What Should I Read Next?
Episodes
Ep 208: The underappreciated art of literary forgery
05 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Charlie Lovett joins Anne to discuss the enduring power of not only stories but the books themselves, how books connect people of all ages, and of all...
Ep 207: An all-you-can-read buffet
29 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week's guest is Jennifer Pai, a reader with a particular soft spot for anything that could might be called spooky. Whether it’s thrilling suspe...
Ep 206: How to bypass the book hangover
22 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Jerrell Everett is serious about creating her ideal reading life. When Jerrell had kids and found herself picking up books less and less, she took act...
Ep 205: Books that won’t let you stop reading
15 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Readers, sometimes podcasting doesn’t go as planned. Schedules conflict, last-minute emergencies strike, the flu sneaks up on us, Anne loses her voi...
Ep 204: Nonfiction that reads like a thrilling novel
08 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today Anne talks books with David Krohse, an Iowa reader who’s woven a love of literature into all aspects of his life — the waiting room of his c...
Ep 203: What happens in book club stays in book club
01 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode, Anne talks with Emily Carter about a genre they both used to think they were too smart to be reading. When Emily entered a seaso...
Ep 202: The art (and awfulness) of the cliffhanger
24 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In today's double-feature, Anne chats books with sisters Mia & Micah. But unlike most of our episodes with multiple guests, they aren’t looking to f...
Ep 201: The hidden value of a terrible reading experience
17 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today, Brian Eichenberger dives straight into a hotly debated issue, discussing horrible books that taught him and Anne lessons they still think about...
Ep 200: The good, the bad, and the unread
10 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In today's milestone 200th episode, Anne and her producer Brenna catch up with the guests of 8 fan-favorite episodes to see what recommendations were ...
Ep 199: The perils of public book recommendations
03 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The WSIRN intro sounds straightforward enough - Anne chats with a reader about books they love, books they hate, and books they could pick up next. Si...
Ep 198: Reading for the FUN of it
27 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Ever since Anne visited today’s guest, Annie F. Downs, on her podcast That Sounds Fun a little while ago to talk about Summer Reading, she's been wa...
Ep 197: Rebuilding a bookshelf in Paradise
20 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest, Amelia Mattingly, went through a gut-wrenching experience that ripped her book collection away from her – shelves and all – along...
Ep 196: What the cool kids are reading
13 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today you’ll get to know Anudeep Reddy, a reader who grew up in a competitive school environment where engaging books were in short supply, so he ha...
Ep 195: Wanted: book enthusiast at large
06 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest Mary Laura Philpott is an essayist, bookseller, and a big fan of memoirs of people living “everyday lives”. She certainly has expe...
Ep 194: No plot, no problem!
30 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
For Nicole Mattke, a clear and driving plot isn’t the most important thing. She loves beautiful, introspective writing that makes her think about ev...
Ep 193: Rolling the dice on your next read
23 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Keren Form is a self-professed mega nerd who loves everything from LOTR, and board games, and epic science fiction. Today, Keren and Anne chat about...
Ep 192: Wherever you read, I will follow
16 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Rita and Xoe Amer are a mother-daughter duo who have bonded over books since Xoe was young. She’s all grown up now, but the shared love of reading r...
Ep 191: When a great book wrecks your reading life
09 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever finished a GREAT book, then realized it left behind a hole no other book will ever be able to fill? Today’s guest is Andy Serrato, a r...
Ep 190: There's nothing like a little bookish momentum
02 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest has reached a crossroads in her reading life, and she’s come to Anne looking for a jump start for this new season. Beth Wallen descr...
Ep 189: Our favorite genre is chapter books
25 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guests Brenna Sherrill & Ryan Pait describe themselves as platonic soulmates, book-loving best friends who grew up together, went to school ...
Ep 188: Books, plants, and literal bibliotherapy
18 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we meet Michelle Moreno, who I hope will inspire anyone out there who wants to make their bookstore dreams a reality. Anne got to talk to Miche...
Ep 187: Traveling the world without leaving your hometown
04 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Hannah Christmas is a stay at home mom whose reading life changed forever when she had a baby. Not only how much she read, or when she read, but the b...
Ep 186: Finding the book that feels like it was written just for you
28 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Lamar Giles joins Anne to chat about his two great literary loves: children’s books, and... horror novelist Stephen King? If you don’t think those...
Ep 185: What should you read this summer?
21 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Most weeks on What Should I Read Next, I’ll do a little literary matchmaking with one guest… but this week, I’m joined by the show's producer, B...
Ep 184: You’ll never conquer your TBR—and that’s a good thing
14 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest is Will Schwalbe, devoted reader and host of the But That's Another Story podcast. Will believes if we all asked the question “what ...
