Steve Bertrand on Books: Melanie Benjamin

Steve Bertrand on Books: Ben Reeves

Ben Reeves has written a beautiful debut novel about…death. Travis seems like an ordinary guy; he’s single and lives alone with his cat in his apartment. But his job is to be with us when we die. Some of us recognize him at that moment while others don’t. Either way, Reeves’ accounts of their deaths remind us that ours is coming. But…don’t let that get you down. In the end, readers will be uplifted by the wonderful novel. In learning that death is everywhere, we realize that life is, too. Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt deserves to be the word-of-mouth book of the summer. Listen to our chat and then read the book! https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8495957/Ben_Reeves_2026-07-07-193057.64kmono.mp3 [https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8495957/Ben_Reeves_2026-07-07-193057.64kmono.mp3] RECENT POSTS STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-ben-reeves/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: BEN REEVES [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-ben-reeves/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-courtney-maum/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: COURTNEY MAUM [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-courtney-maum/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-bobby-finger/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: BOBBY FINGER [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-bobby-finger/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-lisa-see/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: LISA SEE [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-lisa-see/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-phil-melanson/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: PHIL MELANSON [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-phil-melanson/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Click for More [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/]

Steve Bertrand on Books: Courtney Maum

You have too much stuff and Alan Anderson is the guy who convinced you to buy it. Now he sees the error of his ways and he’s shunned his worldly goods, living in a shed in his backyard and bathing in Long Island Sound. That’s the notion behind this very funny novel from Courtney Maum: Alan Opts Out. While advertising executive Alan is clearing out the clutter, his wife is collecting more. Maum tells us what we all know: we’re too consumed with consumerism. Maybe Alan has the right idea? Courtney laughs along with Steve as she speaks…from a shed in her backyard. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8481878/Courtney_Maum_2026-06-29-185618.64kmono.mp3 [https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8481878/Courtney_Maum_2026-06-29-185618.64kmono.mp3] RECENT POSTS STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-ben-reeves/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: BEN REEVES [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-ben-reeves/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-courtney-maum/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: COURTNEY MAUM [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-courtney-maum/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-bobby-finger/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: BOBBY FINGER [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-bobby-finger/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-lisa-see/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: LISA SEE [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-lisa-see/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-phil-melanson/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: PHIL MELANSON [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-phil-melanson/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Click for More [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/]

Steve Bertrand on Books: Bobby Finger

You might know Bobby Finger from his two earlier novels, The Old Place and Four Squares, or maybe you follow his podcast, Who? Weekly, where he and his cohost Lindsey Weber keep track of would-be celebrities so you won’t have to. His latest novel is We Are Gathered Here Today, where he returns to Texas for a funny and meaningful look at marriage: gay, straight, or whatever. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8471410/Bobby_Finger_2026-06-23-195210.64kmono.mp3 [https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8471410/Bobby_Finger_2026-06-23-195210.64kmono.mp3] RECENT POSTS STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-ben-reeves/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: BEN REEVES [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-ben-reeves/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-courtney-maum/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: COURTNEY MAUM [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-courtney-maum/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-bobby-finger/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: BOBBY FINGER [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-bobby-finger/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-lisa-see/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: LISA SEE [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-lisa-see/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-phil-melanson/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: PHIL MELANSON [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-phil-melanson/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Click for More [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/]

Steve Bertrand on Books: Lisa See

New York Times bestselling author Lisa See’s latest book is Daughters of the Sun and Moon. Publisher’s Weekly calls it one of the best books of the summer. She talks with Steve about the little-known story of the 1870 massacre of Chinese immigrants in what was then a small, dusty and very dangerous Los Angeles. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8453685/Lisa_See_2026-06-15-210625.64kmono.mp3 [https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8453685/Lisa_See_2026-06-15-210625.64kmono.mp3] RECENT POSTS STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-ben-reeves/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: BEN REEVES [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-ben-reeves/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-courtney-maum/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: COURTNEY MAUM [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-courtney-maum/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-bobby-finger/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: BOBBY FINGER [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-bobby-finger/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-lisa-see/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: LISA SEE [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-lisa-see/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-phil-melanson/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: PHIL MELANSON [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-phil-melanson/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Click for More [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/]

Steve Bertrand on Books: Phil Melanson

In this week’s podcast, Steve catches up with author Phil Melanson as he teaches in London. Phil is the author of Florenzer…it’s a great account of life in Medici Florence told through the lives of Lorenzo de Medici, Francesco Salviati and Leonardo de Vinci. The book is now in paperback. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8442199/Phil_Melanson_2026-06-10-014339.64kmono.mp3 [https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8442199/Phil_Melanson_2026-06-10-014339.64kmono.mp3] RECENT POSTS STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-ben-reeves/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: BEN REEVES [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-ben-reeves/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-courtney-maum/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: COURTNEY MAUM [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-courtney-maum/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-bobby-finger/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: BOBBY FINGER [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-bobby-finger/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-lisa-see/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: LISA SEE [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-lisa-see/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-phil-melanson/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: PHIL MELANSON [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-phil-melanson/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Click for More [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/]