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PODCAST

NPR"s Book of the Day

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

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11:05

'Pachinko' author Min Jin Lee says writing 'American...

NPR"s Book of the Day ·

2026/10/05

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 find a place for their children among the American Dream. American Hagwon is the newest novel from Min Jin Lee, author of Free Food for Millionaires and Pachinko. In today’s episode, she speaks with Weekend Edition’s Scott Simon about the culture of hagwons, the Korean word for learning

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31:16

A visit with Barbara Kingsolver: We talk 'Partita,'...

NPR"s Book of the Day ·

2026/10/02

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 NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR

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7:41

'Profiles in Cowardice' argues leaders failed to push...

NPR"s Book of the Day ·

2026/10/01

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 premise, but his new book Profiles in Cowardice instead identifies people and institutions that have enabled President Trump as he’s tested the limits of executive power. In today’s episode, Weisberg joins Morning Edition’s Steve Inskeep for a conversation about the law firm leaders,

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9:28

In 'Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel,' Lucy Foley...

NPR"s Book of the Day ·

2026/09/30

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 the mountain. That's the opening of Murder At The Grand Alpine Hotel. If it sounds like an Agatha Christie novel, well, that's because it basically is. It's by British mystery writer Lucy Foley and is the first authorized Miss Marple novel in 50 years. In today’s episode, Foley spoke

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8:47

'Redwood' is a true tale of a KGB agent who offered...

NPR"s Book of the Day ·

2026/09/29

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 to Britain while working in Iran during the height of the Cold War. In today’s episode, the author joins Weekend Edition’s Scott Simon for a conversation that touches on the spy’s surprising motivations, the contentious history between Russia and Britain in Iran and the fear of nuclear

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10:45

'Taipei Story' is a more personal novel from...

NPR"s Book of the Day ·

2026/09/28

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 intensive. While there, she struggles with complicated feelings about language, identity and the thread of her family’s story. In today’s episode, Kuang talks with Here & Now’s Indira Lakshmanan about how the author relates to Lily, her own relationship to speaking Chinese and her interest in

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17:15

'Tropesick' and 'Extracurricular' are romance novels...

NPR"s Book of the Day ·

2026/09/25

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 Considered’s Juana Summers about structuring the novel with different tropes, writing a rivals-to-lovers setup and how Okie balanced metafictional elements with the story’s natural plotline. Then, a former pop star and her psychology professor become intertwined in Extracurricular. Author

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8:11

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox on why he’s the 'worst possible...

NPR"s Book of the Day ·

2026/09/24

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 Contempt is an extension of a plea he made following the killing of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. In the book, he argues Americans need to learn to disagree better in order to restore the respect that once existed between political adversaries. In today’s episode, Cox tells

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9:10

Emily St. John Mandel's 'Exit Party' opens in the...

NPR"s Book of the Day ·

2026/09/23

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 second American Civil War, one shaped by climate catastrophe and populated by doppelgangers. In today's episode, Mandel chats with Weekend Edition’s Scott Simon about counterlives, recognizing “good moments” amid disaster and how the painting “Swan Dive” helped the author maintain

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10:44

'Grit' author Angela Duckworth on how changing your...

NPR"s Book of the Day ·

2026/09/22

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, Duckworth says – while grit still matters – changing the situation you’re in is the most helpful thing you can do to meet your goals. In a conversation with Here & Now’s Indira Lakshmanan, Duckworth shares four practical ways to take situational agency, including lessons she learned from a

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9:04

'Conclave' author Robert Harris is out with a...

NPR"s Book of the Day ·

2026/09/21

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 is ready to divulge a life story filled with battles, vows and betrayals. In today’s episode, Harris joins Weekend Edition’s Scott Simon for a conversation about Agrippa’s origins, the many other historical figures that populate the book, including Octavia Caesar and Pompeia, and why

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24:15

In new memoir, Colin Kaepernick reflects on his...

NPR"s Book of the Day ·

2026/09/18

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 decision. In a conversation with Morning Edition’s Michel Martin, the former NFL player spoke about the lifetime of experiences that led him to that moment. They also discussed the NFL’s engagement in “paid patriotism,” Kaepernick’s views on the relationship between work and

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8:12

'Seasons of Fury' traces the roots of Islamophobia in...

NPR"s Book of the Day ·

2026/09/17

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 present in the United States since at least the 1960s. In today’s episode, Ali joins Morning Edition’s Leila Fadel for a conversation about the four family stories – spanning eight decades – that she profiles in Seasons of Fury. They also discuss the way Islamophobia plays out in American

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11:39

Katherine Rundell says it's a mistake for adults to...

NPR"s Book of the Day ·

2026/09/16

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 the U.K. and U.S. sales charts. Now, Rundell is out with The Neverfear, the third installment in the series. She’s also authored a book-length essay called Why You Should Read Children's Books, Even Though You Are So Old and Wise. In today’s episode, she talks with Here & Now’s Indira

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7:51

'Odyssey' translator Emily Wilson on her book of...

NPR"s Book of the Day ·

2026/09/15

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 Odyssey. Her new book of essays reflects on translation and the role of classics in modern society. In it, she argues that "it is a waste of everyone's time if a retranslation takes more or less the same approach as one or more existing published translations." In today’s episode, she speaks

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8:55

Marlon James' novel 'The Disappearers' chronicles the...

NPR"s Book of the Day ·

2026/09/14

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 hateful mob attack at one of the group’s rehearsals. In an interview with All Things Considered’s Juana Summers, James said “this attack in the book was based on an incident which I knew in my gut happened. I just couldn’t prove it.” In today’s episode, Summers and James discuss the

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17:18

Marking 25 years since Sept. 11 with 'All the...

NPR"s Book of the Day ·

2026/09/11

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 century. Author Peter Bergen spoke with Morning Edition’s Steve Inskeep about the expansion of executive branch powers that have enabled these wars. Then, Scattered Steel investigates how material from the World Trade Center ended up in memorials across the country. All Things Considered’s

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8:17

Sen. Ted Cruz's new book 'Going Further' praises...

NPR"s Book of the Day ·

2026/09/10

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 grain. And he argues the Justice has been criticized by the political left because he did not conform to what liberals expected him to be. In today’s episode, Morning Edition’s Steve Inskeep asks Cruz about his own aspirations for the Supreme Court and Thomas’ history of overturning

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8:41

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

NPR"s Book of the Day ·

2026/09/09

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 the books she recommends to help keep the summer season alive, even as fall approaches. Jade Chang recommends books like The Corn King and the Spring Queen by Naomi Mitchison and Stories of the Sahara by Taiwanese author Sanmao. Then, they discuss Jade Chang’s novel What a Time to Be

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7:32

To combat the 'Artificial State,' Jill Lepore says to...

NPR"s Book of the Day ·

2026/09/08

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 new book The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State. Lepore says she wanted to put a name to a new kind of governance she’s observed in which functions of nation states are being taken over by private interests and run by machinery. She and Martin discuss the way technology has

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1,334 results

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