Book Riot - The Podcast

ASMR for Knowledge Workers

24 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jeff and Rebecca doing something unusual: talking about the books they are reading. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify...

Complexity Doesn't Have to Be a Bummer

17 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about 2021 print sales and reading habits, Harlequin’s subscription play, give a general review of Station Eleven on HBO, and ...

Which Way the Smarm Flows

10 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about the resolution of a recent literary mystery, the (cough) best books of the last 125 years, new year’s reading projects, ...

The English Patient

31 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Listen to Jeff and Rebecca's guest appearance on Adaptation Nation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad cho...

Our Favorite Non-Book Things of 2021

20 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca recommend things from outside the world of books and reading. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these link...

Our Favorite Reads of 2021

13 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca list their favorites reads of 2021. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. The show can also be found on Stitcher....

2022 Holiday Recommendations, Part 2

06 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca finish their holiday recommendation extravaganza. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may ea...

2022 Holiday Recommendations, Part 1

29 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca continue their annual tradition of responding to listener recommendation requests. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and S...

The Boy, The Horse, The Whatever

22 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about the 2021 National Book Award winners, Barnes & Noble’s Book of the Year, Spotify buying an audiobook company, and The Se...

Emotional Prudery

15 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca think about replacing the term “dad book” with…anything, talk more PRH/S&S commentary, list book adaptations they will not be t...

Franzen Erosion Curve

08 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca discuss some recent book sales numbers, the 2021 Booker Prize, banning Beloved, and much more. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Pod...

DUNE: Adaptation Nation Episode 1

05 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff O’Neal, Jenn Northington, and Amanda Nelson discuss Frank Herbert’s Dune and break down Denis Villeneuve’s 2021 adaptation. Mentioned in t...

Transparency Gateway

01 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Jeff and Rebecca confirm that Dune is having a moment, talk about a new Book Riot podcast series, the beginning of “Books of the Ye...

Monetize That Dream

25 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about a literary scam, a social network for authors, Goodreads members’ most anticipated fall books, and more. Follow the pod...

Embrace the Mess

18 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca take the episode to talk about 10 years of Book Riot. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. The show can also be ...

A Potato Chip in the Mouth Forever

11 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jeff is joined by Book Riot editor Danika Ellis to talk book challenges, book blob cover designs, TikTok, and much more. Follow the podcas...

They’re All Bad Metrics

04 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about MacArthur award winners, Netflix big adaptation winners, and Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead. Follow the podcast via R...

Ascending Levels of Sauciness

27 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Amanda talk about Sally Rooney sales, author who want to be publishers who also want to be influencers, the National Book Award longlist, Ama...

Book Nerd Movie Club: THE MARTIAN

20 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about the book and movie, The Martian. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. The show can also be found on S...

Spat Into the World

13 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Jenn talk interesting science fiction and fantasy releases, some of the best books of 2021, upcoming science-fiction and fantasy adaptations,...

Special Episode: 2021 Fall Preview Draft

03 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As announced, we are trying something different for bonus content: a special, ad-free, pay-what-you-will 2021 Fall Preview Draft. Go here to get it: b...

The Hamster Will Be Our Guinea Pig

30 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about their plans and strategy for the Fall Preview Draft, a bookstore getting an imprint, PRH jacking up the price of Amanda Go...

Indiscriminate Scamming

23 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jenn Northington joins Rebecca to talk about the Hachette/Workman acquisition, the state of book tours, a truly mistifying publishing scam, and more. ...

G-Level Property

16 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sharifah Williams joins Jeff to talk SF/F adaptations, how the adaptation boom may (or may not?) be affecting what is getting written, wild problems w...

The Donkey Parade

09 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about the coming end of big-time adaptations, the future of food memoirs, the dearth of popular on-going book series, and more. ...

Spicy Fun Spice

02 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about pandemic reading habits, book sales, what it means to be a relevant author, and much more. Follow the podcast via RSS, Ap...

The Canonical Dorito

26 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca build off listener feedback to spend more time talking about TikTok and books, how local libraries can be eaten away from the inside,...

