Podcast appearances and mentions of Andrew Sean Greer

I read to spend time with people—fictional or not—that make me think, make me laugh, or just feel like good company. In this episode, I talk about why Less by Andrew Sean Greer worked for me, why Artemis by Andy Weir didn't, and why I give every novel exactly 50 pages to win me over. This isn't about snobbery—it's about using your time wisely.Send Me a Text Message with Your QuestionsIMPORTANT LINKS:

Selected Shorts celebrates this important collection each year, and this show, presented by host Meg Wolitzer, reprises works from the 2022 Best American edition selected by guest editor Andrew Sean Greer. Included are “The Little Widow from the Capital,” by Yohanca Delgado, performed by Krystina Alabado, and a second story selected by John Updike for the volume Best American Stories of the Century.  It's Grace Stone Coates' “Wild Plums,” performed by Mia Dillon.

Tech Bro NonsenseFormer Google CEO Tells Congress That 99 Percent of All Electricity Will Be Used to Power Superintelligent AIbillionaire tech tycoon and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt comments to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce: "What we need from you is we need the energy in all forms, renewable, non-renewable, whatever. It needs to be there, and it needs to be there quickly.""Many people project demand for our industry will go from 3 percent to 99 percent of total generation... an additional 29 gigawatts by 2027 and 67 more gigawatts by 2030. If [China] comes to superintelligence first, it changes the dynamic of power globally, in ways that we have no way of understanding or predicting.”Meta Says It's Okay to Feed Copyrighted Books Into Its AI Model Because They Have No "Economic Value"In the ongoing suit Richard Kadrey et al v. Meta Platforms, led by a group of authors including Pulitzer Prize winner Andrew Sean Greer and National Book Award winner Ta-Nehisi Coates, the Mark Zuckerberg-led company has argued that its alleged scraping of over seven million books from the pirated library LibGen constituted "fair use" of the material, and was therefore not illegal.Meta's attorneys are also arguing that the countless books that the company used to train its multibillion-dollar language models and springboard itself into the headspinningly buzzy AI race are actually worthless. Meta cited an expert witness who downplayed the books' individual importance, averring that a single book adjusted its LLM's performance "by less than 0.06 percent on industry standard benchmarks, a meaningless change no different from noise." Thus there's no market in paying authors to use their copyrighted works, Meta says, because "for there to be a market, there must be something of value to exchange," as quoted by Vanity Fair — "but none of [the authors'] works has economic value, individually, as training data." Other communications showed that Meta employees stripped the copyright pages from the downloaded books.Tellingly, the unofficial policy seems to be to not speak about it at all: "In no case would we disclose publicly that we had trained on LibGen, however there is practical risk external parties could deduce our use of this dataset," an internal Meta slide deck read. The deck noted that "if there is media coverage suggesting we have used a dataset we know to be pirated, such as LibGen, this may undermine our negotiating position with regulators on these issues."Lauren Sánchez in Space Was Marie Antoinette in a Penis-Shaped RocketKaty Perry Boasts About Ridiculous Rocket Launch While NASA Is Scrubbing History of Women in Space“It's about a collective energy and making space for future women. It's about this wonderful world that we see right out there and appreciating it. This is all for the benefit of Earth.”Last month, the Orlando Sentinel first reported, NASA scrubbed language from a webpage about the agency's Artemis missions declaring that a goal of the mission was to put the first woman and first person of color on the Moon; just a few days later, NASA Watch reported that comic books imagining the first woman on the Moon had been deleted from NASA's website.A webpage for "Women at NASA" is still standing, but pictures of women and people of color — astronauts, engineers, scientists — have reportedly been removed from NASA's real-world hallways amid the so-called "DEI" purge. Per Scientific American, the word "inclusion" has been removed as one of NASA's core pillars. And as 404 Media reported in February, NASA personnel were directed to remove mentions of women in leadership positions from its website.OpenAI NonsenseOpenAI Is Secretly Building a Social NetworkOpenAI has been secretly building its own social media platform, which The Verge reports is intended to resemble X-formerly-Twitter — the social media middleweight owned by CEO Sam Altman's arch-nemesis, Elon MuskOpenAI updated its safety framework—but no longer sees mass manipulation and disinformation as a critical riskOpenAI said it will stop assessing its AI models prior to releasing them for the risk that they could persuade or manipulate people, possibly helping to swing elections or create highly effective propaganda campaigns.The company said it would now address those risks through its terms of service, restricting the use of its AI models in political campaigns and lobbying, and monitoring how people are using the models once they are released for signs of violations.OpenAI also said it would consider releasing AI models that it judged to be “high risk” as long as it has taken appropriate steps to reduce those dangers—and would even consider releasing a model that presented what it called “critical risk” if a rival AI lab had already released a similar model. Previously, OpenAI had said it would not release any AI model that presented more than a “medium risk.”Saying 'please' and 'thank you' to ChatGPT costs OpenAI millions, Sam Altman saysBeing nice to your AI chatbot requires computational power that raises electricity and water costsAltman responded to a user on X (formerly Twitter) who asked how much the company has lost in electricity costs from people being polite to their models: “Tens of millions of dollars well spent — you never know,” the CEO wrote.AI models rely heavily on energy stored in global data centers — which already accounts for about 2% of the global electricity consumption. Polite responses also add to OpenAI's water bill. AI uses water to cool the servers that generate the data. A study from the University of California, Riverside, said that using GPT-4 to generate 100 words consumes up to three bottles of water — and even a three-word response such as “You are welcome” uses about 1.5 ounces of water.Antitrust NonsenseTrump DOJ's plan to restructure Google hurts consumers, national security, says exec: 'Wildly overbroad'Kent Walker, Google's president of global affairs: "We're very concerned about DOJ's proposal. We think it would hurt American consumers, our economy, our tech leadership, even national security. The proposed reform from DOJ "would result in unprecedented government overreach that would harm American consumers, developers, and small businesses — and jeopardize America's global economic and technological leadership at precisely the moment it's needed most."8 revelations from Mark Zuckerberg's 3 days on the witness stand in Meta's antitrust trialThe FTC alleges Meta "helped cement" its illegal monopoly in the social media market with its acquisition of Instagram and the messaging app WhatsApp more than a decade ago.8 revelations:Antitrust worries surfaced years agoTwo years before the FTC initially sued Meta over allegations that it violated US competition laws, Zuckerberg considered breaking Instagram out into its own company to avoid potential antitrust scrutiny, according to a 2018 internal email revealed by the government at trial."I wonder if we should consider the extreme step of spinning Instagram out as a separate company," Zuckerberg wrote in the email to company executives. "As calls to break up the big tech companies grow, there is a non-trivial chance that we will be forced to spin out Instagram and perhaps WhatsApp in the next 5-10 years anyway." If a break up were to happen, Zuckerberg wrote, history showed that companies could end up better off.Asked about this view at trial, Zuckerberg said, "I'm not sure exactly what I had in mind then."A 'crazy idea' to boost Facebook's relevanceZuckerberg's "crazy idea" for Facebook in 2022 involved purging all users' friends. The CEO — fearful that Facebook was losing cultural relevance — made the proposal in a 2022 email to the social network's top brass."Option 1. Double down on Friending," Zuckerberg wrote in the message. "One potentially crazy idea is to consider wiping everyone's graphs and having them start again."Sheryl Sandberg wanted to play Settlers of CatanZuckerberg once offered to give Sheryl Sandberg, the former COO of Meta, a tutorial in the board game Settlers of Catan.The lesson offer came up in 2012 messages in which the two discussed the fresh $1 billion purchase of Instagram, partially redacted missives presented by the FTC during Zuckerberg's testimony showed."We would love it. I want to learn Settlers of Catan too so we can play," Sandberg told Zuckerberg in the message. He responded: "I can definitely teach you Settlers of Catan. It's very easy to learn."Meta's rivalry with TikTok has only just begunDuring his testimony, Zuckerberg hammered home Meta's argument that the tech giant faces massive competition from other apps, especially TikTok."TikTok is still bigger than either Facebook or Instagram," Zuckerberg testified. "I don't like it when our competitors do better than us. You can sort of bet that I'm not going to rest until we are doing quite a bit better than we are doing now.”Facebook Camera app struggles were a source of worryInstagram's early rise shook Zuckerberg. As his company struggled to mount its response with the Facebook Camera app, the CEO began to lose