Accessibility links
NPR's Book of the Day 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 today's great books in 15 minutes or less.
NPR's Book of the Day

Podcast Directory
NPR's Book of the Day
NPR

NPR's Book of the Day

From NPR

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 today's great books in 15 minutes or less.

Most Recent Episodes

President Trump's final acts of 'Betrayal'
Dutton

President Trump's final acts of 'Betrayal'

Almost a year ago today, supporters of President Trump attacked the Capitol in an attempt to overturn the election. ABC White House correspondent Jonathan Karl has chronicled the final days of the Trump administration and the events leading up to the January 6th insurrection in his new book, Betrayal. Karl told NPR's Steve Inskeep that he believed in the end Trump was laying the groundwork to be un-checkable.

President Trump's final acts of 'Betrayal'

Listen · 7:56
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1069063150/1069210335" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Remembering bell hooks and 'All About Love'
William Morrow

Remembering bell hooks and 'All About Love'

Author and social activist bell hooks died a couple of weeks ago, so we at Book Of The Day thought it would be nice to revisit one of our favorite interviews of hers. In 2000, she discussed her book All About Love: New Visions with NPR's Cheryl Corely. They talked about how most people misunderstand love and the many forms it can take and how transformative and powerful real love can be in all spheres of life.

Remembering bell hooks and 'All About Love'

Listen · 11:59
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1069062669/1069199374" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Lower your expectations and succeed with 'Tiny Habits'
Mariner Books

Lower your expectations and succeed with 'Tiny Habits'

Every time the new year rolls around, many of us start trying to "better ourselves." Maybe you decide to read more or clean out your entire house only to find yourself falling short. Author BJ Fogg wrote a book about how not to do that called Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything. Fogg told Life Kit's Maria Godoy that everyone should try and lower their expectations. It's actually much easier to accomplish goals you set for yourself if they are much, much smaller. Say, instead of cleaning out your whole house, start with one room.

Lower your expectations and succeed with 'Tiny Habits'

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1069062407/1069193934" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
NPR's Wisdom From The Top: 'Machiavelli For Women'
Gallery Books

NPR's Wisdom From The Top: 'Machiavelli For Women'

Planet Money's Stacey Vanek Smith has reported on business and the economy for over 15 years now. She told NPR's Guy Raz that over that time, she's seen the same barriers blocking advancement for women in the workplace again and again. Recently, she's started to recognize that a lot of tools to move past those barriers can be found in the work of Italian philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli. Vanek Smith lays out these solutions in her new book, Machiavelli for Women: Defend Your Worth, Grow Your Ambition, and Win the Workplace.

Alexi Pappas and Glennon Doyle want you to know it's ok to not be ok
The Dial Press

Alexi Pappas and Glennon Doyle want you to know it's ok to not be ok

Both our interviews today deal with the pressures we put on ourselves. First, Olympic runner Alexi Pappas on her memoir, Bravey. On the outside, Pappas was living what looked like a great life; she was breaking Greek Olympic records and her movie got a distribution deal. But, she told NPR's Ari Shapiro, she was still deeply sad. Next, an interview from early in the pandemic when women were disproportionately feeling the burden of our new reality. Glennon Doyle, author of Untamed, told former NPR host Lulu Garcia-Navarro that "every woman on earth needs to lower her expectations for herself."

Healing through poetry in 'Light For The World To See'
Mariner Books

Healing through poetry in 'Light For The World To See'

Poet and author Kwame Alexander was feeling the weight of being Black in America last summer and didn't know how to make sense of his feelings. So, he made sense of them through his book of poetry, Light For The World To See: A Thousand Words On Race And Hope. It's three poems on three historic events: the murder of George Floyd, Colin Kaepernick's protests, and Barack Obama being elected president. Alexander told NPR's Rachel Martin he wrote this as a call for Black people to remember their humanity.

'Hamnet' gives life to Shakespeare's little-known son
Knopf Doubleda Publishing Group

'Hamnet' gives life to Shakespeare's little-known son

William Shakespeare had a son, Hamnet, who likely inspired one of his most famous plays and who died when he was 11 years old. Novelist Maggie O'Farrell was disappointed that more people weren't familiar with him, so she set out to fix that with her book, Hamnet. O'Farrell wanted to reimagine Hamnet's life, his death, and William Shakespeare's family life. But, she told NPR's Mary Louise Kelly, she had a much harder time writing this book than she thought she would.

'Dwyane' uses photographs to wrap up an illustrious career
William Morrow

'Dwyane' uses photographs to wrap up an illustrious career

Dwyane Wade's new memoir is not a traditional one. He wanted to show the reader a lot of his cherished memories instead of just writing about them. His new photographic memoir, Dwyane, visually wraps up his basketball career with a series of pictures from his time at Marquette to his 16 years with the Miami Heat. Wade talked to Here & Now's Tonya Mosely about when he knew it was time to step away from the game he loves.

In 'All Adults Here,' family is messy
Riverhead Books

In 'All Adults Here,' family is messy

Author Emma Straub has written a book about family dynamics and the mess and love that comes with them in All Adults Here. It's no secret that families are complicated. Straub argues a lot of our familial relationships are watching each other grow up and whether or not you allow those you love to grow and change. She told NPR's Scott Simon though that even the bits that aren't perfect are worth loving.

Snuggle up for the holidays with two NPR favorites
ABACUS (LITT)

Snuggle up for the holidays with two NPR favorites

It's the holiday season so we at Book Of The Day wanted to bring you two of our holiday favorites. The first is David Sedaris' Santaland Diaries, which first aired on Morning Edition in 1992 and has been an annual NPR tradition ever since. It's a hilarious recounting of his time as a department store elf named Crumpet. The second is some of our staff here at NPR reading the poem A Visit from St. Nicholas, which you might know as The Night Before Christmas. Happy holidays "...and to all a good night!"

Snuggle up for the holidays with two NPR favorites

Listen · 10:30
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1064069250/1065342006" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
NPR's Book of the Day

Podcast Directory
or search npr.org