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NPR's Book of the Day

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Literature
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Family Dynamics
Espionage
World War II

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

In 2022, journalist Carlos Barragán moved to Lagos, Nigeria to investigate a cybercrime network of text-based internet phishing, also known as “sweetheart scams." He found that a small band of young men known as the “Yahoo Boys” were creating fake av... more

R.F. Kuang’s fantasy novel Katabasis, first published in 2025, is out in paperback. The book is about two rival doctoral students studying magic at Cambridge University. Together, they travel to hell to rescue their recently deceased thesis advisor. ... more

A few years ago, Theo Baker – then a student at Stanford University – joined the school newspaper and broke a story that forced the university president to resign. Marc Tessier-Lavigne, he uncovered, had overseen several labs in which researchers had... more

Novelist Ann Patchett has written about things as wild as hostage takeovers, fairy tales, and betrayed magicians’ assistants. But her new novel Whistler turns down the stakes to focus on the quieter complexities of human relationships. Today’s episod... more

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Recent Guests

Ann Patchett
Acclaimed novelist and author of Whistler and Tom Lake
Author
Episode: Ann Patchett’s 'Whistler' and 'Tom Lake' are novels written with love in mind
Marie Benedict
Author, co-writer of A Pair of Aces
Authors (Benedict/Murray)
Episode: 'A Pair of Aces' is about two women who face down the mob in 1930s New York
Victoria Christopher Murray
Author, co-writer of A Pair of Aces
Authors (Benedict/Murray)
Episode: 'A Pair of Aces' is about two women who face down the mob in 1930s New York
Adela Ferrer
Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Cuba and American History and professor of history at Princeton University
Princeton University
Episode: In 'Keeper of My Kin,' Ada Ferrer struggles with being her mother's "chosen one"
Maggie O'Farrell
Author of Land
Author
Episode: Maggie O'Farrell's novel 'Land' takes readers to a famine-ravaged yet resilient Ireland
Jill Biden
Former First Lady, author of View From the East Wing
Self / View From the East Wing
Episode: In 'View From the East Wing,' Jill Biden reflects on the debate that changed history
Steven Rowley
Author of Take Me With You
Episode: Two new books ask: What would you do if you encountered alien life?
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Astrophysicist and director of the Hayden Planetarium
Planetary Society / Hayden Planetarium
Episode: Two new books ask: What would you do if you encountered alien life?
Joe Posnanski
Sports reporter and best-selling author
Author, Big Fan
Episode: 'Big Fan' investigates fandom from darts and football to Taylor Swift

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 936 ratings
  • I’m sorry

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

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Badboy15👻
    United States5 months ago
  • Love the podcast!

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    tcfan18
    United States5 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 States7 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 States8 months ago
  • What a great show!

    I find this show so useful in keeping track of books I want to read, new (and old) releases, plus hearing interviews with authors really changes my perception of their works. More a fan of fiction than non-fiction, but I appreciate the opportunity to hear these great NPR interviews.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MegMagenta
    Australia8 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
#10
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#32
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#36
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#49
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#103
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#145
United Kingdom/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Maggie O'Farrell's novel 'Land' takes readers to a famine-ravaged yet resilient Ireland
Q: Can you tell us about the outfit you wore to the Oscars?
I wore pink with a black belt and a Victorian morning necklace and veil, chosen after consulting with friends and my teenage daughters, and I wore it to commemorate Hamnet and celebrate the experience while acknowledging the bittersweet moment.
In 'Keeper of My Kin,' Ada Ferrer struggles with being her mother's "chosen one"
Q: Why did you feel you needed to make a ment?
She explains that her life was shaped by her mother's decision to take her to the US, while her brother remained in Cuba, which made her feel like the 'chosen one' and fueled a lifelong effort to understand and document that split through writing and history.
'A Pair of Aces' is about two women who face down the mob in 1930s New York
Q: How did you approach writing about two women on opposite sides of the law who become allies?
We approached it as a shared mission to show that collaboration across traditionally divergent roles can create meaningful progress, especially when the stakes involve protecting communities and advancing reform.
'A Pair of Aces' is about two women who face down the mob in 1930s New York
Q: Victoria, tell me about Eunice.
Eunice is depicted as the first Black female prosecutor in New York, a trailblazer who navigates a complicated social and legal landscape to pursue justice against organized crime.
In 'Mother Tongue,' author Sara Nović examines deaf history, and writes her own
Q: Why did you decide to write Mother Tongue as a memoir rather than focusing on fiction?
She explains that becoming a mother and seeing her children navigate multiple languages made her want to map her own Deaf history into a narrative that could illuminate the community for others, bridging personal memory with historical context.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Professions
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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. Book Riot - The Podcast
5. The Book Case

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

NPR's Book of the Day launched 5 years ago and published 1255 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. Ann Patchett
2. Marie Benedict
3. Victoria Christopher Murray
4. Adela Ferrer
5. Maggie O'Farrell
6. Jill Biden
7. Steven Rowley
8. Neil deGrasse Tyson

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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