Infinite Monkeys

19 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca parse listener feedback on what makes historical fiction, explicate the bestselling books of the year so far, and more. Follow the p...

Convince Me I’m Right

12 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about recent reading, proceed to debate what constitutes historical fiction, wish for the failure of the efforts of some politic...

Ding the Basket

28 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca check in on summer book sales, relay another effort they hope fails, and talk about Michelle Zauner’s excellent debut memoir, Cryin...

Form-Forward

21 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about the Pulitzer Prize announcements, things happening in conservative publishing, a sweeping Amazon investigative report, and...

Our Favorite(?) Books of 2021 So Far.

17 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca pick their most memorable, favorite, and otherwise noteworthy reads of 2021 so far. This content contains affiliate links. When you ...

Three Corners of an "It" Book

14 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about Amazon buying MGM, Roxane Gay’s new imprint, what makes an “it” book, and more. Discussed in this episode: Fare th...

Summer Draft Results and SOMEBODY'S DAUGHTER by Ashley Ford

07 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca discuss the results of their Summer Draft showdown and try a little something new with Somebody’s Daughter by Ashley Ford. This co...

FIELD OF DREAMS

02 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about Field of Dreams and the book its based on, W.P. Kinsella’s Shoeless Joe. This content contains affiliate links. When yo...

The Austen-Industrial Complex

24 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about the listener survey, a new giant ereader, Amazon sort of coming to libraries, and much more. Discussed in this episode: ...

2021 Summer Preview Draft

19 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca compete to draft the best list of Summer 2021 new releases. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links,...

Odyssey of Ache

17 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca set a BR reader poll, talk more about the publication of the Mike Pence book, get into how much authors make, and wonder if a techno-...

Count Me Among the Uncool

10 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about the uncoolness of ereading, how Jeff was right in a way that matters, a diversity in writing initiative from Reese’s Boo...

2021 Moms, Dads, and Grads Recommendation Show

05 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca respond to listener requests for recommendations for moms, dads, grads (and themselves). This post contains affiliate links. When yo...

The Train is People

03 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca check-in on the rolling reckoning, talk about dedicated e-readers, Murakami’s thsirt line, and more. Haruki Murakami’s t-shirt l...

The Rolling Reckoning

26 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca follow up about Simon & Schuster’s relationship with Post Hill Press, a employee petition at Simon & Schuster (and the CEO’s resp...

Several Trepidations

19 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca do listener feedback, interrogate what a podcast “read-a-long” does/could mean, stand in awe of Amanda Gorman’s book sales, tal...

Piñata of Lies

12 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this special, live-streamed episode, Jeff and Rebecca continue to argue about/refine a “Should I Read This?” segment/special episode series, ar...

Georgia Sunrise

05 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca note the passing of Beverly Cleary and Larry McMurtry, talk more Amazon/Big 5 anti-trust litigation, a Tennessee law that breaks new ...

Klara & the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

29 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca discuss Klara & the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro. This post contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, Book Riot may earn ...

Vox Biblioi

22 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca have their minds boggled at the sales of Seuss titles, pay fealty to the queen of book clubs, survey a few recent book challenges, an...

Emotional Senioritis

15 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca do some Seuss follow-up, evaluate upcoming adaptations that should be in their wheelhouse, talk about a particularly graphic effort t...

Loyal to the Bit

08 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about the Seuss Enterprise’s decision to stop publishing a half-dozen books, continue ruminating on a “is it good?” segmen...

Wiki in Shame

01 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about another format they might want to try for talking about books, whether 2020 means we can finally stop confusing the fate o...

Southern Belles with Benefits

22 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about what books actually get read, emotionally manipulative novels, tackle a couple of listener question, and try another guess...

Pyrrhic Victory

15 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca discuss the winner of the Spring Preview draft, Hachette getting out of the right-wing publishing game, the Obamas adaptation-heavy N...

Arrogance with Shine

08 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca reflect on the end of Jeff Bezos’ tenure as CEO of Amazon, the launch of the Reese Witherspoon Book Club app, and comment on a comm...

Buy Stock in Amanda Gorman

01 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jenn Northington joins Jeff to talk about a new ebook price-fixing lawsuit, the meteoric rise of Amanda Gorman, the high degree of difficulty of adapt...

2021 Spring Preview

25 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca preview the interesting new Spring releases in the form of a draft! They each drafted 10 books to make a basket with the intended au...

A Picnic Basket for the Mind

18 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about Simon & Schuster pulling Josh Hawley’s book, Powell’s getting heat for carrying a title, discuss how to structure thei...

There's a Caboose Coming

11 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about the best-selling books of 2020, Eat a Peach follow-up, how the publishing industry fared last year, and much more. Discus...

Best of the Rest: Our Favorite Non-Book Things of 2020

04 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca share their favorite things from 2020 that were not books. Discussed in this episode: Summer Camp Island Making of Frozen 2 The M...

Our Favorite Reads of 2020

21 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca recount their favorite reads of 2020. Discussed in this episode: Intimations by Zadie Smith Eat a Peach by David Chang The Beauty...

Serrated Crescendo

14 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about PRH buying Simon & Schuster, survey best books of the year lists, and much more. Discussed in this episode: The 2021 Rea...

2020 Holiday Recommendations, Part 2

07 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca their 2020 Holiday book recommendations. Discussed in this episode: Force of Nature by Jane Harper  The Secret History by Donna T...

2020 Holiday Recommendations, Part 1

30 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca give book recommendations in response to reader requests. Discussed in this episode:  In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan  King...

Null Hypothesis Feedback

23 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca go over some A Promised Land sales numbers, look over the National Book Award winners, check in with the sale of Simon & Schuster, an...

THE WEST WING, Reconsidered

18 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff, Amanda, and Rebecca return to The West Wing. At least for the pilot. This episode is sponsored by: This episode is sponsored by Yen Press, On...

Spiritual Cheese

16 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about the lead up to A Promised Land, authors you know by just their first names, a very real literary puzzle, and much more. T...

Buy, Sell, Hold: 2020's Notable Books

11 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca play a round of Buy/Sell/Hold with some of 2020’s most notable books. This episode is sponsored by: This episode is sponsored by ...

One Hour of Podcasting

09 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca try to remain focused while doing a bunch of listener follow-up, wonder about HMH’s trade business being for sale, admire PW’s Be...

Adaptation Wish List

04 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca list their most-wished for bookish adaptations. This episode is sponsored by: This episode is sponsored by Zikora by Chimamanda Ngo...

You Need Three for a Parade

02 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about a call for help and a weird stock purchase at The Strand, more encouraging hires in publishing, an ugly fight at B&N goes ...

JACK by Marilynne Robinson

28 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca discuss Jack by Marilynne Robinson. This episode is sponsored by: This episode is sponsored by Book Trip, by C.J. Duarte, Penguin R...

Gird Your Whatevers

26 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca mostly respond to listener ideas for bonus episodes. Some of it is even about books. This episode is sponsored by: This episode is ...

Adaptation Nation: Little Fires Everywhere, High Fidelity, and Enola Holmes

21 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca discuss the recent adaptations of Little Fires Everywhere, High Fidelity, and Enola Holmes. This episode is sponsored by: This epis...

Word of Mouth for Robots

19 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca ask for ideas for post-election episode topics, go over what is going on with book sales, float the idea of making author “retireme...

(Re)Introducing Ourselves to Louise Glück

14 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about the life and work of 2020 Nobel Laureate Louise Glück, plus an extended discussion of her 1993 poem, “Vespers.” This...

30 Dirty Spoons

12 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca tease their special 2020 Nobel Prize episode, look at the National Book Award longlist, consider an interesting new position at Simon...

Half Baked Ideas, Volume 2

07 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca pitch ideas that are not quite ready for prime-time. This episode is sponsored by Grand Central Publishing and Iris Johansen’s CHA...