his patience."What is going on with our photos team?" Zuckerberg wrote in a 2011 message to top executives, as revealed by the FTC in court. Zuckerberg then described a number of individuals, whose names were redacted, as being "checked out." He added another person didn't want "to work with this team because he thinks this team sucks."In May 2012, Facebook launched a photo-sharing app called Facebook Camera, which aims to make it simpler for the social network's users to upload and browse photos on smartphones. Only weeks after Facebook spent $1 billion on a similar photo-sharing app called Instagram. Zuckerberg tried to buy Snapchat for $6 billionZuckerberg's failed bid to buy Snapchat was highlighted by the government to bolster its argument that Meta sought to maintain its dominance in the social media market through acquisitions rather than competition.Facebook isn't really for friends anymoreWhile under questioning by the FTC, Zuckerberg said that Facebook had greatly evolved since he launched the platform more than 20 years ago and that its main purpose wasn't really to connect with friends anymore.The FTC argues that Meta monopolizes the market for "personal social networking services.""The friend part has gone down quite a bit," Zuckerberg testified. He said the Facebook feed has "turned into more of a broad discovery and entertainment space."Not impressed by WhatsApp cofounderZuckerberg wasn't too impressed with one of WhatsApp's cofounders after a 2012 meeting he had with company leadership."I found him fairly impressive although disappointingly (or maybe positive for us) unambitious," Zuckerberg wrote in an email to colleagues after the meeting, it was revealed at trial.Jan Koum and Brian Acton cofounded WhatsApp in 2009. Zuckerberg said in his testimony that he thinks he was referring to Koum. Asked about his email, Zuckerberg seemed uneasy. He said that Koum was clearly smart but that he and Acton were staunchly opposed to growing their messaging app enough to be a real threat to Facebook. Zuckerberg would go on to buy WhatsApp in 2014 for $19 billion.Mark Zuckerberg's Meta Platforms adds former Trump advisor to the board days before an antitrust showdown with the FTCMeta Platforms is further boosting its lineup of heavy hitters with the additions of Stripe CEO Patrick Collison and Dina Powell McCormick to the mix. Powell McCormick was the former Deputy National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump during his first term. Married to Republican Senator Dave McCormick, former CEO of Bridgewater Associates, one of the world's largest hedge fundsStakeholder/shareholder activism NonsenseBP suffers investor rebellion at first AGM since climate strategy U-turnBP suffered an investor rebellion on Thursday after facing shareholders for the first time since abandoning its climate strategy at a meeting marred by protest.About a quarter of shareholders (24.3%) voted against the chair, Helge Lund, which marked the first time in at least a decade that more than 10% of BP's shareholders voted against the re-election of the chair.The outgoing chair told shareholders that the company had “pursued too much while looking to build new low-carbon businesses” but that “lessons have been learned”.BP's CEO Murray Auchincloss (2.7% against), repeated his previous claim that BP's optimism in the global green energy transition was “misplaced”, and that the board's “one simple goal” was to “grow the long-term value of your investment”.Mark Van Baal, the founder of the green activist investor group Follow This, said shareholders had “made it clear that weakening climate commitments is unacceptable”. He added: “This historical result serves as a wake-up call to BP's board and emphasises investor expectation for robust governance mechanisms and genuine leadership on ESG issues.”Starbucks CEO faces major backlash after details of his work routine are revealed: 'Ill-conceived decision'A press release from the National Center for Public Policy Research reported on the hypocrisy of Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol's transportation practices when considering the company's public commitment to eco-friendly practices.Niccol travels regularly from his home in Newport Beach, California, to Starbucks' headquarters in Seattle, Washington, via private jet. Each 2,000-mile round-trip commute releases nearly nine tons of carbon dioxide.The National Center for Public Policy Research's Free Enterprise Project's director Stefan Padfield pointed out the discrepancy of policy and practice during his presentation of Proposal 8 requesting an annual report on emissions congruency. He noted that each round trip made by Niccol "is roughly the annual energy-consumption footprint of the typical American household."This analogy paints a vivid picture of the hypocrisy between Starbucks' public environmental commitments and the practices of the CEO. Gaps are apparent. Target CEO Cornell meets with Sharpton to discuss DEI rollback as civil rights leader considers boycottCEO Brian Cornell met with the Rev. Al Sharpton in New York on Thursday as the retailer faces calls for a boycott and a slowdown in foot traffic that began after it walked back key diversity, equity and inclusion programs, the civil rights leader told CNBC Wednesday.The meeting, which Target asked for, comes after some civil rights groups urged consumers not to shop at Target in response to the retailer's decision to cut back on DEI. While Sharpton has not yet called for a boycott of Target, he has supported efforts from others to stop shopping at the retailer's stores.“You can't have an election come and all of a sudden, change your old positions,” Sharpton told CNBC in a Wednesday interview ahead of the meeting. “If an election determines your commitment to fairness then fine, you have a right to withdraw from us, but then we have a right to withdraw from you.”IBM Informs Staff of DEI Retreat as Trump-Era Scrutiny GrowsEmployees were told of the changes earlier this week, in a memo that cited “inherent tensions in practicing inclusion.” Legal considerations and shifting attitudes to DEI were among the factors for the company. IBM CEO Arvind Krishna discussed the changes in his monthly video update to employees Thursday.Anti-DEI activist Robby Starbuck said he first contacted the company in February to question its policies. IBM confirmed it discussed its changes with Starbuck.The company (-10% gender influence gap) also disbanded a diversity council that represents the views of employee groups as part of its reevaluation.Exxon Faces No Shareholder Proposals for First Time in 25 YearsThe absence of requests in Exxon's proxy statement comes a year after the company sued two climate-focused investors to remove what it described as their “extreme agenda.” It also tracks with the US Securities and Exchange Commission's decision to back guidelines that make it easier for corporations to block votes on shareholder resolutions at their annual meetings.Exxon said in a statement late Monday that it received only one proposal this year and the SEC agreed it should be discarded because “it tried to micromanage the company.”Occidental Petroleum Corp., Valero Energy Corp. and Dow Inc. are other companies with no shareholder proposals up for vote at this year's annual meetings.Exxon said this year marks “the first time in recent history that our proxy includes zero proposals from activists.” It was just four years ago that a small fund scored a victory over Exxon, placing three directors on the company's board.Climate activist shareholder group Follow This pauses big oil campaignClimate activist shareholder group Follow This said on Thursday a lack of investor appetite has forced it to suspend its nearly decade-long campaign seeking stronger commitments from major oil and gas producers to emission cutsHarley-Davidson slams activist investor, saying its campaign is messing up its CEO searchIn early April, H Partners' Jared Dourdeville, who had been a Harley director since 2022, abruptly resigned from the board, saying among other things that Harley had “cultural depletion” because of its work-from-home policies and the exit of several senior leaders. And that was not his only point of contention with the rest of the board.Investment firm H Partners, a major investor with 9.1% of Harley's shares, in an open letter filed on Wednesday, urged fellow shareholders to remove three longtime directors from Harley's eight-member board at its annual meeting in mid-May by withholding votes for them. H Partners said the board had not held Harley CEO Jochen Zeitz accountable for what it called his repeated “strategic execution failures” and “severe underperformance.”CEO/Chair Zeitz (2007, 30%)Lead DIrector Norman Thomas Linebarger (2008, 13%)Sara Levinson (1996, 20%)"We believe Mr. Zeitz, Mr. Linebarger, and Ms. Levinson should be held accountable for the destruction of shareholder value,"Harley's bylaws stipulate that directors who win less than 50% of votes in an election must tender their resignations.Harley announced last week that Zeitz, CEO since 2020 and board member for 18 years, would resign but stay in his role until a successor is found. H Partners wants him out now.That followed a letter issued a day earlier by Harley-Davidson, which accused H Partners of “publicly campaigning” against it and saying that those efforts are also “adversely impacting the CEO search process and ongoing execution of the Hardwire strategic plan,” referring to a turnaround plan it launched in 2021.Harley said that it began a CEO search late last year after Zeitz expressed interest in retiring and has interviewed three potential CEOs, including one supported by Dourdeville, but declined to offer any the job. The company has also said that Dourdeville had cast only one vote against the majority during his time as a director and that as recently as November 2024 he had expressed support for Zeitz.Harley-Davidson faces board fight from H Partners amid calls for CEO to exit soon

