NPR's Book of the Day

Isabel Wilkerson discusses her book 'Caste' and argues that caste, not racism, caused The Great Migration. She explores the power dynamics of caste and how it shapes society. The podcast touches on the research process for her books and the importance of listening to marginalized voices.

Author David Grann discusses his book 'Killers of the Flower Moon' which recounts the murders of Osage families by white settlers in the 1920s. The story also involves the FBI's first major homicide investigation, revealing a sinister plot to take over oil-rich land in Oklahoma.

Franny Choi discusses the resilience of marginalized communities in poetry. Billy Collins explores the power of very short poems in his collection. They delve into the impact of non-verbal elements and the intensity of emotions conveyed through brevity. They also touch on the challenges of being a poet laureate and the joy of creativity.

Charlayne Hunter-Gault is a trailblazing journalist. The first Black reporter for The New Yorker's "Talk of the Town" section, she's spent more than a half-century reporting on the lives of Black Americans. Her newest book, My People, is a collection of pieces written throughout her career that provide a nuanced look at Black communities across the U.S. In this episode, she speaks to NPR's Michel Martin about how our country's understanding of race has changed since she first began working as a journalist, but how some things – like the bans on books by certain authors – kind of stay the same.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Bora Chung discusses her collection of genre-bending short stories, including one influenced by her own experiences. The podcast explores Korean elements in fairy tales, concerns about technology, autonomy, societal stigma, and the lack of choice and stigma in pregnancy, particularly for single mothers in South Korea.

When Rabia Chaudry's family moved from Pakistan to the U.S., her parents fully embraced the processed foods lining the grocery store aisles. But as the author and attorney got older, she began to associate eating with shame and secrecy. Her new memoir, Fatty Fatty Boom Boom, recounts how her outlook on food changed as she understood her own mom's eating patterns. In this episode, Chaudry tells NPR's Ayesha Rascoe how she eventually started healing – so much so that she reclaimed her childhood nickname for the title of her book.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Barbara Kingsolver, novelist of Demon Copperhead, talks about the consequences of loss, addiction, and poverty in Appalachia. She discusses the stereotypes and challenges faced by the people of Southwest Virginia, the history and resilience of Appalachia, and the transformative power of art and expression.

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