NPR's Book of the Day

'Poverty, By America' argues America profits by keeping people poor

27 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why does poverty persist in one of the world's wealthiest countries? Because it's profitable, argues sociologist Matthew Desmond, in Poverty, By Ameri...

Two books warn about the privacy implications of AI and neurotechnology

24 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode is all about tech. First, Paul Scharre of the Center for a New American Security speaks with NPR's Ari Shapiro about his new book, Fou...

'That's hot': Paris Hilton is ready to tell her own story

23 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Paris Hilton is ubiquitous with early 2000s pop culture: She graced the cover of magazines, her own reality TV show and even Billboard charts. But the...

Dina Nayeri wants you to question 'Who Gets Believed'

22 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Author Dina Nayeri was young when she found out that there's a stark difference between credibility and belief – and it's a disconnect at the center...

In 'Dust Child,' the impacts of the Vietnam War are felt decades later

21 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai's new novel, Dust Child, takes a closer look at the often-fraught relationships between Vietnamese women and American soldiers...

A new biography of first lady Edith Wilson examines her political influence

20 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Edith Wilson dated and then married Woodrow Wilson while he served as president of the United States in 1915. In her new biography, Untold Power: The ...

From the Astros to Colin Kaepernick, two books revisit monumental sports stories

17 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode is all about sports. First, The Athletic reporter Evan Drellich speaks with NPR's A Martinez about his investigation into the Astros' ...

'Your Driver is Waiting' takes a modern spin on 'Taxi Driver'

16 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Who would Travis Bickle– the protagonist of the 1976 film Taxi Driver – be today? That question sparked the new novel by Priya Guns, Your Driver I...

Sparked by the pandemic, Katherine May searches for 'Enchantment' in nature

15 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Katherine May, like so many other people, found herself submerged in anxiety and restlessness during COVID-19 lockdowns. But as cities reopened, she l...

In 'What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez,' a family struggles with a child's disappearance

14 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ruthy Ramirez, the 13-year-old middle child of a Puerto Rican family in Staten Island, vanished without a trace. But more than a decade later, as the ...

Margaret Atwood ponders aging, fantasy and George Orwell in 'Old Babes in the Wood'

13 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Margaret Atwood has been writing for a long time – and as she tells NPR's Leila Fadel, the world looks very different today than it did when she sta...

Two memoirs tell life-altering stories through illustrations

10 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode focuses on two pretty different graphic memoirs. First, artist Kendra Neely – who survived the 2015 shooting at Umpqua Community Col...

'A Stone Is Most Precious Where It Belongs' is a memoir of the Uyghur experience

09 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Describing home for journalist Gulchehra Hoja is complicated. She's from western China, in the Xinjiang province. But as she tells NPR's Steve Inskeep...

'All the Beauty in the World' is a museum guard's view on healing through art

08 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Patrick Bringley worked in events planning at The New Yorker – until his older brother got diagnosed with cancer and passed away. That loss led to a...

Beth Moore says misogyny pushed her to leave the Southern Baptist Convention

07 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Beth Moore was raised in the Southern Baptist Convention. As an adult, she went on to become an evangelist, teaching Bible studies to women in arenas ...

In 'Dyscalculia,' Camonghne Felix reckons with heartbreak as a form of trauma

06 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The critically acclaimed poet Camonghne Felix says that people going through breakups are not often treated with the same grace or generosity as those...

Sen. Bernie Sanders and Malcolm Harris take a closer look at wealth and capitalism

03 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode features interviews with two people who've given a lot of thought to capitalism's role in modern society. First, Sen. Bernie Sanders s...

In 'My Selma,' Willie Mae Brown recalls growing up during the Civil Rights Movement

02 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Willie Mae Brown was a little girl in Selma, Alabama in the 1960s. In her new YA book, My Selma, she recalls growing up during the height of the Civil...

In 'The Darker the Night,' a murder in Glasgow unravels a political investigation

01 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Early on in The Darker the Night, the debut thriller from NPR producer Martin Patience, an investigative reporter links a murder in Glasgow to a signi...

Jean D'Amérique's novel 'A Sun to Be Sewn' grapples with violence in Haiti

28 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jean D'Amérique says he grew up in a neighborhood where "it was easier to find a gun than a book." But as he tells NPR's Ari Shapiro, falling in love...

Bozoma Saint John opens up about trauma, grief and healing in 'The Urgent Life'

27 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Bozoma Saint John says that the loss of her first daughter, who was born prematurely because of preeclampsia, left deep scars in her relationship with...

Two children's books examine the meaning of home

24 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode features two children's books that touch on the topic of home in one way or another. First, musician Rhiannon Giddens speaks with NPR'...

From cowboy boots to polyamory, 'Wanting' explores what it means for women to desire

23 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Margot Kahn and Kelly McMasters know that wanting is a very particular feeling. What women desire is constantly changing, of course: time, money, sex,...

'Up With The Sun' traces actor Dick Kallman's short-lived career – up to his murder

22 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Up With The Sun is the newest historical novel from acclaimed author Thomas Mallon – with a real-life actor at its center. Dick Kallman's career ros...

'Call and Response' is an ode to the women and girls of Botswana

21 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Gothataone Moeng says she knows the characters in her collection of short stories, Call and Response. They bear similarities to her sisters, cousins, ...

Greta Thunberg hopes 'The Climate Book' is a launching pad for environmental activism

20 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Greta Thunberg has become a household name – but she doesn't want the attention on her to become a distraction from the severity of the climate cris...

'How Far The Light Reaches' dives into the deep sea for lessons on community and care

17 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The deep sea – and the creatures that occupy it – can often feel like a scary and intimidating unknown. But in Sabrina Imbler's new book, How Far ...

'The End of Drum-Time' captures a complicated love story in an Arctic community

16 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Hanna Pylväinen's new novel, The End of Drum-Time, opens with the ground quite literally shaking beneath a Lutheran congregation. It sets the tone fo...

'The House of Eve' explores Black motherhood and associated stigma in the 1950s

15 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the 1950s, pregnancy and adoption were topics often clouded in shame, secrecy – or both. That's certainly true for Eleanor and Ruby, the two prot...

'The Ransomware Hunting Team' tracks the rise of cybercrime and the fight to solve it

14 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Here & Now's Scott Tong describes ransomware as "a high-tech version of kidnapping." It's when a computer or tech system is hacked and money is demand...

'What Napoleon Could Not Do' occupies the space between African and American identity

13 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There are three central characters in DK Nnuro's new novel, What Napoleon Could Not Do. Belinda and Jacob are Ghanaian siblings who aspire to move to ...

Two YA novels create well-rounded portraits of Black characters coming of age

10 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode covers two YA novels centered around Black youth and the portrayals they receive – or don't – in coming-of-age literature. First, ...

In 'The World And All That It Holds,' two soldiers fall in love during World War I

09 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The World And All That It Holds starts off in Sarajevo, in 1914, when shots ring out and World War I begins. It changes the course of protagonist Rafa...

In 'And Finally,' a neurosurgeon comes to terms with his own cancer diagnosis

08 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Early on in today's episode, NPR's Scott Simon asks Dr. Henry Marsh a question – how could a medical professional miss the signs that they themselve...

NBA dreams come true in 'The Sense of Wonder.' But at what cost?

07 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Won Lee, the protagonist of the novel The Sense of Wonder, is the only Asian American player in the NBA. But as was true for real-life basketball star...

Through short stories, 'The Faraway World' encompasses the Latin American diaspora

06 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Patricia Engel's new collection of short stories, The Faraway World, reaches into the lives of imaginary characters scattered throughout Latin America...

Two novels take a closer look at class and gender in Indian society

03 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode features two books that examine wealth – or lack thereof – and gender in India. First, Deepti Kapoor chats with NPR's Scott Simon ...

In 'Beaverland,' Leila Philip credits the beaver with building America

02 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Journalist Leila Philip first became interested in beavers when she saw a group of rodents building a pond near her house. Her fascination with what t...

'Shubeik Lubeik' imagines a world where you can buy and sell wishes

01 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In Arabic, the rhyme Shubeik Lubeik means "your wish is my command." So it's an apt title for a new graphic novel by Deena Mohamed, which explores a w...

In 'The Survivalists,' doomsday prepping becomes a way to regain control

31 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Comedy writer Kashana Cauley grew up watching the film Conspiracy Theory, starring Mel Gibson and Julia Roberts, with her parents. She says that's lik...

'Sorry, Sorry, Sorry' believes in the power of a good apology

30 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Saying sorry can be really difficult sometimes – it requires a certain amount of accountability, reflection and empathy. But that's precisely why it...

Two books trace enslaved people's journey to freedom in the 19th century

27 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode features two books examining the sacrifices made by enslaved people in the U.S. First, NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with author Ilyan Wo...

In 'Bad Cree,' a horror mystery unfolds in the aftermath of loss and colonialism

26 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jessica Johns' thriller, Bad Cree, opens with a startling image: a severed crow's head in someone's hand. In today's episode, Johns tells NPR's Ayesha...

'Life on Delay' chronicles what it means to live with – and accept – a stutter

25 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In 2019, John Hendrickson wrote a piece for The Atlantic about then-presidential candidate Joe Biden's life with a stutter. Hendrickson himself stutte...

'Decent People' is a murder mystery grappling with race in the segregated South

24 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In a small North Carolina town in 1976, three siblings are shot to death. That's the mystery at the center of De'Shawn Charles Winslow's new book, Dec...

'You Just Need to Lose Weight' aims to change your thinking about being 'fat'

23 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Author and podcast host Aubrey Gordon brings up an important reminder early in today's episode: In the United States, the average size is plus-sized. ...

Susan Kuklin and Maia Kobabe's books explore gender identity throughout adolescence

20 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode features interviews with two authors whose books on trans and queer gender identity are facing challenges in school districts across t...

Art Spiegelman reissues 'Breakdowns' with new perspective on book bans

19 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Author and cartoonist Art Spiegelman is familiar with the hysteria surrounding certain library books. In today's episode, he tells NPR's Scott Simon a...

'All Boys Aren't Blue' honors coming of age as a queer Black boy

18 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Author George M. Johnson says they knew their memoir, All Boys Aren't Blue, would be challenged by school boards – but they didn't realize just how ...

In 'New Kid,' a Black seventh grader navigates a new school

17 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan Banks, the protagonist of New Kid, is a seventh grade student who loves to draw and hopes to one day become a cartoonist. But the graphic novel...

Bans on books like 'Out of Darkness' target authors of color

16 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Professor Ashley Hope Pérez's book Out of Darkness explores school segregation in 20th century Texas through a fictional love story between a young A...

Steve Martin, Harry Bliss and Nick Hornby take different approaches to working hard

13 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode is all about professional longevity. First, actor Steve Martin and New Yorker cartoonist Harry Bliss sit down with NPR's Mary Louise K...

In 'Winterland,' a Soviet Union gymnast navigates a grueling responsibility

12 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Anya is only 8 years old, but she's already got the weight of a nation on her shoulders. The protagonist of Winterland lives in an isolated Arctic tow...

In 'Song of Silver, Flame Like Night,' Chinese mythology teaches lessons about power

11 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Amélie Wen Zhao's fantasy novel, Song of Silver, Flame Like Night, is rooted in the Chinese genres of xianxia and wuxia. It follows a young girl unco...

'Meredith, Alone' explores mental health, isolation and friendship

10 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The titular protagonist of Meredith, Alone has not left her home in three years. In today's episode, author Claire Alexander tells NPR's Scott Simon a...

A new biography of Janet Yellen offers a personal look at the trailblazing economist

09 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Janet Yellen's career has shattered several glass ceilings; she was the first female head of the Federal Reserve, and she's now the first woman servin...

Authors Peng Shepard and Anne Tyler show that family is...complicated

06 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today's first interview is with author Peng Shepard on her new mystery. A father and daughter, both cartographers, haven't spoken in seven years. But ...

Inspired by a true story, 'Nightcrawling' deals with sex work – and sexual abuse

05 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Inspired by a true story from Oakland, California, Leila Mottley's first novel follows a young Black girl who is sexually abused by a group of police ...

'Less is Lost' is the sequel to Andrew Greer's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel 'Less'

04 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Here & Now's Robin Young talks with author Andrew Sean Greer about his new novel Less is Lost, the sequel to his Pulitzer Prize-winni...

A futuristic novel about the powerful escaping to space echoes today's world

03 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Author Tochi Onyebuchi says that a majority of space stories he's come across favor those in power. Rich white people get to escape in spaceships, whe...

Romance, terror, and the supernatural in Isabel Cañas' debut novel 'The Hacienda'

02 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the aftermath of the Mexican war for independence, a new bride finds herself alone in a haunted house surrounded by people who don't believe her. I...

Two novels chronicle the mysterious disappearances of young women

30 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode centers around two books that explore the rippling consequences of violence against women. First, author Johanne Lykke Holm sits down ...

'My People' is a collection of stories – spanning decades – about Black America

29 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Charlayne Hunter-Gault is a trailblazing journalist. The first Black reporter for The New Yorker's "Talk of the Town" section, she's spent more than a...

'The Myth of Normal' explores why depression and illness rates are rising in the U.S.

28 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The United States is seeing some concerning trends when it comes to school shootings, deaths by suicide, overdoses and other unhealthy behaviors; they...

'Demon Copperhead' tackles opioids, poverty and resilience in Appalachia

27 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Novelist Barbara Kingsolver loves living in the Appalachian hills of southwestern Virginia. But she says she feels that the region is often misconstru...

'Our Book of Awesome' celebrates the small joys that can actually make us happier

26 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Bestselling author Neil Pasricha knows what it's like to feel down. Fifteen years ago, he was going through a difficult period in his life – so he s...

Two cookbooks for baking the sweetest holiday treats

23 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode is all about dessert. Not just any dessert – chef-certified, tested and recommended baked goods that are sure to be the star of any ...

Olympic diver Tom Daley explains his love for knitting in 'Made With Love'

22 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How do professional athletes unwind? For Olympic gold medalist Tom Daley, the answer is simple: with a needle and some yarn. In today's episode, he sp...

In 'Grocery Shopping With My Mother,' a son becomes a caretaker

21 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Author Kevin Powell grew up without much physical affection. He says the first time someone tried to hug him was in college; it felt like a foreign co...

In 'Cursed Bunny,' horror takes unexpected forms

20 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Bora Chung's collection of short stories, Cursed Bunny, jumps across different characters and genres, but there's something a little sinister in nearl...

'The Future Is Analog' makes the case for logging off

19 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The pandemic accelerated the digitization of our lives. Work, school, dating, even worship – we learned to access and navigate all of it through our...

Patti Smith's photography and Kevin Nealon's caricatures offer a new perspective

16 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Patti Smith and Kevin Nealon are both stars for very different reasons; one is a punk legend, the other a standup comedian and SNL alum. But they have...

'We Deserve Monuments' highlights a queer, Black love story amidst a family mystery

15 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In Jas Hammonds' YA novel, We Deserve Monuments, high school senior Avery is faced with moving from Washington, D.C. to her mom's small hometown in Ge...

'The Black Family's Guide to College Admissions' traces the path to higher education

14 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Timothy Fields and Shereem Herndon-Brown are college admissions experts, so they know how confusing and overwhelming the higher education system can b...

'The Light Pirate' depicts a dystopian Florida amidst climate catastrophes

13 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Climate displacement is already a reality. In Lily Brooks-Dalton's new novel The Light Pirate, which takes place in a near future, a family chooses to...

'Three Girls From Bronzeville' is a memoir about identity, opportunity and solidarity

12 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Journalist Dawn Turner grew up in Chicago's historic Bronzeville neighborhood in the '70s. Her memoir chronicles the dreams shared between her younger...

NPR recommends our favorite books of 2022, including Jennette McCurdy's memoir

09 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's the most wonderful time of the year – NPR's annual Books We Love! On today's episode, our host Andrew Limbong sits down with All Things Conside...

'All This Could Be Different' grapples with the beautiful chaos of post-college life

08 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah Thankam Mathews' debut novel takes place after the 2009 recession. The lead character, Sneha, just graduated college. Alone in the U.S. after he...

In 'So Help Me God,' Mike Pence considers how his faith shapes his politics

07 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Former Vice President Mike Pence says he's been demeaned and misunderstood for his evangelical Christian values. In his new book, So Help Me God, he d...

In 'They're Going to Love You,' a dancer's secret unravels lessons about forgiveness

06 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Author and former dancer Meg Howrey knows about the world of ballet. It's at the center of her new novel, They're Going to Love You, which finds an ad...

'How to Stand Up to a Dictator' dissects how disinformation can kill democracies

05 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Journalist and Nobel Prize winner Maria Ressa thinks the world is facing a sort of World War III – especially as it relates to information. Her new ...

Exploring immigration through a common experience: feeling like an outsider

02 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There is a common hurdle for many first generation immigrants: feeling out of place. Whether that's in school, speaking a different language, or livin...

In 'Lessons In Chemistry' a chemist is the star of...a cooking show?

01 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Bonnie Garmus' new novel Lessons In Chemistry has been getting a lot of buzz. Elizabeth Zott is a talented chemist but because it's the 1960s, she fac...

Poet Warsan Shire hopes you can make the voices in your head your friends

30 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Somali British poet Warsan Shire has had many projects, including running a popular Tumblr page and collaborating with Beyoncé. Now, she is out with ...

'Booth' looks at the family life of President Lincoln's notorious assassin

29 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Author Karen Joy Fowler thinks John Wilkes Booth craved attention – and that he's gotten his fair share of it. So her new novel, Booth, instead focu...

Author NoViolet Bulawayo's novel 'Glory' draws inspiration from the Orwellian

28 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Author NoViolet Bulawayo's new novel Glory is quite openly based on Orwell's Animal Farm and the 2017 coup in Zimbabwe that ousted then president Robe...

Two poetry collections find beauty in unexpected places

25 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Poet Franny Choi knows that marginalized communities have been facing apocalypses forever. But in her new book, The World Keeps Ending, and the World ...

In 'Sweet Land of Liberty,' pie recipes show how American values transform over time

24 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A lot of holiday tables will undoubtedly feature some kind of pie this year. But for food writer Rossi Anastopoulo, pies aren't just a baked dish – ...

Sci-fi elements help a family's story before and after warfare

23 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Displacement, identity and the aftermath of warfare are themes running through today's episode on The Haunting of Hajji Hotak. Author Jamil Jan Kochai...

'Control' chronicles the dark history of eugenics and its ongoing impact

22 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Adam Rutherford is a geneticist and author who just wrote a new book about the history of eugenics, and he tells NPR's Rebecca Ramirez that the politi...

In 'The Book of Jose,' Fat Joe remembers his rise in hip-hop

21 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Fat Joe's career spans three decades – but before he was performing on stages around the world, he was a little kid getting bullied in the Bronx. Hi...

Two books cover the Russia-Ukraine war from opposite perspectives

18 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, two nonfiction books explore the Russian invasion of Ukraine from two completely different experiences. First, 12-year-old Yeva Skali...

'Gods of Soccer' celebrates 100 of the world's best players

17 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Men in Blazers' Roger Bennett knows football – or soccer, as Americans call it. His new book, Gods of Soccer, lists 100 players who've made their ma...

Michelle Obama talks marriage, motherhood and 'going high' in 'The Light We Carry'

16 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Michelle Obama wants young people to know "going high" isn't about being complacent – it's about being strategic while pushing for change. In this e...

'Now Is Not the Time to Panic' captures a summer of teenage friendship and creativity

15 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Now Is Not the Time to Panic is a novel, but the relationship at its core comes from best-selling author Kevin Wilson's own young adulthood. Two teens...

'Fatty Fatty Boom Boom' details a lifelong relationship with food and body image

14 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When Rabia Chaudry's family moved from Pakistan to the U.S., her parents fully embraced the processed foods lining the grocery store aisles. But as th...

Two writers on building new careers and self-fulfillment through food

11 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, two cookbook authors recount their relationship with food and how it's led them to unlikely places. First, actor and TikTok sensation...

In 'Small Game,' a survival-challenge reality show takes a dark turn

10 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Blair Braverman knows the great outdoors. So it makes sense that the American adventurer and "Naked And Afraid" contestant's first novel, Small Game, ...

In 'Somewhere Sisters,' twins adopted by different families reunite

09 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Isabella and Ha are twin sisters, but they grew up oceans apart. Isabella was adopted by a white American couple in Illinois, while Ha was raised by h...

Bono writes about the faith and ecstasy of U2's music in 'Surrender'

08 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Bono probably needs no introduction at this point. In this episode, the U2 frontman, philanthropist and now author sits down with NPR's Rachel Martin ...