The 15 Minute Book Club

Latest Episodes:

The Long Game with Leander Schaerlaeckens Jun 17, 2026

Show notes

Leander Sharlockens joins us to discuss his new book about the US Men's National Team, The Long Game: U.S. Men's Soccer and Its Savage, Four-Decade Journey to the Top, or Thereabouts, and we trace the uneven history of the U.S. men’s national team, from its early struggles and the 1950 win over England through the long period when the programme was underfunded and disorganised to today's hopes in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Patreon members get extra time: 15 more minutes, in which you get to see behind the scenes and find out how the book was written. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/15MinuteBookClub

Buy The Long Game: U.S. Men's Soccer and Its Savage, Four-Decade Journey to the Top, or Thereabouts at our Bookshop.org shop. Support authors, indie bookshops and us!

US Link: https://bookshop.org/a/118682/9780593653876

UK Amazon Link: https://amzn.eu/d/0el47ixp

Visit our Bookshop with books from all of our guests via the links below:

(UK) https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

(US) https://bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

0:00 Introduction to U.S. Soccer

3:17 Title IX’s Soccer Boom

6:19 From Glory to Collapse

7:34 Team America Disaster

10:28 Youth Soccer and Dropout

11:51 A Country, Not a Nation

13:53 Europe Beckons American Players

16:33 Adu’s Rise and Fall

17:56 Choosing the Book’s Profiles

19:45 The Berhalter Debate

21:24 World Cup Expectations

Patreon members get extra time: 15 more minutes, in which you get to see behind the scenes and find out how the book was written. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/15MinuteBookClub

Watch the video version: https://www.youtube.com/@15MinuteBook_Club

Buy [INSERT BOOK TITLE] at our Bookshop.org shop. Support authors, indie bookshops and us!

UK Link:

US Link:

Visit our Bookshop with books from all of our guests via the links below:

(UK) https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

(US) https://bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gareth L. Powell on Jitterbug Jun 03, 2026

Show notes

After much pestering, we have the author of Alex's favourite recent read joining us! Gareth L. Powell's latest is Jitterbug, in which a crew of bounty hunters find themselves ensnared in a conspiracy on the very fringes of the devastated solar system, in a ship that acts like a parrot. Alex was very happy.

Patreon members get extra time: 15 more minutes, in which you get to see behind the scenes and find out how the book was written. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/15MinuteBookClub

Buy Jittberbug by Gareth L. Powell at our Bookshop.org shop. Support authors, indie bookshops and us!

UK Link: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16621/9781835414514

US Link: https://bookshop.org/a/118682/9781835414514

Visit our Bookshop with books from all of our guests via the links below:

(UK) https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

(US) https://bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

Patreon members get extra time: 15 more minutes, in which you get to see behind the scenes and find out how the book was written. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/15MinuteBookClub

Watch the video version: https://www.youtube.com/@15MinuteBook_Club

Buy [INSERT BOOK TITLE] at our Bookshop.org shop. Support authors, indie bookshops and us!

UK Link:

US Link:

Visit our Bookshop with books from all of our guests via the links below:

(UK) https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

(US) https://bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Fifth Crusade with Thomas Smith May 20, 2026

Show notes

The Fifth Crusade was unlike any other. It was the first to invade Egypt, a story filled with adventure and intrigue, yet it often gets overshadowed by its predecessors. Dr. Thomas Smith joins us to tell the untold tale of this epic campaign, where the Crusaders faced more than just battles; they encountered a land filled with ancient history and the remnants of powerful empires.

Patreon members get extra time: 15 more minutes, in which you get to see behind the scenes and find out how the book was written. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/15MinuteBookClub

Buy The Fifth Crusade: A History of the Epic Campaign to Conquer Egypt by Thomas Smith at our Bookshop.org shop. Support authors, indie bookshops and us!

UK Link: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16621/9780300283952

US Link: https://bookshop.org/a/118682/9780300283952

Visit our Bookshop with books from all of our guests via the links below:

(UK) https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

(US) https://bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

Patreon members get extra time: 15 more minutes, in which you get to see behind the scenes and find out how the book was written. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/15MinuteBookClub

Watch the video version: https://www.youtube.com/@15MinuteBook_Club

Buy [INSERT BOOK TITLE] at our Bookshop.org shop. Support authors, indie bookshops and us!

