NPR's Book of the Day

Today's episode is all about two books that find parallels across long stretches of time. First, an interview with Barbara Kingsolver and former NPR host Lulu Garcia-Navarro about Kingsolver's novel Unsheltered, which finds striking similarities between an 18th century "utopian" community and 2016 America. Then, NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Daniel Mason about his new novel North Woods, which follows the inhabitants of a plot of land across hundreds of years. 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

Guest Omekongo Dibinga, author of 'Lies About Black People,' debunks harmful stereotypes from the welfare queen myth to the contributions of Black individuals in history. Dibinga emphasizes the need for both white and Black readers to relearn this history. The podcast explores the distorted narrative of Linda Taylor, the consequences of perpetuating stereotypes, inequality in education, and inspiring stories of personal change.

After climate change has wreaked havoc on the planet – and its flora and fauna – delicious dinners are a memory of the past. But in C Pam Zhang's new novel, Land of Milk and Honey, a struggling chef looking for a job finds herself in an elite corner of the world where eating is about more than survival. In today's episode, Zhang tells NPR's Ailsa Chang how being a picky eater ultimately led her to relish in writing about food, and how desire, privilege and pleasure take on different meanings for her chef protagonist.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

The Big Myth, a new book co-written by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway, details the rise of free market capitalism in the 19th century and its long-lasting impact on American democracy. In today's episode, Oreskes speaks with Here & Now's Scott Tong about how Little House on the Prairie, union busting, and Ronald Reagan all played a role in diminishing government regulation – and how the effects of that policy and pop culture campaign can still be seen in today's housing crisis and COVID-19 response.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

Nathan Hill's novel Wellness starts with a blossoming romance between two artists in Chicago's underground scene. Twenty years later, they're married, raising a kid, and running into all sorts of conflict, within themselves and with one another. In today's episode, Hill speaks with Here & Now's Robin Young about how love and partnership changes over time, and how the start of the book – which he wrote two decades ago – felt much different when he reapproached it in his 40s. 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

Authors Susan Kuklin and Maia Kobabe discuss their books on gender identity, which have faced challenges in schools. They delve into the controversies surrounding banned books like Gender Queer and Beyond Magenta, highlighting inspiring narratives. The podcast explores the experiences of transgender youth and the transformation of a mother's acceptance. It also addresses the challenges of writing about personal experiences and the impact of a controversial book on gender identity in adolescence.

Author and cartoonist Art Spiegelman is familiar with the hysteria surrounding certain library books. In today's episode, he tells NPR's Scott Simon about how comic book burnings during his childhood in the 1950s weren't all that different from book bans taking place across the country today. Spiegelman says that though they tackled difficult subjects, he found then – and continues to find today – great emotional power in comics, such as his reissued collection Breakdowns. And he says he's felt deeply unsettled by the ongoing challenges against these kinds of books. 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

Author George M. Johnson says they knew their memoir, All Boys Aren't Blue, would be challenged by school boards – but they didn't realize just how much controversy it would stir up. The memoir explores Johnson's upbringing as a queer young person of color in New Jersey and Virginia. In today's episode, they tell NPR's Leila Fadel that despite all the pushback the book has received, it's been overwhelmingly gratifying to see how much it's helped teachers, librarians, parents...and especially the students themselves. 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

Jerry Craft, author of 'New Kid', talks about the challenges his graphic novel faced in Texas and his commitment to telling coming-of-age stories for Black kids. They discuss stereotypes, code switching, and the impact of racial biases on self-esteem. The author reflects on the banning of 'New Kid' and the importance of embracing representation, refusing to censor their work.

Ashley Hope Pérez, author of 'Out of Darkness', discusses how book bans targeting authors of color are hindering efforts to diversify children's literature. She explores the controversy surrounding the novel and addresses the issue of book banning, questioning the appropriateness of banning literature about race and identity for teenagers. Pérez also discusses her motivation for writing books for students and the impact of book bans on authors of color.