Have you got a pretty good sense of what satire's all about? But could maybe use a breakdown about WHY it works well? And WHEN it works well? Join Kimberly for a close look at Taffy Brodessor-Akner's LONG ISLAND COMPROMISE to understand this delicious literary mode. We'll take a close look at LONG ISLAND, while also getting a bit broader with Andrew Sean Greer's LESS, Lorrie Moore's SELF HELP and Paul Beatty's THE SELLOUT. Enrich yourself now!

Golden Voice narrator Robert Petkoff joins host Jo Reed to discuss his talented performances of hundreds of audiobooks, spanning a wide range of genres. Robert has brought to life everything from thrilling mysteries and science fiction epics to deeply researched nonfiction. He's able to create distinct and memorable voices for each character, and he has a knack for engaging storytelling. Listen in to his conversation with Jo to hear more about how he got his start on the stage and behind the mic, how he prepares for narrating fiction like Andrew Sean Greer's LESS IS LOST, the fun of narrating thrillers, and the distinct skills needed for making nonfiction engaging and conversational.  Read reviews of Robert Petkoff's audiobooks at our website.  Visit AudioFile's website for a full list of AudioFile's Golden Voice narrators.   Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Dreamscape Media, featuring their new audiobook Rifts and Refrains. Follow Amara Johnson's journey through music, mystery, and romance, available exclusively on Dreamscape First. Don't miss out on this captivating tale… please visit Dreamscape to learn more and start listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today AudioFile Magazine is celebrating Robert Petkoff as a 2024 Golden Voice narrator. Listen to host Jo Reed and AudioFile's Robin Whitten as they discuss Robert's history in audiobook narration, his particular talents as a narrator, and Robert's performances that they love to recommend. Essential listening: BAD CITY by Paul Pringle, read by Robert Petkoff BEING MORTAL by Atul Gawande, read by Robert Petkoff FIRE ON THE LEVEE by Jared Fishman, Joseph Hooper, read by Robert Petkoff LESS IS LOST by Andrew Sean Greer, read by Robert Petkoff THE TIMES by Adam Nagourney, read by Robert Petkoff Visit AudioFile's website for more on Robert Petkoff, and for a full list of AudioFile's Golden Voice narrators. Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Queer Haven Books is a new shop whose mission is to provide a place of safety and refuge for the queer community in the South. Owner Baker Rogers joins me to discuss what inspired the shop and what's ahead for its future.Books We Talk About: The Thirty Names of Night by Zeyn Joukhadar, Confessions of the Fox by Jordy Rosenberg, Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake, Less by Andrew Sean Greer, The Guncle by Steven Rowley, Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown, Polysecure and Polywise by Jessica FernCoaching Conversations in 2024In 2024 we're going to be going to monthly themes and I would also encourage you to...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