UK Link:

US Link:

Visit our Bookshop with books from all of our guests via the links below:

(UK) https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

(US) https://bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Athens and Sparta with Adrian Goldsworthy May 06, 2026

Show notes

This week on the 15-Minute Book Club, Adrian Goldsworthy joins us to delve into the rivalry between Athens and Sparta in the 5th century BC and their continued influence on us today. Plus, we ask just how much of ancient history is just made up.

Patreon members get extra time: 15 more minutes, in which you get to see behind the scenes and find out how the book was written. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/15MinuteBookClub

Buy Athens and Sparta: The Rivalry that Shaped Ancient Greece at our Bookshop.org shop. Support authors, indie bookshops and us!

UK Link: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16621/9781800245426

US Link: https://bookshop.org/a/118682/9781541619982

Visit our Bookshop with books from all of our guests via the links below:

(UK) https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

(US) https://bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

You can find all of Adrian's books below, including the fab Ferox series!

UK Link: https://uk.bookshop.org/beta-search?keywords=adrian+goldsworthy

US Link: https://bookshop.org/beta-search?keywords=Adrian+Goldsworthy

Patreon members get extra time: 15 more minutes, in which you get to see behind the scenes and find out how the book was written. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/15MinuteBookClub

Watch the video version: https://www.youtube.com/@15MinuteBook_Club

Buy [INSERT BOOK TITLE] at our Bookshop.org shop. Support authors, indie bookshops and us!

UK Link:

US Link:

Visit our Bookshop with books from all of our guests via the links below:

(UK) https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

(US) https://bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Ship's Cat with Alex Howard Apr 29, 2026

Show notes

There is no room to swing a cat this week as we are wall to wall cats! Author Alex Howard joins us to tell us about Archie the streetwise cat's odyssey in his new book, The Ship's Cat, and he has just 15 minutes to convince you to buy it.

Patreon members get extra time: 15 more minutes, in which you get to see behind the scenes and find out how the book was written. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/15MinuteBookClub

Preorder The Ship's Cat by Alex Howard at our Bookshop.org shop. Support authors, indie bookshops and us!

UK Link: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16621/9781785307706

Visit our Bookshop with books from all of our guests via the links below:

(UK) https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

(US) https://bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

Patreon members get extra time: 15 more minutes, in which you get to see behind the scenes and find out how the book was written. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/15MinuteBookClub

Watch the video version: https://www.youtube.com/@15MinuteBook_Club

Buy [INSERT BOOK TITLE] at our Bookshop.org shop. Support authors, indie bookshops and us!

UK Link:

US Link:

Visit our Bookshop with books from all of our guests via the links below:

(UK) https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

(US) https://bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Visionaries with James Holland Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

James Holland joins us to convince you to buy his upcoming book, The Visionaries: The Making of the Post World War II Order in the West in just 15 minutes! James' new book looks at the politics and economics of WW2 in a change of gear from his usual campaign focus. Let us know if he convinced you in the comments!

Patreon members get extra time: 15 more minutes, in which you get to see behind the scenes and find out how the book was written. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/15MinuteBookClub

Buy The Visionaries: The Making of the Post World War II Order in the West by James Holland at our Bookshop.org shop. Support authors, indie bookshops and us!

UK Link (7 May): https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16621/9780857509710

US Link (26 May): https://bookshop.org/a/118682/9780802168078

Visit our Bookshop with books from all of our guests via the links below:

(UK) https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

(US) https://bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

Patreon members get extra time: 15 more minutes, in which you get to see behind the scenes and find out how the book was written. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/15MinuteBookClub

Watch the video version: https://www.youtube.com/@15MinuteBook_Club

Buy [INSERT BOOK TITLE] at our Bookshop.org shop. Support authors, indie bookshops and us!

UK Link:

US Link:

Visit our Bookshop with books from all of our guests via the links below:

(UK) https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

(US) https://bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sanctioned: The Inside Story of the Sale of Chelsea FC with Nick Purewal Apr 01, 2026

Show notes

The sale of Chelsea FC in 2022 saw politics play a vital role in the sale of football. Nick Purewal, the then AP correspondent assigned to Chelsea had a ringside seat to the remarkable £2 billion pound sale. Nick joins us to discuss interviewing everyone from Roman Abramovich down with Chelsea fan Alex and Matt, who couldn't care less...

Patreon members get extra time: 15 more minutes, in which you get to see behind the scenes and find out how the book was written. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/15MinuteBookClub

Buy Sanctioned: The Inside Story of the Sale of Chelsea FC at our Bookshop.org shop. Support authors, indie bookshops and us!

