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Book Riot - The Podcast

Book Riot
Romance
Books
Hot 50 List
Colson Whitehead
Poker Face
The Bear
Word Of Mouth
Trends
Texas Reader Act
The Intuitionist
Marginalized Voices In Literature
LA Public Library
Barnes & Noble
Slow Horses
Reservation Dogs
Book Riot
Publishing Seasons
Winter 2024 New Releases
Barack Obama
Covenant Of Water

News in the world of books and reading, including hot industry releases, adaptations, publishing industry events, and more with Book Riot’s Jeff O’Neal and Rebecca Schinsky. Book Riot is the largest independent editorial book site in North America and home to a host of media, from podcasts to newsletters to original content, all designed around diverse readers and across all genres.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes829Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsTV & Film

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Artwork for Book Riot

Latest Episodes

Jeff and Rebecca talk about the week's book news, from Trump flimsy lawsuit against PRH and The New York Times (and why it matters, flimsy as it is), break down a couple of award lists, do some Jefftionary entries, and more.

Subscribe to the podcast... more

Jeff, Rebecca, and Vanessa gather in a secret chamber to discuss the wonderfully absurd mysteries of Dan Brown's latest, The Secret of Secrets.

Check out Zero to Well-Read!

Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Subscribe t... more

Book Riot's managing editor Vanessa Diaz joins Rebecca for a discussion about the National Book Awards longlists, authors' big settlement from Anthropic, and exciting adaptation news. Then, Vanessa takes Rebecca on a journey down the literary rabbit ... more

Jeff and Rebecca introduce their new podcast, Zero to Well-Read, with its inaugural episode about The Great Gatsby. We dig into what makes Gatsby a classic, why it’s all over high school reading lists, and the ways it still echoes in our culture.

Th... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Rodney Freeman
Librarian and producer of the documentary Are You a Librarian?
Episode: Mid-Year Check-in Time. PLUS: Rodney Freeman on ARE YOU A LIBRARIAN?
Vanessa Diaz
Managing editor at Book Riot
Book Riot
Episode: The Best Books of the Year So Far: Live at Powell's!
Al Woodworth
Managing editor of Amazon's Books team
Amazon
Episode: Late Show Book Clubs, An Anti-Book Ban Lawsuit Wins, and More Book News. PLUS: How You Make a Best Books of the Year So Far List
Katie del Rosario
Associate Director of Audiobooks Editorial at Spotify
Spotify
Episode: Talking Audiobooks with Spotify & FLASHLIGHT by Susan Choi
Sharifah Williams
Guest co-host for the Flashlight discussion
Episode: Talking Audiobooks with Spotify & FLASHLIGHT by Susan Choi
Allyson Rice
Producer of the documentary Banned Together
Atomic Focus Entertainment
Episode: AUDITION by Katie Kitamura & and the Documentary BANNED TOGETHER
Tom Wiggins
Director and producer of the documentary Banned Together
Atomic Focus Entertainment
Episode: AUDITION by Katie Kitamura & and the Documentary BANNED TOGETHER
Laura McGrath
Assistant Professor of English at Temple University, specializing in contemporary American literature and the publishing industry
Temple University
Episode: 5 Fascinating Stats About Modern Reading Habits, with Laura McGrath
Traci Thomas
Host of The Stacks Podcast
The Stacks Podcast
Episode: Things We Love and Things We Hate About Talking About Books Online with Traci Thomas

Hosts

Jeff O'Neal
Host and co-host of the podcast, known for engaging discussions on literature and the publishing industry.
Rebecca Schinsky
Co-host of the podcast, recognized for her insights on books and cultural commentary in the literary realm.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 1.3k ratings
  • Great show

    I’ve been listening to this podcast on and off for several years. I love getting information about trends in the industry and bookish news! I always look forward to the recommendation and “it book” episodes. Sometimes it can come across as judgmental towards certain books/authors (sometimes very justified) but overall I really enjoyed the show and look forward to new episodes. They’ve turned me on to so many amazing authors and books I never would have found otherwise!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Michelle PG
    United States17 days ago
  • Talking over others

    Love this podcast except when Jeff talks over Rebecca or other co-hosts or guests. This happens uncomfortably often.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    rebeccafw
    United States2 months ago
  • The Most Recommendable Books of this century