On today's episode, we sat down with Pulitzer Prize-winning author of ‘Less,' Andrew Sean Greer. We discuss how he approached writing the sequel ‘Less is Lost', book recommendations, his favorite burrito in San Francisco, and what it's like to be a crossword clue and question on Jeopardy. Photo credit: Kaliel Roberts READ TRANSCRIPT Use promo code: SWITCH when signing up for a new Libro.fm membership to get 2 extra free credits to use on any audiobooks. About Andrew Sean Greer: Andrew Sean Greer is the author of seven works of fiction, including the bestsellers The Confessions of Max Tivoli and Less. Greer has taught at a number of universities, including Stanford and the Iowa Writers Workshop, been a TODAY show pick, a New York Public Library Cullman Center Fellow, a judge for the National Book Award, and a winner of the California Book Award and the New York Public Library Young Lions Award. He is the recipient of a NEA grant, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Read Andrew's books: Less is Lost Less The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells The Story of a Marriage Books discussed on today's episode: The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer Funny Story by Emily Henry

Join Craig and Karen for the first ever Libro.fm Podcast Extravaganza, a week-long celebration of authors, narrators, booksellers, and more leading up to Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday April 27th, 2024! Stay tuned for conversations with authors Hanif Abdurraqib, Andrew Sean Greer, Darcie Little Badger, and Steven Rowley. Libro.fm also has a huge sale and Golden Ticket Giveaway this week—head over to https://libro.fm/ibd for more details. Use promo code: SWITCH when signing up for a new Libro.fm membership to get 2 extra free credits to use on any audiobooks. READ TRANSCRIPT

This episode was sponsored by Signal Hill Insights. Want to know how your podcast is affecting listeners? Need to plan to share outcomes with a branded client? Visit measureyourpodcast.com for a free 4-part email series that will tell you how and why to measure the unique impact of branded podcasts. Go beyond counting downloads. Instead, obtain real responses from real listeners to demonstrate the ROI of branded podcasts. You'll learn how research generates practical insights to optimize your production and drive renewals. More on today's episode:When Anne Bogel was offered the plum gig of moderating a panel discussion with four famous authors at the Bookmarks NC Festival of Books and Authors, she knew it would be fun. But she had no idea of the turn it would take when her guests — authors TJ Klune, Andrew Sean Greer, Brendan Slocumb, and Tia Williams — began one-upping each other with wild tales from book club experiences like no other. Anne Bogel's been hosting her literary matchmaking show since 2016. This show is always at the top of the charts, in great company with shows like Fresh Air, NPR's Book of the Day, and The New York Times Book Review. There's a reason for that. Anne is purposeful about how she hosts, whether that's holding a deep conversation about a guest's reading life in-studio, or fielding unexpected stories, and a ton of laughs, on stage in front of hundreds.Anne has spent the last seven years of her life doing something uncanny: Every week on her hit show, What Should I Read Next, she excavates a guest's reading life in fine detail. Then she recommends books that always seem to be the perfect choices for that guest, no matter who they are.It's not just her unusual ability to pair book with reader that keeps her show at the top of the charts. It's also the way Anne approaches hosting – as the art of practicing deep hospitality. That keeps her in listeners' hearts, year after year. It also makes Anne in demand as a public speaker. As intimate as she is with her podcast guests, you might never guess how raucously fun she is in front of a live audience! If you dream of moving effortlessly between studio and stage, you'll love this episode. Anne Bogel is an author, the creator of the blog Modern Mrs Darcy, and host of What Should I Read Next? podcast and Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club. Anne loves talking to readers about their favorite books, reading struggles, and of course what they should read next. Anne lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with her husband, four children, and a yellow lab named Daisy. Follow Anne on Instagram.What Should I Read Next episode discussed on today's show: Ep 351 “Book Club Favorites: LIVE from Bookmarks!”Anne Bogel's holiday gift book recommendations for your favorite hosts and producers: The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker Out on a Wire: The Storytelling Secrets of the New Masters of Radio by Jessica Abel with forward by Ira Glass I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca MakkaiScroll down for hosting takeaways from today's show. Subscribe to Sound Judgment, the Newsletter, our twice-monthly newsletter about creative choices in audio storytelling. Connect! Follow Elaine: Facebook | LinkedIn | InstagramLet's talk!✉️ Email me at allies@podcastallies.com

Andrew Sean Greer, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Less, its sequel Less is Lost, and four other novels, is the keynote speaker at this year's 23rd annual Iowa Author Awards Dinner. He speaks with host Aaron Gernes about the surprise that is winning the Pulitzer Prize, what it's like to sit as a judge for a major literary award, and what he's going to talk about this Friday in Des Moines. Show Notes Iowa Author Awards Dinner About Andrew Andrew's Books at the Library Andrew Sean Greer | Website Andrew Sean Greer | Instagram

Andrew Sean Greer won the Pulitzer Prize for his comic novel, Less. For this episode he reads an excerpt from the follow up book, Less is Lost, and describes how he thinks of the book as more serious than many readers.  For the songwriter in this episode, Andrew requested Torquil Campbell of the  band Stars, and Torq secretly invited Andrew's close friend Daniel Handler (aka the wildly popular children's author Lemony Snicket) to collaborate on it. Unbeknownst to many of his fans, Daniel is a seriously experienced songwriter and session musician, who has collaborated with Death Cab for Cutie, The Decembrists, and Magnetic Fields, and he and Torq trade anecdotes, make fun of each other relentlessly, and talk about the truly sweet surprise they cooked up together for Andrew, a song called "Not the Best."SongWriterPodcast.comTwitter.com/SnogWriterFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcastInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastTikTok.com/@SongWriterPodcast

No spaceships, no magic systems this week, it's time for some straight up Literature. This week, we're reading Less and Less is Lost by Andrew Sean Greer. The first book is one of our favorites from 2020; the second is a sequel that dared us to ask the question, "wait what the hell could the sequel possibly be about?" We talk about the inherent romance of loving someone's flaws, the charming writing style of literary farce, and what we'll do to get out of social events. And also. America. A lot of America. If you love navel gazing about what America means, this episode might be up your alley. We only sing "Proud to be an American" a little bit and we promise it's 95% ironic. 

