Baillie Gifford Prize

Tune into the latest episode of the Read Smart podcast, ‘Money Talks’ where our host Shahidha Bari speaks to economist Vicky Pryce and legal scholar Joan C Williams about the turbulent world of economics, where it stands in the non-fictional sphere and the state of our economy today. Our guests explore the reputation economics has as a science, as well as the position of women within this complex...

On 24th February, Russia invaded Ukraine. In the weeks since, we’ve heard horrifying tales of human rights abuses and families forced to flee their homes. Nevertheless, Ukrainian forces have managed to resist the Russian military for now, whilst Western nations have expressed their support, sending relief to Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia. In this month’s episode of Read Smart, we’re joi...

This month, our host Shahidha Bari is joined by food writer Bee Wilson and Tom Tivnan, managing editor of the Bookseller, to delve into the fascinating, complex and endlessly enjoyable genre of food writing. In this episode, Shahidha and our guests discuss the role the pandemic has played in the role of the cook book in our society, the controversial participation of celebrities in the genre and t...

Welcome back for another season of Read Smart - the podcast that explores the world of non-fiction and provides you with some behind-the-scenes insights into the prestigious Baillie Gifford Prize. In this episode Shahidha Bari discusses the biggest trends to watch out for in non-fiction publishing during 2022, with industry experts Matthew Hennessey, Non-Fiction Buyer at Waterstones and Alexis Kir...

Join us this week for the exciting winner episode, where our host Razia Iqbal speaks to the winner of this year’s prize, Patrick Radden Keefe about his work ‘Empire of Pain’ and how he feels in the days following this life-changing announcement. We’re also joined by some of our other incredible shortlisted authors live from the winners ceremony, which was generously supported by the Blavatnik Fami...

In our final shortlist episode of the Read Smart podcast, Harald Jähner, author of ‘Aftermath’ speaks to Toby Mundy about the tempestuous decade that followed German reconstruction between 1945-1955. The winner of the 2021 Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction will be announced at an event at the Science Museum, generously supported by the Blavatnik Family Foundation, on Tuesday 16 November. Read...

The next Baillie Gifford Prize shortlisted author on the Read Smart Podcast is Patrick Radden Keefe, who talks to Toby Mundy about the infamous legacy of the controversial Sackler Dynasty. The winner of the 2021 Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction will be announced at an event at the Science Museum, generously supported by the Blavatnik Family Foundation, on Tuesday 16 November. Read Smart Podca...

Listen to John Preston delve into his fascinatingly controversial book ‘Fall: The Mystery of Robert Maxwell’ with Toby Mundy in our Read Smart podcast, generously supported by the Blavatnik Family Foundation. The winner of the 2021 Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction will be announced at an event at the Science Museum, generously supported by the Blavatnik Family Foundation, on Tuesday 16 Novemb...

Next up on the Read Smart podcast is Kei Miller – shortlisted author of ‘Things I Have Withheld,’ who talks to Toby Mundy about the lyricism of non-fiction, alongside the silence in which the most important stories lurk. The winner of the 2021 Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction will be announced at an event at the Science Museum, generously supported by the Blavatnik Family Foundation, on Tuesd...

Shortlisted Baillie Gifford Prize author Lea Ypi speaks to Toby Mundy about her book ‘Free: Coming of Age at the End of History,’ alongside the complexity and ambiguity of identity. The winner of the 2021 Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction will be announced at an event at the Science Museum, generously supported by the Blavatnik Family Foundation, on Tuesday 16 November. Read Smart Podcast is c...

In the run up to the Baillie Gifford Prize winner announcement, Toby Mundy is in conversation with our six shortlisted authors in our Read Smart Podcast, generously supported by the Blavatnik Family Foundation. First up is Cal Flyn, author of ‘Islands of Abandonment: Life in the Post-Human Landscape,’ who talks to us about her work and the often underappreciated beauty of abandoned spaces. The win...

Our latest episode of the Read Smart podcast is out now. Join us this week for our shortlist episode, where we’re live from Cheltenham Literature Festival. Following the announcement of our shortlist on 15 October, our host Razia Iqbal speaks to chair of judges and Sunday Times literary editor Andrew Holgate, last year’s winner Craig Brown, as well as authors Elif Shafak, Colm Toibin and Anthony S...

