NPR's Book of the Day

Hernan Diaz’s new book, Ply, takes place in a future where institutions have fallen apart. It appears to be a book about systems and community, but turns out to be one about the self. Ply’s protagonist is a “pincher,” someone who steals electricity from the grid to sell on the black market – and this work leads her to an invention with the potential to drastically alter her reality. In today’s episode, Diaz joins NPR’s Elissa Nadworny for a discussion about understanding the United States through technology, the phenomenon of rewilding and how he ended up writing a story about selfhood.

Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.

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

Diana, Princess of Wales, died almost three decades ago, but her legacy and image persist in the public eye. Her brother, Charles Spencer, is out with a new book that paints a personal portrait of her. Swan Song is – in part – a deep dive into Diana’s childhood, including the fact that Spencer believes his sister had undiagnosed learning differences. In today’s episode, the author speaks with All Things Considered’s Scott Detrow about the way early criticism from teachers shaped Diana’s identity, her singular parenting style and Spencer’s vow to care for William and Harry in his sister’s absence.

Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.

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

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear is the author of a new book called Go And Do Likewise: How We Heal A Broken Country. Beshear is a rare Democratic leader in an otherwise majority Republican voting state – and has said he is weighing a presidential run. In his book, Beshear discusses how faith has guided his leadership. He spoke with Morning Edition’s A Martínez about explaining the “why” behind tough political decisions, what this year's midterms mean for the presidential race and why he believes a Democratic governor would be uniquely qualified to lead the country.

Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.

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

John Green is known for his influential young adult fiction like Looking for Alaska, The Fault in Our Stars and Turtles All the Way Down. His new book, Hollywood, Ending, is his first novel for adults. The story takes place during the fictional filming of a new independent movie about Andy Warhol and centers around two young actors. In an interview with Here & Now, Green spoke with Robin Young about selecting Andy Warhol as one of his subjects, what’s lost and gained from engaging with the attention economy and why this is the hardest book he’s ever written.

Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.

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

It’s been more than a decade since Lois Lowry has dealt with the end of the world. Her 1993 YA dystopian novel The Giver became a hugely popular middle school staple. She expanded that universe into a quartet of novels wrapping up with 2012’s Son (her personal favorite of the series). Since then, she’s stayed away from grim futures filled with despotic leaders and authoritarian rules. Until now. Her new book, Building 903 takes place in 2099.

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