NPR's Book of the Day

In the 19th century, a butcher living in Australia claimed to be the long-lost heir of a British fortune. The Tichborne trial, which sparked much controversy and even more attention in Victorian England, is at the center of Zadie Smith's new novel, The Fraud. In today's episode, the author tells NPR's Mary Louise Kelly how she became captivated by the outrageous lies the man told in court, and how the way his believers still dug their heels and supported him echoes the state of politics in the 21st century.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In Abdulrazak Gurnah's Afterlives, the characters centered in the novel offer different perspectives of ordinary people under German colonization in East Africa. In an interview with NPR's Scott Simon, the author goes into detail about how the "power and attraction of the victor" can lead to the conquered joining the conqueror and the impact it has on one's identity.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Khashayar J. Khabushani discusses his novel I Will Greet the Sun Again, exploring a young Iranian-American boy's experiences under a strict father. Then, Prachi Gupta talks about her memoir and the intersection of racism, patriarchy, and mental health.

Ben Purkert's novel, The Men Can't Be Saved, follows a junior copywriter with a viral tagline for adult diapers. Is it a modern take on Mad Men? Or its very antithesis? Purkert tells NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer how his own days in the advertising industry – at the same time the TV drama starring Jon Hamm had just premiered – shaped his understanding of ego, drive and manhood in the workplace....and how maybe making partner at a firm is more about finding connection than a fancy title, though his protagonist would never admit it out loud.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Abby Stern is very much looking forward to leading a biking trip from NYC to Niagara Falls – until her mom, an old one-night-stand, and some uneasy memories are added to the mix. In Jennifer Weiner's new novel, The Breakaway, that two-week trip becomes filled with tension: sexual, political, and familial. Weiner tells NPR's Juana Summers how different women manage their mothers' expectations, and how she learned to see "almond moms" quite differently while writing this novel.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Adam Parson goes on a morning hike with his son, Eugene, and the boy returns home alone. Eugene is autistic and nonverbal, so he can't explain what happened. This is how Angie Kim sets up Happiness Falls, which chronicles how the Korean-American family tries to make sense of Adam's disappearance. Kim tells NPR's Scott Simon about the complicated relationship between Eugene and his siblings, and why she wanted to emphasize that a lack of verbal communication does not equal a lack of thought and feeling.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Authors Nick Mott and Justin Angle discuss their book 'This is Wildfire', which offers a historical analysis of the role flames have played in human and natural ecosystems. They cover topics such as the culture of fire suppression in the US, the importance of prescribed burns, and the impact of wildfires on communities and environmental justice.

R.F. Kuang talks about writing Yellowface and the intricacies of friendship and cultural appropriation. Joe Ide discusses writing his IQ series from the perspective of a Black protagonist, influenced by his upbringing in South Central LA.

Queer Career explores the history of LGBTQ workers in the U.S., covering topics such as the Lavender Scare, abuse and exploitation faced by outed workers, and the resilience and community found through jobs. Chapters delve into the impact on career ambitions, vulnerability and discrimination, and the experiences in 1960s New York. The book highlights the relevance of understanding this history amidst present-day challenges to LGBTQ rights.

Author Kent Matsumoto and his wife co-write the novel 'Of White Ashes,' a fictionalized love story based on the experiences of his Japanese-American parents during WWII. They discuss honoring family, the legacy of internment camps, crafting a love story amidst painful history, and their own collaboration as co-authors.