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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.

In 'A Living Remedy,' Nicole Chung reflects on anger, grief and failed systems

7 mins; April 10, 2023

Lizzie Stark traces the history and cultural impact of the 'Egg'

10 mins; April 09, 2023

Two books trace enslaved people's journey to freedom in the 19th century

16 mins; April 06, 2023

In 'The Survivalists,' doomsday prepping becomes a way to regain control

9 mins; April 05, 2023

'Demon Copperhead' tackles opioids, poverty and resilience in Appalachia

9 mins; April 04, 2023

In 'Bad Cree,' a horror mystery unfolds in the aftermath of loss and colonialism

8 mins; April 03, 2023

'Meredith, Alone' explores mental health, isolation and friendship

6 mins; April 02, 2023

'Hello Beautiful' and 'Pineapple Street' examine the closeness between sisters

15 mins; March 30, 2023

Patricia Park's new YA novel captures the complexities of race and adolescence

10 mins; March 29, 2023

'I Am Debra Lee: A Memoir' recounts triumphs and challenges as the former CEO of BET

11 mins; March 28, 2023

Fandom acts as an antidote for loneliness in 'Y/N'

9 mins; March 27, 2023

'Poverty, By America' argues America profits by keeping people poor

9 mins; March 26, 2023

Two books warn about the privacy implications of AI and neurotechnology

18 mins; March 23, 2023

'That's hot': Paris Hilton is ready to tell her own story

9 mins; March 22, 2023

Dina Nayeri wants you to question 'Who Gets Believed'

8 mins; March 21, 2023

In 'Dust Child,' the impacts of the Vietnam War are felt decades later

9 mins; March 20, 2023

A new biography of first lady Edith Wilson examines her political influence

7 mins; March 19, 2023

From the Astros to Colin Kaepernick, two books revisit monumental sports stories

17 mins; March 16, 2023

'Your Driver is Waiting' takes a modern spin on 'Taxi Driver'

9 mins; March 15, 2023

Sparked by the pandemic, Katherine May searches for 'Enchantment' in nature

7 mins; March 14, 2023

In 'What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez,' a family struggles with a child's disappearance

7 mins; March 13, 2023

Margaret Atwood ponders aging, fantasy and George Orwell in 'Old Babes in the Wood'

7 mins; March 12, 2023

Two memoirs tell life-altering stories through illustrations

18 mins; March 09, 2023

'A Stone Is Most Precious Where It Belongs' is a memoir of the Uyghur experience

7 mins; March 08, 2023

'All the Beauty in the World' is a museum guard's view on healing through art

8 mins; March 07, 2023

Beth Moore says misogyny pushed her to leave the Southern Baptist Convention

10 mins; March 06, 2023

In 'Dyscalculia,' Camonghne Felix reckons with heartbreak as a form of trauma

9 mins; March 05, 2023

Sen. Bernie Sanders and Malcolm Harris take a closer look at wealth and capitalism

17 mins; March 02, 2023

In 'My Selma,' Willie Mae Brown recalls growing up during the Civil Rights Movement

11 mins; March 01, 2023

In 'The Darker the Night,' a murder in Glasgow unravels a political investigation

7 mins; February 28, 2023

Jean D'Amérique's novel 'A Sun to Be Sewn' grapples with violence in Haiti

8 mins; February 27, 2023

Bozoma Saint John opens up about trauma, grief and healing in 'The Urgent Life'

8 mins; February 26, 2023

Two children's books examine the meaning of home

15 mins; February 23, 2023

From cowboy boots to polyamory, 'Wanting' explores what it means for women to desire

8 mins; February 22, 2023

'Up With The Sun' traces actor Dick Kallman's short-lived career – up to his murder

7 mins; February 21, 2023

'Call and Response' is an ode to the women and girls of Botswana

8 mins; February 20, 2023

Greta Thunberg hopes 'The Climate Book' is a launching pad for environmental activism

8 mins; February 19, 2023

'How Far The Light Reaches' dives into the deep sea for lessons on community and care

24 mins; February 16, 2023

'The End of Drum-Time' captures a complicated love story in an Arctic community

8 mins; February 15, 2023

'The House of Eve' explores Black motherhood and associated stigma in the 1950s

9 mins; February 14, 2023

'The Ransomware Hunting Team' tracks the rise of cybercrime and the fight to solve it

11 mins; February 13, 2023

'What Napoleon Could Not Do' occupies the space between African and American identity

8 mins; February 12, 2023

Two YA novels create well-rounded portraits of Black characters coming of age

16 mins; February 09, 2023

In 'The World And All That It Holds,' two soldiers fall in love during World War I

8 mins; February 08, 2023

In 'And Finally,' a neurosurgeon comes to terms with his own cancer diagnosis

7 mins; February 07, 2023

NBA dreams come true in 'The Sense of Wonder.' But at what cost?

