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.
Latest Episode
'Freedom on the Sea' is a biography of Robert Smalls – by his great-great-grandson (15.01.2026)
Previous Episodes
- The novel 'These Days' fictionalizes a lesser-known chapter in the history of Belfast
- With her new book, Scottish author Val McDermid wants to “charm you into winter”
- 'The Definitions' features dorm room conversation – with a dystopian twist
- Two debut novels, two murder mysteries set in the United Kingdom
- Amitav Ghosh’s 'Wild Fictions' gathers essays on empire and the environment
- In 'Twice Born,' a daughter discovers her father through his biography of Mark Twain
- 'The Philosopher in the Valley' paints an eccentric portrait of Palantir’s Alex Karp
- 'Russ & Daughters' cookbook documents a century-old New York City establishment
- Susan Choi’s 'Flashlight' is about an alternate-universe version of her own family
- 'Feeding Ghosts' is a graphic memoir grappling with generational trauma
- In ‘A Guardian and a Thief,’ a mother’s love for her family threatens her own morals
- A new novel from Karen Russell is a sprawling story set during the Dust Bowl
- In Rabih Alameddine’s new novel, a mother and son share a tiny Beirut apartment
- Dorie Greenspan and Paul Hollywood discuss their new and nourishing cake cookbooks
- 'Unabridged' explores the history of the dictionary – and why it’s in trouble now
- 'Hiddensee' is a 'Nutcracker'-inspired novel from the author of 'Wicked'
- Jeff Kinney on his iconic, now 20-book 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' series
- Mahmood Mamdani’s 'Slow Poison' centers politics of belonging in postcolonial Uganda
- Revisiting ‘Waiting to Exhale’
- Paul McCartney on his band 'Wings,' plus the story of indie label Bloodshot Records
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