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. —
   Mark Helprin

   Mark Helprin’s 'Elegy in Blue' is a tragedy, love story and ghost story all in one · May 2026

   0 votes

   Never again
2. —
   Peter Beinart

   A new book from Peter Beinart asks Jewish people to reimagine the Israeli state · Feb 2025

   0 votes

   Never again
3. —
   Rebecca F. Kuang

   R.F. Kuang says there’s 'quite a lot' of herself in 'Katabasis' protagonist Alice · 3 episodes

   0 votes

   Never again
4. —
   Stephen Graham Jones

   Stephen Graham Jones explores a new side of horror in 'I Was a Teenage Slasher' · 2 episodes

   0 votes

   Never again
5. —
   Tom Selleck
   0 votes

   Never again
6. —
   Yann Martel

   In the epic 'Son of Nobody,' Yann Martel gives footnotes a starring role · Apr 2026

   0 votes

   Never again
7. —
   Adam Kinzinger

   Adam Kinzinger, Mitt Romney and the evolution of the Republican party · Jan 2024

   0 votes

   Never again
8. —
   Bill Barr

   Former Attorney General William Barr says he was just doing his job · Mar 2022

   0 votes

   Never again
9. —
   Eddie Glaude

   Eddie Glaude on the tension at the center of America's milestone birthdays · Jul 2026

   0 votes

   Never again
10. —
    Jason Zengerle

    Jason Zengerle says Tucker Carlson is more 'movement leader' than media persona · Mar 2026

    0 votes

    Never again
11. —
    Joe Manchin

    Former senator Joe Manchin makes the case for the middle in the memoir 'Dead Center' · Sep 2025

    0 votes

    Never again
12. —
    Jon M. Chu

    Jon M. Chu's memoir 'Viewfinder' traces his journey to making movies · Jul 2024

    0 votes

    Never again
13. —
    Karine Jean-Pierre

    Karine Jean-Pierre’s new memoir 'Independent' explains why she left the Democrats · Nov 2025

    0 votes

    Never again
14. —
    Martha Raddatz

    ABC News' Martha Raddatz on 'The Hero Next Door,' her collection of veterans’ stories · Jun 2026

    0 votes

    Never again
15. —
    Rae Wynn-Grant

    'Wild Kingdom' co-host Rae Wynn-Grant found nature on TV · Apr 2024

    0 votes

    Never again
16. —
    Raphael Warnock

    Sen. Raphael Warnock argues that progressives should bring spirituality to politics · Aug 2026

    0 votes

    Never again
17. —
    Mark Greaney

    Mark Greaney takes on geopolitics in the latest installment of the Gray Man series · Feb 2025

    0 votes

    Never again
18. —
    Adrienne Brodeur

    Adrienne Brodeur's novel 'Little Monsters' uncovers family secrets in Cape Cod · Jul 2023

    0 votes

    Never again
19. —
    Amanda Gorman

    Amanda Gorman's 'Girls on the Rise' makes the case that girls are stronger together · Jan 2025

    0 votes

    Never again
20. —
    Amanda Nguyen

    In the wake of a sexual assault, astronaut Amanda Nguyen turned to activism · Apr 2025

    0 votes

    Never again
21. —
    Angela Flournoy

    Angela Flournoy’s 'The Wilderness' focuses on a Black, female ‘chosen family’ · Oct 2025

    0 votes

    Never again
22. —
    Bud Smith

    A new Bonnie and Clyde-type adventure in 'Teenager' by Bud Smith · May 2022

    0 votes

    Never again
23. —
    Camonghne Felix

    In 'Dyscalculia,' Camonghne Felix reckons with heartbreak as a form of trauma · Mar 2023

    0 votes

    Never again
24. —
    Chris Kraus
    0 votes

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25. —
    Claire Messud

    Claire Messud's new novel is a sweeping tale of history, family and social change · May 2024

    0 votes

    Never again
26. —
    Curtis Sittenfeld

    In 'Romantic Comedy,' Curtis Sittenfeld flips the gendered tropes · Apr 2023

    0 votes

    Never again
27. —
    Dan Chaon

    Dan Chaon imagines a dystopian, dark future for America in 'Sleepwalk' · Jun 2022

    0 votes

    Never again
28. —
    Daniel Kraus

    Revisiting 'Whalefall,' the underwater thriller from Pulitzer winner Daniel Kraus · 2 episodes

    0 votes

    Never again
29. —
    Emma Pattee

    Emma Pattee's 'Tilt' imagines the aftermath of a life-changing earthquake · Apr 2025

    0 votes

    Never again
30. —
    Emma Straub

    For her new novel about boy bands, Emma Straub took a page from New Kids on the Block · 5 episodes

    0 votes

    Never again
31. —
    Hal Ebbott

    With novel 'Among Friends,' Hal Ebbott says he wanted to take friendship seriously · Jul 2025

    0 votes

    Never again
32. —
    Hala Alyan

    In her new memoir, Hala Alyan searches for home amid a family history of exile · Jul 2025

    0 votes

    Never again
33. —
    Hanya Yanagihara

    Hanya Yanagihara grapples with pandemics in 'To Paradise' · 2 episodes

    0 votes

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34. —
    Hernan Diaz

    The illusion and power of money in Hernan Diaz's 'Trust' · May 2022

    0 votes

    Never again
35. —
    Honor Jones

    Honor Jones' 'Sleep' explores how our childhoods influence who we are as parents · May 2025

    0 votes

    Never again
36. —
    J. Ryan Stradal

    J. Ryan Stradal's new novel pays homage to the supper clubs of the upper Midwest · Jun 2023

    0 votes

    Never again
37. —
    Jade Chang

    Author Jade Chang on the books she's reading to keep summer going · Sep 2026

    0 votes

    Never again
38. —
    Jaleel White

    In 'Growing Up Urkel,' actor Jaleel White reflects on a career-defining role · Nov 2024

    0 votes

    Never again
39. —
    Jeannie Vanasco

    In her new memoir, Jeannie Vanasco gets 'A Silent Treatment' from her mom · Oct 2025

    0 votes

    Never again
40. —
    Joy Harjo

    In 'Poet Warrior', Joy Harjo uses poetry to deal with pain and heal · 4 episodes

    0 votes

    Never again