Our latest episode of the Read Smart podcast is out now. Join us this week for our annual longlist episode. Our host Razia Iqbal is joined by two of our judges - historian, author, columnist and television presenter Dominic Sandbrook and historian and writer Kathryn Hughes. Together, Razia and our guests explore the depth and variety of the thirteen books on this year’s longlist, as well as which...

In our latest episode of the Read Smart podcast, host Toby Mundy is joined by founder of Daunt Books and managing director of Waterstones in the UK and Barnes and Nobile in the US, James Daunt alongside CEO and publisher of Grove Atlantic, Morgan Entrekin. Our two guests discuss American publishing, delving into the lasting consequences of the pandemic, the difference between US and UK bookselling...

In our latest episode of the Read Smart podcast, host Razia Iqbal is joined by sports journalist Alyson Rudd and novelist Boris Starling.  Together, Razia and our guests delve into the topic of sports writing and what truly makes a good sports book. Alyson and Boris speak on their own experiences with researching and commentating sport, as well as the complex nature of ghostwriting. The podcast cl...

This week, host Razia Iqbal is joined by biographer and previous Baillie Gifford Prize judge Frances Wilson and writer Jasper Rees. Jasper and Frances give us insight into their own experiences, their thoughts on what it takes to write a great biography and what biographers should leave on ‘the cutting room floor’. This episode was recorded and produced remotely. Find us on Twitter, Facebook and I...

In this episode of the Read Smart Podcast join host Razia Iqbal in conversation with Biographer Penny Junor and 2020 Baillie Gifford prize winner Craig Brown about the challenges and nuances of writing on the royal family, the hit TV show The Crown, and how they believe the Oprah Winfrey interview with Meghan and Harry has affected the royal family.

Books about health and the NHS have proved popular in the last few years, but in light of the events of last year and the ongoing effects of the Covid 19 pandemic, there is now a growing appetite for information and analysis around public health. In this week’s episode, host Razia Iqbal is in conversation with Madeleine Bunting, former Baillie Gifford Prize longlisted author for her book Labours o...

We're back with our host Razia Iqbal for a brand new season of the Read Smart podcast. This episode explores the art of political biography, reflecting on the boom we’ve seen in US political publishing over the last four years related to the impact of former President Trump. This episode was recorded and produced completely remotely. Read Smart Podcast is commissioned by The Baillie Gifford Prize...

Welcome to the Read Smart Baillie Gifford Prize 2020 winner episode! In this episode, podcast host Razia Iqbal is joined by winner Craig Brown. Together they discuss why Craig decided to write One Two Three Four: The Beatles in Time, the incredible impact of the band and what it was like to win the Baillie Gifford Prize. Read more about this year’s winner: https://bit.ly/2JjcHXb This episode was r...

In the lead up to the winner announcement on the 24th November we'll be celebrating each of the shortlisted books in a weekly mini-cast episode. In this episode of 'In Conversation' Kate and Toby discuss the life of Alma Fielding, her ghost story, and the well known 1930s ghost hunter Nandor Fodor. The 'In Conversation' mini-cast is commissioned by The Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction and is...

In the lead up to the winner announcement on the 24th November we'll be celebrating each of the shortlisted books in a weekly mini-cast episode. In this episode of 'In Conversation' Amy and Toby talk about what Tsuneno's life was like and the culture and traditions in 19th century Japan. The 'In Conversation' mini-cast is commissioned by The Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction and is generously...

In the lead up to the winner announcement on the 24th November we'll be celebrating each of the shortlisted books in a weekly mini-cast episode. Tune into this mini-cast episode with prize director Toby Mundy and Christina Lamb. In this episode of 'In Conversation' Christina and Toby discuss the silenced voices of women in war conflict zones and explore how rape is used in today's warfare. The 'In...

In the lead up to the winner announcement on the 24th November we'll be celebrating each of the shortlisted books in a weekly mini-cast episode. Tune into this mini-cast episode with prize director Toby Mundy and Sudhir Hazareesingh. In this episode of 'In Conversation' Sudhir  and Toby discuss how Sudhir came to write this biography and the lengthy process of compiling this world wide archival re...

In the lead up to the winner announcement on the 24th November we'll be celebrating each of the shortlisted books in a weekly mini-cast episode. Tune into this mini-cast episode with prize director Toby Mundy and Matthew Cobb. In this episode of 'In Conversation' Matthew Cobb and Toby Mundy discuss how different ideas about the brain have emerged and developed throughout the centuries. The 'In Con...