Black Fortunes: The Story of the First Six African Americans Who Escaped Slavery and Became Millionaires by Shomari Wills

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler: This week's theme: How to Deal with Hostile People. The book on which our theme's based: It is the first published science fiction novel written by a black woman, the story of a 26-year-old writer living in California. One day, she is inexplicably ripped... by Lit Society: Books and Drama

100 min listen

LIVE SHOW: Interview with Kiley Reid in Celebration of Such a Fun Age's Paperback Release (Bonus Episode): NOTE: This is a video podcast. Watch the visuals on YouTube (LITSocietyPodcast)! ... Readers and friends, we're proud to bring you a very special bonus episode. Last Tuesday, Kiley Reid's debut novel, Such a Fun Age, was released in paperback. In celebra... by Lit Society: Books and Drama

62 min listen

The Diary Of a Young Girl by Anne Frank: Forgoing a theme this week, we're doing a COVID Quarantine check-in. How've you been? How's your mental and physical health? Let's talk about it. Then, on to our book: One vibrant, confident young german girl is successfully navigating her way through ad... by Lit Society: Books and Drama

88 min listen

White Like Her by Gail Lukasik: This week's theme: Tips for Finding Your Ancestors. Our book: One woman learns the secret her mother has spent a lifetime hiding. She vows to remain silent, but when her mother dies, she must decide: will she pass on her mother's lie or will she expose h... by Lit Society: Books and Drama

83 min listen

The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley and Malcolm X: As always, before discussing this week's book, we discuss a theme inspired by the book. This week's theme is The Power of Traveling Abroad. Then, on to our story: Many have their opinions about him. But this is his story told in his own words, through a ... by Lit Society: Books and Drama

111 min listen

Nancy Drew and The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene: The theme this week is The Strange Case of a Podcast About Adnan Syed. Then, on to our story: Because two girls from her school are mean to her, one nosey Nancy seeks to ruin their family and leave them destitute. But how will this cautious Karen outwit ... by Lit Society: Books and Drama

86 min listen

S2E1: We're Back! Let's Catch up (No Book): After a lengthy and well-deserved winter break, we're back and ready to read, reflect, and roar with laughter! We're starting off our second season with book recommendations for people who hate reading (no judgment!). Then, we play a quick game of book t... by Lit Society: Books and Drama

54 min listen

Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries by Kory Stamper: Word up! Words have meaning, and behind every great definition is a pale, emaciated lexicographer melting away under the fire of language. What does "take" mean in "to take a nap," and how is that "take" different from "take" in "taken aback" or "take a... by Lit Society: Books and Drama

51 min listen

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah: Who raised you? The assumption is that our families shape who we become, but do our friends have more of an influence than we realize? In his autobiographical tale of being born and raised under apartheid in South Africa, Trevor Noah praises the people i... by Lit Society: Books and Drama

61 min listen

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman: The theme this week: The Benefits of Age-Gap Friendships. Sometimes having "old friends" means being friends with old people, and that's a great thing. Let's get into why elderly accomplices are good for our physical and mental health. Then, on to our bo... by Lit Society: Books and Drama

90 min listen

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead: The theme this week: reform schools and their history in America. We promise to keep it frank without depressing you, friend. Then, on to our book: The Nickel Boys tells the story of a promising young student, blessed with a sharp mind and an innocent he... by Lit Society: Books and Drama

89 min listen

Black Fortunes: The Story of the First Six African Americans Who Escaped Slavery and Became Millionaires by Shomari Wills: This week's theme: How to Find Success After Losing Your Job. This theme is inspired by this week's book: The country has just suffered a civil war. Households are divided, as is the nation. From the last generation of men and women born into slavery, an... by Lit Society: Books and Drama

116 min listen

Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid: The theme this week: We Heart 70s Rock. And before y'all start – no. We ain't nowhere near the age of those that created this music, but we love it nonetheless! Then it's on to our book: Comprised entirely of dialogue, this is the first-hand account of o... by Lit Society: Books and Drama

104 min listen

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë: The theme this week: How to Deal with Disappointment. The story: It is a tale of undying passion born of loneliness and shame, a type of force that consumes everything in its path and leaves only gloom and death in its wake. Did we mention the two who sh... by Lit Society: Books and Drama

76 min listen

James Bond: Casino Royale (Graphic Novel Adaptation) by Van Jensen, Ian Fleming, and Dennis Calero: This week we're discussing the real-life men and agents who inspired the fictional James Bond. These folks jumped out of planes fought Nazis while enduring chase and torture—incredible stuff. A suave super-spy with both daddy and mommy issues must use hi... by Lit Society: Books and Drama

