Book Riot - The Podcast

The Elephant IS the Room

09 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Rebecca and Jeff talk about Oprah’s forthcoming American Dirt special, Simon & Schuster on the auction block, B&N getting back to basics, and much m...

Novel Gazing

05 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We offer you a special episode of Book Riot’s new literary fiction podcast Novel Gazing. This episode is all about adaptations and features an inter...

Wheelhouse or Beehive

02 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jenn Northington joins Jeff today to talk about Bookshop.org launching, the sales success of Barnes & Noble’s 2019 Book of the Year winner, Star War...

Book Nerd Movie Club: JURASSIC PARK

26 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Amanda, Rebecca, and Jeff discuss the book and movie, Jurassic Park. This episode is sponsored by: Book Marks Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by De...

Vector of the Juice

24 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In a slowish news week, Jeff and Rebecca wonder about books based on podcast, offer a brief fare-thee-well to Charles Portis, name a hero of the week,...

KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL, 20 Years Later

19 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca discuss Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of its publication. This episode is sponso...

Different Day, Same Shirt

17 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about the RWA’s accelerating collapse, Colin Kaepernick getting into publishing, Amazon taking a harder look at selling extrem...

Discussing the First "It" Book of 2020: SUCH A FUN AGE by Kiley Reid

12 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Vanessa, Jeff, and Sharifah talk about why Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid is the first “it” book of the year. This episode is sponsored by: Book...

Constellation of Laziness

10 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca follow-up about The Witcher, Macmillan making American Dirt amends, B&N and PRH teaming up to do something upsetting, EXTREMELY excit...

Reading Lives with Gabriel Bump

06 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Jeff dusts off the Reading Lives format to talk with Gabriel Bump, author of Everywhere You Don't Belong (which made our Winter/Sprin...

Libraries Versus Doughnuts

02 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about trends in 2019's bestsellers, Macmillan being banned from an industry conference, the American Dirt apology from Flatiron,...

Talking Through the Publication of AMERICAN DIRT

30 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Rebecca Schinsky, Vanessa Diaz, and Jeff O'Neal discuss the publication of American Dirt. This episode is sponsored by: Book Riot ...

Watching WATCHMEN

27 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about HBO's stunning adaptation of WATCHMEN. This episode is sponsored by: Book Riot Insiders. The Novel Gazing Podcast Li...

Winter/Spring 2020 Preview Show

22 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca preview titles coming out in the first four months of 2020 with a little Buy, Sell, Hold. This episode is sponsored by: Book Riot ...

Addendum to the Scolding

20 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jeff and Rebecca talk about the new head of the ABA starting the gig, Crawdads with a triple crown, more talk about returning Audible credi...

The Dr. Seuss Complex

13 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca discuss the best-selling books of 2019, Obama's 2019 reading recs, the RWA meltdown, and more. This episode is sponsored by: Libro....

The Books of the Decade

06 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

  Jeff and Rebecca are joined by Amanda Nelson to pick the books the defined the 2010s. This episode is sponsored by: Spalding University The Sev...

2019 Year in Review

23 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca look back that the stories that made 2019 in books and reading. Plus, some of their favorite non-book things of the years. This epis...

Reverse Bermuda Triangle

16 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about the Goodreads Choice Winners, Bill Gates' recommended books for 2019, more wrong-headed prison books news, and more. This...

2019 Holiday Recommendation Show, Part 2

09 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca wrap up their annual Holiday Recommendation show. This episode is sponsored by: The Great Courses Plus The Deep by Rivers Solo...

2019 Holiday Recommendation Show, Part 1

01 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca tackle the first batch of listener recommendation requests for the 2020 holiday season. This episode is sponsored by: Opus X One...

Clutching Intensifies

25 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about the National Book Awards, more about the terrible Nobel year, some adaptation news, and more. This episode is sponsor...

Nerd Nuggets

18 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk BN getting on the award train, Amazon releases its best books of the year list, and a weird amount of action in Virginia. Th...

BONUS: Adaptation Nation

14 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca discuss three big new TV adaptions: His Dark Materials (HBO), Watchmen (HBO), and Dickinson (Apple TV+). This episode is sponsored b...

