Podcasts · Arts

NPR's Book of the Day

NPR

300 episodes

In need of a good read? Or just want to keep up with the books everyone's talking about? NPR's Book of the Day gives you today's very best writing in a snackable, skimmable, pocket-sized podcast. Whether you're looking to engage with the big questions of our times – or temporarily escape from them – we've got an author who will speak to you, all genres, mood and writing styles included. Catch today's great books in 15 minutes or less. Support public media by joining NPR+ at plus.npr.org. You’ll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including sponsor-free listening for Book of the Day.

Episodes page 1 of 6

  1. Kevin Roose on the quasi-religious pursuit of artificial general intelligence

    · 10 min

    Over the past few months, some industry insiders have warned that rogue AI could escape its human creators, resulting in dangerous – and perhaps existential – consequences. But in his new book, Kevin Roose reminds…

  2. 'Lessons in Chemistry' author Bonnie Garmus on her new novel 'Peck & Peck'

    · 11 min

    Bonnie Garmus’ 2022 novel Lessons in Chemistry was a smash hit, selling more than 8 million copies worldwide. Her new novel Peck & Peck is set in the ‘80s and centers around Batter Gray, a young man who lands a job in…

  3. Two collections of horror stories modernize the genre

    · 17 min

    Spooky season is year-round, and so are our episodes about scary stories. First up, NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with Jeanette Winterson about The Night Side of the River, a collection of ghost stories that weaves in the…

  4. Shirley Jackson's biographer on the writer's ability to find evil in the ordinary

    · 8:06

    With stories like “The Lottery” and The Haunting of Hill House, Shirley Jackson was one of the great horror authors of the 20th century. In 2012, Ruth Franklin wrote a biography of the writer called Shirley Jackson: A…

  5. George Saunders' 'Vigil' is a ghostly novel about an oil tycoon in his final hours

    · 9:13

    In his latest novel, George Saunders continues to explore his interest in death and the afterlife. Vigil tells the story of an oil tycoon and climate change denier named K.J. Boone who’s visited by a series of ghosts…

  6. Jordan Peele on his Black horror story collection 'Out There Screaming'

    · 6:53

    Out There Screaming: An Anthology of New Black Horror is a collection of scary stories curated by horror filmmaker Jordan Peele. In today's episode, Peele speaks with NPR's Brittany Luse about the Black horror stories…

  7. In 'The Eleventh Hour,' Salman Rushdie writes about morality, revenge and ghosts

    · 12 min

    Salman Rushdie lived for decades under a death sentence and survived a knife attack three years ago. His latest book The Eleventh Hour is his first work of fiction since that near-death experience. These short stories…

  8. 'Nickel and Dimed' and 'The Case for Quitting' reconsider our relationship to work

    · 19 min

    Today’s episode features two books – one classic and one new – that might lead you to reconsider your relationship to work. Nearly 25 years ago, journalist and activist Barbara Ehrenreich went undercover as a nursing…

  9. Hernan Diaz on his new novel 'Ply' and understanding America through technology

    · 14 min

    Hernan Diaz’s new book, Ply, takes place in a future where institutions have fallen apart. It appears to be a book about systems and community, but turns out to be one about the self. Ply’s protagonist is a “pincher,”…

  10. 'Swan Song' sees Princess Diana through her brother’s eyes

    · 9:15

    Diana, Princess of Wales, died almost three decades ago, but her legacy and image persist in the public eye. Her brother, Charles Spencer, is out with a new book that paints a personal portrait of her. Swan Song is –…

  11. Gov. Andy Beshear on how the midterms will help him weigh his presidential run

    · 7:36

    Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear is the author of a new book called Go And Do Likewise: How We Heal A Broken Country. Beshear is a rare Democratic leader in an otherwise majority Republican voting state – and has said he…

  12. John Green on 'Hollywood, Ending,' his first novel for adults

    · 12 min

    John Green is known for his influential young adult fiction like Looking for Alaska, The Fault in Our Stars and Turtles All the Way Down. His new book, Hollywood, Ending, is his first novel for adults. The story takes…

  13. Lois Lowry on 'Building 903,' 'The Giver' and relationships between the old and young

    · 24 min

    It’s been more than a decade since Lois Lowry has dealt with the end of the world. Her 1993 YA dystopian novel The Giver became a hugely popular middle school staple. She expanded that universe into a quartet of novels…

  14. In 'Roll the Calls,' Hollywood's Ari Emanuel reflects on the art of agenting

    · 7:48

    Ari Emanuel is a powerful Hollywood agent who has represented clients including Oprah Winfrey, Martin Scorsese and Vince McMahon. Known for his brash approach to business, he was the model for the character Ari Gold on…

  15. A conversation with Tomi Adeyemi on her new novel 'The Siren'

    · 17 min

    The author Tomi Adeyemi rose to fame with Children of Blood and Bone, the first novel in her popular young adult fantasy series based on the Yoruba religion. That book is the subject of a long-awaited Hollywood…

