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. —
   Sara Hamdan

   'What Will People Think?' and 'Climbing in Heels' star women trying to make it big · Jun 2025

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   Never again
2. —
   Sara Kehaulani Goo
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3. —
   Saraciea Fennell
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4. —
   Sarah Ditum

   'Toxic' looks back on Janet Jackson, Britney Spears and tabloid culture in the 2000s · Feb 2024

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5. —
   Sarah Stodola

   'The Last Resort' unveils the environmental toll of beachside destinations · Jul 2022

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6. —
   Sarah-Jane Collins
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7. —
   Sascha Alper
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8. —
   Scott Ellsworth
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9. —
   Sean Brosnan

   ‘Beyond Fast’ chronicles one coach’s unlikely revolution in high school cross-country · Sep 2025

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10. —
    Serena Kutchinsky

    In 'Kutchinsky's Egg,' a jeweler’s corrosive ambition leads to his family’s downfall · Apr 2026

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11. —
    Shannon Sanders

    In 'The Great Wherever' and 'Country People,' city dwellers try out rural life · Jul 2026

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12. —
    Shereem Herndon-Brown
    0 votes

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13. —
    Simone St. James

    In Simone St. James' 'Murder Road,' a lakeside honeymoon turns into a murder mystery · Oct 2024

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14. —
    Sky Roberts
    0 votes

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15. —
    Sola Mahfouz
    0 votes

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16. —
    Souvankham Thammavongsa

    'Pick a Color' is a novel that takes place over a single day at a nail salon · Oct 2025

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17. —
    Stanley Weintraub

    'General Sherman's Christmas' captures the war-time holiday in Savannah 150 years ago · Dec 2024

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18. —
    Steph Littlebird
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19. —
    Stephen Bruno

    'Building Material' is the memoir of a Park Avenue doorman · Oct 2024

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20. —
    Stephen Buoro

    Stephen Buoro's comic novel follows a young Nigerian man's obsession with whiteness · 3 episodes

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21. —
    Steve Asbell

    Two picture books use vivid colors to convey messages of joy and unity · Apr 2024

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22. —
    Steven Millhauser

    Short story collections by Steven Millhauser and Jamel Brinkley focus on the uncanny · Aug 2023

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23. —
    Steven Roberts

    'Dear Memory' and 'Cokie' both look toward the future while remembering the dead · Nov 2021

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24. —
    Steven Rowley

    Two new books ask: What would you do if you encountered alien life? · Jun 2026

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25. —
    Steven Ujifusa

    'The Last Ships from Hamburg' recalls the plight of Jewish refugees before WWI · Mar 2024

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26. —
    Susan Cooper

    Daylight is something to celebrate in 'The Shortest Day' · Jan 2025

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27. —
    Susan McCarthy
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28. —
    Susan Rogers

    Two books examine how we listen to music and why it resonates with us · Nov 2022

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29. —
    Susan Verde

    'Body Beautiful' and 'My One-of-a-Kind Body' aim to cultivate kids’ body positivity · Jan 2026

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30. —
    Talia Hibbert

    Two YA novels create well-rounded portraits of Black characters coming of age · Feb 2023

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31. —
    Tan Twan Eng

    'The House of Doors' is a novel about romance, secrecy and colonialism in Malaysia · 2 episodes

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32. —
    Tessa Yang

    In 'The Jellyfish Problem,' an introverted scientist is called in to help an island · Jun 2026

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33. —
    Thomas Mullaney

    'How We Disappear' is a Stanford historian's take on our personal archives · Sep 2026

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34. —
    Thrity Umrigar

    'The Museum of Failures' follows a father-to-be as he stumbles upon family secrets · Sep 2024

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35. —
    Tia Williams

    Revisiting ‘Waiting to Exhale’ · Dec 2025

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36. —
    Timothy Fields

    'The Black Family's Guide to College Admissions' traces the path to higher education · Dec 2022

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37. —
    Tom Beaujour
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38. —
    Traci Sorell
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39. —
    Tracy Slater

    2 new books were inspired by dark moments in Japanese and Japanese American history · Aug 2025

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40. —
    Tyler Pager

    ‘2024’ and ‘From the Clinics to the Capitol’ dissect opposing political movements · Sep 2025

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