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The Book Review

The New York Times
Literature
Grief
Good Material
Stephen King
Breakups
2025
Writing Process
Art
Demon Copperhead
Pride and Prejudice
Marriage
Mark Twain
Football
Pachinko
Scary Books
Cold War
Mrs. Dalloway
A Marriage At Sea
Nuclear War
Edmund Fitzgerald

The world's top authors and critics join host Gilbert Cruz and editors at The New York Times Book Review to talk about the week's top books, what we're reading and what's going on in the literary world. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. ... more

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Artwork for The Book Review

Latest Episodes

The editors at The New York Times Book Review spend almost the entire year discussing, debating and sometimes arguing about the year’s best books. We’re halfway through 2026, which means it’s time for the host Gilbert Cruz and the Book Review editors... more

YouTube

Today we want to bring back an episode from our archives.

It’s about a book that has real beach read vibes. There’s a lot of water. It’s a relationship drama. And it’s also a daring story of survival.

“Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsessi... more

YouTube

If you can’t tell your Eurylochus from your Telemachus, fear not: Your primer on “The Odyssey” is here, just in time for Christopher Nolan’s new film adaptation of the 3,000-year-old epic.

Madeline Miller, who reinvented “The Odyssey” in her best-se... more

YouTube

The United States is celebrating its 250th birthday this summer, giving Americans a chance to reflect on the nation’s past and imagine its future.

Who better to help us make sense of this moment than Jill Lepore? The Pulitzer Prize-winning historian... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Sophie Elmhirst
Author of Marriage at Sea
Author, journalist
Episode: Sophie Elmhirst on the True Story of a Shipwrecked Couple
Madeline Miller
Plasticist and author of The Song of Achilles and Circe
Author, Circe; The Song of Achilles
Episode: This Author Says You Shouldn’t Be Intimidated by ‘The Odyssey’
Liz Egan
Beach Reads Maestro; contributor to The Book Review
The New York Times Book Review
Episode: Jill Lepore on What to Read This Fourth of July
Jill Lepore
Historian; Pulitzer Prize winner; author of We the People, A History of the US. Constitution
Harvard University / author
Episode: Jill Lepore on What to Read This Fourth of July
Isaac Butler
Cultural historian, theater director, teacher and author
Author of The Perfect Moment, God, Sex, Art, and the Birth of America's Culture Wars
Episode: Art, Outrage and How the Culture Wars Began
Ryan Holiday
Author and host of The Daily Stoic podcast
Painted Porch Bookshop; Daily Stoic
Episode: The Best Books of the 21st Century: Ryan Holiday on ‘The Road’
Michael Pollan
Author of A World Appears, interview guest
Penguin Random House (publisher)
Episode: The Ezra Klein Show: Michael Pollan’s Journey to the Borderlands of Consciousness
Matt Haig
Author of The Midnight Library and The Midnight Train
Author
Episode: Matt Haig on ‘The Midnight Library,’ Mental Illness and Winnie-the-Pooh
Patricia Cornwell
Bestselling crime novelist and memoirist
Author, Kay Scarpetta series
Episode: Patricia Cornwell on Her Dark Childhood and Best-Selling Novels

Host

Gilbert Cruz
Host of The Book Review; editor at The New York Times Book Review

Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars from 5.6k ratings
  • Great alternative to in-person book clubs

    Love the podcast and the on-demand community dialog — so nice for book club commitment phobes who can’t stick to a reading schedule. Thanks for reading my review in the Yesteryear episode, though I thought you all missed out on discussing the macroeconomic arc of the plot and how it relates to defining normative gender roles.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lianehunter
    United Statesa month ago
  • How far the mighty have fallen.

    Truly pathetic that the hosts of the New York Times Book Review haven’t read Anna Karenina or Middlemarch. Have they read any of the great 19th century novels?

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    cleareyedgirl
    United States2 months ago
  • Smythe

    From the June 5, 2026 podcast, are we sure Smythe is pronounced like Smith, MJ?

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    BradfRoss
    Canada2 months ago
  • Don’t invite cohosts that don’t like book clubs

    Alexandra was offensive. I chose not to listed to the full episode on the book, Transcription which was disappointing for me. Do better. Most of the cohosts are wonderful and insightful.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Wordgames
    United States2 months ago
  • Please. Replace. Cruz.

    Fascinating guests, thoroughly disappointing host.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Antonio Raguzzi
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners feel recent episodes skew toward pop culture and away from traditional book discussion.
The book club segments are a consistent draw for many, though a minority prefer more direct literary critique.
Listeners appreciate the depth of author interviews and industry context.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#4
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#16
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#4
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#13
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#27
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#69
United Kingdom/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

This Author Says You Shouldn’t Be Intimidated by ‘The Odyssey’
Q: Which other works would you pair with The Odyssey for readers exploring similar themes?
She recommends Sophocles's Philoctetes, Watership Down, I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem, and Margery Atwood's Penelope as thoughtful companions that expand on heroism, longing, and storytelling.
Art, Outrage and How the Culture Wars Began
Q: Why did you choose to focus on the specific era of the 1980s and 1990s for your book?
That period crystallized the mechanisms of culture-war politics, showing how school boards, advocacy groups, and funding institutions interacted to shape national conversations about art, sexuality, religion, and public policy.
Art, Outrage and How the Culture Wars Began
Q: What is Culture Wars, and how would you define it succinctly for this discussion?
Culture Wars are conflicts where cultural works like art, TV, and literature become political issues themselves, sparking public battles over what counts as acceptable or legitimate expression.
The Best Books of the 21st Century: Ryan Holiday on ‘The Road’
Q: Why did you choose The Road for your 21st Century top books list, and how did rereading it shape your view after becoming a parent?
The Road offers a marriage of moral questions and emotional gravity that resonates differently when you relate it to parenting, making it timeless.
The Best Books of the 21st Century: Ryan Holiday on ‘The Road’
Q: What makes readers return to a great novel across multiple rereads?
Romance with the writing and character depth, plus the ability of the story to reveal new layers as readers grow older.

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 The Book Review

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

A high‑level literary discussion show featuring in-depth author interviews, panel debates, and book club style conversations. Episodes typically center on new or classic books, with guests ranging from renowned authors and critics to editors and journalists, often pairing author bios with insider industry perspectives. A recurring highlight is the blend of rigorous literary analysis with accessible, conversational banter, plus occasional forays into film, TV, and pop culture when books intersect with other media. A notable strength is the show's long‑running presence in book culture, bringing together acclaimed writers, investigative journalists, and poets, which can offer listeners diverse perspectives on craft, publishing, and adaptation.... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Book Review?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Book Review:

1. NPR's Book of the Day
2. The New Yorker Radio Hour
3. Fresh Air
4. The Interview
5. The New Yorker: Fiction

How many episodes of The Book Review are there?

The Book Review launched 21 years ago and published 600 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 The Book Review?

Recent guests on The Book Review include:

1. Sophie Elmhirst
2. Madeline Miller
3. Liz Egan
4. Jill Lepore
5. Isaac Butler
6. Ryan Holiday
7. Michael Pollan
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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