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. Support public media by joining NPR+ at plus.npr.org. You’ll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including sponsor-free listening for Book of the Day.

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Every guest on NPR's Book of the Day

1338 guests, ranked by how many people never want them back.

1. —
   Maria Ressa

   'How to Stand Up to a Dictator' dissects how disinformation can kill democracies · Dec 2022

   0 votes

   Never again
2. —
   Matt Haig
   0 votes

   Never again
3. —
   Naomi Oreskes

   'The Big Myth' breaks down pro-market, anti-government propaganda in the U.S. · Oct 2023

   0 votes

   Never again
4. —
   Nikki Giovanni

   Remembering Nikki Giovanni, poet and icon of the Black Arts Movement · Dec 2024

   0 votes

   Never again
5. —
   Richard Powers

   Richard Powers' new novel 'Playground' is filled with awe for the ocean · Sep 2024

   0 votes

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6. —
   Stephen Grosz

   A psychoanalyst and a priest share insights in 'Love's Labor' and 'Work in Progress' · Feb 2026

   0 votes

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7. —
   Yomi Adegoke

   In 'The List,' an allegation of sexual misconduct wreaks havoc on a relationship · Nov 2023

   0 votes

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8. —
   James Stavridis
   0 votes

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9. —
   Alex Thompson
   0 votes

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10. —
    Anne Helen Peterson

    'Out of Office' considers 'why' companies want to bring back remote employees · Nov 2021

    0 votes

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11. —
    Aubrey Gordon

    'You Just Need to Lose Weight' aims to change your thinking about being 'fat' · Jan 2023

    0 votes

    Never again
12. —
    Ayana Elizabeth Johnson

    'What If We Get It Right?' envisions new possibilities for our climate future · Sep 2024

    0 votes

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13. —
    Ayelet Waldman

    'A Perfect Hand' is a romp through 19th-century England, with a suffragist twist · May 2026

    0 votes

    Never again
14. —
    Bryant Terry

    'Black Food' is more than just recipes, it's the stories behind them · Nov 2021

    0 votes

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15. —
    Chris Duffy
    0 votes

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16. —
    Dani Shapiro

    In 'Signal Fires,' a tragic accident stretches across time, memory and family secrets · Nov 2022

    0 votes

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17. —
    David Sanger

    'New Cold Wars' examines the relationship between the U.S., Russia and China · Apr 2024

    0 votes

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18. —
    Dick Ebersol

    Dick Ebersol's autobiography 'From Saturday Night to Sunday Night' spans his career · Oct 2022

    0 votes

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19. —
    Edel Rodriguez
    0 votes

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20. —
    Emma Donoghue

    Authors of two new novels draw inspiration from history in wildly different ways · 2 episodes

    0 votes

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21. —
    Bill Clinton

    In 'Citizen,' former President Clinton reflects on his post-White House years · Nov 2024

    0 votes

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22. —
    Gregg Hurwitz

    'The Delivery' is a horror novella about a family's mysterious AI assistant · Jul 2026

    0 votes

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23. —
    HR McMaster

    'At War with Ourselves' and 'Broken Open' are memoirs chronicling internal conflict · Sep 2024

    0 votes

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24. —
    Isaac Arnsdorf
    0 votes

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25. —
    Jennifer B. Wallace

    'Never Enough' and 'Roctogenarians' examine the culture of success · Jun 2024

    0 votes

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26. —
    Kevin Powell

    In 'Grocery Shopping With My Mother,' a son becomes a caretaker · Dec 2022

    0 votes

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27. —
    Maggie Smith

    Two poets pen memoirs about the relationships that shaped their writing · Jun 2023

    0 votes

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28. —
    Marty Baron

    In 'Collision of Power' and 'Outtakes,' journalists look back on their careers · Mar 2024

    0 votes

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29. —
    Mary Cain
    0 votes

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30. —
    Matt James
    0 votes

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31. —
    Matt Pottinger

    'The Boiling Moat' plants a military strategy to prevent China's capture of Taiwan · Aug 2024

    0 votes

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32. —
    Neil Pasricha

    'Our Book of Awesome' celebrates the small joys that can actually make us happier · Dec 2022

    0 votes

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33. —
    Nora Princiotti
    0 votes

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34. —
    Sarah Wynn-Williams

    A former Meta executive characterizes company leadership as "careless" in new memoir · Mar 2025

    0 votes

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35. —
    Sasha Issenberg

    'The Engagement' looks at the complicated history of marriage equality · Jan 2022

    0 votes

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36. —
    Sebastian Mallaby

    'Infinity Machine' is a biography of an Oppenheimer-like figure in AI · Apr 2026

    0 votes

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37. —
    Stewart Copeland

    Two books dive into the musical histories of The Police and Joni Mitchell · Jul 2024

    0 votes

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38. —
    Sy Montgomery
    0 votes

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39. —
    Ted Cruz

    Sen. Ted Cruz's new book 'Going Further' praises Justice Clarence Thomas · Sep 2026

    0 votes

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40. —
    Angie Thomas

    Two YA books spark conversation about race and racial justice activism in youth · Sep 2022

    0 votes

    Never again