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Booked Up with Jen Taub: Intimate Interviews with Nonfiction Authors

Jen Taub’s guests include writers of current bestsellers and beloved backlist books. Conversations cover love, money, politics, early dreams, writing habits, reading tastes, procrastination techniques, self-doubt, and news of the day.

Creator and host, Jen Taub is a law professor, advocate, and author. Her nonfiction books include BIG DIRTY MONEY (Viking 2020) and OTHER PEOPLE’S HOUSES (Yale Press 2014). She focuses on “follow the money” matters— promoting transparency and opposing corruption.

You can write to Jen and the Booked Up team at: bookedup@politicon.com or Booked Up, P.O. Box 147, Northampton, MA 01061

Latest

Episodes

Sgt. Aquillino Gonell

January 7, 2024   ·  

Nearly three years after the attack on the US Capitol, Sergeant Aquillino Gonell, author of the new book American Shield: The Immigrant Sergeant Who Defended Democracy is Jen’s guest.

Norman Lear: THIS TOO I GET TO EXPERIENCE

December 31, 2023   ·  

We lost a Hollywood legend this year. Norman Lear, writer, director, producer, and activist passed away in December after spending more than 101 years on this planet. With a blend of sheer luck, immense creativity, and epic perseverance, Lear created programs for television and film that transformed television for the better. Known best for situation comedies: All in the Family, The Jeffersons, Maude, and Good Times, Norman Lear brought diverse, complicated families into our living rooms night after night, year after year. His films include cult favorites like This is Spinal Tap and The Princess Bride. May his memory be a blessing.

THE OCTOPUS IN THE PARKING GARAGE with Rob Verchick

December 24, 2023   ·  1:02:48

Rob Verchick, author of the award-winning new book, The Octopus in the Parking Garage: A Call for Climate Resilience is Jen’s guest.

THESE ARE THE PLUNDERERS with authors Gretchen Morgenson and Josh Rosner

December 17, 2023   ·  1:10:58

Timing is everything. In early December, two U.S. senators launched a bipartisan investigation on the takeover of our nation’s healthcare by giant private equity firms. Today on Booked Up we  have the top experts on this topic, Gretchen Morgenson and Joshua Rosner joining Jen to talk about their new bestseller These Are the Plunderers: How Private Equity Runs—and Wrecks—America.

Chuck Collins on ALTAR TO AN ERUPTING SUN

December 10, 2023   ·  54:06

“My bologna has a first name, it’s O-S-C-A-R. My bologna has a second name, it’s M-A-Y-E-R….” Listenerss of a certain age will remember that television ad jingle from their childhood. Jen’s guest also has childhood and young adult memories as the great-grandson of Oscar F. Mayer, founder of the eponymous meat company, of giving up his fortune for the greater good.

Orly Lobel on THE EQUALITY MACHINE

December 3, 2023   ·  1:07:27

“Inspiration exists; it must find you working.” Picasso. You can find this gem and other fascinating details in Orly Lobel’s new book, THE EQUALITY MACHINE. She’s got it covered from virtual reality to sex robots.

Taylor Lorenz is EXTREMELY ONLINE

November 19, 2023   ·  57:40

Jen caught up with Taylor Lorenz while she was out on her book tour for Extremely Online: The Untold Story of Fame, Influence, and Power on the Internet. They talked about the controversy around mommy bloggers and the credit due to Julia Allison and other women social media pioneers.

Andrea Chalupa on DICTATORSHIP IS EASY

November 12, 2023   ·  57:24

Fake populism. Demonizing the press. Scapegoating. Propaganda. Personal militia. All ingredients for a successful dictatorship and topics of Jen’s conversation today with filmmaker, author, and activist Andrea Chalupa. Andrea is co-author of the book,  DICTATORSHIP: IT’S EASIER THAN YOU THINK.

Illeana Douglas on CONNECTICUT IN THE MOVIES

November 5, 2023   ·  

With her new book Connecticut in the Movies: From Dream Houses to Dark Suburbia, Illeana Douglas brings together her two passions, her now home state and cinema. This gorgeous coffee table book is filled with delicious never-before-seen movie stills and back lot stories.

 

 

ENOUGH by Cassidy Hutchinson

October 29, 2023   ·  54:52

Is Cassidy Hutchinson a heroic champion of the truth or just another Trump Administration insider who could have spoken sooner when it really mattered? Does the story she tells in ENOUGH make readers more empathic or more resentful? These questions and more are the focus of Jen’s conversation today with authors Jennifer Rubin and Brian Karem.

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