Conversations with Tyler

Michael Orthofer on Why Fiction Matters

Michael Orthofer, one of the world’s most prolific book reviewers, joins Tyler Cowen for a conversation on — what else? — books. Read to discover why Michael believes everyone should read more fiction, how we should choose books, why American popular literature is overrated, what he thinks about authors like Herman Melville, Fyoder Dostoevsky, Goethe, J.K. Rowling, Arno Schmidt, and many others, his recommendations for the best sites for readers, why studying literature at college was such a big disappointment, how much book covers matter, and why his opinion will never be the final word. Check out the reader Q&amp;A <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U90WqmRwMA&amp;feature=youtu.be">here</a> and the Strand shopping video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyI0KBcHY4g&amp;feature=youtu.be">here</a>. Read a <a href="https://conversationswithtyler.com/episodes/michael-orthofer/">full transcript</a> enhanced with helpful links. Other ways to connect Follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/cowenconvos">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cowenconvos/?hl=en">Instagram</a> Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/tylercowen">Tyler</a> on Twitter  Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/MAOrthofer">Michael</a> on Twitter Email us: <a aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="menu" class="c-link" data-remove-tab-index="true" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-stringify-link="mailto:cowenconvos@mercatus.gmu.edu" href="mailto:cowenconvos@mercatus.gmu.edu" rel="noopener noreferrer" tabindex="-1" target="_blank">cowenconvos@mercatus.gmu.edu</a> <a href="https://www.mercatus.org/podcasts">Subscribe at our newsletter page</a> to have the latest Conversations with Tyler news sent straight to your inbox.

Tyler Cowen engages today’s deepest thinkers in wide-ranging explorations of their work, the world, and everything in between. New conversations every other Wednesday. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.