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NPR's Book of the Day

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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

As we continue to celebrate the 250th birthday of the U.S., we’re revisiting author interviews on important books about American history. Bob Crawford of the Avett Brothers has a second career as a writer. In today’s episode, he talks with Morning Ed... more

As we continue to celebrate the 250th birthday of the U.S., we’re revisiting author interviews on important books that speak to American history. In today’s episode, journalist Norah O’Donnell joins NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly to discuss We the Women, wr... more

Summer can be a great time to catch up on reading. If you’re looking for recommendations, the NPR Books team is out with a list of some of our staff’s favorite reads of 2026 so far. In today’s episode, NPR’s Elissa Nadworny and Book of the Day produc... more

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Over 50 years, Judy Blume wrote an incomparable set of books for young readers, including Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret, Deenie, Tiger Eyes, Tales Of A Fourth Grade Nothing and Blubber. But she doesn't write books anymore. Scott Simon spoke w... more

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Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Bob Spitz
Author of The Rolling Stones, The Biography
Little, Brown? (publisher mentioned in episode)
Episode: New biographies recount how The Rolling Stones and Soundgarden changed rock music
Laverne Cox
Actor and author featured in a memoir
Self/Transgender advocacy
Episode: Laverne Cox on her childhood, 'Walden' and her new memoir 'Transcendent'
Tessa Yang
Author
Author of The Jellyfish Problem
Episode: In 'The Jellyfish Problem,' an introverted scientist is called in to help an island
Chris Murphy
U.S. Senator from Connecticut
U.S. Senate
Episode: Sen. Chris Murphy wants the left and right to fix the country’s 'spiritual rot'
Dave Eggers
Author of Contrapposto
Author
Episode: In 'Contrapposto,' the meaning of love and the meaning of art go hand-in-hand
Lily Meyer
Author of The End of Romance
Episode: Two romance books give opposite takes on love, relationships and the absence of both
Yeganeh Torbati
Iran correspondent, co-author of Stolen Revolution
The New York Times
Episode: In 'Stolen Revolution,' six Iranians share perspectives on modern Iran and its future
Carlos Barragán
Journalist and author of The Yahoo Boys, Love, Deception, and the Real Lives of Nigeria's Romance Scammers
Author, The Yahoo Boys
Episode: 'The Yahoo Boys' investigates Nigeria’s network of cyber crime 'sweetheart scams'
RF Kuang
Best-selling author of Katabasis
Author
Episode: R.F. Kuang says there’s 'quite a lot' of herself in 'Katabasis' protagonist Alice

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 942 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 States17 days ago
  • I’m sorry

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

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Badboy15👻
    United States6 months ago
  • Love the podcast!

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    tcfan18
    United States6 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 States9 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
#11
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#38
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#49
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#99
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#143
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#127
France/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Two romance books give opposite takes on love, relationships and the absence of both
Q: Okay. Give me one example of a way that you are like Cat or identify with her, one example of a way that maybe you guys aren't so much alike.
The guest discusses sharing some demographic details with Cat, such as being a DC native and having a similar upbringing, but emphasizes that the events in the book are not literally her life; the reflection focuses on universal questions about love, independence, and navigating non-traditional relationships.
In 'Stolen Revolution,' six Iranians share perspectives on modern Iran and its future
Q: Tell me how you picked the six voices featured in the book.
The authors sought a diverse set of sources who could reflect both ordinary lives and those who held power, including a cleric, a reformist activist, a businessman, and Gen Z women, to show how different people experienced the revolution and its aftermath.
Sen. Chris Murphy wants the left and right to fix the country’s 'spiritual rot'
Q: What concrete steps do you propose to counteract the spiritual rot you describe?
He proposes cross-partisan collaboration on core issues like wages, dignity in work, and democratic engagement, arguing for a shift away from profit-first thinking toward policies that reinforce community and common good.
Sen. Chris Murphy wants the left and right to fix the country’s 'spiritual rot'
Q: What is the central thesis of your book and how do you see these 'cults' shaping policy today?
Murphy explains that the book argues for reconnecting people to meaning and purpose, with policy aimed at strengthening work, community, and shared institutions, rather than pursuing revenue-centric metrics alone.
In 'Contrapposto,' the meaning of love and the meaning of art go hand-in-hand
Q: Why do Cricket and Olympia stay apart despite their deep connection and shared devotion to art?
Eggers explains that their paths, timing, and differing relationships with the art world keep them from a conventional partnership, creating a tension that mirrors the compromises artists face between personal life and professional ambition.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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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. Book Riot - The Podcast
3. All the Books!
4. What Should I Read Next?
5. Poured Over

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

NPR's Book of the Day launched 5 years ago and published 1269 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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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 NPR's Book of the Day?

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

1. Bob Spitz
2. Laverne Cox
3. Tessa Yang
4. Chris Murphy
5. Dave Eggers
6. Lily Meyer
7. Yeganeh Torbati
8. Carlos Barragán

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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