The 15 Minute Book Club

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/15MinuteBookClubBuy 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/16621/9780300283952US Link: https://bookshop.org/a/118682/9780300283952Visit 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

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/15MinuteBookClubBuy 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/16621/9781800245426US Link: https://bookshop.org/a/118682/9781541619982Visit 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/15MinuteBookClubYou 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

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/15MinuteBookClubPreorder 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/16621/9781785307706Visit 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

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/15MinuteBookClubBuy 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/16621/9780857509710US Link (26 May): https://bookshop.org/a/118682/9780802168078Visit 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

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/15MinuteBookClubBuy 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/16621/9781785909894There 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/06OJiXPKVisit 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

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/15MinuteBookClubBuy Len Deighton's Bomber at our Bookshop.org shop. Support authors, indie bookshops and us!UK Link: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16621/9780241493700US Link: https://bookshop.org/a/118682/9780802161611Visit 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