Our old buddy Kit Chapman joins us to tell us all about his new book, which looks at the global quest to achieve immortality, cure all disease and transmute lead into gold as he reveals the illuminating stories of how the alchemists first broke new ground and shaped the scientific method.

Patreon members get extra time: 15 more minutes, in which you get to see behind the scenes and find out how the book was written. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/15MinuteBookClub

Pre-order The Age of Alchemy: The Secret History of Chemistry from Ancient Magic to Modern Science by Kit Chapman at our Bookshop.org shop. Support authors, indie bookshops and us!

UK Link - Out on 30 Apr 2026: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16621/9781805221159

US Link - Out on 20 OCT 2026: https://bookshop.org/a/118682/9781778404177

Visit our Bookshop with books from all of our guests via the links below:

(UK) https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

(US) https://bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

Patreon members get extra time: 15 more minutes, in which you get to see behind the scenes and find out how the book was written. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/15MinuteBookClub

Watch the video version: https://www.youtube.com/@15MinuteBook_Club

Buy [INSERT BOOK TITLE] at our Bookshop.org shop. Support authors, indie bookshops and us!

UK Link:

US Link:

Visit our Bookshop with books from all of our guests via the links below:

(UK) https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

(US) https://bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

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In August 1940, a man walked into Leon Trotsky's study in Mexico City and drove an ice pick into his skull. While the death of Trotsky is well known, the paths taken to that fateful day in Mexico City are not, and Josh Ireland had an incredible story tell, but can he convince you to buy his book in just 15 minutes?

Patreon members get extra time: 15 more minutes, in which you get to see behind the scenes and find out how the book was written. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/15MinuteBookClub

Buy The Death of Trotsky by Josh Ireland at our Bookshop.org shop. Support authors, indie bookshops and us!

UK Link: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16621/9781399827294

US Link: https://bookshop.org/a/118682/9780593187104

Visit our Bookshop with books from all of our guests via the links below:

(UK) https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

(US) https://bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

0:00 Welcome to the 15 Minute Book Club

1:27 Introducing Our Guest: Josh Ireland

2:20 The Life of Leon Trotsky

6:02 Trotsky's Rivalry with Stalin

12:09 The Plot to Kill Trotsky

13:53 The Assassin: Ramon Mercader

16:37 The Relevance of Trotsky Today

Patreon members get extra time: 15 more minutes, in which you get to see behind the scenes and find out how the book was written. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/15MinuteBookClub

Watch the video version: https://www.youtube.com/@15MinuteBook_Club

Buy [INSERT BOOK TITLE] at our Bookshop.org shop. Support authors, indie bookshops and us!

UK Link:

US Link:

Visit our Bookshop with books from all of our guests via the links below:

(UK) https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

(US) https://bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

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Congressman Charles C. Diggs Jr. led a political career spanning from1951 to 1980. He was the only federal official to attend the trial of Emmett Till's killers, worked behind the scenes with Martin Luther King Jr., and founded the Congressional Black Caucus. Brown University's Prof. Marion Orr, author of a new biography of Diggs, House of Diggs, has just 15 minutes to convince you to learn more and buy his book.

Patreon members get extra time: 15 more minutes, in which you get to see behind the scenes and find out how the book was written. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/15MinuteBookClub

Buy House of Diggs: The Rise and Fall of America's Most Consequential Black Congressman, Charles C. Diggs, Jr at the links below:

UK Link: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/House-of-Diggs-by-Marion-Orr/9781469689326

US Link: https://uncpress.org/9781469689326/house-of-diggs/

Visit our Bookshop with books from all of our guests via the links below:

(UK) https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

(US) https://bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

Patreon members get extra time: 15 more minutes, in which you get to see behind the scenes and find out how the book was written. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/15MinuteBookClub

Watch the video version: https://www.youtube.com/@15MinuteBook_Club

Buy [INSERT BOOK TITLE] at our Bookshop.org shop. Support authors, indie bookshops and us!

UK Link:

US Link:

Visit our Bookshop with books from all of our guests via the links below:

(UK) https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

(US) https://bookshop.org/shop/15MinuteBookClub

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.