What Sam Tallent has said about American literary fiction and MFA programs

2 quotes · 1 episode · Nov 3, 2026

Sam Tallent, American stand-up comedian, novelist and host of the Chubby Behemoth podcast, has been quoted on American literary fiction and MFA programs 2 times in 1 episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, most recently on November 3, 2026. Each quote below is verbatim and links to the moment it was said.

In their words

Tallent argues that MFA-trained writers produce contemporary American fiction lacking real human experience.
“the books that come out are completely devoid of any kind of real human experience, because these kids have lived in these ivory towers of knowledge”
The Joe Rogan Experience: #2575 - Sam Tallent (Nov 3, 2026) · Listen from 1:21:43
Tallent says the best contemporary fiction is coming from Japan and France rather than the United States.
“The best literature now, the best fiction, comes out of Japan, it comes out of France”
The Joe Rogan Experience: #2575 - Sam Tallent (Nov 3, 2026) · Listen from 1:21:43

#2575 - Sam Tallent
The Joe Rogan Experience · Nov 3, 2026 · 2 h 49 min
Joe Rogan and comedian-novelist Sam Tallent discuss Tallent's hitman novel Brut, a disastrous Kill Tony arena show, comedy careers, literature, fitness, and the rise of AI.