NPR's Book of the Day

Jeannie Vanasco, a memoirist and author known for her insightful reflections on family dynamics, delves into her relationship with her mother in her memoir, *A Silent Treatment*. She shares how her mother's silent treatment, sometimes lasting up to six months, affected their bond. Jeannie discusses the anxiety of not knowing triggers for this silence and how it shaped her empathy. She also explores her mother’s traumatic past and how they ultimately learned to communicate better, highlighting the complexities of love and emotional coping.

Souvankham Thammavongsa, an acclaimed Canadian writer and debut novelist, shares insights from her new book, which unfolds over a single day in a nail salon. She explores Ning, the salon manager with a boxing background, drawing parallels between prizefighting and salon work. Thammavongsa discusses the loneliness of salon workers, often overlooked and unheard, and reflects on her own roots as a child born in a refugee camp. The conversation touches on the contrast between knowledge and intelligence, revealing deep truths about resilience and human connection.

Join hosts as they explore timeless books that have shaped culture and personal lives. They revisit classics like *Pride and Prejudice*, highlighting its humor and relevance today. Hear reflections on *The Joy Luck Club* and its insights into parental relationships. Dive into the impact of literature on film and TV adaptations. Discover how Anne Rice reinvented vampires into complex characters. It’s a celebration of both beloved works and their enduring significance.

Two unique mystery novels take center stage, each with surprising twists. In one, a trivia team’s success leads to suspicion and a body found in a river, explored through emails and messages. The author delves into quiz culture and the challenges of storytelling through short-form communication. Meanwhile, the other novel reveals the murderer upfront, unraveling the motives of a couple as their relationship deteriorates. Themes of secrets and guilt take center stage in this reverse chronology, offering a fresh perspective on crime and love.

Over the past 20 years, the number of college applications filed to top schools has exploded. And while many American colleges accept most applicants, some parents and students hold tightly to the idea that prestige matters. In his new book Dream School: Finding the College That’s Right For You, journalist and higher education expert Jeff Selingo argues elite schools aren’t always the best. In today’s episode, Selingo speaks with NPR’s Michel Martin about why he wants to give parents permission to think more broadly about higher education. To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookofthedayTo manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

In Patricia Lockwood’s latest novel, the protagonist is an author named Patricia. Will There Ever Be Another You documents a four-year period of disorientation, disassociation and confusion after Patricia becomes severely ill. The story is based on Lockwood’s own experience with brain fog and other symptoms after becoming sick with Covid-19 in March 2020. In today’s episode, the real-life author talks with NPR’s Ari Shapiro about embodying confusion as she wrote about it.To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookofthedayTo manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Cemeteries are not everyone’s idea of fun, but they’re a source of fascination for author Mariana Enriquez. Her new nonfiction book Somebody Is Walking on Your Grave is a collection of personal short stories she gathered while traveling to final resting places across four continents. In today’s episode, the author joins NPR’s Ayesha Rascoe for a conversation about her past as a goth, the connection between graves and Argentina’s dictatorship, and where Enriquez would like to be buried.To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookofthedayTo manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Three years ago, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman named Mahsa Jina Amini was fatally beaten by Iran’s morality police. She’d been arrested for not following the Islamic Republic’s dress code. Her death sparked the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement, one of the largest uprisings in Iran in decades. Journalists Fatemeh Jamalpour and Nilo Tabrizy tell this story in their new book For the Sun After Long Nights: The Story of Iran's Women-Led Uprising. In today’s episode, Jamalpour speaks with Here & Now’s Jane Clayson about the movement and Iran’s future.To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookofthedayTo manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Two new history books make a strong case for why learning about the past is critical to understanding the world today. First, History Matters is a posthumous collection of writings by American historian David McCullough. In today’s episode, co-editor Dorie McCullough Lawson and historian Jon Meacham tell NPR’s Scott Simon about McCullough’s endless curiosity. Then, in Midnight on the Potomac, Scott Ellsworth explores little-known corners of Civil War history. In today’s episode, he speaks with Here & Now’s Sarah McCammon about long-held myths about the period.To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Lizzie Moult, a Scottish therapist and author, dives into the pitfalls of people-pleasing in her new book, F*** Approval, You Don’t Need It. She discusses how childhood experiences shape people-pleasing behaviors and highlights signs like overworking and suppressing true feelings. Moult shares her personal wake-up call and reveals the mental health impacts of always seeking approval. She offers practical tips to break free, emphasizing mindfulness and setting boundaries to reclaim confidence and identity.