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Artwork for NPR's Book of the Day

NPR's Book of the Day

NPR
NPR
New York City
Female Friendship
Grief
Gone Girl
Poetry
Marriage
Mental Health
World War II
Gillian Flynn
Education
Room 706
Clutch
Reproductive Rights
Eradication
Artificial Intelligence
Robert Smalls
Memory
A Guardian and a Thief
Feminism

In need of a good read? Or just want to keep up with the books everyone's talking about? NPR's Book of the Day gives you today's very best writing in a snackable, skimmable, pocket-sized podcast. Whether you're looking to engage with the big questions of our times – or temporarily escape from them – we've got an author who will speak to you, all genres, mood and writing styles included. Catch toda... more

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Artwork for NPR's Book of the Day

Latest Episodes

Virginia Evans’ The Correspondent became a runaway hit for its exploration of a life told through letters. When readers meet Sybil Van Antwerp she’s in her 70s, and she takes readers on a journey through her various correspondences — which include na... more

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Author Daniyal Mueenuddin hit the ground running with his debut novel, This is Where the Serpent Lives. Set in modern Pakistan, the story spans generations and explores class, corruption, and crime — themes that  Mueenuddin says he believes might res... more

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Today’s episode features two novels with tech at the center. Climate journalist Nathaniel Rich’s Cloudthief is the story of a hacker and a journalist who team up to rob a data center in Oklahoma. Rich spoke with Here & Now’s Indira Lakshmanan about h... more

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Hannah Lucinda Smith is a veteran foreign correspondent. Her new book Hinterlands explores whether hidden conflicts unfolding in little-noticed border areas might be shaping a new world order. In today’s episode, she speaks with All Things Considered... more

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Recent Guests

Virginia Evans
Author of The Correspondent
Author
Episode: 'The Correspondent' is an epistolary novel, but can letters tell the whole story?
Daniyal Mueenuddin
Acclaimed short story writer and author of 'This is Where the Serpent Lives'
Episode: 'This is Where the Serpent Lives' is a sprawling debut novel set in modern Pakistan
Kelly Ramsey
Author of Wildfire Days, a firefighter on a hotshot crew
Rowdy River Hotshots
Episode: 'Torched' and 'Wildfire Days' look at California's wildfires from the front lines
Robinne Lee
Author of Crash Into Me
Author
Episode: Robinne Lee's 'Crash Into Me' portrays middle age as complicated – and sexy
Alyssa Shelasky
Author of Sex Diaries; writer for New York Magazine
New York Magazine
Episode: 'Sex Diaries' author says people are becoming more empowered in their relationships
Marta Pérez-Carbonell
Author of I Made You Up Inside My Head
Author
Episode: In 'I Made You Up Inside My Head,' the stories of three strangers become intertwined
Raphael Warnock
U.S. Senator and pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta
United States Senate, Ebenezer Baptist Church
Episode: Sen. Raphael Warnock argues that progressives should bring spirituality to politics
Matt Haig
Author of The Midnight Train and The Midnight Library
Author
Episode: Novels by Ben Reeves and Matt Haig look at life through the eyes of death (literally)
Ben Reeves
Author of Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt
Self-published/author
Episode: Novels by Ben Reeves and Matt Haig look at life through the eyes of death (literally)

Hosts

Alyson Adworny
Host contributing NPR's Book of the Day; frequent NPR Books contributor
Indira Lakshmanan
Here & Now host; NPR correspondent

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 944 ratings
  • Love it.

    If you love reading, this is the perfect 10 minute daily dose to remind you of the variety of written work in the world. Short, sweet, well done, enough variety to make me wonder each time.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mmmwill
    United States2 months ago
  • I’m sorry

    But I will give you 3 stars I hope that’s enough 😉

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Badboy15👻
    United States7 months ago
  • Love the podcast!

