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Zero to Well-Read

Zero to Well-Read

Book Riot 42 Episodes Oct 13, 2026

Part book club, part English class, Zero to Well-Read is a fun and informative guide to the books people talk about like everyone has read them. Each week, hosts Jeff O'Neal and Rebecca Schinsky take on a new title—from classics you should have read in high school to prize winners, cult favorites to modern hits—and tell you everything you need to know: the plot, what it feels like to read, why it matters, and the key takeaways.

Episodes

"The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka
"The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka Oct 13, 2026 4785 Jeff and Rebecca get existential as they ponder Franz Kafka's legendary surreal short story about a man who wakes up one day to discover that he has been transformed into a giant insect. They discuss the way Kafka blended realism, fantasy, and horror to explore family, identity, and the drive to self-expression, and they stop along the way to wonder: is this the best short story of all time? Vote
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen Oct 6, 2026 5019 Rebecca and Jeff pit reason against romance as they consider Jane Austen's beloved tale of sisters trying to find love and preserve their family's legacy. Join us on Patreon for access to read-alongs, ad-free listening, and bonus content. Follow Zero to Well-Read on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Email us: zerotowellread@bookriot.com Thank you to ThriftBooks for being the presenting sponsor o
Vote for Zero to Well-Read: Signal Awards 2026
Vote for Zero to Well-Read: Signal Awards 2026 Sep 30, 2026 76 Vote for Zero to Well-Read in the Signal Awards for Best Arts & Culture Podcast and Best New Podcast! Thanks to ThriftBooks for sponsoring this season of Zero to Well-Read. Zero to Well-Read is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
East of Eden by John Steinbeck Sep 29, 2026 6798 Jeff and Rebecca dive into John Steinbeck's epic, magisterial novel about fathers and sons, family legacies, and the question of free will. They discuss the story's biblical roots, Steinbeck's wide-ranging philosophy, the controversy that surrounded his Nobel win, and much more. Subscribe to our free newsletter, and become a member for access to early, ad-free listening and bonus content. Follow
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
The Road by Cormac McCarthy Sep 22, 2026 6066 Twenty years after it was published, Cormac McCarthy's The Road remains a landmark work of post-apocalyptic fiction. This week, Jeff and Rebecca explore what the bleak and beautiful story has to say about hope, humanity, masculinity, and the power of storytelling. Subscribe to our free newsletter, and become a member for access to early, ad-free listening and bonus content. Follow Zero to Well-R
17 Books to Better Understand America, with Sharon McMahon
17 Books to Better Understand America, with Sharon McMahon Sep 15, 2026 3559 Rebecca and Jeff sit down with history and civics educator Sharon McMahon to recommend books—both fiction and nonfiction—to help you better understand American history and politics. Sharon's book, The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement, is available in paperback now. You can find more of her work at The P
Ask Us Anything: Anniversary Mailbag Edition
Ask Us Anything: Anniversary Mailbag Edition Sep 8, 2026 3565 Jeff and Rebecca celebrate Zero to Well-Read's first anniversary with a brief look at some of the show's most popular episodes. Then, they dip into the mailbag to answer listener questions about Book Riot's origin story, tips for staying focused while reading, how they manage their reading lives, spoiler etiquette, and more. Subscribe to our free newsletter, and become a member for access to earl
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen, with Rob Harvilla
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen, with Rob Harvilla Sep 1, 2026 8521 Jeff and Rebecca are joined by Rob Harvilla, host of 60 Songs That Explain the '90s: The 2000s, for a conversation about Jonathan Franzen's award-winning breakout novel. They discuss Franzen's singular blend of Midwestern sensibility and postmodern satire, the Oprah controversy that made him a household name, why he continues to be a lightning rod in literary circles, and how The Corrections becam
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard Aug 25, 2026 4645 Minor characters get main character syndrome in Tom Stoppard's Hamlet send-up filled with wordplay, philosophical puzzles, silliness, and existential questions. On the occasion of its 60th anniversary, Rebecca and Jeff discuss what made Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead such a breakout hit and why it continues to delight scholars and language nerds alike. Subscribe to our free newsletter, and
The Vegetarian by Han Kang
The Vegetarian by Han Kang Aug 18, 2026 4581 Jeff and Rebecca take on one of the most transgressive and unsettling novels of the 21st century so far, Nobel Prize winner Han Kang's The Vegetarian. They discuss the use of art to explore questions about freedom, self-determination, sex, violence, and the limits of autonomy; the surprising public response to such a challenging literary work; and what Western readers might not understand about th
Curating the Canon, with Gilbert Cruz
Curating the Canon, with Gilbert Cruz Aug 12, 2026 3114 Rebecca and Jeff talk with New York Times canon editor Gilbert Cruz about the project of curating the best books of the 21st century, the recent list of the 50 best thrillers of the century, and the value and meaning of expertise and curation in the modern reading landscape. Subscribe to our free newsletter, and become a member for access to early, ad-free listening and bonus content. Follow Zer
The Sci-Fi Novel That Predicted 2026
The Sci-Fi Novel That Predicted 2026 Aug 11, 2026 5776 Jeff and Rebecca explore Octavia Butler's eerily prescient 1993 novel, ⁠The Parable of the Sower⁠, and discuss Butler's legacy and enduring impact on science fiction. This episode, one of our most popular to date, originally ran in November, 2025. Subscribe to our free newsletter, and become a member for access to early, ad-free listening and bonus content. Follow Zero to Well-Read on Instagram

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