This summer I had the chance to attend the Edinburgh International Book Festival. I’ve been numerous times over the years but this time was my first with a media/ press pass. With this golden ticket, I was able to take in some wonderous events. This has truly been a highlight of my bookish journey so far and one of my favourite things to come from my writing as The Paperback Psychologist.

As August and the book festival progressed, I documented my journey on my Instagram page (@the_paperback_psychologist) and across my other social media channels. This blog post is a compilation of these posts: a photo album and some scribbles of a month rammed full of literature goodness.

2025 International Booker Prize: Meet the Winners Panel 15th August 2025

Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq, translated by Deepa Bhasthi (@deepabhasthi) was this year’s International Booker winner. Today’s panel celebrated the book and the art of translation. I’m sure many of us underestimate just how important the role of translation is. Indeed, this is recognised by @thebookerprizes with the prize shared equally between author and translator. They were joined today by 2025 judge Sana Goyal Kotecha (@sansyg04) and the International Booker Prize’s administrator Fiammetta Rocco (@fiammettarocco2120). This was a fascinating insight into @banumushtaq‘s life, the process of the Booker Prize and the importance of reading translated fiction.

Heart Lamp comprises 12 stories, written decades apart. I found it fascinating to hear about the process of “translating with an accent” to maintain the authenticity of the Kannada voice. A way to facilitate the transfer of knowledge from one culture to another in an effort to “decolonise how we read.”

James Kelman: Your Stories are Your Own 17th August 2025

What an honour to get to see one of Scotland’s most important living writers speak. Today Kelman read from his newest short story collection: The Story of the Stone, published by American Indie publisher @pmpressuk. He was in discussion with Dr Scott Hames, a lecturer in Scottish Literature who had completed a PhD on Kelman’s work.

The conversation explored Kelman’s love of visual art and the parallels he sees between his writing and art. I was fascinated by discussions on how he writes. He spoke about capturing real people and Scottish voices. Reading an extract from his new book, he recalled absorbing the life around him whilst working his first job in a printing factory: “people told stories all the time. I listened, agog.” He then launched into an example of one of these stories, capturing speech of everyday real Scottish people, which featured what must be the finest example of swearing ever witnessed on stage at the Edinburgh International Book Festival!

It’s paradoxical that @thebookerprizes winning author (for his 1994 novel, How Late it was, How Late), who has been lauded as “the greatest British novelist of our time” by the Sunday Herald, finds his recent works not published in the UK and older works falling out of print. It’s a shame that despite such accolades his work is not more widely read and real barriers are in place that prevent younger audiences finding his work. This is something that I will change for myself, with my pile of James Kelman books growing on the shelf. I’m eager to read more and seeing him today has only reinforced to me James Kelman’s importance within Scottish literature and beyond.

Laura Bates: Misogyny Reinvented 21st August 2025

Laura Bates (@laura_bates__) spoke tonight on her new book The New Age of Sexism: How the AI Revolution is Reinventing Misogyny, joined by Heather Parry (@heatherparrywriter).

With the pace of emerging AI technology, we currently stand on a precipice. The dangers of AI aren’t just a future threat to elections and democracy that we may read about in newspaper headlines. It is a real and current threat to women and minority groups. Laura Bates’ newest book details the horrifying reality of all of this. As always, her work delves into the darker parts of the web, culture and manosphere to raise awareness and demand for change. I recently read The New Age of Sexism and tonight’s excellent conversation with Heather Parry, truly brought home this stark and grim reality. A shocking, uncomfortable listen which is sadly necessary.

I underestimated the scope of AI: It’s use in AI girlfriends, Deepfakes and an ongoing legal case of gang rape committed on the Metaverse. It’s enraging to hear of Big Tech’s reluctance to factor in safeguards as part of the development phase. Instead relying on the trauma of women, girls and marginalised groups to try and fix it after it has already been unleashed on the world. Laura Bates highlights that a lack of a duty of care in any other industry would not be acceptable but Big Tech gets a free pass.

As a parent to a boy and a girl, I’ve had my eyes well and truly opened as we grapple with their current and future relationship with technology. Also, as a man, it’s so important to be challenged and faced with this information to help consider our own role in this. As an audience member pointed out, since reading The New Age of Sexism, she’s recommended this book to everyone she speaks to. I’ve done the same and will continue to do so for this and all of Laura Bates’ work.

The New Age of Sexism by Laura Bates is out now from @simonschusteruk.

Damian Barr: Forgotten Love 23rd August 2025

I don’t want to pick favourites but this was one very special event at the Edinburgh International Book Festival and one I’m so grateful to have attended. Damian Barr (@mrdamianbarr) spoke about his upcoming novel: The Two Roberts which publishes on September 4th from @canongatebooks. He was joined by Andrew O’Hagan (@andrewohaganauthor), an author I deeply admire (I’ve written psychological portraits about his last two books: Mayflies and Caledonian Road) so from the get-go I knew this would be an unmissable event at the book festival.

Watching them speak was captivating. It was clear that Andrew O’Hagan was invested and engaged in The Two Roberts, with his questions thoughtful, illuminating and insightful. It’s fitting that Andrew is Ayrshire born, just like the novel’s eponymous two Roberts. Damian spoke lovingly about Bobby MacBryde and Robert Colquhoun, who’s story he has meticulously crafted from glimpses of the real-life artists and lovers from archives, letters and memories. From what I understand, the story is set in the 30’s and 40s in Ayrshire, Glasgow and beyond. We heard of their careers as artists and the secrecy and challenges that their love faced in the early to mid 20th Century. It was touching to see the connection and commitment Damian has to their story, working with their families as part of this process and his hopes for work beyond the publication of the book to bring recognition to their art and lives that sadly wasn’t afforded to them in their lifetimes.

Early copies were available at the book signing afterwards so I was lucky to get my hands on one. It’s currently wrestling for the top spot on my TBR, which this year’s Book Festival has caused to become overflowing with exciting new reads!

Juano Diaz & Dominic Hoey: For the Dreamers and the Underdogs 23rd August 2025

An exploration of coming of age in Scotland and New Zealand.

Andreas Ordorica (@andres_ordorica), the chair of the panel, took us on a journey of the underdog and overcoming adversity, weaving together Juano Diaz and Dominic Hoey’s recent books.

@juanodiazartist, the Scottish artist and author, spoke about Slum Boy, his stunning and acclaimed 2024 memoir. He spoke about growing up in Glasgow: his experiences with his birth family, the care system and finding his adoptive family. @dominichoey, a New Zealand poet and author shared his novel: 1985, which is billed as an “adventure story with a local flavour, a coming-of-age story for the underdogs, the disenfranchised and the dreamers”. Bringing Juano and Dominic together made for a fertile journey across cultures and approaches to storytelling that are grounded in authenticity.

It was a captivating and inspiring event and I’m sure that I will be posting more about all three authors as I work my way through their writing. I already had a copy of Andres’ 2024 How We Named The Stars and have added Slum Boy to my shelf. 1985 will be joining it shortly, after Dominic sold out all his copies on the day.

Michael Pedersen: Charged by Starlight 23rd August 2025

My last event of the Book Festival went out with a bang. It was Saturday night at the final weekend of the festival and Michael Pedersen (@michaelpedersenoyster) took to the stage with actor Russel Tovey (@russelltovey). The admiration and respect between the two artists was palpable. Indeed, Russell ended his introduction of Michael and his debut novel Muckle Flugga by proclaiming “I want to play Firth!” What followed, was a heartfelt, fun and moving hour with the show ending in a surprise crescendo with a guest appearance of Australian comedian, singer and writer Reuben Kaye (@reubenkayeofficial). This put aside the usual audience question time, bringing a spectacular and hilarious finale of comedy and music.

Michael discussed Muckle Flugga, being the Edinburgh Makar, his life and career. Rather than reading a single extract from the novel, Michael shared a greatest hits or “mixtape” setting the scene for the island and the novel’s three principal players: Ouse, Firth and The Father. This was less a reading but more of a performance, with Russell responding to this by asking Michael if he had ever considered acting. When I read Muckle Flugga, I experienced Michael’s words as singing from the page, in his usual lyrical and poetic prose, however hearing him read from his novel elevated this experience to a whole new level.

I had the privilege of spending the beginning of the year immersed in Muckle Flugga and its characters: writing up psychological portraits for Ouse, Firth and The Father. To get the chance to revisit this world at this event was magical and a joy. I have recommended this book to everyone and will continue to do so. I’d love to see this translated into film and Russell Tovey, if you do get the chance to play Firth, you might find my psychological character study of Firth helpful (I’ve included it here just for you) 😉(this contains spoilers!)

If you didn’t get the chance to see Michael at the festival, he has a host of tour dates underway, with details available on his page. Roll on October when I’ll be seeing him at Porty Town Hall supporting the incredible Hollie McNish (@holliepoetry) for the launch of her new book Virgin.

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That’s all from me from this years Edinburgh International Book Festival. I left feeling inspired, with so many new books to read and met some amazing people. Roll on next year!

Stuart, The Paperback Psychologist