NielsenIQ BookData's The Bestsellers podcast

Available Episodes

5 of 10

#10 — May 2025 bestsellers + cookbook sales and trends
Philip and Belle count down the top 20 bestselling books in the UK in the month of May (01.35), reveal their "Beyond the Bestsellers" picks (11.14) and, in "Under the Spotlight", discuss what cookbooks have been selling like hot cakes (21.40). Along they way they discuss football memoirs, air fryers, an international superhit, the ultimate BBQ side dish, video-game inspired cookbooks and celebrate a writer with an enviable Sunday Times number one record. Books featured in this episode that can be purchased at all good booksellers include: — Jamie Oliver's Easy Air Fryer— Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club— The Highway Code— Snoop Dogg's From Crook to Cook: Platinum Recipes From Tha Boss Dog's Kitchen— David Attenborough and Colin Butfield's OceanFor more information about who we are and what we do, visit NielsenBook.co.uk. Follow Nielsen Book on X (@bookdata), Linkedin (@nielsenbookdata) and Instagram (@nielsenbook). Get in touch with Philip and Belle at [email protected] hosted by Philip Stone and Belle Edelman, and produced and edited by Chris White. Theme music by Nela Ruiz. Thanks for listening!
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43:09
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43:09
#9 — April 2025 Bestsellers + who buys books?
This episode's Spotlight segment features a special guest, NielsenIQ BookData's expert on Books and Consumers research, Steve Bohme. Steve sits down with Belle to discuss book purchasing behaviour in the UK and the various interconnected factors behind individual purchases. Prior to that, Philip and Belle count down the UK's top 20 bestselling books in the month of April (01.45) and reveal their "Beyond the Bestsellers" picks (10.31). Along the way they discuss the surge in paperback fiction sales brought in by warmer weather, how the passing of Pope Francis influenced the book charts, and how two former members of pop band McFly are now bestselling children's authors. Belle also receives a rude awakening that she has worked in the book industry for a decade.Books featured in this episode that can be purchased from all good booksellers include:— Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall— Conclave by Robert Harris — Hope by Pope Francis— Gary Stevenson's The Trading Game— Little Easter Bunnies by Martha Mumford. — The Cat Who Saved the Library by Sosuke Nagawe— Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams— BBC Proms Guide 2025For more information about who we are and what we do, visit NielsenBook.co.uk. Follow Nielsen Book on X (@bookdata), Linkedin (@nielsenbookdata) and Instagram (@nielsenbook). Get in touch with Philip and Belle at [email protected] hosted by Philip Stone and Belle Edelman, and produced and edited by Chris White. Theme music by Nela Ruiz. Thanks for listening!
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50:19
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50:19
#8 — March 2025 bestsellers + international book sales
Philip and Belle count down the UK's top 20 bestselling books in the month of March (01.40), reveal their "Beyond the Bestsellers" picks (10.27), and discuss international markets and bestsellers in "Under the Spotlight" (23.14). Along the way they discuss the huge sales of the fifth Hunger Games novel, how TV adaptations impact book sales, the global popularity of puzzle books, and bookshelf aesthetics. Belle also ranks her favourite Beatles and Philip finally pronounces Dav Pilkey's first name correctly (as in "Dave"). Link to Ash Sarkar's "I'm a communist" momentLink to The Bookseller's article about books' exclusions from Trump's tariffsLink to The Bookseller's article on "sporror" Link to The Sunday Times bestseller lists Books featured in this episode that can be purchased from all good booksellers include:— Donna Ashworth's To the Women— Morgan Housel's The Psychology of Money— Joël Dicker's Wild Animal— James Clear's Atomic Habits— Ian Leslie's John and Paul: A Love Story in SongsFor more information about who we are and what we do, visit NielsenBook.co.uk. Follow Nielsen Book on X (@bookdata), Linkedin (@nielsenbookdata) and Instagram (@nielsenbook). Get in touch with Philip and Belle at [email protected] hosted by Philip Stone and Belle Edelman, and produced and edited by Chris White. Theme music by Nela Ruiz. Thanks for listening!
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53:51
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53:51
#7 — February 2025 bestsellers + World Book Day
Philip and Belle count down the UK's top 20 bestselling books in the month of February (04.03), reveal their "Beyond the Bestsellers" picks (13.18), and discuss World Book Day in "Under the Spotlight" (23.34). Along the way they discuss the huge popularity of Bluey, World Book Day costumes, the enduring success of Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and get all nostalgic reminiscing about Choose Your Own Adventure books, the life of Steve Irwin, and a Chinese restaurant in Chesterfield.Link to Bluey: Rug Island episode pageLink to World Book Day websiteLink to BBC article: World Book Day: How to make a last-minute costumeBooks featured in this episode that can be purchased from all good booksellers include:— Julia Donaldson's Tales from Acorn Wood: Who's in Acord Wood?— Jon Klassen's I Want My Hat Back— Tom Fletcher's There's a Bunny in Your Book— Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory— Stephenie Meyer's TwilightFor more information about who we are and what we do, visit NielsenBook.co.uk. Follow Nielsen Book on X (@bookdata), Linkedin (@nielsenbookdata) and Instagram (@nielsenbook). Get in touch with Philip and Belle at [email protected] hosted by Philip Stone and Belle Edelman, and produced and edited by Chris White. Theme music by Nela Ruiz. Thanks for listening!
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48:49
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48:49
#6 — January 2025 bestsellers + New Year, New You
Philip and Belle count down the UK's top 20 bestselling books in the month of January (02.21), reveal their "Beyond the Bestsellers" picks (11.24), and discuss New Year, New You season in "Under the Spotlight" (24.39). Along the way they discuss the record-breaking sales of a new fantasy novel, the dramatic rise in sales of personal development titles over the past decade, books that change your life, Plato, Stoicism, linocut Christmas cards, and get all nostalgic looking back at diet fads in years gone by (The Dukan Diet! Dr Atkins! GI Hip and Thigh!). Link to The Guardian's article on the rise in childhood anxiety Link to The Bookseller's article on sales of Rebecca Yarros's Onyx Storm Link to Knowledge at Wharton: Life Hacks from Marcus AureliusLink to Exupery Design's New Year's Resolutions Generator Books featured in this episode that can be purchased from all good booksellers include:— Jamie Oliver's Easy Air Fryer— Jennie Godfrey's The List of Suspicious Things— Coco Wyo's Girl Moments— Daniel Levitin's Music as Medicine— Anthony Kessel's American MysteryFor more information about who we are and what we do, visit NielsenBook.co.uk. Follow Nielsen Book on X (@bookdata), Linkedin (@nielsenbookdata) and Instagram (@nielsenbook). Get in touch with Philip and Belle at [email protected] hosted by Philip Stone and Belle Edelman, and produced and edited by Chris White. Theme music by Nela Ruiz. Thanks for listening!
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44:40
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44:40