On Mother's Day in 1985, police dropped a bomb in a Philadelphia neighbourhood. Residents of Osage Avenue were instructed to leave their homes and stay away for the next 24 hours. Authorities were there to bring an end to a years-old conflict with a family of Black activists known as MOVE. There were 13 people in the Africa home that morning, including six children. By the end of the day, most of them were dead. CBC's new podcast The Africas VS. America tells the remarkable, and long forgotten, story of a national war waged on one family. Reporter, producer and host, Matt Amha joins Leah-Simone Bowen this week to talk about the making of the seven-part series, and the story's relevance today. We've also rounded up more novel picks to pique your interest this February. From the wellness influencer who became a leading source of COVID-19 misinformation, to an inside look at the gangs that exploit people to sell drugs around the UK. Plus, a conversation with the host of Not Lost Chat, Brendan Francis Newnam about the show's second season, and sitting down with fellow travelers to talk about their experiences abroad. Featuring: The Africas VS. America: "In the early hours of May 13, 1985, police direct residents of Osage Avenue in West Philadelphia to leave their homes, and not return for 24 hours. It's Mother's Day, and authorities have come to resolve a years-long conflict with a family of local revolutionaries — the Africas, collectively known as MOVE. There are 13 people in the Africa home that morning. Six of them are children. By the end of the day, most will be dead, and a neighbourhood will lie in ruins." Plus, an interview with host and producer Matthew Amha. Imperfect Paradise: "Guru Jagat starts the pandemic with an understandable skepticism of official medical advice, but quickly grows to embrace an array of far-right conspiracy theories." Lights Out: "Four people recount their involvement with 'county lines' – gangs that exploit children and vulnerable adults to sell drugs around the UK. Underneath their stories lies a series of unspoken, unanswered questions. Who gets to decide the boundary between criminal and victim? Why do we view 'county lines' through the lens of crime and punishment? And how well does the system support individuals and families devastated by the impact of 'county lines'?" Not Lost Chat: "New York Magazine described "Not Lost" as having the "slight energy of Andrew Sean Greer's Less" so Brendan calls the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the comic, road trip novels "Less" and "Less is Lost" to find out if they should be offended." Plus, an interview with host and OG podcaster Brendan Francis Newnam.

Leggerezza e ironia protagoniste dei romanzi di questa puntata del Cacciatore di libri Estate. Interviste a Diego De Silva, con il suo personaggio seriale Vincenzo Malinconico, "avvocato non di grido, ma di gemito", Lorenza Gentile con "Le cose che ci salvano" (Feltrinelli), Andrea De Carlo con "Io, Jack e Dio" (La nave di Teseo) e Andrew Sean Greer, scrittore americano Premio Pulitzer, con "Less a zonzo" (La nave di Teseo). Ospite del caffè letterario con i consigli di lettura: Valentina Ghetti, content creator e BookToker.

Episode 4 brings us the incredible writing talent that is Ann Patchett, an "auto-buy" author for our hosts and the 2023 National Humanities Medal recipient for "putting into words the beauty, pain and complexity of human nature." The three start their conversation by diving into Elin and Ann's respective years at the Iowa Writers' Workshop before exploring  Ann's writing process, her friendship with Lucy Grealy, and her ability to nail human relationships on the page. They also discuss the release of Ann's latest novel Tom Lake, as well as Ann's favorite writers and what it's like owning Parnassus Books in Nashville.A special thank you to our Episode Sponsors:Nantucket Looms - limited time, 15% off with code BOOKS15Triple Eight DistilleryAnn Patchett Reading List:The Magician's Assistant by Ann PatchettBel Canto by Ann PatchettTruth & Beauty by Ann PatchettState of Wonder by Ann PatchettThese Precious Days by Ann PatchettCommonwealth by Ann PatchettThe Dutch House by Ann PatchettTom Lake by Ann PatchettWhat else are we reading in this episode:The Kite Runner by Khaled HosseiniThen We Came to the End by Joshua FerrisAutobiography of a Face by Lucy GrealyOur Town by Thornton WilderOther authors mentioned:Jane Smiley, Anna Quindlen, Tim Winton, Stephen King, Jodi Picoult, Frank Conroy, Allan Gurganus, Russel Banks, Grace Paley, John Irving, Lucy Grealy, Colson Whitehead, Colleen Hoover, Joyce Carol Oates, Tom Hanks, Kate DiCamillo, Elizabeth McCracken, Louise Erdrich, Elizabeth Strout, Harlan Coben, Andrew Sean Greer, Zadie Smith, Margaret Atwood, and V, formerly Eve Ensler. Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes.And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyondHappy Reading!

Funck, Gisawww.deutschlandfunk.de, BüchermarktDirekter Link zur Audiodatei

Albath, Maikewww.deutschlandfunk.de, BüchermarktDirekter Link zur Audiodatei

"Less a zonzo" (La nave di Teseo - traduz. Elena Dal Pra) è il nuovo romanzo dello scrittore americano Andrew Sean Greer che aveva vinto il Premio Pulitzer per la narrativa nel 2018 con "Less". Questo è, dunque, il secondo romanzo in cui compare lo stesso personaggio, Arthur Less, scrittore cinquantenne un po' in crisi, diviso fra le delusioni d'amore e problemi professionali. Se in "Less" il protagonista girava il mondo dopo una delusione amorosa, in "Less a zonzo" decide di viaggiare negli Stati Uniti e lo fa perché si ritrova senza casa e pieno di debiti. Il viaggio, che avviene su un furgone camperizzato chiamato Rosina, è l'occasione per vivere diverse situazioni che lo scrittore narra in modo ironico. Nella seconda parte parliamo del thriller psicologico "Il dono" (Piemme) di Paola Barbato, sceneggiatrice di fumetti fra cui Dylan Dog e scrittrice di romanzi come la trilogia composta da "Io so chi sei", "Zoo" e "Vengo a prenderti". La protagonista è l'ispettrice Flavia Mariani che si trova ad affrontare un caso inquietante: un famoso giornalista di cronaca nera ha ucciso i genitori ottantenni ed è reo confesso, ma si limita a dire con estrema serenità "Non stato io, è stato il mio cuore". Questo perché due anni prima aveva subìto un trapianto di cuore e poi aveva scoperto che il donatore era un serial killer. L'ispettrice cercherà di rintracciare tutte le persone che hanno ricevuto un organo dell'assassino e il romanzo diventa così un romanzo corale, in cui ogni personaggio viene chiamato con il nome dell'organo trapianto: oltre a cuore, ci sono fegato, pancreas, polmoni, rene destro, rene sinistro e cornee.

This week on The Write Question, Lauren returns to her conversation with Andrew Sean Greer, or “Andy,” for this encore broadcast; the two chat about the follow-up to his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel ‘Less,' ‘Less Is Lost' (Little, Brown and Company).

This week on The Write Question, Lauren returns to her conversation with Andrew Sean Greer, or “Andy,” for this encore broadcast; the two chat about the follow-up to his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel ‘Less,' ‘Less Is Lost' (Little, Brown and Company).

How far have you gone to avoid seeing your ex? Probably not as far as Arthur Less. Come with us and meet the 50 year old man who thinks his love life is a Jules Verne novel, as we review Less by Andrew Sean Greer. Connect with us on socials! Twitter @coupleofnotes Insta @couple_of_notes_podcast TikTok @coupleofnotespodcast and Patreon www.Patreon.com/coupleofnotes --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/acoupleofnotes/support

American guest editor Andrew Sean Greer, “The Little Widow from the Capital,” by Yohanca Delgado, performed by Krystina Alabado.  And our second story was selected by John Updike for the volume Best American Stories of the Century.  It's Grace Stone Coates' “Wild Plums,” read by Mia Dillon. This episode features on-stage commentary by Greer. It's dedicated to mix engineer Dennis Jacobsen. 

We thoroughly enjoyed our read of this recent, Pulitzer-prize winning novel celebrating the ennui and folly of an American abroad. Join us table-side at the Stardust Lounge as we talk about Arthur Less: a man of many facets, all of them semi-tragic. 

When authors and readers come together, it's always a good time, and today's episode is no exception.Today, we're sharing our recent Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club conversation with Brendan Slocumb, who joined us in January to discuss his musical thriller (and our January 2023 book club pick), The Violin Conspiracy. You might recognize Brendan from Episode 351, Book Club Favorites: LIVE from Bookmarks! as part of that excellent panel discussion with Tia Williams, Andrew Sean Greer, and TJ Klune.Today, Brendan is back to chat with Anne, our Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club Community Manager, Ginger Horton, and our Book Club co-host, Shannan Malone. Our conversation today covers a whole range of topics, from music to comic books, and of course we ask about Brendan's recent reads and his future novels. Whether or not you've read (or want to read) The Violin Conspiracy, you'll love listening in to our (spoiler-free!) conversation today. Find the list of titles and other resources mentioned today in our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/366.If our conversation with Brendan today has you thinking more, please, we'd love to have you join us for ALL our author chats over in the Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club, our gathering spot for readers of all ages, and home to classes, conversation, and community. Come on over and say hello.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on ‘The Write Question,' Lauren speaks with Andrew Sean Greer—Andy—about the follow-up to his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, ‘Less,' ‘Less Is Lost.'

New York Magazine described “Not Lost” as having the “slight energy of Andrew Sean Greer's Less” so Brendan calls the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the comic, road trip novels “Less” and “Less is Lost” to find out if they should be offended. Plus, a postcard from Hollywood, and stand-up comedian Jay Pharoah answers listener questions about airport and flight etiquette, with a stirring speech on when it's ok to push the flight-attendant button.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Here & Now's Robin Young talks with author Andrew Sean Greer about his new novel Less is Lost, the sequel to his Pulitzer Prize-winning Less. This time, Greer's protagonist Arthur Less takes a tour of America in a van, and in the process learns about what it means to be an author today. Less is disappointed by how things are going, but doesn't realize how good things actually are for him. Greer says that he almost didn't write a second book, but by satirizing the literary crowd, he saw the importance of critiquing himself.

Guest host Alisha Fernandez Miranda interviews best-selling author Andrew Sean Greer about Less Is Lost, an utterly delightful follow-up to his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Less. Andrew talks about the incredible American road trip he took for book research and his much more confined writing conditions (he was stuck in his Milan apartment during the Italian COVID lockdown!). He also talks about the impact of the Pulitzer Prize on his career, the books on his TBR list, and the odd array of jobs he explored in a past life (from chauffeur to videogame tester to extra on Saturday Night Live!?). Purchase on Amazon or Bookshop.Amazon: bit.ly/3FiXmiBBookshop: bit.ly/3hhe8GVSubscribe to Zibby's weekly newsletter here.Purchase Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books merch here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“You don't get a Pulitzer!“ Torie, David and Jamie break down the World Cup, gaslighting, goblin mode and Dylan. Pulitzer Prize winner Andrew Sean Greer zooms in to share “Less is Lost.” On the road with Arthur Less, a “minor American novelist,”  who's trying to pay down bills, reconcile relationships and find himself. Along the way there's a pug named Dolly, an Rv called Rosina and a litany of almost literary events. It's like Chris Buckley and Hunter Thompson – but better. 

Anne Bogel has spent the last six years of her life doing something uncanny: Every week on her hit show, What Should I Read Next, she excavates a guest's reading life in fine detail. Then she recommends books that always seem to be the perfect choices for that guest, no matter who they are.It's not just her unusual ability to pair book with reader that keeps her show at the top of the charts. It's also the way Anne approaches hosting – as the art of practicing deep hospitality for her guests. That keeps her in listeners' hearts, year after year. It also makes Anne in-demand as public speaker. As intimate as she is with her podcast guests, you might never guess how raucously fun she is in front of a live audience! If you dream of moving effortlessly between studio and stage, this episode is for you. Anne Bogel is an author, the creator of the blog Modern Mrs Darcy, and host of What Should I Read Next? podcast and Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club. Anne loves talking to readers about their favorite books, reading struggles, and of course what they should read next. Anne lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with her husband, four children, and a yellow lab named Daisy. Follow Anne on Instagram.What Should I Read Next episodes discussed on today's show: Ep 350: “Book mail keeps us together”Ep 351 “Book Club Favorites: LIVE from Bookmarks!”Anne Bogel's holiday gift book recommendations for your favorite hosts and producers: The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker (discussed at 38:54)Out on a Wire: The Storytelling Secrets of the New Masters of Radio by Jessica Abel with forward by Ira Glass (39:29)I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai, due out in February 2023 (40:13)Scroll down for hosting takeaways from today's show. Subscribe to Sound Judgment, the Newsletter, our once- or twice-monthly newsletter about creative choices in audio storytelling. Connect! Follow Elaine: Facebook | LinkedIn | InstagramSay thanks! ✉️ Email me at allies@podcastallies.com

Our guest this week is Andrew Sean Greer who's created one of our favorite dreamers in literature. His fictional character, Arthur Less, lives a somewhat disappointing life. Few of Arthur's plans ever pan out, but there is often magic in the mayhem. In this episode, Andrew and Annmarie discuss foiled plans, dashed hopes, and how to discover new longings and brighter dreams when we wander–or even tumble–off the beaten path.

