Fresh Air
Book Recommendations

Fresh Air

Fresh Air from WHYY, the Peabody Award-winning weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues, is one of public radio's most popular programs. Hosted by Terry Gross and Tonya Mosley, the show features intimate conversations with today's biggest luminaries. Subscribe to Fresh Air Plus! You'll enjoy...

Episodes 879
Books 1,286
Your Blood Never Lies: How to Read a Blood Test for a Longer, Healthier Life Cover

James B. LaValle

Your Blood Never Lies

How to Read a Blood Test for a Longer, Healthier Life

It was highlighted as a new comic novel that satirizes the pharmaceutical industry with a middleaged protagonist. Maureen Corrigan praised its social satire and humor.

"

If so, she recommends a new comic novel by Charles Baxter called Blood Test.

— Episode: What Do Billionaires Like Elon Musk Want...

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Episode: What Do Billionaires Like Elon Musk Want From Trum...

It was highlighted as a new comic novel that satirizes the pharmaceutical industry with a middleaged protagonist. Maureen Corrigan praised its social satire and humor.

"

If so, she recommends a new comic novel by Charles Baxter called Blood Test.

It's a challenging time for social satire.

Blood Test, a new novel by Charles Baxter, perhaps spans divisions because it draws upon a triedandtrue comic predicament.

The entity is the pharmaceutical industry.

In Blood Test, Baxter invites us to laugh at this allAmerican zaniness and to acknowledge some of the pain that fuels it.

The Feast of Love Cover

Charles Baxter

The Feast of Love

It was referenced as Baxter's 2000 novel that was nominated for a National Book Award. The critic linked it to his later work, Blood Test.

"

Going back as far as his 2000 novel, The Feast of Love, which was nominated for a National Book Award, Baxter has wielded wit and satire to entertain and to illuminate harder truths a...

— Episode: What Do Billionaires Like Elon Musk Want...

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Episode: What Do Billionaires Like Elon Musk Want From Trum...

It was referenced as Baxter's 2000 novel that was nominated for a National Book Award. The critic linked it to his later work, Blood Test.

"

Going back as far as his 2000 novel, The Feast of Love, which was nominated for a National Book Award, Baxter has wielded wit and satire to entertain and to illuminate harder truths about the world his characters inhabit.

Watchdogs: Inspectors General and the Battle for Honest and Accountable Government (Miller Center Studies on the Presidency) Cover

Glenn A. Fine

Watchdogs

Inspectors General and the Battle for Honest and Accountable Government (Miller Center Studies on the Presidency)

Glenn Fine discussed his new memoir about the role of inspectors general and how they can improve government accountability. He described the book as an expos of the challenges and importance of oversight.

"

His book is Watch Dogs, Inspectors General and the Battle for Honest and Accountable Government.

— Episode: The Battle For Honest And Accountable Go...

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Episode: The Battle For Honest And Accountable Government

Glenn Fine discussed his new memoir about the role of inspectors general and how they can improve government accountability. He described the book as an expos of the challenges and importance of oversight.

"

His book is Watch Dogs, Inspectors General and the Battle for Honest and Accountable Government.

His new book is Watch Dogs, Inspectors General and the Battle for Honest and Accountable Government.

Glenn Fine's new book is Watchdogs, Inspectors General and the Battle for Honest and Accountable Government.

Clean - Expanded Edition: The Revolutionary Program to Restore the Body's Natural Ability to Heal Itself Cover

Alejandro Junger

Clean - Expanded Edition

The Revolutionary Program to Restore the Body's Natural Ability to Heal Itself

Maureen Corrigan reviewed the novel, noting that it portrays a world far from the tidy reality of a housekeeper's life. The book was described as an intense exploration of class, power, and underlying rot.

"

Her latest novel is called Clean.

— Episode: The Battle For Honest And Accountable Go...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: The Battle For Honest And Accountable Government

Maureen Corrigan reviewed the novel, noting that it portrays a world far from the tidy reality of a housekeeper's life. The book was described as an intense exploration of class, power, and underlying rot.

