Author's Bibliographies

Are you a fan of a beach read? This episode takes it to a new level. Imagine being stranded on a deserted island and you have tons of books, but you can only choose three authors. This episode covers the authors the hosts would select, plus the typical random tangents and trivia. Take a journey with them to a deserted island and see which host you agree with the most.

We are including links to the books and other items mentioned. These affiliate links won't cost you any additional money, but will provide some pennies for the hosts to carry on with their new hobby. Thanks for your support!

Intro Chat about Reading Habits and Current Events

Want to watch the news clip featuring Alex? We've linked the clip featuring where Alex doesn't shout out the podcast here. Enjoy!

If you want to explore the book that Mitch didn't love in his book club, grab a copy here.

The memoir Justin referred to in the intro is Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story by Jacob Tobia.

Audiodramas were mentioned, and although they don't really fall into the book category, you can check out Mitch's top recommendation and see what you think.

Alex mentioned the literacy rate in the US, and there are a few interesting articles if you want to dive in a bit deeper:

• LitHub found that most Americans read fewer than 4 books in 2025.

• A University of Florida study shows that reading for pleasure has dropped year after year.

• A few answers to the question: Why Reading Matters?

Hopefully, this episode gives you some new authors to explore or new books to check out. If you don't have a library card, go visit your local library today. You'll gain access to free audiobooks, e-books, and the standard physical copies, and it's a great time to show support for these incredible institutions.

We've always included links to order everything, and we've organized the full list here on Bookshop.org, so your purchase supports a local independent bookshop.

Mitch's Desert Island Authors:

Mitch is a fan of audiobooks and sprinkles in a few physical copies each year. He averages 12-15 books per year and prefers the fantasy/sci-fi genres (or as he calls them, the "nerdy" categories).

Michael Crichton

Famous for creating the world of Jurassic Park, this American author is Mitch's first pick. He has a large pop-culture footprint with many of his books turned into movies. He has written 29 novels under multiple pen names and sold over 200 million copies. Jurassic Park changed the way Mitch read books when he first picked it up in his teenage years.

Start with Jurassic Park

Other books mentioned: Sphere, Congo, Airframe, and Lost World

J. R. R. Tolkien

J.R.R. Tolkien is considered the "father of fantasy." He's an English author and philologist (a linguistics expert). His first job after World War I was with the Oxford English Dictionary, where he worked primarily on words beginning with W. This is evident in his books, which create full worlds and languages. These have turned into films that are incredibly popular (although the hosts were split a bit on the movies).

Start with The Hobbit

Other books mentioned: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The World of Tolkien, and collections of his poetry

Philip K. Dick

Not only does this American science fiction writer have 45 novels, but he has also written a huge collection of short stories. One of the most popular is We Can Remember It for You Wholesale which was adapted into the Total Recall movies. Quantity has been an important factor when selecting author bibliographies for the desert island.

Start with Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

Other books mentioned: Ubik and Man in the High Castle

Alex's Desert Island Authors:

Alex is an audiobook guy. While he prefers a paperback for beach reads, the majority of the books he reads each year are on his headphones. He averages 30-40 books each year and gravitates through fantasy books to help escape the real world.

Terry Pratchett

The English author Sir Terence David John Pratchett is best known for the Discworld series, which comprises 41 fantasy novels. Alex describes him as prolific, hilarious, a great beach read, and different than anyone else he's ever read. The Discworld includes the bulk of his work, and if you want to read the entire series, start at book one, but you can jump in at any point.

Start with Mort

Other books mentioned: Good Omens, The Color of Magic, and the entire Discworld Series

Patricia Highsmith

This American novelist is the only female author on the list. She's well-known for psychological thrillers and is an excellent slow-burn crime writer. Many of her works have been turned into Hollywood projects. The Talented Mr. Ripley is a popular movie, but Alex recommends the TV series Ripley because it's closer to the series than the movie is.

Start with Strangers on a Train

Other books mentioned: The Talented Mr. Ripley and the full Ripley series

Joe Abercrombie

Alex saved his favorite author for his third pick. He loves this author so much that he named his dog after a character from one of his stories. This British author is known for epic, fantasy books. He takes typical tropes and turns them on their heads. He's known for 9 books and a collection of short stories, all set in one world. There's a trilogy, followed by three standalone books, and then a second trilogy. With new books still in development, this author isn't done yet. James Cameron has purchased the rights to the newest book, The Devils.

Start with Best Served Cold (which Alex described as Ocean's 11 meets Kill Bill)

Other books mentioned: The Devils, The Blade Itself, The Age of Madness Trilogy, and The First Law Trilogy

Justin's Desert Island Authors:

Justin is on his own with his preference for reading physical books. He gets through around 25-30 each year, and only a handful are listened to. Most of his reading is done first thing in the morning, while he drinks coffee, before he opens his computer or checks his phone. His tastes are a little more varied, with horror, humor, and contemporary fiction.

Kurt Vonnegut

The late, great American satirist is one of Justin's favorite authors. With 14 novels, 16 short story collections, and dozens of plays and articles to bring along to the island, there's tons of new material plus many that make excellent rereads. The author excels at using dark humor and draws from his own challenging times to create engaging, entertaining stories and characters.

Start with Sirens of Titans

Other books mentioned: Mother Night, Cat's Cradle, and Slaughterhouse Five

Stephen King

When you talk about quantity, no one beats Stephen King. With 60 novels and countless short stories, Justin would be entertained for a long time. He enjoys the horror genre, which King is famous for. In addition to horror, he writes supernatural stories, and the next on Justin's list is his memoir, which tells about his life and his craft as a writer. This is another author with tons of Hollywood projects inspired by his stories, but he doesn't love many of the adaptations.

Start with Carrie

Other books mentioned: Rose Madder, The Institute, On Writing (the memoir), Cujo, and The Green Mile

Fredrik Backman

This Swedish author and columnist is the youngest on the whole list, but that didn't stop Justin. Hopefully, this means there will be many more books from this author. He has 12 novels so far. Backman is excellent at developing characters that you connect with. All his books are translated from Swedish, and many have already been developed into Hollywood projects.

Start with Beartown (the beginning of a trilogy, but an excellent standalone book)

Other books mentioned: Anxious People, My Friends, and A Man Called Ove

Final Notes

If you want to vote for your favorites, follow along on Instagram.

Comment and tell us your desert island authors, or send us a DM. Thanks for listening!