84 min listen

Curtain by Agatha Christie: We'll cut to the chase. This week, we're teaching you how to convince someone they've committed a crime. Read that sentence again. That's right. We'll show you how to fake your family and friends into thinking they've done terrible things worthy of pris... by Lit Society: Books and Drama

64 min listen

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith: A tenacious entrepreneur finds herself facing one heartbreak after another. Down but not defeated, she puts her inherent skills to use by launching a detective agency. Her cases start with awol husbands, con-men, and disobedient daughters, but when a loc... by Lit Society: Books and Drama

64 min listen

Season Finale: The Meaning of Mariah Carey by Mariah Carey and Michaela Angela Davis: Mariah Carey is a girl from New York state whose mom was Irish and her father, Black. She has a brother and sister but no family. What she does have is the following: The most weeks at number one on Billboard's Hot 100 Chart for any artist in American h... by Lit Society: Books and Drama

84 min listen

Persuasion by Jane Austen: Our first author interview! Enjoy a discussion with THE Jane Austen where we pull no punches. And then on to our book – "Many receive advice, only the wise profit from it." But with all of our futures uncertain, how can we know if following good advice ... by Lit Society: Books and Drama

76 min listen

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata: As Beyoncé said, "This is for the 30-somethings that didn't turn out exactly how mom and dad wanted you to be." Convenience Store Woman is the deadpan tale of one woman's happy life in a simple occupation before conformity-obsessed friends, family member... by Lit Society: Books and Drama

84 min listen

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (Part 1): This week's theme is Do Ugly People Have Better Relationships, a subject on which there's no shortage of scientific studies. Harvard's most remarkable minds are on the case to figure out why Bennifer will never work while Danny DeVito has been in a commi... by Lit Society: Books and Drama

92 min listen

Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison: Freedom is knowing who you are while unobstructedly stretching toward your potential or something like that. Look, we're not as deep as Toni Morrison, but after reading this, the author's third novel, we were inspired to wax poetic about existential topi... by Lit Society: Books and Drama

95 min listen

Interview: Author Liz Moore Talks About the Real People Who Inspired Her Book, Long Bright River: AN EXTRA SPECIAL EPISODE: Acclaimed author Liz Moore joins us – US?! – to discuss her book, Long Bright River. This book has been on every list known to man, including Barry's. It involves two sisters left as casualties of the opioid crisis. One must fin... by Lit Society: Books and Drama

100 min listen

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman: Was it creepy when the great poet Billie Eilish waxed, "Let me hold you like a hostage"? Some folks are about that hostage life. So, what happens when your captor is totally chill, and all you can think about is going to see a movie with them before enjo... by Lit Society: Books and Drama

75 min listen

More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say) by Elaine Welteroth: In a memoir about standing up and standing out, one writer-slash-fashion editor must weave her way through society’s expectations, cheating boyfriends, and the racism, sexism, and doing-too-much-ism of corporate before finding she needs none of it to be ... by Lit Society: Books and Drama

82 min listen

White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo: A professional moderator turned author makes a living telling groups of listeners that the sky is blue, water is wet, and, yes, racism is a reality. A somewhat novel idea, she crafts her conversations with white, not black listeners in mind. She addresse... by Lit Society: Books and Drama

72 min listen

ReLIT: The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson (Part 2): If you watch us on YouTube or follow us on IG, you know how much we loved reading The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson. This book made us sit with the matriarchs of our family to learn their journeys, struggles, and successes. Not to be dramatic,... by Lit Society: Books and Drama

89 min listen

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking by Samin Nosrat: Like Google Maps on a long road trip, one top chef is helping us find our way through the endless recipes scattered inside of that junk drawer in our kitchen to the dish we're craving. That's right, by understanding just four cardinal directions of cooki... by Lit Society: Books and Drama

84 min listen

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds: A fiction writer and a historian walk into a bar and order a tall glass of racism. They then sit for days, simplifying the contents of their drink, removing all of the fluff, leaving only the truth. Finally, they serve the liquid in the form of a book to... by Lit Society: Books and Drama

66 min listen

Passing by Nella Larsen: This week, we're moving on up to the rooftop as Alexis takes us on a tour of the nation's top rooftop bars and restaurants. Then, it's on to our book: One woman finds her past sitting across a room, and, against her better judgment, she starts down a pat... by Lit Society: Books and Drama

79 min listen

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Black Fortunes: The Story of the First Six African Americans Who Escaped Slavery and Became Millionaires by Shomari Wills

Black Fortunes: The Story of the First Six African Americans Who Escaped Slavery and Became Millionaires by Shomari Wills

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