Ep 183: Baking, books, and other everyday magic
07 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Karuna Riazi, is here to talk about magic. The magic of carrying a book in your bag that can teleport you to another world, the magic of a beautiful t...
Ep 182: Matching the right (audio)book to the right listener
30 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A request we hear a lot at WSIRN is “can we have another episode about audiobooks??” So today, Anne is bringing in Michele Cobb, publisher at Audi...
Ep 181: Taking your reading life from good to great
23 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest Holli Petersen has created a very special family book club that might inspire you to pick up the phone and call a bookish loved one as...
Ep 180: Rearranging your life to read 600 books a year
16 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest is reading speed-demon Liberty Hardy, professional book nerd and host of Book Riot’s All the Books podcast. Together, Liberty and An...
Ep 179: Life is short & my TBR is way too long
09 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alabama reader Shannan Malone has broad taste and high standards, and when it comes to new releases, even authors she’s loved in the past don’t ge...
One Great Book Trailer
02 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We have a new podcast! WSIRN is about helping readers find their next read. In each episode, the recommendations are geared toward a particular reader...
Ep 178: The Next Right Thing for your reading life
02 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Decision-making is a HUGE part of WSIRN's purpose. Podcaster and author Emily P. Freeman is an expert in the art of decision-making (she’s literally...
Ep 177: When your reading life is a roller coaster
26 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Many listeners and past guests on WSIRN have shared their stories of reading dry spells due to chronic illness, anxiety, and disability. Today’s gue...
Ep 176: Books in the freezer, & other horror stories
19 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
WSIRN often helps readers get out of their comfort zones, but today’s guest Mallory O’Meara is taking Anne out of hers. Her wheelhouse is every...
Ep 175: Your library called and they want their books back
12 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Michelle Wilson has noticed a specific character type that is missing from her bookshelves... and she is on the hunt for more. She and Anne chat about...
Ep 174: The heart wants to read what the heart wants to read
05 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Guest Kate Daley is a house painter from New South Wales, Australia, who has been living for the past two and a half years... in a camper van! Today s...
Ep 173: Clocking in at the reading factory
26 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
After a year of focusing on reading over 100 books while recovering from a running injury, today’s guest Natalie Van Waning is sprinting enthusiasti...
Ep 172: How many re-reads is too many re-reads?
19 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Sean Larkin is a self-proclaimed “slow reader”, stay-at-home-parent, and freelance photographer. If you don’t relate to 100-book reading goals o...
Ep 171: A podcaster, a barrister, and a joiner walk into a bookstore
12 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Ready for a trip to Scotland? Today Anne sits down in-person with Ruth Andersen, a brand new bookseller in Wigtown, Scotland, to chat about what it's ...
Ep 170: Fascinating fiction for the relentlessly practical reader
05 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week Anne chats with Anna LeBaron, author of the memoir The Polygamist’s Daughter, about how literacy kept her going through a difficult childh...
Ep 169: Books that mess you up in all the right ways
29 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Phimy Truong and Erika Thi Benjamin, best friends who share both a passion for work that creates positive change in the world AND practically id...
Ep 168: A century of good books (in a single year)
22 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest Tara Nichols is giving herself an eagle-eye view of the last century’s literary landscape. Her mission is to read one book published...
Ep 167: Reading is supposed to be FUN
15 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest, Erin Morris, is tackling a book challenge with her child this year, and the impact on his imaginative life and her literary life has ...
Ep 166: Just don't call it a book club
08 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today's guest Tiffany Patterson is a small-town reader who has created a new kind of literary get-together that is convincing her friends to give book...
Ep 165: 1000 Books to read before you die
01 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you entered the new year dreaming of a fresh approach to your reading life, today’s guest Jim Mustich is sharing decades of wisdom to help kick o...
Ep 164: The couple that reads together ... needs to find books they'll both LOVE
18 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Chelsey and Curtis are childhood sweethearts looking to connect over a good book… and possibly, across an ocean. But their reading taste might not b...
Ep 163: Wonderful, wonder-filled reading in the great outdoors
11 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Ashley Gossens created a nature-driven Seattle book club that brings the page to life in an adventurous, completely unique way. Today, Ashley and Anne...
Ep 162: The best bad ending you'll ever read
04 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest Traci Thomas has had a hard time finding her niche in the online bookish community, because, as she puts it, she “reads like a dad”...
Ep 161: Books on the Nightstand and on your wishlist
27 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Literary podcast nerds rejoice–Ann Kingman of Books On The Nightstand fame is behind the mic once more! We asked you to call and write in about the ...
Ep 160: Books that capture the magic of everyday life
20 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever read a book that made the world around you feel just a little bit… magical? Today Anne welcomes author Jon Cohen on the show to chat a...
Ep 159 : How to cope with the longest book hangover ever
13 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Shawntaye Hopkins discovered Jane Austen’s books for the first time as an adult - and after that initial discovery, she dove in DEEP. Today, Anne an...