8 mins; February 06, 2023

Through short stories, 'The Faraway World' encompasses the Latin American diaspora

7 mins; February 05, 2023

Two novels take a closer look at class and gender in Indian society

17 mins; February 02, 2023

In 'Beaverland,' Leila Philip credits the beaver with building America

8 mins; February 01, 2023

'Shubeik Lubeik' imagines a world where you can buy and sell wishes

8 mins; January 31, 2023

In 'The Survivalists,' doomsday prepping becomes a way to regain control

8 mins; January 30, 2023

'Sorry, Sorry, Sorry' believes in the power of a good apology

8 mins; January 29, 2023

Two books trace enslaved people's journey to freedom in the 19th century

16 mins; January 26, 2023

In 'Bad Cree,' a horror mystery unfolds in the aftermath of loss and colonialism

8 mins; January 25, 2023

'Life on Delay' chronicles what it means to live with – and accept – a stutter

11 mins; January 24, 2023

'Decent People' is a murder mystery grappling with race in the segregated South

7 mins; January 23, 2023

'You Just Need to Lose Weight' aims to change your thinking about being 'fat'

8 mins; January 22, 2023

Susan Kuklin and Maia Kobabe's books explore gender identity throughout adolescence

16 mins; January 19, 2023

Art Spiegelman reissues 'Breakdowns' with new perspective on book bans

9 mins; January 18, 2023

'All Boys Aren't Blue' honors coming of age as a queer Black boy

7 mins; January 17, 2023

In 'New Kid,' a Black seventh grader navigates a new school

8 mins; January 16, 2023

Bans on books like 'Out of Darkness' target authors of color

8 mins; January 15, 2023

Steve Martin, Harry Bliss and Nick Hornby take different approaches to working hard

17 mins; January 12, 2023

In 'Winterland,' a Soviet Union gymnast navigates a grueling responsibility

8 mins; January 11, 2023

In 'Song of Silver, Flame Like Night,' Chinese mythology teaches lessons about power

6 mins; January 10, 2023

'Meredith, Alone' explores mental health, isolation and friendship

6 mins; January 09, 2023

A new biography of Janet Yellen offers a personal look at the trailblazing economist

11 mins; January 08, 2023

Authors Peng Shepard and Anne Tyler show that family is...complicated

17 mins; January 05, 2023

Inspired by a true story, 'Nightcrawling' deals with sex work – and sexual abuse

8 mins; January 04, 2023

'Less is Lost' is the sequel to Andrew Greer's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel 'Less'

11 mins; January 03, 2023

A futuristic novel about the powerful escaping to space echoes today's world

8 mins; January 02, 2023

Romance, terror, and the supernatural in Isabel Cañas' debut novel 'The Hacienda'

9 mins; January 01, 2023

Two novels chronicle the mysterious disappearances of young women

18 mins; December 29, 2022

'My People' is a collection of stories – spanning decades – about Black America

8 mins; December 28, 2022

'The Myth of Normal' explores why depression and illness rates are rising in the U.S.

11 mins; December 27, 2022

'Demon Copperhead' tackles opioids, poverty and resilience in Appalachia

9 mins; December 26, 2022

'Our Book of Awesome' celebrates the small joys that can actually make us happier

7 mins; December 25, 2022

Two cookbooks for baking the sweetest holiday treats

21 mins; December 22, 2022

Olympic diver Tom Daley explains his love for knitting in 'Made With Love'

8 mins; December 21, 2022

In 'Grocery Shopping With My Mother,' a son becomes a caretaker

9 mins; December 20, 2022

In 'Cursed Bunny,' horror takes unexpected forms

8 mins; December 19, 2022

'The Future Is Analog' makes the case for logging off

8 mins; December 18, 2022

Patti Smith's photography and Kevin Nealon's caricatures offer a new perspective

20 mins; December 15, 2022

'We Deserve Monuments' highlights a queer, Black love story amidst a family mystery

8 mins; December 14, 2022

'The Black Family's Guide to College Admissions' traces the path to higher education

11 mins; December 13, 2022

'The Light Pirate' depicts a dystopian Florida amidst climate catastrophes

6 mins; December 12, 2022

'Three Girls From Bronzeville' is a memoir about identity, opportunity and solidarity

10 mins; December 11, 2022

NPR recommends our favorite books of 2022, including Jennette McCurdy's memoir

18 mins; December 08, 2022

'All This Could Be Different' grapples with the beautiful chaos of post-college life

10 mins; December 07, 2022

In 'So Help Me God,' Mike Pence considers how his faith shapes his politics

9 mins; December 06, 2022

In 'They're Going to Love You,' a dancer's secret unravels lessons about forgiveness

6 mins; December 05, 2022

'How to Stand Up to a Dictator' dissects how disinformation can kill democracies

9 mins; December 04, 2022

Exploring immigration through a common experience: feeling like an outsider

21 mins; December 01, 2022

In 'Lessons In Chemistry' a chemist is the star of...a cooking show?

8 mins; November 30, 2022

Poet Warsan Shire hopes you can make the voices in your head your friends

9 mins; November 29, 2022

'Booth' looks at the family life of President Lincoln's notorious assassin

8 mins; November 28, 2022

Author NoViolet Bulawayo's novel 'Glory' draws inspiration from the Orwellian

5 mins; November 27, 2022

Two poetry collections find beauty in unexpected places

20 mins; November 24, 2022

In 'Sweet Land of Liberty,' pie recipes show how American values transform over time

9 mins; November 23, 2022

Sci-fi elements help a family's story before and after warfare

8 mins; November 22, 2022

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NPR's Book of the Day

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