Podcast: Book Riot

Jeff and Rebecca talk about the week's book news, from Trump flimsy lawsuit against PRH and The New York Times (and why it matters, flimsy as it is), break down a couple of award lists, do some Jefftionary entries, and more.

Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Ready for a cozy, bookish autumn? Let Tailored Book Recommendations help you find your next favorite read with handpicked suggestions from professional book nerds. Get started today from just $18!

The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network.

Discussed in this episode:

Check out Zero to Well-Read!

Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life.

The National Book Awards fiction longlist is here

Finalists for the 2025 Barnes & Noble Discover Prize

Trump sues NYT and PRH

How “actual malice” works in defamation

Scholastic launches streaming service

Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arudhati Roy

Baldwin: A Love Story by Nicholas Boggs

The Ten Year Affair by Erin Somers
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff, Rebecca, and Vanessa gather in a secret chamber to discuss the wonderfully absurd mysteries of Dan Brown's latest, The Secret of Secrets.

Check out Zero to Well-Read!

Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life.

Ready for a cozy, bookish autumn? Let Tailored Book Recommendations help you find your next favorite read with handpicked suggestions from professional book nerds. Get started today from just $18!

This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Book Riot's managing editor Vanessa Diaz joins Rebecca for a discussion about the National Book Awards longlists, authors' big settlement from Anthropic, and exciting adaptation news. Then, Vanessa takes Rebecca on a journey down the literary rabbit hole.

Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life.

Ready for a cozy, bookish autumn? Let Tailored Book Recommendations help you find your next favorite read with handpicked suggestions from professional book nerds. Get started today from just $18!

Discussed in this Episode:

Anthropic agrees to pay $1.5 billion to settle book piracy lawsuit, but the judge has delayed it, citing concerns

2025 National Book Awards longlists are rolling out

Audition is being adapted

Annotated episode: The Original Gone Girl

Agatha Christie: A Mysterious Life by Laura Thompson

Ruth by Kate Riley

The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy

Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman

The Macabre by Kosoko Jackson

This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca introduce their new podcast, Zero to Well-Read, with its inaugural episode about The Great Gatsby. We dig into what makes Gatsby a classic, why it’s all over high school reading lists, and the ways it still echoes in our culture.

This season of Zero to Well-Read is presented by Thriftbooks.

Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to help you get the most out of your reading life.

Email us: zerotowellread@bookriot.com

The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca announce a couple of new projects before talking about authors settling with Anthropic, Obama's summer reading list, the Kirkus Prize nominees, B&N buying Books Inc, and more of the week's book stories.

Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life and follow the show on Instagram and Bluesky.

Ready for a cozy, bookish autumn? Let Tailored Book Recommendations help you find your next favorite read with handpicked suggestions from professional book nerds. Get started today from just $18!

Discussed in this Episode:

The Book Riot Podcast Patreon

Subscribe to Zero to Well-Read

Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter

Barnes & Noble to acquire Books, Inc

Anthropic settles in AI copyright infringement case over book piracy

Jonathan Karp steps down as Simon & Schuster CEO to run new imprint

2025 Kirkus Prize finalists (note the Nov 1-October 31 eligibility window, can we please stop)

Obama’s summer reading picks
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca crown the It Book of September 2025.

Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Sign up for the Book Riot Podcast Newsletter and follow the show on Instagram and Bluesky.

Get more industry news with our Today in Books daily newsletter.

Ready for a cozy, bookish autumn? Let Tailored Book Recommendations help you find your next favorite read with handpicked suggestions from professional book nerds. Get started today from just $18!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is a bonus preview of our Patreon-only episode: Deals Deals Deals for August 2025, in which Jeff presents interesting book deals for Rebecca's consideration.

To listen to the full episode and all previous bonus content, become a Patreon member here.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff, Rebecca, and Vanessa talk about Katabasis by R.F. Kuang. Spoiler-free discussion for the first bit, with warning when we wade into deeper plot waters.

Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Sign up for the Book Riot Podcast Newsletter and follow the show on Instagram and Bluesky.

Get more industry news with our Today in Books daily newsletter.

Ready for a cozy, bookish autumn? Let Tailored Book Recommendations help you find your next favorite read with handpicked suggestions from professional book nerds. Get started today from just $18!

Use code BOOKRIOT to get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan at https://incogni.com/bookriot

This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca talk about a big new survey of American reading habits, the Polari Prize closing up shop for the year, Katabasis getting an adaptation, ghost-written vanity memoirs, and more.

Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Sign up for the Book Riot Podcast Newsletter and follow the show on Instagram and Bluesky.

Get more industry news with our Today in Books daily newsletter.

Ready for a cozy, bookish autumn? Let Tailored Book Recommendations help you find your next favorite read with handpicked suggestions from professional book nerds. Get started today from just $18!

Use code BOOKRIOT to get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan at https://incogni.com/bookriot

The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network.

This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Discussed in this episode:

Update: Polari Prizes canceled in response to protest

Katabasis set for TV adaptation

Study shows 40% decline in Americans who read for pleasure 2004-2023

BookTok is boosting sales at romance bookstores

Wealthy retirees are commissioning ghost-written memoirs

Church Camp by Cara Meredith

Katabasis by R.F. Kuang

Abundance by Klein and Thompson

Endling by Maria Reva
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca preview a huge season of literary adaptations.

Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Sign up for the Book Riot Podcast Newsletter and follow the show on Instagram and Bluesky.

Get more industry news with our Today in Books daily newsletter.

Book Riot is hiring a digital content specialist! If you love books and know the ins and outs of social media strategy, and especially social video, consider joining the team. Find details and apply by August 22, 2025, at riotnewmedia.com/careers.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An encouraging court win, thoughts on book reviews, direct to Kanopy films, and more of the week's book news.

Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Sign up for the Book Riot Podcast Newsletter and follow the show on Instagram and Bluesky.

Get more industry news with our Today in Books daily newsletter.

Book Riot is hiring a digital content specialist! If you love books and know the ins and outs of social media strategy, and especially social video, consider joining the team. Find details and apply by August 22, 2025, at riotnewmedia.com/careers.

This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Discussed in this episode:

Judge strikes down much of Florida’s book banning bill

Associated Press to end weekly book reviews

Charlie Kaufman’s new short film will be distributed by Kanopy

Authors withdraw from consideration

for queer book prize in protest of John Boyne’s inclusion

Emerald Fennell’s new Jane Eyre adaptation sounds wild

People Like Us by Jason Mott

It's Only Drowning by David Litt

Great Black Hope by Rob Franklin
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca process some public comments about the idea of being "well-read," a big influencer book club, a study on the gender of animals in kids books, and more book news of the week.

Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Sign up for the Book Riot Podcast Newsletter and follow the show on Instagram and Bluesky.

Get more industry news with our Today in Books daily newsletter.

Book Riot is hiring a digital content specialist! If you love books and know the ins and outs of social media strategy, and especially social video, consider joining the team. Find details and apply by August 22, 2025, at riotnewmedia.com/careers.

Use code BOOKRIOT to get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan at https://incogni.com/bookriot

This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Discussed in this episode:

BookTok celeb Jack Edwards launches Inklings book club to “elevate” online reading culture

Obamas’ production company picks up All the Sinners Bleed

National Association of Black Bookstores launches

Study shows gender bias in animal characters in children’s books

Frontlist Foyer, brought to you by Thriftbooks:

The Book of Alchemy

Clam Down by Anelise Chen

How to Be a Living Thing by Mari Andrew
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca break down the 2025 longlist for the Booker Prize, digest the news of a new book from Kamala Harris, lament the demise of class (behavior, not socio-economic status), and much more.

Jeff and Rebecca decide what the It Book of August will be.

Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Sign up for the Book Riot Podcast Newsletter and follow the show on Instagram and Bluesky.

Get more industry news with our Today in Books daily newsletter.

Book Riot is hiring a digital content specialist! If you love books and know the ins and outs of social media strategy, and especially social video, consider joining the team. Find details and apply by August 22, 2025, at riotnewmedia.com/careers.

Use code BOOKRIOT to get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan at https://incogni.com/bookriot

This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Discussed in this episode:

Kamala Harris to publish memoir about presidential race in September

The 2025 Booker Prize longlist

And a possible conflict of interest on the Booker panel

We’re getting a new George Saunders novel in January

Maggie by Katie Yee

The Carpool Detectives by Chuck Hogan

Everyone is Lying to You by Jo Piazza

The Feather Detective by Chris Sweeney

The Brain at Rest by Joseph Jebelli
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca decide what the It Book of August will be.

Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Sign up for the Book Riot Podcast Newsletter and follow the show on Instagram and Bluesky.

Get more industry news with our Today in Books daily newsletter.

Looking to elevate your reading life? Tailored Book Recommendations delivers reading recommendations hand-picked just for you by real human book nerds. Plans start at just $18!

Discussed in this episode:

We are hiring.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vanessa Diaz joins Jeff as he workshops a couple of takes, before they dive into IMAX scalping, way early award longlists, and more of the week's book news.

Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Sign up for the Book Riot Podcast Newsletter and follow the show on Instagram and Bluesky.

Get more industry news with our Today in Books daily newsletter.

Looking to elevate your reading life? Tailored Book Recommendations delivers reading recommendations hand-picked just for you by real human book nerds. Plans start at just $18!

The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network.

This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Discussed in this Episode:

The Odyssey IMAX Showtimes Sell Out Instantly as Scalpers List Resales Higher Than $200

The Center For Fiction Releases the Longlist for 2025 First Fiction Prize in July, because sure

The Book Industry Study Group conducting survey on how AI is changing publishing

Spotify expanding audiobooks plans, language is confusing

Audiobook walking clubs?

Deep Historical Survey on Gender Split of Who Writes Fiction

The Bewitching by Silvia Morreno-Garcia

Salt Bones by Jennifer Givhan

Algospeak by Adam Aleksic

Vera, or Faith by Gary Shteyngart
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's as far back as we go with these historical rankings--30 years to 1995. Strange year, that sees Jeff pick a single copy of an individual book in his top 10. Christian dystopias, fairy tale retellings, genre-changing memoirs: there are spots for all of them in our top 10s.

Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Sign up for the Book Riot Podcast Newsletter and follow the show on Instagram and Bluesky.

Get more industry news with our Today in Books daily newsletter.

Looking to elevate your reading life? Tailored Book Recommendations delivers reading recommendations hand-picked just for you by real human book nerds. Plans start at just $18!

The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca talk about a bunch of mid-year lists: best-ofs, best-selllers, and more. Then Erica Ezeifedi talks to Rodney Freeman, former librarian and producer of the documentary Are You a Librarian, about the rich & overlooked history of Black librarianship in the US.

Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Sign up for the Book Riot Podcast Newsletter and follow the show on Instagram and Bluesky.

Get more industry news with our Today in Books daily newsletter.

Looking to elevate your reading life? Tailored Book Recommendations delivers reading recommendations hand-picked just for you by real human book nerds. Plans start at just $18!

The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network.

Discussed in this episode:

Book Riot’s best books of 2025 so far

The top 10 bestselling books of the year so far

Bookshop’s bestsellers of the year so far

Constance Grady explores whether there actually is a crisis with kids’ reading

Sarah J. Maas has completed the first draft of the 6th ACOTAR book
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca try to answer the fun but impossible question of what are the top 10 books someone might read first on their path to becoming well-read. This was originally a Patreon-only members post. To get more like this, subscribe to the Book Riot podcast Patreon.

Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Sign up for the Book Riot Podcast Newsletter and follow the show on Instagram and Bluesky.

Get more industry news with our Today in Books daily newsletter.

Looking to elevate your reading life? Tailored Book Recommendations delivers reading recommendations hand-picked just for you by real human book nerds. Plans start at just $18!

The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca are joined by Book Riot's Managing Editor Vanessa Diaz and Powell's Book Buyer Keith Mosman to talk about their favorite books of the year so far.

Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Sign up for the Book Riot Podcast Newsletter and follow the show on Instagram and Bluesky.

Get more industry news with our Today in Books daily newsletter.

Looking to elevate your reading life? Tailored Book Recommendations delivers reading recommendations hand-picked just for you by real human book nerds. Plans start at just $18!

The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca answer listener questions.

Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Sign up for the Book Riot Podcast Newsletter and follow the show on Instagram and Bluesky.

Get more industry news with our Today in Books daily newsletter.

Looking to elevate your reading life? Tailored Book Recommendations delivers reading recommendations hand-picked just for you by real human book nerds. Plans start at just $18!

The
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices