Jack Edwards and Ocean Vuong make the case for why writing — and reading — matter most in the age of AI

👂 If you spend any time in the corners of the internet where people talk about books, you already know Jack Edwards — booktuber, book blogger, and literary editor at Esquire, humbly known as the internet’s resident librarian. His podcast, The Inklings Book Club, kicked off in September 2025 and has been building a strong guest list: think Claire Foy, George Saunders, Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi, Andy Weir, Lily King, and more.

What to expect: Through weekly episodes, The Inklings Book Club dissects all things reading, literature, and publishing — and everything that branches out from those: identity, culture, creativity, tech, and what it means to create something. Edwards is a natural host; the conversations feel unhurried and genuinely curious, never formulaic.

In one episode, Edwards sits down with Ocean Vuong — author of On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous and his newest novel, The Emperor of Gladness — for an hour-plus conversation that covers his Buddhist reflections on legacy and attachment, the premise and inspirations behind The Emperor of Gladness, his deep-seated love of paperbacks, a sharp and honest reckoning with AI and what it actually costs us to outsource writing to machines, and a pointed interrogation of the concept of the “great American novel” and the amnesia it depends on.

What we liked: This is a thorough, generous episode that gives you a real sense of two people who genuinely wanted to be in the room together. Vuong is as compelling to listen to as he is to read. The AI segment stands out: his argument that writing is “the thumbprint of your selfhood manifested linguistically” and that offloading it to a machine means offloading something irreplaceable lands with the kind of clarity that stays with you. Edwards, for his part, is an excellent foil — prepared, curious, and unafraid to push. The conversation segues smoothly between topics, with each thread connecting to the last, and the hour flies.

The verdict: Reader or not, literateur or not, this one has something for you. The literary scaffolding is there, but the observations Vuong and Edwards reach together — on legacy, creativity, technology, and national identity — apply well beyond the bookshelf. The passion is palpable, and the runtime felt half as long as it was.

WHERE TO LISTEN- You can tune in on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Anghami.