NPR's Book of the Day

In 'The Eleventh Hour,' Salman Rushdie writes about morality, revenge and ghosts

Salman Rushdie lived for decades under a death sentence and survived a knife attack three years ago. His latest book The Eleventh Hour is his first work of fiction since

'Nickel and Dimed' and 'The Case for Quitting' reconsider our relationship to work

Today’s episode features two books – one classic and one new – that might lead you to reconsider your relationship to work. Nearly 25 years ago, journalist and activist B

Hernan Diaz on his new novel 'Ply' and understanding America through technology

Hernan Diaz’s new book, Ply, takes place in a future where institutions have fallen apart. It appears to be a book about systems and community, but turns out to be one ab

'Swan Song' sees Princess Diana through her brother’s eyes

Diana, Princess of Wales, died almost three decades ago, but her legacy and image persist in the public eye. Her brother, Charles Spencer, is out with a new book that pai

Gov. Andy Beshear on how the midterms will help him weigh his presidential run

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear is the author of a new book called Go And Do Likewise: How We Heal A Broken Country. Beshear is a rare Democratic leader in an otherwise ma

John Green on 'Hollywood, Ending,' his first novel for adults

John Green is known for his influential young adult fiction like Looking for Alaska, The Fault in Our Stars and Turtles All the Way Down. His new book, Hollywood, Ending,

Lois Lowry on 'Building 903,' 'The Giver' and relationships between the old and young

It’s been more than a decade since Lois Lowry has dealt with the end of the world. Her 1993 YA dystopian novel The Giver became a hugely popular middle school staple. She

In 'Roll the Calls,' Hollywood's Ari Emanuel reflects on the art of agenting

Ari Emanuel is a powerful Hollywood agent who has represented clients including Oprah Winfrey, Martin Scorsese and Vince McMahon. Known for his brash approach to business

A conversation with Tomi Adeyemi on her new novel 'The Siren'

The author Tomi Adeyemi rose to fame with Children of Blood and Bone, the first novel in her popular young adult fantasy series based on the Yoruba religion. That book is

In 'History by a Hair,' DNA offers answers to an old question about Thomas Jefferson

For more than 200 years, one question about the nation's third president has lingered: Did Thomas Jefferson father children with Sally Hemings, a woman 30 years his junio

'Pachinko' author Min Jin Lee says writing 'American Hagwon' transformed her

John and Helen Koh are a middle-class couple living in South Korea with. But when a financial crisis hits, they leave Seoul for Southern California and are faced with a n

A visit with Barbara Kingsolver: We talk 'Partita,' piano, aging and Appalachia

Before she won the Pulitzer for Demon Copperhead, Kingsolver wasn't sure her neighbors knew what she did for a living. Her new novel Partita, about a classical pianist, g

'Profiles in Cowardice' argues leaders failed to push back against President Trump

John F. Kennedy once wrote a book called Profiles in Courage, which highlighted senators throughout history who made unpopular but politically brave decisions. Journalist

In 'Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel,' Lucy Foley continues Agatha Christie's legacy

The Grand Alpine Hotel is majestic, nestled high in the Swiss Alps with snow perfect for skiing. But one morning, a dead body is discovered in one of the gondolas on its

'Redwood' is a true tale of a KGB agent who offered to spy for Britain

Ben Macintyre is a master of espionage stories that are true. His latest project is based on a case study taught in MI6, the British foreign intelligence service. Redwood

'Taipei Story' is a more personal novel from 'Yellowface' author R.F. Kuang

R.F. Kuang, author of popular books like Yellowface and Babel, is out with a more personal novel. Taipei Story follows Lily Chin, a Chinese-American college student who t

'Tropesick' and 'Extracurricular' are romance novels that subvert genre expectations

Two new romance novels subvert expectations about the genre. In Tropesick, Katie and Tyler are old acquaintances who are reunited as writing partners. In today’s episode,

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox on why he’s the 'worst possible spokesperson' for his own book

Utah Republican Gov. Spencer Cox is out with a new book – but he wants to clarify that he’s not running for president (often an assumption when politicians write books).

Emily St. John Mandel's 'Exit Party' opens in the wake of a second American Civil War

Emily St. John Mandel’s new novel opens in the first spring after the collapse of the United States – and her protagonist, Ari, is on her way to a party. Exit Party is se

'Grit' author Angela Duckworth on how changing your situation can lead to success

In her 2016 book Grit, University of Pennsylvania psychologist Angela Duckworth argued that willpower and determination were keys to success. A decade later, her new book