Andrew Sean Greer is a Pulitzer Prize winner and the author of the novel Less is Lost (Little, Brown), a New York Times bestseller. Greer is the author of six works of fiction, including the bestsellers The Confessions of Max Tivoli and Less. Greer has taught at a number of universities, including the Iowa Writers Workshop, been a Today show pick, a New York Public Library Cullman Center Fellow, a judge for the National Book Award, and a winner of the California Book Award and the New York Public Library Young Lions Award. He is the recipient of a NEA grant, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. He lives in San Francisco. *** Otherppl with Brad Listi is a weekly literary podcast featuring in-depth interviews with today's leading writers. Launched in 2011. Books. Literature. Writing. Publishing. Authors. Screenwriters. Etc. Available where podcasts are available: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeart Radio, etc. Subscribe to Brad Listi's email newsletter. Support the show on Patreon Merch @otherppl Instagram  YouTube Email the show: letters [at] otherppl [dot] com The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Liberty and Danika discuss White Horse, The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks, The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, and more great books. Follow All the Books! using RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify and never miss a book. And sign up for the weekly New Books! newsletter for even more new book news. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. For a complete list of books discussed in this episode, visit our website. BOOKS DISCUSSED ON THE SHOW: White Horse by Erika T. Wurth The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks by Shauna Robinson The Best American Essays 2022 edited by Alexander Chee, Robert Atwan The Best American Food Writing 2022 by Sohla El-Waylly, Silvia Killingsworth The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2022 by Jess Walter, Steph Cha The Best American Science And Nature Writing 2022 by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Jaime Green The Best American Science Fiction And Fantasy 2022 by Rebecca Roanhorse, John Joseph Adams The Best American Short Stories 2022 by Andrew Sean Greer, Heidi Pitlor DPS Only! by Velinxi The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun How to Excavate a Heart by Jake Maia Arlow Case Study by Graeme Macrae Burnet Small Game by Blair Braverman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The hapless, loveable character of Arthur Less from the novel “Less” won Andrew Sean Greer a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2018. And now, he's back.  The author joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the return of his novel's namesake and his new adventures, plus Greer's process for writing with such broad appeal. His novel is “Less is Lost.”

In this episode, WBUR's Robin Young talks with author Andrew Sean Greer about his new novel Less is Lost, the sequel to his Pulitzer Prize-winning Less. This time, Greer's protagonist Arthur Less takes a tour of America in a van, and in the process learns about what it means to be an author today. Less is disappointed by how things are going, but doesn't realize how good things actually are for him. Greer says that he almost didn't write a second book, but by satirizing the literary crowd, he saw the importance of critiquing himself.

Four dynamic authors gathered to speak on a Book Club Favorites panel last month at the Bookmarks Festival of Books & Authors—and Anne was the moderator! Their conversation went in wildly delightful directions, and we're so excited to share it with all of you today. Anne was thrilled when Festival chair Beth Buss (whose name you might recognize from Episode 257: Let's build your holiday booklist) asked her to moderate the Festival panel focused on “Book Club Favorites", featuring authors TJ Klune, Andrew Sean Greer, Brendan Slocumb, and Tia Williams. During the unexpected and entertaining LIVE conversation, these authors shared a taste of what their books are like, told some stories from the writing life, and recommended a few books they think would make great Book Club reads. We're so happy we're able to share this conversation with all of you today: thanks to the Bookmarks NC Festival of Books & Authors, the authors and publishers who supported us sharing this live replay with all of you, and the festival staff and devoted volunteers for making all of this possible. We'd love to hear which of the books mentioned today is next on your reading list. Let us know over in the show notes at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/351!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Arthur Less is a novelist—a “minor American novelist,” to be precise. He's a man whose biggest talent seems to be taking a problem and making it five times worse. And he's the hero of Andrew Sean Greer's novel “Less,” which won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, an especially rare feat for a comic novel.   Andrew Sean Greer is now out with a sequel, “Less Is Lost,” which takes Arthur on a road trip across the U.S. He talks with the staff writer Parul Sehgal.  Plus, for thirty years, the poet Ellen Bass has taken the same walk almost every day, on West Cliff Drive, a road along the ocean in Santa Cruz, California. Friends and family have teased her for being stuck in her ways, so she wrote the poem “Ode to Repetition,” about taking the same walk, listening to the same songs, and doing the same daily tasks, as life marches toward its end. (This segment originally aired May 26, 2017.)

Hua Hsu joins Eric Newman to discuss his latest book, STAY TRUE. The memoir recounts Hua's feeling of being caught between the Taiwanese culture of his immigrant parents and the burgeoning Silicon Valley suburbs in which he was raised. A lifeline of sorts is thrown to him in the form of Ken Ishida, a confident young man from a multigenerational Japanese American family. At first, it seems that Ken has every Hua lacks—the looks, the easy social confidence, a finger on the pulse of American culture. But during their friendship those first years of college, the young men support and lean on each other as they grow into adults with bright—if intangible—futures ahead of them. But one night, a shocking and random act of violence takes Ken away and Hua and his friends must try to makes sense of a senseless tragedy and pull back together the broken lives left in its wake. Also, Andrew Sean Greer, author of Less is Lost, returns to recommend Julian Delgado Lopera's Fiebre Tropical.

Narrator Robert Petkoff clearly enjoys himself in recounting the insightful and humorous misadventures of hapless gay minor novelist Arthur Less, first encountered in Andrew Sean Greer's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, LESS. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile's Emily Connelly talk about the fun of getting back on the road with Arthur, this time traveling across the United States on a literary tour to earn desperately needed cash. Arthur's partner, Freddy, tells Arthur's tale with wry amusement. Petkoff creates a host of vocally distinct characters with accents and personalities as broad as the country. Through his adventures, the listener begins to understand the kindhearted Arthur and his quest for certainty. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile's website. Published by Hachette Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Listen to AudioFile's fourth season of Audiobook Break, featuring the Japanese American Civil Liberties Collection. Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO, dedicated to producing top-quality fiction and nonfiction audiobooks written and read by the best in the business. Visit penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/audiofile now to start listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrew Sean Greer's novels include The Story of a Marriage, The Confessions of Max Tivoli, and a satire of the literary world, Less - which earned him the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2018.  Now, he's out with the followup, Less is Lost, which catches up with the lovable Arthur Less as he and his pug travel across the country in a rusty camper van on a literary tour. Greer is the winner of the California Book Award, the New York Public Library Young Lions Award, and his work has appeared in Esquire, The Paris Review, The New Yorker, and many more. On September 20, 2022, Andrew Sean Greer came to the Sydney Goldstein Theater in San Francisco to be interviewed on stage by Adam Savage, the host and executive producer of MythBusters Jr. as well as Savage Builds on the Science Channel. The program begins with an excerpt from the audiobook of Less is Lost.

We remember British author Hilary Mantel who died Sept. 22. Mantel was best known for her trilogy of novels about Thomas Cromwell, the political fixer for Henry VIII. In 2012 she spoke with Terry Gross about her love of history. "Instead of thinking there was a wall between the living and the dead, I thought there was a very thin veil. It was almost as if they'd just gone into the next room."Also, we'll talk with Edward Enninful, editor-in-chief of British Vogue, about bringing diversity into the fashion industry. As a child, Enninful emigrated from Ghana to England. Early in his career, he was told Black women don't sell magazines. He proved that was false.Maureen Corrigan reviews Less is Lost, the follow up to Andrew Sean Greer's Pulitzer Prize-winning satirical novel Less.