Ep 158: The life-changing magic of clearing your unread shelf
06 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
If you have a gigantic pile of books that you own but haven’t yet read looming somewhere in your house, today's guest Whitney Conard totally gets yo...
Ep 157: The stories behind the stories we love to read
30 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today Anne chats with a reader who turned her family’s difficult story into a book that has brought joy and hope to countless readers. Georgia Hunte...
Ep 156: Expert tips for a pretty, peaceful, practical bookshelf
23 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Clear your calendars -- today’s episode might inspire you to rethink and rearrange your whole home library. Myquillyn Smith, author of home decor bo...
Ep 155: When stolen audible credits spur a beautiful bookish relationship
16 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guests ask Anne to bridge the divide between an imaginative-fiction lover and a scientific-NONfiction lover. Ashley and Brent are a father-d...
Ep 154: Books so inspiring you might be afraid to read them
09 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today, guest RuthAnn Deveney lead Anne into the world of special-interest reading, discussing how her passion for victim advocacy brought powerful li...
Ep 153: Revolutionizing your reading life, 10 minutes at a time
02 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Kari Sweeney is a working mom of four who has developed a VERY unique system to keep her reading life running like clockwork. Kari and Anne chat about...
Ep 152: Under-appreciated books that may be perfect for your TBR
25 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Get ready for a serious TBR-filler. Today’s guest Elham Ali flips the script to recommend Canadian literature to Anne… but turnabout is fair play,...
Ep 151: Knockout books for a recovering completionist
18 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today's guest populates the “candy aisle” of the bookstore. Maria Ribas is a literary agent who specializes in gorgeous full-color cookbooks and s...
Ep 150: I have a confession... I'm not a reader
11 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Until recently, reading was a means to an end in language arts teacher Julie Mushkin's life - and the type of book that totally turned things around f...
Ep 149: Ask Anne Anything
04 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
WSIRN’s producer Brenna Frederick is in the virtual studio today, and she’s bringing an armload of YOUR questions to the table, gathered from emai...
Ep 148: Rebuilding your life (and your library)
28 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve talked more than once on WSIRN about how the power of reading aloud forges family bonds… and today’s guest, Laura Summerhill, puts that th...
Ep 147: Ruining your childhood one book at a time
21 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Anne chats with Marines Alvarez and Nicole Sweeney, bookworm best friends who like to keep their reading life SOCIAL. Together they host the podcast ...
Ep 146: Refugee camps, civil war, and the triumph of a library card
14 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today, Anne has an incredible conversation with Chatti Phal-Brown about how war, family, trauma, joy, and hope for the future have shaped her reading ...
Ep 145: Confess Your Literary Sins
10 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today we have a special bonus episode for you! Anne's new book I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life comes out in a lit...
Ep 144: Wanna read more? Quit your job.
07 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today, Anne tackles guest Travis Meserve's bookstore anxiety - where should you look in the store to find your next read? How do you get past the nerv...
Ep 143: The quest for the perfect coffeeshop read
31 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
If both Netflix and the bookshelf hold equal value in your heart, you’ll totally relate to today’s guest. Patience Randle loves a book with cinema...
Ep 142: The moment you became a reader
24 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 138, we met NYPL librarians Gwen and Frank, who filled WILDLY different roles despite working within the same library system. Today, Anne e...
Ep 141: The Enneagram of your favorite book
17 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Anne chats with Ian Morgan Cron, noted Enneagram teacher, psychotherapist, author of The Road Back to You and host of the Typology podcast, about how ...
Ep 140: What IS literary fiction, anyway?
10 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest Cindy Wang-Brandt has gone through a lot of shifts in her life - spiritual, political, familial… which around here, begs a question:...
Ep 139: Snooping other people’s bookshelves + the patron saint of WSIRN
03 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Anne chats with Eric Zimmer, host of The One You Feed podcast, which features interviews with thoughtful people who have big ideas about making a “...
Ep 138: The Librarians Are In!
26 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Gwen Glazer and Frank Collerius work in unique roles at the New York Public Library system, and together host the wonderful podcast The Librarian Is I...
Ep 137: Bibliotherapy for the toughest times
19 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Leigh Kramer is a former medical social worker, and the author of a brand new novel about life, love, and loss called A Storied Life. Today Anne digs ...
Ep 136: One Great Book
12 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Readers, welcome to our first impromptu and improvised episode of What Should I Read Next! Today Anne tells you a little about our new class, Get More...
Ep 135: When your reading life is nothing like people expect
05 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Guest and author Jen Hatmaker is known for speaking publicly about a LOT of things, but reading isn’t one of them! At least, not the books she’s r...