"

Her latest novel is called Clean.

Our book critic Maureen Corrigan says the world it depicts is anything but.

Clean is an intense novel about class and power and the kind of deep-down rot that lingers despite the most vigorous scrubbing.

The Remainder Cover

Alia Trabucco Zerán

The Remainder

The transcript noted the author's 2015 debut novel, which was a finalist for the International Booker Prize. It highlighted the book's literary recognition.

"

Chilean author Aliyo Tribuco-Zeran's 2015 debut novel, The Remainder, was a finalist for the International Booker Prize.

— Episode: The Battle For Honest And Accountable Go...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: The Battle For Honest And Accountable Government

The transcript noted the author's 2015 debut novel, which was a finalist for the International Booker Prize. It highlighted the book's literary recognition.

"

Chilean author Aliyo Tribuco-Zeran's 2015 debut novel, The Remainder, was a finalist for the International Booker Prize.

When Women Kill Cover

Alia Trabucco Zerán

When Women Kill

The nonfiction work was mentioned as a finalist for the 2023 National Book Critics Circle Award in Criticism, underscoring its critical acclaim.

"

Her nonfiction book, When Women Kill, was a finalist for the 2023 National Book Critics Circle Award in Criticism.

— Episode: The Battle For Honest And Accountable Go...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: The Battle For Honest And Accountable Government

The nonfiction work was mentioned as a finalist for the 2023 National Book Critics Circle Award in Criticism, underscoring its critical acclaim.

"

Her nonfiction book, When Women Kill, was a finalist for the 2023 National Book Critics Circle Award in Criticism.

Dollars for Life: The Anti-Abortion Movement and the Fall of the Republican Establishment Cover

Mary Ziegler

Dollars for Life

The Anti-Abortion Movement and the Fall of the Republican Establishment

Mary Ziegler was identified as the author of this book among her seven works on reproductive law.

"

She is the author of seven books on reproduction, autonomy, and the law, including Dollars for Life, the Anti-Abortion Movement, and the Fall of the Republican Establishment, and Roe,...

— Episode: An Unprecedented Moment For Abortion, IV...

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Episode: An Unprecedented Moment For Abortion, IVF & Fetal...

Mary Ziegler was identified as the author of this book among her seven works on reproductive law.

"

She is the author of seven books on reproduction, autonomy, and the law, including Dollars for Life, the Anti-Abortion Movement, and the Fall of the Republican Establishment, and Roe, the History of a National Obsession.

Roe: The History of a National Obsession Cover

Mary Ziegler

Roe

The History of a National Obsession

Mary Ziegler was listed as the author of this title among her seven books on reproductive topics.

"

She is the author of seven books on reproduction, autonomy, and the law, including Dollars for Life, the Anti-Abortion Movement, and the Fall of the Republican Establishment, and Roe,...

— Episode: An Unprecedented Moment For Abortion, IV...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: An Unprecedented Moment For Abortion, IVF & Fetal...

Mary Ziegler was listed as the author of this title among her seven books on reproductive topics.

"

She is the author of seven books on reproduction, autonomy, and the law, including Dollars for Life, the Anti-Abortion Movement, and the Fall of the Republican Establishment, and Roe, the History of a National Obsession.

Personhood: The New Civil War over Reproduction Cover

Mary Ziegler

Personhood

The New Civil War over Reproduction

Mary Ziegler announced that this upcoming book would be published in April 2025.

"

Her new book, Personhood, the New Civil War over Reproduction, will be published in April of 2025.

— Episode: An Unprecedented Moment For Abortion, IV...

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Episode: An Unprecedented Moment For Abortion, IVF & Fetal...

Mary Ziegler announced that this upcoming book would be published in April 2025.

"

Her new book, Personhood, the New Civil War over Reproduction, will be published in April of 2025.

Annihilation (The Southern Reach Trilogy) Cover

Jeff VanderMeer

Annihilation (The Southern Reach Trilogy)

John Powers reviewed this novel, describing it as Welbeck's final book and noting its themes of mortality and family life.

"

John Powers reviewed Annihilation by Michel Welbeck.

— Episode: An Unprecedented Moment For Abortion, IV...

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Episode: An Unprecedented Moment For Abortion, IVF & Fetal...

John Powers reviewed this novel, describing it as Welbeck's final book and noting its themes of mortality and family life.

"

John Powers reviewed Annihilation by Michel Welbeck.

It's called Annihilation.

Although far from his best, it's a fascinating book tinged by mortality.

Welbeck's major works, atomized, platform, submission, and serotonin, were all worshipped or reviled for their seeming cynicism.

Watch Dogs Tokyo, Volume 1 Cover

Seiichi Shirato

Watch Dogs Tokyo, Volume 1

Glenn Fine's new book was mentioned as his upcoming work titled Watch Dogs.

"

His new book is Watch Dogs.

— Episode: An Unprecedented Moment For Abortion, IV...

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Episode: An Unprecedented Moment For Abortion, IVF & Fetal...

Glenn Fine's new book was mentioned as his upcoming work titled Watch Dogs.

"

His new book is Watch Dogs.

Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear: Poems from Gaza Cover

Mosab Abu Toha

Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear

Poems from Gaza

His first poetry collection had been a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and won several other prizes.

"

His first collection of poems, Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear, was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award in Poetry and won a Palestine Book Award, an American Bo...

— Episode: Palestinian Poet Reflects On A Life Of L...

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Episode: Palestinian Poet Reflects On A Life Of Loss

His first poetry collection had been a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and won several other prizes.

"

His first collection of poems, Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear, was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award in Poetry and won a Palestine Book Award, an American Book Award, and the Derek Walcott Prize for Poetry.

Shred Sisters Cover

Betsy Lerner

Shred Sisters

The novel was praised as incisive and wry, spanning the 1970s1990s and focusing on two sisters in a New Haven family dealing with mental illness. Reviewers highlighted its sharp family dynamics and emotional depth.

"

Shred Sisters is indeed incisive and wry.

— Episode: Riley Keough Helps Mom Lisa Marie Presle...

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Episode: Riley Keough Helps Mom Lisa Marie Presley Emerge F...

The novel was praised as incisive and wry, spanning the 1970s1990s and focusing on two sisters in a New Haven family dealing with mental illness. Reviewers highlighted its sharp family dynamics and emotional depth.

"

Shred Sisters is indeed incisive and wry.

Shred Sisters spans the 1970s through the 1990s and focuses intensely on the relationship between the two Shred Sisters who live with their parents in New Haven, Connecticut.

Because I admired Betsy Lerner's 2016 memoir, The Bridge Ladies, I thought her new debut novel, Shred Sisters, might just be the right choice.

Turns out, I landed on a good book for the wrong reasons.

Shred Sisters is indeed incisive and wry, but given its central subject, an uppermiddleclass Jewish suburban family all but capsized by the mental illness of one of its members, this novel is anything but contained and controlled.

The Bridge Ladies: A Memoir Cover

Betsy Lerner

The Bridge Ladies

A Memoir

The memoir was mentioned as a popular guide for writers and a personal account of joining her mother's bridge club that met weekly for over fifty years.

"

Betsy Lerner has written a popular guide for writers and two memoirs, including The Bridge Ladies about joining her mother's bridge club, which has been meeting weekly for over 50 yea...

— Episode: Riley Keough Helps Mom Lisa Marie Presle...

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Episode: Riley Keough Helps Mom Lisa Marie Presley Emerge F...

The memoir was mentioned as a popular guide for writers and a personal account of joining her mother's bridge club that met weekly for over fifty years.

"

Betsy Lerner has written a popular guide for writers and two memoirs, including The Bridge Ladies about joining her mother's bridge club, which has been meeting weekly for over 50 years.

How Sweet the Sound Cover

Kwame Alexander

How Sweet the Sound

Cissy Houston had authored her autobiography titled How Sweet the Sound, chronicling her life with God and gospel music.

"

At the time, Houston had written her autobiography, How Sweet the Sound, My Life with God and Gospel.

— Episode: Remembering Gospel Singer Cissy Houston...

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Episode: Remembering Gospel Singer Cissy Houston / MLB Lege...

Cissy Houston had authored her autobiography titled How Sweet the Sound, chronicling her life with God and gospel music.

"

At the time, Houston had written her autobiography, How Sweet the Sound, My Life with God and Gospel.

Autocorrect: Stories Cover

Etgar Keret

Autocorrect

Stories

It was described as Keret's latest collection of short stories that will be published in English next May.

"

His latest collection of short stories, Autocorrect, will be published in English next May.

— Episode: Israeli Writer Etgar Keret Reflects On A...

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Episode: Israeli Writer Etgar Keret Reflects On A Year Of W...

It was described as Keret's latest collection of short stories that will be published in English next May.

"

His latest collection of short stories, Autocorrect, will be published in English next May.

His latest collection of short stories, Autocorrect, will be published in English next May.

And his latest book, Autocorrect, will be published in English next May.

His latest book Autocorrect will be published next May.

A few weeks before I published my latest book Autocorrect in Israel,

Disney War Cover

James B. Stewart

Disney War

Jeremy Strong said he had read Disney War, a book about the power struggles involving Michael Ovitz, Michael Eisner, and Jeffrey Katzenberg.

"

And I had read this book called Disney War by James B. Stewart about Ovitz and Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg.

— Episode: Jeremy Strong On Delusion, Dreams and Do...

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Episode: Jeremy Strong On Delusion, Dreams and Doing What I...

Jeremy Strong said he had read Disney War, a book about the power struggles involving Michael Ovitz, Michael Eisner, and Jeffrey Katzenberg.

"

And I had read this book called Disney War by James B. Stewart about Ovitz and Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg.

Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen Cover

Christopher McDougall

Born to Run

A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen

Jeremy Strong described Bruce Springsteen's autobiography as an astonishingly beautiful book that he had recently read, recounting Springsteen's early life in Freehold, New Jersey.

"

But you know, if you read Bruce's autobiography, which I read recently, which is just an astonishingly beautiful book.

— Episode: Jeremy Strong On Delusion, Dreams and Do...

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Episode: Jeremy Strong On Delusion, Dreams and Doing What I...

Jeremy Strong described Bruce Springsteen's autobiography as an astonishingly beautiful book that he had recently read, recounting Springsteen's early life in Freehold, New Jersey.

"

But you know, if you read Bruce's autobiography, which I read recently, which is just an astonishingly beautiful book.

And I think when you read about his early life in Freehold. Freehold, New Jersey. Freehold, New Jersey. And how liberative music was. And it was a way out.

The Dream Songs. by John Berryman (1969-06-05) Cover

John Berryman

The Dream Songs. by John Berryman (1969-06-05)

Jeremy Strong noted that the first season of Succession drew inspiration from John Berryman's Dream Songs.

"

Jesse wrote in the first season from John Berryman's Dream Songs.

— Episode: Jeremy Strong On Delusion, Dreams and Do...

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Episode: Jeremy Strong On Delusion, Dreams and Doing What I...

Jeremy Strong noted that the first season of Succession drew inspiration from John Berryman's Dream Songs.

"

Jesse wrote in the first season from John Berryman's Dream Songs.

Who's on First? Cover

Bud Abbott

Who's on First?

The critic Lloyd Schwartz noted that his newest poetry collection,Who's On First?, had just been released by the University of Chicago Press.

"

Lloyd's latest book is Who's on First? New and Selected Poems. It's published by the University of Chicago Press.

— Episode: Will Ferrell & Harper Steele's Roadtrip...

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Episode: Will Ferrell & Harper Steele's Roadtrip Across Ame...

The critic Lloyd Schwartz noted that his newest poetry collection,Who's On First?, had just been released by the University of Chicago Press.

"

Lloyd's latest book is Who's on First? New and Selected Poems. It's published by the University of Chicago Press.

Note: The book recommendations on this page are discovered automatically from podcast transcripts, and may be incorrect or incomplete.