NPR's Book of the Day

A new memoir by historian Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer and brother of Princess Diana, details a difficult childhood marked by alleged physical and sexual abuse at Britain's Maidwell Hall in the 1970s. In today's episode, Spencer tells NPR's Scott Simon how childhood naivete – thinking his parents were all-knowing authorities who must've known about the school's cruelty when they sent him there – prevented him and others from speaking up about what was happening, and why writing A Very Private School felt like an important reclamation of his boyhood. 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/bookoftheday Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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/bookoftheday Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

NPR's Sarah McCammon grew up in the white evangelical church — and though she left the tradition as an adult, she's continued to cover its ties to Trump's politics closely as a journalist. Her new book, The Exvangelicals, chronicles why so many people like herself have removed themselves from evangelicalism. In today's episode, she speaks with NPR's Ayesha Rascoe about the different breaking points she heard from other defectors — from COVID to racial justice — and why a decline in people who identify as evangelical might actually explain the group's rising political profile. 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/bookoftheday Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Percival Everett discusses his new book 'James,' a retelling of 'Huckleberry Finn' from the perspective of the enslaved character, Jim. He shares his unique approach, humor, and exploration of language in an oppressive context. The podcast also touches on controversy surrounding classic literature and the importance of authenticity in representation.

Artist Tessa Hulls explores her family's Chinese history, generational trauma, and healing in her graphic memoir 'Feeding Ghosts'. Delve into the hardships faced during the Communist Revolution and the transformative power of confronting the past.

Eight young women are competing at the 12th Annual Women's 18 and Under Daughters of America Cup, a boxing competition at the heart of Headshot. Each girl has her reasons for fighting her way to this ring in Reno, Las Vegas — and Rita Bullwinkel's debut novel is a searing look inside the mental and physical state of her protagonists. In today's episode, the author speaks with NPR's Scott Simon about how her own childhood as a polo player informed her writing, and why she chose to follow her characters way beyond their time in the ring. 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/bookofthedayLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Christine Blasey Ford says the time leading up to her 2018 testimony in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee – and its aftermath – is a lot like surfing, venturing out into unknown waters. Her new memoir, One Way Back, recounts her experience coming forward with an accusation that Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her in the 1980s. In today's episode, Blasey Ford speaks with NPR's Michel Martin about why she originally wanted to avoid being in the public spotlight, but why she felt it was her civic duty to inform the country about what she'd gone through. 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/bookoftheday Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Political thriller novel '2054' explores a future US facing civil war, misinformation, and AI. Authors discuss technology's impact on society, resilience of American institutions, and the inevitability of destruction in progress.

Retired journalists Marty Baron and Peter Breslow share their career reflections in memoirs. Baron discusses media in presidential elections, while Breslow recounts adventures in China and Afghanistan. Topics include journalism challenges, media integrity, and dangers faced by radio producers in hazardous environments.

Translators embark on a competitive search for missing author Irena Rey in a Polish forest. The challenges of language, culture, and identity in translation are explored. Translator rivalry and power dynamics unfold alongside conservation issues in the Bialowieza Forest. Parenthood's impact on manuscript completion is discussed, highlighting the themes of 'The Extinction of Irena Rey.'