Mentioned in Podcasts
John Grisham
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John Grisham's book recommendations

Key facts

  • John Grisham has recommended or discussed 7 books on podcasts, as of October 1, 2026.
  • John Grisham has talked about books on 2 podcasts, as of October 1, 2026.
  • Those books came up in 2 episodes, as of October 1, 2026.
  • The book John Grisham has mentioned in the most episodes, not counting John Grisham's own, as of October 1, 2026: The Children Act.
  • The latest episode with a book mention from John Grisham aired on October 1, 2026.

Updated

Guest on The Mel Robbins Podcast, The Book Review · 7 books · 2 episodes across 2 podcasts

John Grisham has also written 20 books: see Books by John Grisham.

Across 2 podcasts. Every show John Grisham appears on, in one place — not just one.

John Ray Grisham Jr. is an American writer, lawyer, and former politician, known for his best-selling legal thrillers. According to the American Academy of Achievement, Grisham has written 37 consecutive number-one fiction bestsellers, and his books have sold 300 million copies worldwide. Along with Tom Clancy and J. K. Rowling, Grisham is one of only three Anglophone authors to have sold two million copies on the first printing. Appearing on The Mel Robbins Podcast, Grisham discussed the origins and creation of his famous novels. He described writing his very first novel, A Time to Kill, noting how the manuscript was excessively long at nearly a thousand pages and was inspired by a harrowing courtroom experience. He also detailed the rapid writing process behind his subsequent thriller, The Firm, explaining how he transitioned straight to it in early 1987 and later shared the wild story of how a bootleg manuscript circulated in Hollywood, ultimately leading to a film rights sale to Paramount Pictures for six hundred thousand dollars. Finally, Grisham discussed rushing back to Oxford, Mississippi, to write around the clock to finish The Pelican Brief to maintain his pace of publishing a book every year.

Books recommended by John Grisham

Who said what is determined automatically. In hand-checked samples, at least 6% of mentions were credited to the wrong speaker — sometimes an interviewer’s line recorded as the guest’s, sometimes the reverse. Every entry below quotes the words and links to the episode, so you can check it.

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  1. The Firm

    John Grisham · Discussed · 1 episode

    The Firm by John Grisham is a gripping legal thriller published in 1991 that follows a young lawyer who joins a prestigious firm, only to discover it is a front for the mafia.

    Discussed
    “And so that's how the firm got started. And as soon as I finished the time to kill, writing a time to kill in early 1987, I went straight to the firm.”
    The Mel Robbins Podcast How to Reinvent Yourself and Start a New Chapter 2026-10-01
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  2. A Time to Kill

    John Grisham · Discussed · 1 episode

    A Time to Kill by John Grisham is a bestselling legal thriller about a racially charged murder trial in Mississippi that explores profound themes of justice, revenge, and prejudice.

    Discussed
    “And as I was writing the time to kill my first novel, which is a tough book to write, tough book to read, tough book to get through, I wanted something and that would be more fun to write and read.”
    The Mel Robbins Podcast How to Reinvent Yourself and Start a New Chapter 2026-10-01
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  3. The Innocent Man

    John Grisham · Discussed · 1 episode

    Discussed
    “I wrote a non-fiction book 10 years ago called the innocent man”
    The Book Review John Grisham on 'The Whistler' 2016-11-04 Listen at 5:37
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  4. A Painted House

    John Grisham · Discussed · 1 episode

    Discussed
    “the first time I did it was a childhood Memoir called a painted house that was published I know 15 years ago”
    The Book Review John Grisham on 'The Whistler' 2016-11-04 Listen at 11:43
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  5. Skipping Christmas

    John Grisham · Discussed · 1 episode

    Discussed
    “and so I wrote a book called skipping Christmas which was my first effort to be just as funny as I wanted to be”
    The Book Review John Grisham on 'The Whistler' 2016-11-04 Listen at 11:53
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  6. The Children Act

    Ian McEwan · Discussed · 1 episode

    The Children Act by Ian McEwan is a compelling contemporary novel that examines complex legal, ethical, and personal dilemmas surrounding a judge presiding over a delicate family court case involving a refusing minor.

    Discussed
    “Ian McKuen said um before writing the children act not his most recent novel but the one before uh the current novel that he spent a lot of time in Family Court”
    The Book Review John Grisham on 'The Whistler' 2016-11-04 Listen at 7:28
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  7. The Pelican Brief

    John Grisham · Discussed · 1 episode

    The Pelican Brief by John Grisham is a legal thriller novel that follows a young law student who uncovers a dangerous conspiracy involving the assassinations of two Supreme Court justices.

    Discussed
    “So I hustled back to Oxford, Mississippi, where we lived at the time and wrote around the clock to finish the Pelican brief to have it out in time to publish in 92 a year later.”
    The Mel Robbins Podcast How to Reinvent Yourself and Start a New Chapter 2026-10-01
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

Books by John Grisham

20 books John Grisham wrote, best known first. What podcasts say about them →

Appearances

EpisodePodcastDateBooks
How to Reinvent Yourself and Start a New ChapterThe Mel Robbins Podcast2026-10-018
John Grisham on 'The Whistler'The Book Review2016-11-045