NPR's Book of the Day

During World War II, as American publishers sought ways to support the troops abroad, they began printing small, pocket-sized books that soldiers could fit anywhere. In When Books Went to War, Molly Guptill Manning tells the story of these little printed editions and how they served as a way of entertainment for soldiers looking for an escape from war. In an interview with Morning Edition, Guptill Manning told Renee Montagne about how reading helped soldiers feel like they were home.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Contrary to how it might feel when we're just seeing them through screens, celebrities, too, deal with very common human problems: disease, mental health concerns, complicated relationships. Today, we bring you two celebrity memoirs that show journeys in the spotlight and the human side of fame. First, Selma Blair talks about her memoir Mean Baby, in which she recounts her battles with addiction, multiple sclerosis, and more. Then, Jennifer Lewis talks about becoming The Mother of Black Hollywood – also the title of her book – and how performing ultimately masked her bipolar disorder.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In a frightening new horror novel, a young woman reunites with her cousin after escaping from a motherhood cult. In Just Like Mother, Anne Heltzel explores many different perspectives on motherhood, from unquestioning desire to ambivalence and fear. In an interview on Weekend Edition Sunday, Heltzel told Ayesha Roscoe about how she was able to 'spread her wings in the horror genre,' and that she hopes the novel will convey a need for questioning an experience often forced onto women.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Most people know George Floyd through how he died, not how he lived. His Name is George Floyd, a new biography by journalists Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa, is trying to change that. Through his diary, interviews with family and friends, and research, Samuels and Olorunnipa paint a picture of who Floyd was as a man, without shying away from his imperfections. In an interview on All Things Considered, the two journalists told Adrian Florido that they hope readers understand the institutional hardships and barriers behind Floyd's story.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The leak of the Supreme Court draft opinion on Roe v. Wade earlier this month has reignited debates about the power and reach of the highest court in the country. In his new book, Our Unfinished March, former Attorney General Eric Holder argues in favor of reforms, such as term limits and streamlining appointments, that he says would protect minorities. In an interview with Michel Martin on All Things Considered, Holder talks about how citizens can also take part by being active and engaged in politics locally.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

If you could go back in time to when you were 16 years old, what would you change? This question is at the heart of Emma Straub's new novel, This Time Tomorrow, a story about a father-daughter relationship that gives readers a more intimate and personal exploration of time travel. In an interview with All Things Considered, Straub told Mary Louise Kelly that she wrote the novel in 2020 as a way to escape from feeling trapped in quarantine and that, in many ways,the story turned out to be autobiographical.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

It's estimated that more than 1 million Uyghur Muslims have been detained in camps in China, where they may be subjected to forced labor, sexual violence, torture, and religious restrictions. Today, we explore two nonfiction books that help understand the crisis. First, Geoffrey Cain speaks to Scott Tong on Here and Now about his book The Perfect Police State, an overview of the surveillance technology China is employing to monitor Uyghurs. Then, Nury Turkel speaks to Ayesha Roscoe on Weekend Edition Sunday about his book No Escape, an investigation into these torture camps and the life of Uyghur refugees.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Just like every person has a story, every recipe has a memory. For famous chef Rick Martínez, those memories often come from his time in Mexico, where he traveled through the country's 32 states stepping into kitchens, houses, and markets learning from locals how to make true, authentic Mexican food. For Morning Edition, Martinez invited Rachel Martin into his kitchen, where they cooked Salsa de Chipotle and Chile de Árbol together as they spoke about reclaiming identity and heritage through food.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Can humans and sea creatures communicate? In Shelby Van Pelt's first novel, Remarkably Bright Creatures, they sure can –and they do. The story centers around an octopus in captivity and his relationship to Tova, a grieving 70-year-old woman who cleans the aquarium at night. In an interview with All Things Considered, Van Pelt told Adrian Florido that the idea came to her while thinking about the frustration animals must feel in captivity and the thoughts that might be running through their heads. But it's not only a story about freedom (or lack thereof), it's also a story about heartache, loss, and unexpected friendship.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Two teenagers in love, in a whole lot of trouble, and on a road trip across the country. It's the plot of Bud Smith's novel Teenager, a Bonnie and Clyde-type story that blends romance, crime, and adventure to explore the complexities of adolescent love and juvenile crime. In an interview with Scott Simon on Weekend Edition, Smith said he wanted readers to not only get to know the characters profoundly, but also feel relief from seeing how a partner can help us get through any kind of adversity.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy