The 8 Best NPR's Book of the Day Podcast Episodes
1) 'Soil' weaves together a poet's experience of gardening, race and community
For poet Camille Dungy, environmental justice, community interdependence and political engagement go hand in hand. She explores those relationships in her new book, Soil: The Story of a Black Mother's...Show More
2) Poet Ocean Vuong shares his grief in 'Time Is A Mother'
Ocean Vuong's new collection, Time Is A Mother, is about his grief after losing family members. Vuong told Morning Edition's Rachel Martin that time is different now that he has lost his mother: "when...Show More
3) Two authors write about the importance of mental health and accessing feelings
The two books featured in this episode focus on accessing feelings and mental health. First is a book of essays by spoken word artist, Bassey Ikpi. Ikpi tells Scott Simon that her book I'm Telling the...Show More
4) 'Sorry, Sorry, Sorry' believes in the power of a good apology
Saying sorry can be really difficult sometimes – it requires a certain amount of accountability, reflection and empathy. But that's precisely why it can go so far in a familial, romantic or profession...Show More
5) 'The Door of No Return' is a story for children about slavery
Kwame Alexander's new novel aimed at teens, The Door of No Return, focuses on the history of slavery. It follows a boy growing up in Ghana in 1860, and it aims to help readers understand the wholeness...Show More
6) Revisiting ‘Their Eyes Were Watching God’
Janie Crawford – back in her hometown of Eatonville, Florida – recounts a journey of self-discovery, structured around three marriages. Their Eyes Were Watching God is Zora Neale Hurston’s most celebr...Show More
7) Two books trace enslaved people's journey to freedom in the 19th century
Today's episode features two books examining the sacrifices made by enslaved people in the U.S. First, NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with author Ilyan Woo about Master, Slave, Husband, Wife. It's a true ...Show More
Two books trace enslaved people's journey to freedom in the 19th century
16:55 | Jan 27th, 2023
1 recommendation
8) Putin's use of Nazi rhetoric is not new according to historian Timothy Snyder
Russian President Vladimir Putin has framed his recent invasion of Ukraine as a "de-nazification" of the country. This is not a new move by Putin. In fact, he used this same rhetoric to attack the Ukr...Show More
9) 'This is Where the Serpent Lives' is a sprawling debut novel set in modern Pakistan
Author Daniyal Mueenuddin has hit the ground running with his debut novel, This is Where the Serpent Lives. Set in modern Pakistan, the story spans generations and explores class, corruption, and crim...Show More
10) 'Body Beautiful' and 'My One-of-a-Kind Body' aim to cultivate kids’ body positivity
Body image can be a tricky subject to navigate for those of all ages – including kids. In today’s episode, we’re highlighting two kids’ books that encourage body positivity and spark curiosity about o...Show More