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The Book Review

The New York Times
Demon Copperhead
Opioid Crisis
James Mcbride
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store
Addiction
Appalachia
Literary Community
Barbara Kingsolver
Wandering Stars
Community
Inclusivity
Social Injustice
David Copperfield
Dickensian Structure
Percival Everett
John Donne
There There
Wildfires
Petroleum Industry
Climate Change

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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Latest Episodes

The journalist, novelist and cultural critic Chuck Klosterman is best known for writing about rock music and pop culture in astute essay collections like “The Nineties,” “X” and “Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs.” But Klosterman got his start in college as... more

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A new year means new books are on the way! So many new books. On this week’s episode, host Gilbert Cruz talks with fellow Book Review editors Joumana Khatib and MJ Franklin about the upcoming fiction and nonfiction titles they’re most anticipating be... more

YouTube

Virginia Evans’s debut novel, “The Correspondent,” was published last April and became one of the publishing industry’s heartwarming champions of 2025: a slow-burn success story that gathered momentum over the summer and fall and finally topped the N... more

YouTube

Ian McEwan’s latest novel, “What We Can Know,” is many things at once: It’s a science fiction imagining of a future world devastated by climate catastrophe; it’s a literary mystery about a scholar’s search for a long-lost poem; it’s a deep dive into ... more

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Recent Guests

Chuck Klosterman
Author, critic, and cultural commentator known for essays on sports and culture.
Episode: Chuck Klosterman Has So Much to Say About Football
Nicholas Boggs
Author of "Baldwin, A Love Story"," a biography exploring the life of James Baldwin through his relationships
Episode: Nicholas Boggs on Writing a James Baldwin Biography
John U. Bacon
Author of The Gales of November, The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald
Episode: The Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, 50 Years Later
Victor LaValle
Author of historical horror fiction
Author of Lone Women
Episode: Joe Hill's Scary Book Recs and Victor LaValle on "The Haunting of Hill House" (Rerun)
Sean Fennessey
Co-host of The Big Picture podcast and longtime Stephen King enthusiast
The Big Picture
Episode: Stephen King Isn't Always Scary (with Sean Fennessey)
Brandon Taylor
Author of Minor Black Figures and other literary works
Episode: Brandon Taylor On His New Novel, 'Minor Black Figures'
Louis Sachar
author of the famed children's series, Sideways Stories from Wayside School
author
Episode: The Sunday Special: The Books We Read in School
Sadie Stein
editor at The New York Times Book Review
The New York Times
Episode: The Sunday Special: The Books We Read in School
Min Jin Lee
Author of 'Pachinko', discussing her experiences and the themes of her novel
Episode: The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century: 'Pachinko' (Rerun)

Hosts

Gilbert Cruz
Editor of The New York Times Book Review and host, engaging with guests about top books and relevant literary discussions.
MJ Franklin
Editor at The New York Times Book Review, co-host participating in various literary discussions and book clubs.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 5.4k ratings
  • Excellent

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Pedro K
    2 months ago
  • Keep listening but please stop the insufferable snobbery

    I enjoy some of the podcasts. The recent one where Joumana brought up Middlemarch, again, was tiresome. I find her to be so condescendingly snobbish. Why the nonstop giggling at Gilbert’s recommendation of the Edmund Fitzgerald book? Just because it’s not a genre you like? Please tone it down!

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    cppmi
    United States2 months ago
  • I miss Pamela Paul

    Less pop culture more books and discussion of substance, please!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    dkupfy
    United States3 months ago
  • Not good anymore

    I miss Pamela Paul as host (though I don’t like her opinion writing). She was enthusiastic and funny but thoughtful. The new host seems to be trying hard, which itself is kind of annoying. And he draws out the try hard sides of all of his guest editors. I find the banter unfunny despite their best efforts. Which is weird because I found them all charming with the old host. Content is also different. I definitely take fewer notes on the podcast than i used to. Maybe it’s because the podcast is sk... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Ckpnut
    United States3 months ago
  • Disappointing

    Can we please give the review over to the women? The male staff aren’t cutting it.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    MJ55510
    Canada3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

There is a noted desire for more author interviews and critiques rather than conversational styles that may feel superficial to some listeners.
Listeners appreciate the engaging discussions around new and classic literature, finding them informative and insightful.
However, some have expressed dissatisfaction with changes in the hosting style and the depth of book discussions, preferring previous iterations of the format.

Chart Rankings

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

Spotify
#49
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#2
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#8
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#3
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#4
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#10
Canada/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Chuck Klosterman Has So Much to Say About Football
Q: Do you see a connection between the top-down corporate nature of modern football and the way in which the stereotypically conservative idea we've had about the sport intersects?
Klosterman discusses the reflection of societal structures within football, indicating that while these aspects may seem negative, they also provide a form of entertainment and understanding about life.
Chuck Klosterman Has So Much to Say About Football
Q: Was there a moment in the long arc of your relationship to football when you just realized this is it?
Klosterman reflects on the gradual realization of football's dominance over American culture, noting it became palpable over time rather than through a single moment.
'The Correspondent' Author Virginia Evans On Her Breakout Year
Q: Why did you keep writing after six books, after seven books, why did you start the next one?
Virginia explained it never occurred to her to stop; she felt a continual urge to write, as if stories were chasing her, and she enjoyed the creative process despite setbacks.
'The Correspondent' Author Virginia Evans On Her Breakout Year
Q: When did you first know or first realize or first feel that it was working, that there was an audience for this?
Virginia felt it was working from the day the book came out, but really recognized its success when sales began to exponentially increase, particularly after receiving a blurb from Ann Patchett and positive feedback during her book tour.
The Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, 50 Years Later
Q: What happened on that night?
John U. Bacon details that the Edmund Fitzgerald found itself in a storm with 100 mile per hour winds and waves over 60 feet high, leading to its sinking.

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 rich exploration of literature and book culture is presented, featuring conversations with top authors, critics, and editors who highlight the latest impactful titles each week. The discussions encapsulate an array of genres and themes, focusing not only on current books but also delving into broader literary topics, trends, and historical context, making it a hub for readers and those interested in the literary landscape. Notable elements include engaging book club segments, author interviews, and a dynamic exchange of opinions and recommendations, inviting listeners to deepen their understanding and appreciation of literature.

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How many listeners does The Book Review get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Book Review?

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How many subscribers and views does The Book Review have?

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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. The New Yorker: Fiction
4. The Interview
5. The New Yorker: The Writer's Voice - New Fiction from The New Yorker

How many episodes of The Book Review are there?

The Book Review launched 20 years ago and published 572 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 The Book Review?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Book Review?

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What guests have appeared on The Book Review?

Recent guests on The Book Review include:

1. Chuck Klosterman
2. Nicholas Boggs
3. John U. Bacon
4. Victor LaValle
5. Sean Fennessey
6. Brandon Taylor
7. Louis Sachar
8. Sadie Stein

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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