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. —
   James E. Ransome
   0 votes

   Never again
2. —
   James Wolff

   'Spies and Other Gods' is an espionage novel by a former British intelligence officer · May 2026

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3. —
   Jamil Jan Kochai

   Sci-fi elements help a family's story before and after warfare · 2 episodes

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4. —
   Jane Rosenberg

   'Drawn Testimony' is a courtroom sketch artist's memoir spanning 40 years · Aug 2024

   0 votes

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5. —
   Janice Hallett

   These new mystery novels are 'whodunits' that might as well be called 'whydunits' · Oct 2025

   0 votes

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6. —
   Jaques Pepin
   0 votes

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7. —
   Jas Hammonds

   'We Deserve Monuments' highlights a queer, Black love story amidst a family mystery · Dec 2022

   0 votes

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8. —
   Jason Bailey

   A new biography tells the twin stories of James Gandolfini and Tony Soprano · May 2025

   0 votes

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9. —
   Jeff Pearlman
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10. —
    Jennet Conant

    'Fierce Ambition' and 'The Lede' look inside the world of journalism · Feb 2024

    0 votes

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11. —
    Jennie Godfrey

    Two debut novels, two murder mysteries set in the United Kingdom · Jan 2026

    0 votes

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12. —
    Jennifer Croft

    In 'The Extinction of Irena Rey,' translators search for a missing author · 2 episodes

    0 votes

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13. —
    Jennifer De Leon

    'Borderless' is a YA novel about a teenage migrant separated from her mother · Jun 2023

    0 votes

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14. —
    Jennifer Lewis
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15. —
    Jennifer Vanderbes

    'Wonder Drug' traces the dark history of thalidomide and the birth defects it caused · Jul 2023

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16. —
    Jenny Kiefer
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17. —
    Jenny Tinghui Zhang

    Novel 'Four Treasures of the Sky' focuses on the horrors of the Chinese Exclusion Act · 2 episodes

    0 votes

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18. —
    Jerry Craft

    In 'New Kid,' a Black seventh grader navigates a new school · 2 episodes

    0 votes

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19. —
    Jessica Chiccehitto Hindman
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20. —
    Jessica Goudeau

    'We Were Illegal' examines Texas history through multiple generations of one family · Aug 2024

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21. —
    Jessica Johns

    In 'Bad Cree,' a horror mystery unfolds in the aftermath of loss and colonialism · 2 episodes

    0 votes

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22. —
    Jillian Tamaki

    'Roaming' is a graphic novel about friendship and travel · Sep 2023

    0 votes

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23. —
    Jo Harkin

    'The Pretender' centers on a real peasant who learns he is heir to England's throne · Jun 2025

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24. —
    Joe Ide
    0 votes

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25. —
    Johanne Lykke Holm

    Two novels chronicle the mysterious disappearances of young women · Dec 2022

    0 votes

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26. —
    John Hendrickson

    'Life on Delay' chronicles what it means to live with – and accept – a stutter · Jan 2023

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27. —
    John J. Sullivan

    In 'Midnight in Moscow,' a U.S. ambassador recounts his time in Russia · Aug 2024

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28. —
    John Schu

    Two books offer lessons on love and acceptance for young readers · 2 episodes

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29. —
    John Vaillant
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30. —
    John Vercher

    'Devil Is Fine' explores race, colonialism and grief through magical realism · Jul 2024

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31. —
    Jonathan Watts
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32. —
    Joseph Finder

    In two noir novels, crime lurks beneath small town life in Norway and New England · Mar 2025

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33. —
    Josephine Marcotty
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34. —
    Joshua Bennett

    'The People Can Fly' examines the history of Black prodigies from poets to professors · May 2026

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35. —
    Joshua Prager

    In 'The Family Roe:' the human side of the landmark abortion case 'Roe v. Wade' · 2 episodes

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36. —
    Judy Rakowsky

    In 'Jews in the Garden,' a Holocaust survivor tries to uncover uncomfortable truths · Sep 2023

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37. —
    Julia Langbein

    In 'Dear Monica Lewinsky,' a woman turns to an unusual saint for support · May 2026

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38. —
    Julia Whelan

    Romance novelist pokes fun at genre while writing it, in 'Thank You for Listening' · Aug 2022

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39. —
    Justin Angle
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40. —
    Kai Thomas
    0 votes

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