Rephonic
Artwork for The Book Review

The Book Review

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

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, Spotify and Amazon Music. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?sourc... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes614Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Book Review

Latest Episodes

David Hastings is a retired business executive on a grim mission: He’s going to end his life.

That’s the dramatic setup of Emma Cline’s latest novel, “Switzy.”

When the story opens, David is on a plane, traveling to Europe. Throughout his life, he ... more

Halloween is the season for scary stories, but what actually makes a book frightening? And where should you start if you’re not already a horror reader?

This week on “The Book Review” podcast, Gilbert Cruz talks with two writers who know their way a... more

YouTube

As much as we love hearing from authors on “The Book Review” podcast, there are precious few who have read more than our staff book critics — Jennifer Szalai, Alexandra Jacobs and Dwight Garner. The three came on the show to talk about some of their ... more

YouTube

For Min Jin Lee, the process of writing fiction usually begins with a deep dive into reality. She spends years researching, traveling and interviewing people.

That process underscored her belief that education was a common and central value for Kore... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The New Yorker Radio Hour
The New Yorker Radio HourWNYC Studios and The New Yorker
The Interview
The InterviewThe New York Times

Recent Guests

Emily Eakin
Editor at The New York Times Book Review
The New York Times
Episode: Book Club: Let's Talk About 'Switzy'
Jennifer Harlan
Editor at The New York Times Book Review and fantasy columnist
The New York Times
Episode: Book Club: Let's Talk About 'Switzy'
Leigh Bardugo
Best-selling author of the Grishaverse series and the Ninth House trilogy
Episode: What to Read This Halloween, According to Two Best-Selling Writers
Paul Tremblay
Author of A Head Full of Ghosts and Dead but Dreaming of Electric Sheep
Episode: What to Read This Halloween, According to Two Best-Selling Writers
Alexandra Jacobs
New York Times staff book critic who reviews fiction and nonfiction
The New York Times
Episode: A Book Review Critics’ Roundtable
Dwight Garner
New York Times staff book critic who reviews fiction and nonfiction
The New York Times
Episode: A Book Review Critics’ Roundtable
Jennifer Szalai
New York Times staff book critic who reviews nonfiction
The New York Times
Episode: A Book Review Critics’ Roundtable
Min Jin Lee
Novelist and author of “Pachinko,” “Free Food for Millionaires” and “American Hagwon”
Episode: Min Jin Lee Wants Us to Rethink Education
Stephen King
Author of more than 70 novels, including The Talisman, The Shining and It
Episode: Decades Later, Stephen King Is Finishing What He and Peter Straub Started

Hosts

Gilbert Cruz
Host of The Book Review and The Book Review podcast; The New York Times Book Review
MJ Franklin
Editor contributing to discussion; Host of The Book Review Book Club

Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars from 5.6k ratings
  • Only 2 episodes

    Can’t listen to old podcasts. I’m a new potential listener, and I don’t like the topics in the last 2 episodes. So then you lost a listener before it even started.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Husky88
    Canada3 months ago
  • Monthly book club

    MJ Franklin is the best. I look forward to the monthly book club and MJ Franklin really excels at leading the discussion. The book club is the best part of the entire Book Review podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Ray and Gracie
    United States3 months ago
  • Downhill fast

    When I first starting listening to this podcast it was smart and professional. The critics would engage with one another and bring to light books I had never heard of previously. Dwight Garner was one of my favorites. Interviews were well thought out and executed. I’m a regular reader, certainly not a critic so how is it I read most of the books they discuss each week? (notable exception The Calamity Club and Yesterday Year)

    Khatib and Cruz giggle and act like two high school kids on their first... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Michelep63
    United States3 months ago
  • A revised opinion

    I have been a devoted listener and subscriber for years. Last year I wrote an unkind review. Of Gilbert and this Podcast. I regret any feathers that might have been ruffled but after that review, I noticed some changes that have brought this Podcast back to its outstanding standard.

