Steve Bertrand on Books: Courtney Maum

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-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} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-melanie-benjamin/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: MELANIE BENJAMIN [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-melanie-benjamin/] .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-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} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-melanie-benjamin/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: MELANIE BENJAMIN [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-melanie-benjamin/] .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-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} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-melanie-benjamin/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: MELANIE BENJAMIN [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-melanie-benjamin/] .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-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} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-melanie-benjamin/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: MELANIE BENJAMIN [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-melanie-benjamin/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Click for More [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/]

Steve Bertrand on Books: Melanie Benjamin

Chicago writer Melanie Benjamin has made a career out of writing historical fiction with stories that largely center around women. Put another way, Melanie has given us fictional accounts of our non-fiction world. In her latest, The Windsor Affair, she looks into the abdication of King Edward Vlll. It’s a story that’s been told many times, but not like this. The Windsor Affair focuses on the rivalry between Wallis Simpson and Queen Elizabeth, the woman we would later know as the Queen Mum. Melanie talks with Steve about her writing, her love of Chicago, and more. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8424319/Melanie_Benjamin_2026-06-01-215319.64kmono.mp3 [https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8424319/Melanie_Benjamin_2026-06-01-215319.64kmono.mp3] RECENT POSTS STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS 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} https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-melanie-benjamin/ STEVE BERTRAND ON BOOKS: MELANIE BENJAMIN [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/steve-bertrand-on-books-melanie-benjamin/] .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Click for More [https://wgnradio.com/steve-bertrand-on-books/]