A Smaller But Messier Problem

11 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jeff and Rebecca watch OverDrive jump into the Macmillan embargo fray, pass along a correction about The Little Free Library story, assess ...

BONUS: Baz Luhrmann's ROMEO + JULIET

07 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about Baz Luhrmann's 1996 adaptation of ROMEO + JULIET. This episode is sponsored by: The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell W...

Ice Cream Divergent

04 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca assess the updates to the Game of Thrones spin-offverse, close-read the CEO of Macmillan's letter about their ebook embargo, wade bri...

BONUS: THE WATER DANCER by Ta-Nehisi Coates

30 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates. This episode is sponsored by: The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal The Famil...

Ducks! Geese! Sheep!

28 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about the ALA's report on anti-competitive practices in the digital library market, exciting adaptation casting news, additional...

BONUS: Half-Baked Ideas

24 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff throws half-baked ideas about things that should exist in the world of books and reading at Rebecca to see which, if any, aren't horrible. T...

Flailing, Floundering, and Sinking

21 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca lament the double Booker prize and, to be honest, are just sort of bummed out by it and other stories this week. This episode is spo...

BONUS: The Double Nobel

17 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca try to make sense of this year's double Nobel Prize in Literature. This episode is sponsored by: Tidelands by Philippa Gregory Whe...

Agent of Chaos

14 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca briefly discuss the double Nobel, wonder about a strange The Testaments deployment, consider the National Book Award longlist, and mo...

BONUS: Book Nerd Movie Club: THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION

09 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca read and watch The Shawshank Redemption. This episode is sponsored by: Where to Begin by Cleo Wade The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jew...

Louder and with a Different Person

07 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Vanessa consider a list of the 100 Best Books of the 20th Century, do another round of Bookshop.org talk, get another perspective on throttli...

BONUS: WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING

02 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. What is it about? Is it good? Why is selling faster than fresh-dug swamp mussels? ...

The Morality Tax

30 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca get to a bunch of listener follow-up, dive back into the Macmillan's new ebook policy for libraries, try to decide if Oprah's Book Cl...

BONUS: The Handmaid's Tale Phenomenon

25 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about how The Handmaid's Tale has become a cultural icon and also give their thoughts on the sequel, The Testaments. This episo...

Camp No Doy

23 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk a lot about audiobooks, VERY high expectations for The Testaments, a pestering move by the DOJ, and much more. This episode is ...

BONUS: Book Nerd Movie Club: THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER

18 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Amanda dive (!) into the book and let's face it, MOSTLY, the movie: THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER. This episode is sponsored by: This Tender Lan...

The Book-Buying Version of the Zombie Apocalypse

16 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jeff and Jenn talk for a loonggg time about Bookshop.org, but also manage to squeeze in some consideration of audiobooks becoming more like...

BONUS: INTERPRETER OF MALADIES: 20 Years Later

11 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca have gone back and read a mutual favorite, Jhumpa Lahiri's Interpreter of Maladies, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of it's p...

Two Feet of Parchment About Moonstones

09 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about Amazon breaking the Atwood embargo, listener feedback, their fall preview picks already looking bad, get mad about bad ana...

2019 Fall Book Preview

05 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca go through 14 of the fall's buzziest books and declare whether or not they would buy, hold, or sell them. This episode is sponsored ...

The Uncanny Valley of Human Communication

02 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jeff and Rebecca talk audiobooks and copyright, podcasts and reading, a head-scratching Emily Dickinson trailer, and more. Jeff also talks ...

Knocking Out the Crawdads

26 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jeff and Rebecca talk about people buying Toni Morrison books, a publishing #metoo injustice, Amazon choosing interesting neighbors, and mu...

Average Burgle Duration

19 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jeff and Rebecca follow up about The Da Vinci Code, consider the latest iteration of Obama's reading list, talk about increased pushback ag...

Post-Botox Barnes & Noble

12 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Rebecca and Sharifah pay tribute to Toni Morrison's life and work, discuss Barnes & Noble's post-acquisition future, speculate about Lisa-Marie Presle...

The Da Vinci Code

05 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca discuss the book, the movie, the phenomenon: The Da Vinci Code. This episode is sponsored by: One Good Dead by David Baldacci T...