  16. In 'History by a Hair,' DNA offers answers to an old question about Thomas Jefferson

    · 8:25

    For more than 200 years, one question about the nation's third president has lingered: Did Thomas Jefferson father children with Sally Hemings, a woman 30 years his junior whom he held in slavery? Richard Kurin, a…

  17. 'Pachinko' author Min Jin Lee says writing 'American Hagwon' transformed her

    · 11 min

    John and Helen Koh are a middle-class couple living in South Korea with. But when a financial crisis hits, they leave Seoul for Southern California and are faced with a new financial reality. There, they struggle to…

  18. A visit with Barbara Kingsolver: We talk 'Partita,' piano, aging and Appalachia

    · 31 min

    Before she won the Pulitzer for Demon Copperhead, Kingsolver wasn't sure her neighbors knew what she did for a living. Her new novel Partita, about a classical pianist, gets very personal. Support public media with…

  19. 'Profiles in Cowardice' argues leaders failed to push back against President Trump

    · 7:41

    John F. Kennedy once wrote a book called Profiles in Courage, which highlighted senators throughout history who made unpopular but politically brave decisions. Journalist Jacob Weisberg took inspiration from this…

  20. In 'Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel,' Lucy Foley continues Agatha Christie's legacy

    · 9:28

    The Grand Alpine Hotel is majestic, nestled high in the Swiss Alps with snow perfect for skiing. But one morning, a dead body is discovered in one of the gondolas on its first run – and before long, no one can get off…

  21. 'Redwood' is a true tale of a KGB agent who offered to spy for Britain

    · 8:47

    Ben Macintyre is a master of espionage stories that are true. His latest project is based on a case study taught in MI6, the British foreign intelligence service. Redwood follows a KGB spy who offers valuable secrets…

  22. 'Taipei Story' is a more personal novel from 'Yellowface' author R.F. Kuang

    · 11 min

    R.F. Kuang, author of popular books like Yellowface and Babel, is out with a more personal novel. Taipei Story follows Lily Chin, a Chinese-American college student who travels to Taipei for a summer language…

  23. 'Tropesick' and 'Extracurricular' are romance novels that subvert genre expectations

    · 17 min

    Two new romance novels subvert expectations about the genre. In Tropesick, Katie and Tyler are old acquaintances who are reunited as writing partners. In today’s episode, author Lauren Okie chats with All Things…

  24. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox on why he’s the 'worst possible spokesperson' for his own book

    · 8:11

    Utah Republican Gov. Spencer Cox is out with a new book – but he wants to clarify that he’s not running for president (often an assumption when politicians write books). Off Ramp: How To Be A Peacemaker In An Age Of…

  25. Emily St. John Mandel's 'Exit Party' opens in the wake of a second American Civil War

    · 9:10

    Emily St. John Mandel’s new novel opens in the first spring after the collapse of the United States – and her protagonist, Ari, is on her way to a party. Exit Party is set in a new world emerging out of the chaos of a…

  26. 'Grit' author Angela Duckworth on how changing your situation can lead to success

    · 11 min

    In her 2016 book Grit, University of Pennsylvania psychologist Angela Duckworth argued that willpower and determination were keys to success. A decade later, her new book signals a change of heart. In Situated,…

  27. 'Conclave' author Robert Harris is out with a fictional Roman Empire memoir

    · 9:04

    Conclave author Robert Harris has returned to Rome with a fictional memoir of Agrippa, a military genius and trusted ally of the first Roman Emperor, Augustus. In the memoir, the general doesn’t have much time left and…

  28. In new memoir, Colin Kaepernick reflects on his historic national anthem protest

    · 24 min

    Ten years ago, Colin Kaepernick – then the quarterback for the 49ers – took a knee during the national anthem in a preseason game in order to protest racial injustice. His new memoir The Perilous Fight reflects on that…

  29. 'Seasons of Fury' traces the roots of Islamophobia in the United States

    · 8:12

    In the post-9/11 era, American Muslims became the target of government suspicion and surveillance. But while reporting her new book, New York Times Magazine journalist Rozina Ali found that Islamophobia has been…

  30. Katherine Rundell says it's a mistake for adults to discard children's literature

    · 12 min

    Katherine Rundell’s Impossible Creatures series follows two kid heroes on their journey to save a group of islands filled with magical beasts. She’s the first children's author since J.K. Rowling to simultaneously top…

  31. 'Odyssey' translator Emily Wilson on her book of essays 'Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea'

    · 7:51

    Emily Wilson is a classicist whose translations of The Iliad and The Odyssey are popular and controversial. Recently, she was at the center of the discourse surrounding Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation of The…

  32. Marlon James' novel 'The Disappearers' chronicles the aftermath of a violent attack

    · 8:55

    In 1988, a group of gay men gathered in Kingston, Jamaica to put on a play. At the time, homophobia in the country was rampant and sex between men was outlawed. Marlon James’ new novel The Disappearers is about a…

  33. Marking 25 years since Sept. 11 with 'All the Presidents' Wars' and 'Scattered Steel'

    · 17 min

    On today’s show, we mark the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11 with two books that historicize the attacks. First, All the Presidents’ Wars focuses on anti-terror campaigns waged around the world over the past quarter…