    Thanks so much for a thoughtful podcast about a wide variety of quality books!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    tcfan18
    United States8 months ago
  • Good Stuff

    Some of these books are classics. Haven’t read them since high school and it has been a pleasure re-visiting them, the Zora Neale Hurston episode in particular. Some reviews here mention a “liberal bias.” A gentle reminder that this is a podcast about literature.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Inday_Mie
    United States9 months ago
  • Great listen!

    This is an amazing book podcast with insightful and engaging interviews. The conversations are thought provoking, inspiring, and I always leave feeling a bit more connected to the world around me. I am shocked at the reviews that gripe about bias — the genres covered and the guests interviewed range widely. Someone in the comments requested a “neutral” book — writers don’t spend years of their life and pour their souls into books about “neutral”subjects but stories that they care about deeply. A... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NVNVNV72
    United States10 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners value concise, high-quality conversations and quick takeaways.
Some listeners perceive a liberal bias and wish for more neutral selections.
Listeners praise the breadth of books and engaging author interviews.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#13
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#41
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#53
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#72
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#127
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#177
United Kingdom/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Sen. Raphael Warnock argues that progressives should bring spirituality to politics
Q: What is your intention with this book?
To invite people from across the political spectrum to engage faith as a guide for public life and to argue that both left and right should ground policy in moral imagination rather than partisan posturing.
'Torched' and 'Wildfire Days' look at California's wildfires from the front lines
Q: How does Kelly Ramsey describe the culture and requirements of hotshot crews, and what barriers did she face as a woman?
Ramsey explains hotshots as highly trained, physically demanding crews comparable to special forces, and she details the pressure to prove herself in a male-dominated environment, including early failures and the emotional support that emerged during after-action reviews.
'Torched' and 'Wildfire Days' look at California's wildfires from the front lines
Q: What were the most challenging moments during the Palisades fire coverage reported in 2025?
Vigliotti describes chaotic evacuations, the lack of preparedness some residents faced, and the intense political and logistical pressure surrounding rebuilding decisions right after the fire, all of which underscored how quickly a city's priorities shift in a disaster.
Author Tana French on the best summer reading set in Ireland
Q: What other things do you think about when you're trying to root your fiction in a particular place?
I focus on the felt atmosphere, the history embedded in locations like Dublin and Trinity College, and how ownership and land shape people's lives, which ultimately informs how characters behave and how plots unfold.
Author Tana French on the best summer reading set in Ireland
Q: This is fascinating because the way you write dialogue, like trying to capture the slang and the cadence of speech of a place you weren't born and raised in, how do you do it?
Being constantly an outsider trained me to be exceptionally attentive to every nuance of cultural interaction, so I listen for the little pauses, the way people move and speak, and I absorb those rhythms until they feel natural on the page.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About NPR's Book of the Day

What is NPR's Book of the Day about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A short-form literary interview show that features a rotating roster of authors, journalists, and cultural commentators. Episodes typically center on a single book or idea, with focused, question-driven conversations that explore themes, writing craft, and the author's experiences. The format tends to favor timely, cross-genre books—fiction, memoir, and nonfiction—delivered in 15 minutes or less. Listeners get quick, insight-rich takes on why a book matters, often with behind-the-scenes anecdotes about writing, publishing, and public reception. A few guests stand out for their high-profile careers or provocative ideas, which can make episodes especially talk-worthy for fans of culture, politics, and literary craft.

Noteworthy strengths inc... more

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Which podcasts are similar to NPR's Book of the Day?

These podcasts share a similar audience with NPR's Book of the Day:

1. The Book Review
2. Poured Over
3. Fresh Air
4. Pop Culture Happy Hour
5. All the Books!

How many episodes of NPR's Book of the Day are there?

NPR's Book of the Day launched 5 years ago and published 1299 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on NPR's Book of the Day?

Recent guests on NPR's Book of the Day include:

1. Virginia Evans
2. Daniyal Mueenuddin
3. Kelly Ramsey
4. Robinne Lee
5. Alyssa Shelasky
6. Marta Pérez-Carbonell
7. Raphael Warnock
8. Matt Haig

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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