The Open Book Podcast
with David Steinberger

A behind-the-scenes look at books and publishing

Join us for wide-ranging discussions with publishers, editors, authors, journalists, thinkers, executives, and other makers of culture, hosted by David Steinberger, CEO of Open Road Media and Chairman of the National Book Foundation.

Listen Now:

9,400 Miles

Amandeep Kochar

Owner and CEO, Baker & Taylor

From India to America, entrepreneurial CEO Amandeep Kochar’s fascinating career spans LiveNation, McGraw Hill, and Baker & Taylor—the nearly 200-year-old business serving libraries with both physical books and digital services.

INTERVIEWED ON: August 28th, 2024

Books discussed:

All the Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss

From soaring to high heights and seeing great sights to being left in a Lurch on a prickle-ly perch, Dr. Seuss addresses life’s ups and downs with his trademark humorous verse and whimsical illustrations.
The inspiring and timeless message encourages readers to find the success that lies within, no matter what challenges they face. A perennial favorite for anyone starting a new phase in their life!

Factfulness by Hans Rosling with Anna Rosling Rönnlund and Ola Rosling

Factfulness reveals the ten instincts that distort our perspective—from our tendency to divide the world into two camps (usually some version of us and them) to the way we consume media (where fear rules) to how we perceive progress (believing that most things are getting worse).

Vipers’ Tangle by Francois Mauriac

From its bitter beginning as a hate-filled letter to an estranged wife to its harrowing, untimely conclusion, Vipers’ Tangle is an absorbing tale of pride and passion. With the remarkable subtlety combined with sudden recklessness which marks all his fiction, Mauriac reveals the mundane events, details, and personalities of the story as a series of spiritual and psychological battles against God, family, and self—as Monsieur Louis is caught betwixt the lure of sin and the sublime workings of grace.

Jeet and Fudge: Forever Friends by Amandeep Kochar

Feeling a bit lonely, Jeet and his mom start volunteering at a local animal shelter, where Jeet meets Fudge―a playful, affectionate puppy who quickly becomes his best friend. Together, they embark on a journey of friendship, kindness, and community spirit that transforms Jeet’s world.