Hello and welcome to the book review. I'm M.J. Franklin. I'm an editor here at the New York Times

book review, back with our May Book Club discussion. This week, we're chatting about transcription

by Ben Lerner. We chose his book for Book Club for a few reasons. First, it's the return of Ben

Lerner. How could we not speak about it? Ben has written a series

of acclaimed philosophical books, including the Topeka School, which was a New York Times best book of

2019, and 1004, which was a New York Times best book of the 21st century so far. A new Ben Lerner

book is an event, period, and we wanted to dive in.

So that's the first reason. The second reason is Ben Lerner's new book, transcription, is,

I think, a puzzle box of a book. It's a book that seems to continually unfold with new layers,

and as such, it's a book that demands to be discussed. And so we are here to dive in,

and joining me on that adventure are two of my esteemed colleagues. First, we have Greg Cole

as an editor here at the Book Review, and a returning book clubber. Greg, welcome back. Thank you,

MJ. Glad to be here. Also with us is Alexander Jacobs, a staff critic here at the book review, and also the person who reviewed transcription for us.

Alexandra, welcome. Thank you so much for having me. I was realizing this is not only the first episode of the book club I've been on, it's actually the first book club I've ever attended.

Whether I know that the book club's just a name and that this is a

virtual book club. However, I've never once been to a book club. Listeners didn't see me gesticulating wildly

and confusion. This is your first book club ever? It's my first book club ever. I might be

philosophically opposed to them. Tell me your thoughts. How are you feeling? Tell me. I feel fine now.

Not philosophically. I mean, I support them, of course. Tell me your thoughts. How are you feeling? No, I feel fine now.

Not philosophically. I mean, I support them, of course. I actually, my parents used to have one,

as I recall. My father was a psychiatrist, and he would convene fellow doctors in their living room to have one. So I would walk past it.

Can we join that book club?

...