Andrew Sean Greer, author of six novels, including The Confessions, joins Eric Newman to talk about Less Is Lost, a sequel to his 2017 Pulitzer Prize winner, Less. This latest installment finds our beloved and bewildered eponymous gay novelist of minor repute dashing across the American Southwest, South, and East Coast as he scrambles to save, and in some ways clarify, his relationship with Freddy Pelu, as well as to pay back some monumental back rent on the charming San Francisco home left to him by his recently deceased lover, Robert Brownburn. As Less takes his fish-out-of-water act on the road, Andrew Sean Greer treats readers to a number of poignant insights into the nature of love, devotion, belonging, and the by turns miserable and, er, miserable condition of being a writer. Also, Yiyun Li, author of The Book of Goose, returns to recommend Charlotte Bronte's Villette.

Writer John Vercher trained in mixed martial arts as a young man. His novel, After the Lights Go Out, centers on a veteran MMA fighter who is experiencing memory loss, severe mood swings and tinnitus. The book is also about the fighter's biracial identity.Also, Maureen Corrigan reviews Less is Lost by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Andrew Sean Greer.

WRITERS' BLOCK Ron Block and Kristy Woodson Harvey talk with Pulitzer Prize winning author Andrew Sean Greer about his newest book, Less Is Lost which is a follow-up to his hugely popular Less.

Elizabeth Strout is our guest this week, and our conversation couldn't be more timely. First, her novel, Oh William! has just been short listed for the Booker Prize - perhaps the most prestigious award for a writer of literary fiction. And second, her latest novel in the Lucy Barton series has just been published - Lucy by the Sea. For those who love her writing, and we are among her greatest admirers, you know that Lucy by the Sea represents a continuation of the series that includes Oh William! The book allows us to see the chaos of the last years through Lucy's eyes, and it's a tumultuous, beautiful journey. The independent bookstore this week is Tattered Cover and we talk to Jeremy Patlen, their head buyer. Books mentioned in the podcast: Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout Abide with Me by Elizabeth Strout Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout Oh William! By Elizabeth Strout The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout Anything Is Possible by Elizabeth Strout This is Happiness by Niall Williams The Collected Stories of William Trevor War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Pigeon Feathers and Other Stories by John Updike Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage by Alice Munro Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine Upgrade by Blake Crouch Just Kids by Patti Smith We are the Light by Matthew Quick Less Is Lost by Andrew Sean Greer

Andrew Sean Greer is the Pulitzer Prize winning author of six works of fiction, including the bestsellers The Confessions of Max Tivoli and Less. Greer has taught at a number of universities, including the Iowa Writers Workshop, been a TODAY show pick, a New York Public Library Cullman Center Fellow, a judge for the National Book Award, and a winner of the California Book Award and the New York Public Library Young Lions Award. He is the recipient of a NEA grant, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Today we're talking about his new book Less Is Lost (Little Brown, 2022). Books Recommended: A.B. Yehoshua, A Journey to the End of the Millennium Chris Holmes is Chair of Literatures in English and Associate Professor at Ithaca College. He writes criticism on contemporary global literatures. His book, Kazuo Ishiguro as World Literature, is under contract with Bloomsbury Publishing. He is the co-director of The New Voices Festival, a celebration of work in poetry, prose, and playwriting by up-and-coming young writers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I already had a kind of Don Quixote set up in mind. And so I was like, Wouldn't it be funny if Arthur was the sort of Sancho Panza in this? I'll just barely touch on it and see where it goes. And I thought he needs someone totally full of himself to shake him up…” Readers fell in love with Arthur Less — and Andrew Sean Greer took home a Pulitzer Prize for Less, the novel that introduced us to Arthur. Andrew joins us on the show to talk about his new novel, the not-really-a-sequel, Less Is Lost, turning tragedy into comedy, rewrites, what scares him as a writer, his literary influences, the writing advice that he still relies on and much more with Poured Over's host, Miwa Messer. And we finish this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.   Featured Books (Episode): Less (winner of the Pulitzer Prize) by Andrew Sean Greer The Confessions of Max Tivoli by Andrew Sean Greer  The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells by Andrew Sean Greer Story of a Marriage by Andrew Sean Greer Chéri by Colette Don Quixote by Cervantes A Boy's Own Life by Edmund White Travels with My Aunt by Graham Greene Moby Dick by Herman Melville   Featured Books (TBR Topoff): A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood Bucky F*cking Dent by David Duchovny   Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).   A full transcript of this episode is available here.

For the next few months, we're sharing some of our favorite conversations from the podcast's archives. This week's segments first appeared in 2017 and 2015, respectively.Andrew Sean Greer won a Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for his comic novel “Less,” about a down-on-his-luck novelist named Arthur Less who embarks on a round-the-world trip to forget his sorrows. (Greer's new novel, “Less Is Lost,” continues Less's adventures in the same comic vein, this time setting him loose across America.) When “Less” was published, in 2017, Greer visited the podcast and told the host Pamela Paul why he had decided to write comic fiction after five well-received but much more serious novels: “I found funny things happening all the time, and they were always my fault,” he said. “Because I was the thing out of place, with terrible misperceptions about what was supposed to happen.”Also this week, we revisit the New Yorker staff writer William Finnegan's 2015 podcast appearance, in which he discussed his memoir “Barbarian Days,” about his lifelong love of surfing. “It's all about this experience of beauty,” he told Paul. “You know, this certain kind of drenched experience and beauty — and the physical risks are very much footnotes.”We would love to hear your thoughts about this episode, and about the Book Review's podcast in general. You can send them to books@nytimes.com.

Zibby is joined by the New York Times bestselling author of The Jetsetters, Amanda Eyre Ward, to discuss her latest novel, The Lifeguards. Amanda shares her unique style of drafting (which involves a number of colored index cards and a big board in her garden shed!) and reveals the illustrious group chat she belongs to. The two also talk about the epiphany Amanda had about her own writing after reading her friend Andrew Sean Greer's book, Less, which famous author taught her the trick to crafting a good thriller, and why having one of her books picked for Reese's Book Club meant so much to her.Purchase on Amazon or Bookshop.Amazon: https://amzn.to/3bUj29MBookshop: https://bit.ly/3nJpiDWSubscribe to Zibby's weekly newsletter here.Purchase Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books merch here. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.