    It has been absolutely wonderful hearing from all of the different editors and writers on the podcast. The diverse viewpoints and variety of works discussed has enlightened my reading life again.

    They actually seem... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Generic Reader
    United States3 months ago
  • Madeline Miller & the Odyssey discussion

    Ms Miller is my favorite author at the moment and loved her on The Daily and this pod discussing The Odyssey, Circe, Son of Achilles (and Watership Down which is another beloved book I had no idea related to the Odyssey!). Fascinating discussion and I can’t get enough.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    deniser:)
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Seasonal and book-club formats add a practical, reader-focused angle that fans appreciate.
Some listeners feel the show has shifted toward broader culture topics and away from strict book analysis.
Guest selections mix critics, editors, and acclaimed authors, offering varied perspectives.
The hosts spark insightful conversations with deep literary knowledge.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#9
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#35
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#11
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#37
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#44
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#105
United Kingdom/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Min Jin Lee Wants Us to Rethink Education
Q: What is the difference between networking, as you describe it, and community, as you trace it out in your book and as you think of it?
Lee distinguishes transparent mutual exchange from relationships built mainly around what someone can do for another person. Community creates lasting bonds that persist through illness, job loss and other hardship, rather than treating people as useful connections.
Min Jin Lee Wants Us to Rethink Education
Q: So a hagwon is the Korean word for learning center. And I think a lot of people think, if they think at all about hagwons, they think of it as something for kids, whether you're a four-year-old or a 17-year-old, the educational kind of hagwons. But in Korea, adults go to hagwons to learn how to tap dance, to become an opera singer, for piano lessons, in order to learn how to speak better. There are all sorts of hagwons. And the reason why I chose hagwon as an organizing metaphor is because I wanted to illustrate the real deep faith in education and self-improvement that Koreans have.
The question asks what a hagwon is and why Lee chose it as the novel's organizing metaphor. Lee explains that hagwons are learning centers for children and adults, and that the term represents Koreans' deep faith in education and self-improvement, including within diaspora communities.
What to Read This Halloween, According to Two Best-Selling Writers
Q: What is a book you recommend that's just like, this book is scary?
Paul Tremblay recommends Sara Gran's “Come Closer,” a compact possession story that he considers one of the scariest books he has read.
What to Read This Halloween, According to Two Best-Selling Writers
Q: What makes a book a horror book?
Leigh Bardugo says horror does not have to produce full-scale terror; being thoroughly unnerved or disturbed can qualify. She suggests that horror often involves uncertainty between what is real and imagined.
Decades Later, Stephen King Is Finishing What He and Peter Straub Started
Q: What does it mean to channel Peter Straub?
King reread Straub's Ghost Story and short fiction to reconnect with his voice. He describes Straub's style as poetic while retaining a strong narrative drive, and says imagining Straub's advice helped him find the opening of the book.

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?

This show centers literary conversation with a mix of author interviews, editor perspectives, and book-club style discussions. Guests range from historians and journalists to novelists and critics, often diving into themes, trends, and the publishing industry alongside curated lists and seasonal recommendations. The format blends in-depth conversations about individual books with broader debates on culture, criticism, and reading culture, making it a strong fit for listeners who want thoughtful analysis and reliable literary guidance. A notable strength is the consistent presence of NYT Book Review editors and high-profile authors, offering credibility and access to inside perspectives on publishing and criticism.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Book Review?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Book Review. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Book Review and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Book Review get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Book Review, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Book Review?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Book Review, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Book Review have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Book Review has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

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 Interview
4. Critics at Large | The New Yorker
5. Fresh Air

How many episodes of The Book Review are there?

The Book Review launched 21 years ago and published 614 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?

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.

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

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Book Review from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Book Review?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Book Review. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Book Review?

Recent guests on The Book Review include:

1. Emily Eakin
2. Jennifer Harlan
3. Leigh Bardugo
4. Paul Tremblay
5. Alexandra Jacobs
6. Dwight Garner
7. Jennifer Szalai
8. Min Jin Lee

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days