Chapter One: My Story | In The Good Books with Luke Bateman

From the NRL field to overnight BookTok fame, Luke Bateman shares his personal journey to be a 'open book' about his deep passion for reading. In The Good Books is a weekly podcast that serves as a community for those who believe in the power of a good story. Each week, Luke Bateman shares the books that have shaped his world, from timeless classics to buzzy bestsellers. He’ll also sit down with the most fascinating voices in the literary world — from bestselling authors to emerging new talent — as they reveal the inspirations behind their work. This is more than a book club; it's a space to explore how the stories we consume influence the lives we lead. _________________________________________ 00:00:00 Welcome to "In the Good Books" 00:01:12 Creating a book club community with you 00:01:34 Luke's childhood Story 00:02:40 Growing up in Western Queensland meant no magic 00:04:13 Finding Home in the Fantasy Genre 00:05:53 The Shame of Reading Fantasy as a Boy 00:07:48 The Secrecy of My Private Thing 00:09:59 Finding the courage at age 30 00:12:25 Books that gave Luke the power to change 00:13:58 Why reading is Important for boys and men 00:18:03 Finding Community on BookTok 00:21:38 Getting a Book Deal 00:23:43 The joy of writing 00:24:32 Why a Podcast 00:26:15 Share Your Story: Listener Voice Memos