The podcast boom shows no sign of stopping. But did you know that some of the top podcasts in the world are now being turned into books?
Here are five of our favourites.
1. Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered
by Karen Kilgariff & Georgia Hardstark
The instant number one bestseller by the voices behind the hit podcast My Favorite Murder.
Sharing never-before-heard stories ranging from their struggles with depression, eating disorders, and addiction, Karen and Georgia irreverently recount their biggest mistakes and deepest fears, reflecting on the formative life events that shaped them into two of the most followed voices in the world.
In Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered, Karen and Georgia focus on the importance of self-advocating and valuing personal safety over being ‘nice’ or ‘helpful.’ They delve into their own pasts, true crime stories, and more, discussing meaningful cultural and societal issues with fierce empathy and unapologetic frankness.
Reserve Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered
2. The World of Lore: Monstrous Creatures
by Aaron Mahnke
A fascinating, beautifully illustrated collection of stories from the hit podcast Lore.
They live in shadows - deep in the forest, late in the night, in the dark recesses of our mind. They're spoken of in stories and superstitions, relics of an unenlightened age, old wives' tales, passed down through generations. And yet, no matter how wary and jaded we have become, as individuals or as a society, a part of us remains vulnerable to them. Werewolves and wendigos, poltergeists and vampires, angry elves and vengeful spirits.
The monsters of folklore have become not only a part of our language but a part of our collective psyche. Whether these beasts and bogeymen are real or just a reflection of our primal fears, we know, on some level, that not every mystery has been explained, and that the unknown still holds the power to strike fear deep in our hearts and souls.
As Aaron Mahnke reminds us, sometimes the truth is even scarier than the lore...
3. The Happiness Project: Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun
by Gretchen Rubin
The book that inspired the popular self-help podcast Happier.
Gretchen Rubin had an epiphany one rainy afternoon in the unlikeliest of places: a city bus. “The days are long, but the years are short,” she realized. “Time is passing, and I’m not focusing enough on the things that really matter.” In that moment, she decided to dedicate a year to her happiness project.
In this lively and compelling account, Rubin chronicles her adventures during the twelve months she spent test-driving the wisdom of the ages, current scientific research, and lessons from popular culture about how to be happier. Among other things, she found that novelty and challenge are powerful sources of happiness; that money can help buy happiness, when spent wisely; that outer order contributes to inner calm; and that the very smallest of changes can make the biggest difference.
The Happiness Project is part of our Sunshine Reads collection, a series of books chosen to bring a smile to your face – click here to find out more about this range.
4. Zealot: A Book About Cults
by Jo Thornely
Why would anyone join a cult?
Maybe they're unhappy with their current religion, or they want to change the world, or they're disappointed with their lives and want to find something bigger or holier that makes sense of this confusing, chaotic and dangerous world. Or maybe they just want to give themselves the best possible chance of having sex with aliens.
Whatever the reason, once people are in, it's usually very difficult for them to leave. Cults have ways of making their followers do loopy, dangerous things to prove their loyalty, and in return they get a chance to feel secure within the cult's embrace, with an added bonus of being utterly terrified of the outside world.
From the tragic JONESTOWN Kool-Aid drinkers to the Australian cult THE FAMILY to the fiery Waco climax of THE BRANCH DAVIDIANS, this book is a sweeping look at cults around the world, from the host of the popular podcast Zealot.
5. Feel Better in 5: Your Daily Plan to Feel Great for Life
by Dr Rangan Chatterjee
Dr Rangan Chatterjee is the man behind the hit podcast, Feel Better Live More
It only takes 5 minutes to start changing your life. For good.
Feel Better in 5 is the first daily five-minute plan that is easy to maintain, easy-to-follow, and requires only the smallest amount of willpower.
Top tips include:
· A strength workout that you can do anywhere
· Gut-boosting snacks you can eat on the go
· Yoga moves to relax and stay supple
· Breathing exercises to calm the mind
Drawing on Dr Rangan Chatterjee's twenty years of experience and real-life case studies from his GP practice, Feel Better in 5 is your daily plan for a happier, healthier you - at no extra cost.
Fun fact: We have our very own Library podcast featuring interviews with various celebrated authors including Claire Mackintosh, Annie Barrows, Simon Scarrow and Chris Riddell. Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on our website.