  34. Sen. Ted Cruz's new book 'Going Further' praises Justice Clarence Thomas

    · 8:17

    Sen. Ted Cruz’s new book isn’t a political memoir but an exploration of the life and career of Justice Clarence Thomas. In Going Further, Cruz praises Thomas as an “independent thinker” who is willing to go against the…

  35. Author Jade Chang on the books she's reading to keep summer going

    · 8:41

    For author Jade Chang, the vibe of summer isn’t encapsulated at the pool or by the beach, but in time itself — “and how time kind of stops.” In today’s episode, she joins All Things Considered’s Ailsa Chang to discuss…

  36. To combat the 'Artificial State,' Jill Lepore says to look to science fiction

    · 7:32

    Jill Lepore says our liberal democracy has been replaced by corporations and technology. But what can we do about it? In today’s episode, the historian joins Morning Edition’s Michel Martin for a conversation about her…

  37. Author Liane Moriarty on her long-awaited sequel to 'Big Little Lies'

    · 9:42

    After the big success of the 2014 novel Big Little Lies, which included an award-winning HBO adaptation, author Liane Moriarty says everyone kept asking her for a sequel. Now, that sequel has arrived. Big Little Truths…

  38. New music books take on Paul Simon's 'Graceland' and the history of music and prison

    · 17 min

    In today’s episode, we chat about two new music histories. First, 1986’s Graceland is considered Paul Simon's signature album. It introduced South African music to a global audience and revitalized Simon's career.…

  39. New book evaluates President Biden's legacy as midterm elections approach

    · 11 min

    As midterm elections approach, former President Joe Biden's legacy still plays a big role in the Democratic Party. Princeton historian Julian Zelizer has edited a new book called The Presidency of Joseph R. Biden,…

  40. 'Astronaut!' is a coming-of-age story set against the fall of the Iron Curtain

    · 8:38

    It’s 1989 in Romania and the country is living under a totalitarian regime. In the new novel Astronaut!, an 8-year-old girl craves bright colors among otherwise gray surroundings as she comes of age during the fall of…

  41. 'How We Disappear' is a Stanford historian's take on our personal archives

    · 12 min

    Thomas Mullaney is a historian at Stanford University. After his father died, Mullaney began to think about the archive he left behind: papers, documents, photos, objects and more. How We Disappear is a personal and…

  42. In 'Man Overboard!,' Kathleen Rooney approaches a life-or-death story with humor

    · 8:10

    While on a cruise, a former college swimmer finds himself in the water, adrift alone, swimming for his life. But he isn’t sure how he got there. In Man Overboard!, 33-year-old Patrick “Kick” Kilpatrick navigates an…

  43. Remembering Dolly Parton through her writing for children and adults

    · 17 min

    Over the past week, Dolly Parton has been remembered for her music, her star power, her advocacy and her philanthropic contributions. But she was also an author. In today’s episode, we remember the country star through…

  44. Chang-Rae Lee on whether his new novel 'A Tender Age' is autobiographical

    · 11 min

    Chang-Rae Lee’s new novel is filled with some of his own memories, like worrying about being picked last for dodgeball and sizing up his fellow Asian American classmates to determine who was most “foreign.” Lee says,…

  45. 'New York Times' obituarist Sam Roberts says he writes about life – not death

    · 9:11

    Sam Roberts says when people find out what he does for work, they tend to shrink away. Roberts is a veteran obituarist for The New York Times. But the writer says he writes about life – not death. His new memoir Are…

  46. In 'Daytona Teddy Riggs,' a former high school football star enters a downward spiral

    · 8:56

    Daytona Teddy Riggs is a former high school football star from a wealthy oil and gas family. But in his 20s, he enters a downward spiral as he seeks to become the World’s Strongest Man. Daytona Teddy Riggs follows this…

  47. Former U.S. Mexico ambassador Ken Salazar on new memoir and "crisis" at the border

    · 9:41

    Ken Salazar's personal and political life have been defined by the U.S.-Mexico border. The fifth-generation Mexican American has served as a U.S. senator, secretary of the interior and ambassador to Mexico. His new…

  48. Journalist Jodi Kantor and happiness expert Arthur Brooks on how to find purpose

    · 20 min

    Journalist Jodi Kantor and Harvard happiness expert Arthur Brooks are both out with new books about identifying and cultivating meaning in one’s life. Brooks says he wanted to write The Meaning of Your Life after…

  49. In 'The Foursome,' conjoined twins marry two sisters — and that's just the beginning

    · 9:19

    In 1839, conjoined twins and famous showmen Chang and Eng Bunker — native to Thailand, then called Siam — took a break from touring, settled in North Carolina, bought a slave plantation, and married two American…

  50. Andy Weir reveals his fun and frantic creative process behind 'Project Hail Mary'

    · 12 min

    In Project Hail Mary, amateur astronaut Ryland Grace must travel light years from Earth to save humanity from a dying Sun. The stakes are high, to say the least. But author Andy Weir was intentional about centering…

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