    Looking for show notes

    Loved hearing recommendations… but where can a find a list of the books? Can’t find a lest anywhere.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    HelenfromSC
    United States3 months ago
  • Unlikeable hosts

    Honesty I hardly ever write a review on anything but seriously! These two individuals are two of the most unlikeable, stand-off, gendered constructed people I have ever had the misfortune of listening to. I gave it a chance, a solid chance. I checked my own biases and tried to go through a few more episodes but NO, I simply don’t like them. They ruin the reading experience and pretend to be better than the rest, he doesn’t let her speak and she complies every time. Embarrassed for both. They tal... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    nejebeibshwiwh
    Canada6 months ago
  • Not open to perspective changes?

    I like their convos generally, but this latest episode, they were looking for ways to discredit men readers, or fit it in with their existing views of the industry. Instead of changing their perspective, it felt really gross. We should encourage men to read. Not whatever this was. To use Rebecca’s “anecdata” all of my men friends and myself read and collect books. It’s ok to be wrong.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Johnnytv87
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some critiques focus on the hosts' interactions, particularly regarding interruptions and conversational flow.
There are expressions of frustration around perceived political commentary that feels heavy-handed.
Many praise the selection of diverse reading topics and recommendations.
Listeners appreciate the engaging conversations and insights into the publishing world.
Reviews highlight the hosts' dynamic banter and their ability to make literature accessible and enjoyable.
The podcast's structure is both informative and entertaining, creating anticipation for new episodes.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#36
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#108
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#31
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#94
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#149
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#51
Indonesia/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Summer 2025 Mailbag
Q: What books should someone read if they have never read a novel by Thomas Pynchon?
The hosts recommend starting with 'Violent' and 'Inherent Vice', noting that his novels are generally complex but rewarding.
E. Lockhart on the WE WERE LIARS Adaptation
Q: What excites you most about the adaptation?
Lockhart is thrilled by a particular scene involving Cadence and Gatt's first profound moment together on a boat, expressing that viewers will love this moment.
E. Lockhart on the WE WERE LIARS Adaptation
Q: What inspired returning to the world of We Were Liars and how did the journey impact your experience?
Lockhart reveals she wanted to give back to readers' enthusiasm after experiencing a rise of interest in We Were Liars and discusses how a walk with another author led to the idea for the prequel, Family of Liars.
Late Show Book Clubs, An Anti-Book Ban Lawsuit Wins, and More Book News. PLUS: How You Make a Best Books of the Year So Far List
Q: Can we talk about the word best?
You're trying to do something with these lists. We talk about this all these shows that when someone makes a list, they're trying to do something with it.
The Most Recommendable Books of the Century (So Far)
Q: What is a book that's being published this year that you're looking forward to reading?
I'm really excited about Harriet Tubman Live in Concert by Bob the Drag Queen, which is an alternate present where historical figures come back to correct our path.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Book Riot

What is Book Riot about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focusing on the ever-evolving landscape of literature, this podcast tackles discussions surrounding the latest book releases, industry insights, and cultural critiques of reading practices. Hosts engage with diverse topics that range from the literary merit of contemporary works to the implications of technological advancements on reading habits, all while integrating personal anecdotes and humor into their conversations. Their unique approach lies in making literature accessible and enjoyable while fostering a sense of community among book enthusiasts.

The episodes encourage listeners to critically reflect on the world of books, highlighting significant trends such as the decline of pleasure reading and the challenges faced by independent... more

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How many listeners does Book Riot get?

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How many subscribers and views does Book Riot have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Book Riot has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Book Riot?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Book Riot:

1. All the Books!
2. Well-Read
3. Book Talk, etc.
4. Sarah's Bookshelves Live
5. Literally Reading

How many episodes of Book Riot are there?

Book Riot launched 12 years ago and published 829 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Book Riot?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Book Riot?

Recent guests on Book Riot include:

1. Rodney Freeman
2. Vanessa Diaz
3. Al Woodworth
4. Katie del Rosario
5. Sharifah Williams
6. Allyson Rice
7. Tom Wiggins
8. Laura McGrath

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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