UK Link: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16621/9781785909894

There is no US Bookshop link, so here is the link for that other bookstore place we don't really like, but hey, what can you do... https://a.co/d/06OJiXPK

Visit our Bookshop with books from all of our guests via the links below:

(UK) https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

(US) https://bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

Patreon members get extra time: 15 more minutes, in which you get to see behind the scenes and find out how the book was written. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/15MinuteBookClub

Watch the video version: https://www.youtube.com/@15MinuteBook_Club

Buy [INSERT BOOK TITLE] at our Bookshop.org shop. Support authors, indie bookshops and us!

UK Link:

US Link:

Visit our Bookshop with books from all of our guests via the links below:

(UK) https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

(US) https://bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Remembering Len Deighton - Bomber Mar 18, 2026

Show notes

On the 17th March 2026, author Len Deighton passed away at the age of 97. To remember this wonderful author, Boney is in the hot seat as he tries to convince Alex that Bomber is a must read from the extensive cateloge of Deighton's books.

Patreon members get extra time: 15 more minutes, in which you get to see behind the scenes and find out how the book was written. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/15MinuteBookClub

Buy Len Deighton's Bomber at our Bookshop.org shop. Support authors, indie bookshops and us!

UK Link: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16621/9780241493700

US Link: https://bookshop.org/a/118682/9780802161611

Visit our Bookshop with books from all of our guests via the links below:

(UK) https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

(US) https://bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

Patreon members get extra time: 15 more minutes, in which you get to see behind the scenes and find out how the book was written. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/15MinuteBookClub

Watch the video version: https://www.youtube.com/@15MinuteBook_Club

Buy [INSERT BOOK TITLE] at our Bookshop.org shop. Support authors, indie bookshops and us!

UK Link:

US Link:

Visit our Bookshop with books from all of our guests via the links below:

(UK) https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

(US) https://bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eden Undone with Abbott Kahler Mar 11, 2026

Show notes

At the beginning of the Great Depression, three groups of Germans moved to Floreana Island in the Galápagos to create their own utopia. Over the coming years, paradise crumbled into sex, acrimony, and eventually murder. Author Abbott Kahler joins Alex and Boney to ask what the hell happened and to convince you to buy Abbott's book, in just 15 minutes.

Patreon members get extra time: 15 more minutes, in which you get to see behind the scenes and find out how the book was written. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/15MinuteBookClub

Buy Eden Undone: A True Story of Sex, Murder and Utopia at the Dawn of World War II by Abbott Kahler at our Bookshop.org shop. Support authors, indie bookshops and us!

UK Link - https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16621/9780008729721

US Link - https://bookshop.org/a/118682/9780451498663

Visit our Bookshop with books from all of our guests via the links below:

(UK) https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

(US) https://bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

Patreon members get extra time: 15 more minutes, in which you get to see behind the scenes and find out how the book was written. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/15MinuteBookClub

Watch the video version: https://www.youtube.com/@15MinuteBook_Club

Buy [INSERT BOOK TITLE] at our Bookshop.org shop. Support authors, indie bookshops and us!

UK Link:

US Link:

Visit our Bookshop with books from all of our guests via the links below:

(UK) https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

(US) https://bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Age of Alchemy with Kit Chapman Mar 04, 2026

Show notes

Our old buddy Kit Chapman joins us to tell us all about his new book, which looks at the global quest to achieve immortality, cure all disease and transmute lead into gold as he reveals the illuminating stories of how the alchemists first broke new ground and shaped the scientific method.

Patreon members get extra time: 15 more minutes, in which you get to see behind the scenes and find out how the book was written. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/15MinuteBookClub

Pre-order The Age of Alchemy: The Secret History of Chemistry from Ancient Magic to Modern Science by Kit Chapman at our Bookshop.org shop. Support authors, indie bookshops and us!

UK Link - Out on 30 Apr 2026: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16621/9781805221159

US Link - Out on 20 OCT 2026: https://bookshop.org/a/118682/9781778404177

Visit our Bookshop with books from all of our guests via the links below:

(UK) https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

(US) https://bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

Patreon members get extra time: 15 more minutes, in which you get to see behind the scenes and find out how the book was written. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/15MinuteBookClub

Watch the video version: https://www.youtube.com/@15MinuteBook_Club

Buy [INSERT BOOK TITLE] at our Bookshop.org shop. Support authors, indie bookshops and us!

UK Link:

US Link:

Visit our Bookshop with books from all of our guests via the links below:

(UK) https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

(US) https://bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.