the person casting aspersions on me, but this particular brand of colour blindness was certainly... noticeable.
It is really sad to see people have started to bully communities like GR too in the name of inclusivity. Books are very sacred to a lot of us and most of us have always concentrated on the stories rather than on the author and their background. That is not something we should be basing what we read. If you want to do that, then go ahead, but I would request people to not make this into an issue and ruin something we hold precious.
Content matters. Not the personal details of the author.
Sonja wrote: "I couldn't find it on google podcasts?? Would it be there ?"Even I couldn't find it there.
Antonomasia wrote: "Have people commenting on the guests seriously not googled them? I am not American but surely Abby Falik would seem like a PoC in the US too? Plus having a middle-eastern surname there won't be as..."
Yes, I thought she looks Middle Eastern but I couldn't find anywhere to confirm. And I didn't know if she was married and that was her husband's last name.
Bharath wrote: "It is really sad to see people have started to bully communities like GR too in the name of inclusivity. Books are very sacred to a lot of us and most of us have always concentrated on the storie..."
I completely agree with you! What they forget that pointing this out that they are white or male or whatever is also wrong.
Elyse wrote: "Yes, I thought she looks Middle Eastern but I couldn't find anywhere to confirm. And I didn't know if she was married and that was her husband's last name."Does feel kind of excessive posting this but: https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/10/fa...
This is a goodreads site for people who read. Why can't it be text?
Arnie wrote: "This is a goodreads site for people who read. Why can't it be text?"Because this is for people who also enjoy listening to podcast discussions. A lot of readers enjoy other hobbies in addition to reading.
Erin ☕ *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Arnie wrote: "This is a goodreads site for people who read. Why can't it be text?"Because this is for people who also enjoy listening to podcast discussions. A lot of readers enjoy other hobbies ..."
I agree. There is more than one purpose of Goodreads and it isn't just for those who read. Some people listen to audio books. Also there are people have special needs and we need to include them and not make them feel left out.
Looking forward to the podcast and the books!
Arnie wrote: "This is a goodreads site for people who read. Why can't it be text?"You mean like having a Goodreads blog that you can read, regularly?
Huh... I think they already have that, somewhere...
Bharath wrote: "It is really sad to see people have started to bully communities like GR too in the name of inclusivity. Books are very sacred to a lot of us and most of us have always concentrated on the storie..."
+1.
Toxic comments as usual. The podcast is new and is relatively diversified already. Give it time. Instead, maybe you should put that negative energy into producing your own podcast according to your own parameters. And when a person is stating facts, it's not considered "mansplaining". Men are also allowed to make sensible statements. You know, equality and all.
Emily wrote: "Jasmine wrote: "It would be nice to see more guests who weren't either white or male. Just saying."Diversity of topics and guests is very important to us and you’ll see a variety of both featured..."
Diversity just for the sake of it shouldn't be above simply good literature and books
To me Diversity and Unity should always be above any skills. A person shouldn't feel excluded from a society because of their differences. and their ability We shouldn't make selfish thoughts. By the way with this chat we are here to discuss the positive about these podcasts. Some people just do not emphasise.
The Arnie posting here is female. A fan of reading, that's all.
Jasmine wrote: "It would be nice to see more guests who weren't either white or male. Just saying."I find this statement racist and sexist. I also find that white males are a very diverse group in age, skin color, hair color, eye color, religion, life experiences, education, political views, country of origin, culture, socio-economic status, philanthropic endeavors, mental health, employment, etc. (I also find this to be true of white females as well as white people that are working at figuring out what sex they are comfortable being).
Please include transcripts. Else, they are inaccessible to the hearing impaired community :(
Excellent example of people who would rather talk than listen: 3 podcasts, all fascinating, but sexual politics is dominating the comments? plus ca changeI found the podcasts worth my time
Rhonda wrote: "Jasmine wrote: "It would be nice to see more guests who weren't either white or male. Just saying."I find this statement racist and sexist. I also find that white males are a very diverse group i..."
I recommend you educate yourself as your statement is incorrect. You say white men add to diversity too but that is just not true. See how Apple's diversity chief chose to resign over saying the same ludicrous thing that white men add something to diversity.
https://nypost.com/2017/11/17/apples-...
We are in 2018 now. Everyone is added as part of diversity.
I feel uncomfortable when people label 'white men' as racist or sexists because to me that is racist and sexist. It is like thinking that all of them think like that.I am a male human being and I think that everyone should give equal chance and this is 2018. We should stop worrying about the past and the history. The past and the history help and shape on how we are now and finally we are here making right conclusions.
There were a lot of things in the history that has happened e.g. smoking and look at us now. Do you think the society has gone better or worse?
The podcasts wasn't chosen because of the persons skin colour and sex. It was chosen by personal choice.
Please feature more nanogenerian Tibetan authors with Tourette's Syndrome........they are waaaaay under-represented
Rumell wrote: "I feel uncomfortable when people label 'white men' as racist or sexists because to me that is racist and sexist. It is like thinking that all of them think like that.I am a male human being and I..."
You have shown a lot of patience and wisdom with your comments here and I've enjoyed your contributions.
Jasmine wrote: "I recommend you educate yourself as your statement is incorrect. You say white men add to diversity too but that is just not true. See how Apple's diversity chief chose to resign over saying the same ludicrous thing that white men add something to diversity."All white men are "not the same". Every person is unique and should not be defined by their skin color. All invited will have a different viewpoint and different story to tell. I'm not going to pay attention to their race or their gender, but to their thoughts and experiences.
I didn't follow the latest social uproar hunt on the Apple's diversity chief, but if he said all races should be included, that all people count and make true diversity, then I agree with him.
I have confidence Goodreads will provide a variety of authors here. If you only want to listen to authors of one race, I'm sure those podcasts exist and can be found with searches on ITunes, Pocket Casts or other sites.
Again, the Podcast hasn't even really started yet. Why jump into negative assumptions before the product has even arrived?
Jasmine wrote: "Jsaying the same ludicrous thing that white men add something to diversity"Perhaps, instead of sexist or racist, you would understand if I labelled your comments in a more generic fashion:
Prejudiced.
WE ARE READERS. HUMOR US.