Canary of Disruption

29 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jeff and Rebecca talk about the Booker Prize long-list, a best-selling author going to Amazon, a shady event cancellation at a library, and...

Everything Is Going to Be OK

22 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about a fancy Song of Ice and Fire edition, Apple getting into original podcasts, a cool new bookstore in Chicago, and more. The...

Troubling the Dan Brown Meridian

15 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about the best-selling books of the year, follow up about THE STARLESS SEA, go over the ethics of ARCs, and much more. This ...

Value Over Replacement Barfing

08 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week's topics include the faintest rumblings of a Harry Potter television show, Book Riot's favorite books of 2019 so far, a ridiculously though ...

No Nuance Whatsoever

01 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about divergent solutions to the same indie bookstore problem, Scribd's new digest feature, joining libraries to other social se...

#318: The Will to Prequel

24 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about the announced HUNGER GAMES prequel, Amazon's best books of the year so far list, and much more. This episode is spons...

#317: Chaotic Neutral

16 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Rebecca and Amanda discuss Barnes & Noble's buyout options, Goodreads's list of the hit books of 2019 so far, damning allegations against N...

#316: NCIS: Vatican

10 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Barnes & Noble gets sold! The Obamas join the podcasting revolution! Robert Langdon is coming to TV! This episode is sponsored by: All the Books!...

#315: Hold the Needle

03 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about Book Expo America, Mindy Kaling doing an Amazon exclusive, breaking the Scripps Spelling Bee, and more. This episode i...

#314: Business Class Elite Diamond Platinum Plus

27 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jeff and Rebecca follow-up about podcast platforms, worry about George RR Martin's new deadline, admire and critique Bill Gates' new book r...

#313: The Hierarchy of Socks is Real

20 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jeff and Rebecca talk music streaming services, the wider podcast landscape, and even some talk about books. This episode is sponsored ...

#312: 2019 Moms, Dads, and Grads Recommendation Show, Part 2

13 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The second part of our 2019 Moms, Dads, and Grads recommendation show. This episode is sponsored by: BookCon Again, but Better by Christine Ric...

#310: Filigreed Elvish

05 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Jenn talk about Baker & Taylor getting out of the retail distribution business (and why you might care), Audible's Alexa experiment, the Tolk...

#309: 2019 Moms, Dads, and Grads Recommendations, Part 1

29 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Our annual Moms, Dads, and Grads recommendation show! This episode is sponsored by: Libro.fm William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Mean Girls by ...

#308: The Cargo Pants Pocket For Your Life

22 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jeff and Rebecca talk about millennial audiobook habits, the 2019 Pulitzer Prizes, Penguin Random House's loyalty program, and much more. ...

#307: Justice for Bob

15 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jeff and Rebecca relay listener feedback about Scribd's original content move, the most banned books of 2018, a major audiobook publisher m...

#306: A Squirt of Something

08 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jeff and Rebecca talk about more book bans in prisons, Scribd getting into original content, listener feedback, and more. This episode ...

#305: Selective Tree Hugging

01 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Rebecca and Jenn discuss the latest in Jay Asher's defamation suit, a Michigan bill that would make it easier to ban books, Harper Lee's g...

Quick Note: Shenanigans and Snafus

26 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Due to a series of scheduling shenanigans and technical snafus, there is no new episode this week. Have no fear, we'll be back next Monday, April 1, w...

#304: Narrative Fissure

18 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jeff and Rebecca talk a major change to Amazon's pricing policy, an obvious but nonetheless interesting comment from George RR Martin, a li...

#303: Durable Dirigibles

11 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jeff and Rebecca follow-up about AI and copyright, Barnes & Noble's #bookhaul, Amazon goings-on, a genuinely interesting adaptation news st...

#302: Scrolling is Fundamental

05 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#301: Bibliographic Rigor

25 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about the incredible legacy of Betty Ballantine, a few book-collecting related stories, listener feedback about listening to puc...

#300: Notional Confetti Cannon

18 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In episode 300, we talk a couple of knotty Amazon stories, a UK university decolonizing the canon, good news from Kansas, and much more. This epis...

#299: Vamp a Euphemism

11 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jeff and Rebecca follow-up on defamation, try to wrap their heads around the Dan Mallory/A.J. Finn story, eulogize the Ancient Lore Village...