Ep 134: Audiobooks for the whole family to binge
29 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Huntington is a young audiobook fanatic who chews through stories at an exhilarating rate - we’re talking reading the Hobbit in one week! Today,...
Ep 133: Authors who get where you're coming from
22 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Guest Sachi Argabright discovered a rich vein of books by Asian American authors who inspire her, and it’s given her reading life wings. In today's ...
Ep 132: The books we can't wait to read this summer
15 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It’s time to get your library holds all set up for a long summer of reading! Whether you’re looking for a contemporary page-turner, something spin...
Ep 131: Living in the land of Jane Austen
08 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Jane Austen devotees will get a big kick out of today’s guest - Clara Breitenmoser is originally from New Zealand, currently lives in England, and n...
Ep 130: Must-read books by women writers
01 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Pop quiz - what is true of only 14 of the 110 Nobels awarded for Literature since the category's founding in 1901? Answer: only 14 women have received...
Ep 129: Tips and tricks for distracted readers (and listeners)
24 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Between her 2016 appearance on WSIRN and today, reader Osheta's Moore's creative projects have blossomed in beautiful ways. Today, Anne is catching up...
Ep 128: When contemporary fiction feels like a crapshoot
17 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
If the word “biography” doesn’t fill you with excitement, maybe today’s guest Tracie Haddock’s enthusiasm can convince you to give them anot...
Ep 127: Seeking professional help (for quitting books)
10 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Everything’s upside down this week - WSIRN guest Jordan Bradley needs help QUITTING books! Years of higher education taught him to just push through...
Ep 126: Books that appeal to your head AND your heart
03 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today's guest is Roxanne Coady, proprietor of RJ Julia bookstore in Madison, Connecticut and host of the Just The Right book podcast. Years ago, Roxa...
Ep 125: Gateway books to hook a Netflix addict
27 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever feel a little out of place in the world of online readers? Perhaps you're more of a dabbler? You might relate to today's guest! Dana Ha...
Ep 124: The challenge of making your reading life your own
20 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode is a FESTIVAL of book recommendations for all ages. You might recognize children’s lit enthusiast extraordinaire Sarah Mackenzie f...
Ep 123: Books that will totally make you cry (with laughter)
13 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest is a reader who loves to laugh. Rissie Lundberg wrote in to the show to tell us she’s been a listener from the very beginning, but h...
Ep 122: This AMAZING episode will have you RACING to the library
06 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
You might recognize today’s guest if you’re a reality tv buff - Scott Flanary WON season 29 of The Amazing Race! But he also happens to be a huge ...
Ep 121: “The Secret” to a great self help book
27 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guests take getting lost in a good book to a TOTALLY different level. Kristen Meinzer and Jolenta Greenberg host By The Book podcast, a book...
Ep 120: Books that make you feel big things
20 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today's guest Elizabeth Smith is an English Major lives a life that will inspire envy in a a lot of WSIRN listeners. She and her family homeschool, ru...
Ep 119: A book snob breakthrough
13 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today's guest Carly Friedman is a working mom, an advisor at her local university, and has a totally unique goal for her 2018 reading life. We'll give...
Ep 118: The rhythm of a reading family
06 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Anne and today's guest Dena Abramson Babb have a lot in common. Both were the girl in class who loved to choose the heftiest books possible from schoo...
Ep 117: Literary fiction over US Weekly
30 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest Rachael Robinson lives in Southern California, but Anne met her for the very first time in her own kitchen. (They'll get to that in ...
Ep 115: Books that bridge two worlds
23 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Readers, if you're intrigued by the behind-the-scenes of the publishing industry, this one's for you. In today's new episode I chat with John August, ...
Ep 114: Missed bookstore connections
16 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Time FLIES when you're reading a good book... and, turns out, when you're podcasting. Today marks WSIRN's second anniversary! We thought it would be...
Ep 113: The next best thing to reading: how 14 WSIRN listeners organize their bookshelves
09 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We asked 14 different podcast listeners how they organize their bookshelves … and we're sharing their ideas with you. (Some readers even provided ph...
Ep 112: Your best reading year yet
02 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
"I want to read more" is a common refrain in January, so here's some good news: today's episode is full of tips and tricks to help you maximize your t...
Ep 111: A lifetime mother-daughter book club
26 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Today's episode is a cozy family affair! Anne chats with Emily and Daniela Loose, a mother-daughter duo from New Hampshire who have been reading toget...
Ep 110: When your life resembles Big Little Lies
19 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
It's our first guest from Down Under! Today Anne talks books with Fiona Thoms, a party-planning, paleo cooking, PTA president mum of three kids who li...
Ep 109: Reading slumps are the worst
12 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Today's guest is Annie Spence, author of Dear Fahrenheit 45: Love and Hate in the Stacks, a collection of breakup notes and love letters to books she ...