A Mighty Hrrumpff

05 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about Amazon’s apparent discount decline, a new Executive Editor at Random House, another major James Patterson donation, and ...

It Book: TRANSCENDENT KINGDOM by Yaa Gyasi

30 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Liberty Hardy of All the Books! and Rincey Abrams of Read or Dead join Jeff to talk about Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi. THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORE...

Sand Forward

28 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jenn Northington joins Jeff to talk about listener reactions to the Dune trailer, the launch of Publishers Weekly in Spanish, the National Book Founda...

EAT A PEACH by David Chang and DUNE Trailer Talk

23 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca discuss Eat a Peach by David Chang. Then Jenn Northington comes on to talk to Jeff about that Dune trailer. This episode is sponsore...

German Flotilla

21 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about the CEO of Macmillan leaving, Obama’s presidential memoir release date and cover reveal, the DOJ looking to press charge...

Book Nerd Movie Club: The Princess Bride

16 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about the book and the movie versions of The Princess Bride. This episode is sponsored by: See Her Die by Melinda Leigh Inter...

The Tyranny of Khaki

14 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca discuss rumors of PRH trying to buy Simon & Schuster, a bankrupt printer causing havoc in publishing, more cringe-inducing Dan Brown…...

Deals Deals Deals

09 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff presents Rebecca with a host of recently announced book deals of varying interest. This episode is sponsored by: Don’t Ever Forget by Matthe...

2020 Fall Preview

02 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca highlight the most interesting, noteworthy, and exciting books being released this fall. This episode is sponsored by; Book Riot Ins...

A Very Quiet Heist

30 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca follow-up about the Future Library, are surprised by the NBCC vote, get excited for Enola Holmes, and much more. This episode is sp...

Our Favorite Summer Reads of 2020

26 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca review their favorite reads from the most unusual summer of 2020. This episode is sponsored by: TBR The Morning Flower by Amanda Ho...

Me No Likey

24 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Rebecca and Vanessa go deep into all things Stephenie Meyer, as well as more Trump books, Amazon, and a new Netflix series featuring Marley...

High-Brow Scream Queen

17 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca discuss some listener feedback, some bookseller discontent with Bookshop, Stephanie Meyer selling 1 million books in a week, and more...

V Plus Three

10 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about more real censorship, Caste by Isabel Wilkerson arriving, extensions of live-streaming rights for kids books, Stephanie Me...

Gotta Fund These Shenanigans

03 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff gets Rebecca’s report on the first episode of The Michelle Obama Podcast, they talk about one of the more shocking publishing confessions in re...

A Lifeboat Made of Thorns

27 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about the best-selling books of 2020 so far, Barnes & Noble adapting, several exciting adaptation announcements, a case of real ...

New Nonsense

20 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk Tom Hank’s GREYHOUND, Lisa Lucas leaving The National Book Awards for Random House, The National Books Critics Circle getting ...

The Egg and the Wall

13 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jeff and Rebecca lap up the drops of tea spilling from Mary Trump’s book, talk about the coming wave of new releases, and get into that H...

It's An Honest Moustache

06 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk some new Trump books, some non-fun Dan Brown news, a hero of the week, and much more. This episode is sponsored by: These Name...

The B is for Beats

29 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jeff and Rebecca talk about white people being upset at Black-owned bookstores for not getting them their anti-racist books fast enough (th...

THE VANISHING HALF by Brit Bennett

24 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Rebecca, Vanessa, and Sharifah discuss The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. This episode is sponsored by: Hey YA, Book Riot’s own podcast about all...

Stealthily Moving Needles

22 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jeff and Rebecca talk about the NBCC imploding, campaigns to buy books by Black authors, Marley Dias continuing awesomeness, and much more....

A Bunch of Whatever Nimrods

15 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Rebecca and Amanda discuss Book Riot’s response to JK Rowling, the latest news on publishers’ plans to reopen, and two movements for racial equity...

You Should Be Uncomfortable

08 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about how this week’s protests against systemic racism and police brutality intersect with the world of books and give the bes...