#298: The Ideal Turkey-to-Hero Ratio

04 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jeff and Rebecca talk about Jay Asher suing for defamation, the un-Manning of the Booker Prize, a couple of heroes of the week, and much mo...

#297: The Most Whimsical Whatever

28 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about another case of harassment against LGBTQ titles in libraries, the rising sales of mental health books, a new E.L. James bo...

#296: Orcs, Leprechauns, and All That Stuff

20 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca offer their appreciation for Mary Oliver, wonder at the continued strength of BECOMING, hope for the failure of another attempt to ma...

#295: A Basket of Fraught

14 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca take much longer than they supposed talking about Publisher's Weekly acquiring The Millions and the state of book blogging. This...

#294: Rebecca is Not People

07 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about books coming into the public domain, Obama's 2018 reading list, Amazon's best-selling books of 2018 and much more. Th...

#293: Recommended

02 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

While Jeff and Rebecca take a week off, Jeff presents an episode of Book Riot's Recommended podcast series that he produced. This episode is spon...

#292: Our Favorite non-Bookish Things of 2018

24 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about their favorite non-bookish things of 2018. This episode is sponsored by: G.H. Mumm The Great Courses Plus Zola See...

#291: The Year in Review

16 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca review the most memorable stories from the year in books. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your...

#290: Outsource Your Legs

10 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jeff and Rebecca get back to the news with a bunch of listener feedback, B&N announces largest number of new store openings in years, Atwoo...

#289: 2018 Holiday Recommendation Show, Part 2

03 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca wrap up their 2018 holiday recommendations. This episode is sponsored by: Fight Like a Girl by Clementine Ford Wizard Pins Pen...

#288: 2018 Holiday Recommendation Show, Part 1

26 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca respond to listener recommendation requests. This episode is sponsored by: Book Riot's TBR Park Row Books and Evergreen Tidings...

#287: Shruggie Parade, Updated

19 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Jeff and Rebecca talk about Publisher’s Weekly’s 2018 Salary Survey, the National Book Award winners, WH Smith’s new bookstore ...

#286: A Tinfoil Hat Built For Two

11 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jeff and Rebecca take a second look and Indigo's financial results, the news the WHSmith was the "book retailer" interested in buying Barne...

#285: Exaggeration for Effect

05 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jeff and Rebecca continue to follow the increasingly nasty Barnes & Noble lawsuit, look over the Goodreads Choice Awards nominees, give an ...

#284: You Are Your Own Nanny

29 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jeff and Rebecca spend most of the time on reader feedback, but then also finally get to the talk about the winner of the Great American Re...

#283: The Streisand Effect

22 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jeff and Amanda follow-up about the suit against Moire Donegan, talk about the Man Booker 2018 winner, give first reactions to the Indigo o...

#282: Big Mood

15 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Sharifah joins Jeff to talk the awarding of the New Academy Prize (aka, The Alternative Nobel), the meh-tastic finalists of The Great Ameri...

#281: Door Number Three

08 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Barnes & Noble lurches towards a sale, Amazon raises wages, a notable new poetry podcast, and much more. This episode is sponsore...

#280: The Quiver is a Forest

01 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jeff and Rebecca discuss the Kirkus prize finalists, yet another Amazon store format, ebooks in prisons, listener follow-up, and much more....

#279: Hierarchy of Eyebrows

24 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jeff and Rebecca find a Barnes & Noble experiment they like, express almost total ignorance about the National Book Award longlists, are du...

#278: Finally, Gravitas

17 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jeff and Rebecca mull Barnes & Noble's current "plan," show their ignorance of the bookselling landscape in the United Kingdom, marvel at t...

#277: Pondering the Quibbles

10 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jeff and Rebecca talk more about Barnes & Noble suitors, Barnes & Noble's eroding finances, a big new Book Riot project, and much more. ...

#276: Unexpectedly Juicy

03 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Rebecca talk about juicy drama at Barnes & Noble, The New Academy shortlist, and much more.   This episode is sponsored by: Google Play ...

#275: The Hope of a Mushroom

27 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#274: The Worm I Asked For

21 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Due to extraordinary circumstances, Jeff flies solo on this episode and monologues on ebook pricing for libraries, what a Netflix for books would now ...

#273: Puberty Care Package

13 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices