I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Maya Angelou
Mentioned 5 months ago
NPR News: 02-08-2026 8AM EST
The latest news in five minutes. Updated hourly. Support NPR's reporting by subscribing to NPR News Now+ and unlock sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org/newsnow
Recently mentioned
The hosts noted that the animated film Dogman had topped the box office and mentioned that it was adapted from a graphic novel. They highlighted the film's financial performance and its source material, but did not evaluate the book itself.
The hosts noted that the animated film "Dogman" was topping the box office and that it was based on a graphic novel.
At the weekend box office, DreamWorks Animation's DOGMAN took the top spot with an estimated $13 million in ticket sales. With a production budget of $40 million, the film, based on a graphic novel, has already taken in $54 million domestically in the two weeks it's been in theaters.
The film Dogman's strong boxoffice performance was highlighted, and it was noted that the movie was adapted from a graphic novel.
That film was based on a graphic novel, and it's already taken in $54 million domestically in the two weeks it's been in theaters.
The book was highlighted as one of Tom Robbins' most famous works, with the hosts noting he was best known for it and that it had dazzled millions of readers. The mention was brief, serving to illustrate his impact rather than to recommend it directly.
It was noted that Tom Robbins was best known for this novel.
The acclaimed author was best known for books such as Jitterbug Perfume and Even Cowgirls Get the Blues.
The program noted that Tom Robbins had dazzled millions of readers with this novel.
Robbins dazzled millions of readers with novels such as Jitterbug Perfume and even Cowgirls Get the Blues.
Changing Places; Small World; Nice Work
The title was highlighted as David Lodge's best‑known work, a satirical novel set in a fictional university. Chloe Veltman noted that two of its installments had been shortlisted for the Booker Prize and adapted for television in the late 1980s, underscoring its literary and cultural significance. The overall tone was enthusiastic about its reputation.
It was highlighted as David Lodge's bestknown work, a satirical novel set in a fictional university.
David Lodge was best known for Campus Trilogy, his satirical novel set to fictional university.
It was mentioned as one of the two books from David Lodge's Campus Trilogy that had been shortlisted for the Booker Prize and adapted for television in the late 1980s.
Two of the books, Small World and Nice Work, were shortlisted for the Booker Prize and adapted for television in the late 1980s.
A Novel (Booker Prize Winner)
The podcast highlighted that the novel had won the Booker Prize, noting it was the first space‑set work to receive the award. It described the story as following a single day in the lives of six astronauts aboard a space station and praised its grounded, realistic portrayal of space. The discussion conveyed strong approval of the title.
The novel was noted for winning the Booker Prize, being the first spaceset book to do so, and follows a single day in the lives of six astronauts on a space station.
The Samantha Harvey novel Orbital has won this year's Booker Prize.
Orbital follows a single day in the life of six astronauts. Orbital is set in a space station going around the Earth.
According to the Booker Prize announcement, the novel is the first book set in space to win the award.
The book came out in December 2023, and when it was first released, author Samantha Harvey told NPR that she wanted to write about space in a grounded, realistic way.
Orbital was reported to have won the Booker Prize, follows six astronauts over a day on a spacestation orbiting Earth, and was praised for its grounded, realistic portrayal of space.
The Samantha Harvey novel Orbital has won this year's Booker Prize.
NPR's Andrew Limbong reports the book follows one day in the life of six astronauts.
Orbital is set in a space station going around the Earth.
According to the Booker Prize announcement, the novel is the first book set in space to win the award.
When it was first released, author Samantha Harvey told NPR that she wanted to write about space in a grounded, realistic way.
Holy Bible, King James Version
It was mentioned that James Earl Jones reads the Bible and even released an audiobook version.
James Earl Jones reads the Bible.
— Episode: NPR News: 09-10-2024 1AM EDT
It was mentioned that James Earl Jones reads the Bible and even released an audiobook version.
James Earl Jones reads the Bible.
It was listed among the bestselling books of 2024 as part of the popular romanticy category.
They include A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas and its sequel, A Court of Mist and Fury.
— Episode: NPR News: 12-30-2024 8AM EST
It was listed among the bestselling books of 2024 as part of the popular romanticy category.
They include A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas and its sequel, A Court of Mist and Fury.
An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
It was noted as the sole nonfiction entry among the top ten bestselling books of 2024.
and the self-help book Atomic Habits.
— Episode: NPR News: 12-30-2024 8AM EST
It was noted as the sole nonfiction entry among the top ten bestselling books of 2024.
and the self-help book Atomic Habits.
James Earl Jones released an audiobook where he read the Bible, a rare feat for a narrator of his stature.
He even released an audiobook few could pull off. James Earl Jones reads the Bible.
— Episode: NPR News: 09-09-2024 7PM EDT
James Earl Jones released an audiobook where he read the Bible, a rare feat for a narrator of his stature.
He even released an audiobook few could pull off. James Earl Jones reads the Bible.
The speaker mentioned that they had read this classic feminist work.
I read The Second Sex.
— Episode: NPR News: 10-29-2024 6PM EDT
The speaker mentioned that they had read this classic feminist work.
I read The Second Sex.
Progress and Backlash from 1600 to the Present
The sponsor announced the book Age of Revolutions by Reed Zakaria, describing it as an exploration of past and present revolutions that define the polarized age and stating it was available wherever books are sold.
Publishers of Age of Revolutions by best selling author for Reed Zakaria who explores the revolutions past and present that define the polarized age in which we live, available wherev...
— Episode: NPR News: 04-02-2024 8PM EDT
The sponsor announced the book Age of Revolutions by Reed Zakaria, describing it as an exploration of past and present revolutions that define the polarized age and stating it was available wherever books are sold.
Publishers of Age of Revolutions by best selling author for Reed Zakaria who explores the revolutions past and present that define the polarized age in which we live, available wherever books are sold.
The episode noted that the title debuted in 2008 and became a massive hit, remaining on the New York Times bestseller list for years. It was mentioned as the first installment of a trilogy that later spawned a major film franchise.
The first book in the series came out in 2008 and was a massive hit, staying on the New York Times bestseller list for years. It was the first in a trilogy that was adapted into a major movie franchise.
The first Hunger Games book came out in 2008, and it was a massive hit, spending years on the New York Times bestseller list.
It was noted that Olivia Hussey starred in the 1968 film adaptation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
Olivia Hussey, star of the 1968 film Romeo And Juliet, has died.
— Episode: NPR News: 12-28-2024 5PM EST
It was noted that Olivia Hussey starred in the 1968 film adaptation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
Olivia Hussey, star of the 1968 film Romeo And Juliet, has died.
The book was brought up while discussing the Unabomber, noting that he reportedly admired its writing. No endorsement was offered, and it was mentioned only as a point of interest.
This book was mentioned in the context of the Unabomber, Theodore Kaczynski, who reportedly admired its writing.
But in recent years, Mangione was fighting back pain and spending time online where he expressed admiration for the writing of the Unabomber.
The program noted that Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula, had a lost short story discovered, and mentioned that Dracula was being written around the time of that story.
An amateur historian has discovered a long-lost short story by Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula.
— Episode: NPR News: 10-19-2024 1PM EDT
The program noted that Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula, had a lost short story discovered, and mentioned that Dracula was being written around the time of that story.
An amateur historian has discovered a long-lost short story by Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula.
It was written when Stoker was making the first notes for Dracula.
The Original 1843 Edition (Charles Dickens Classics)
The episode noted that when it was first published in 1843 the novel caused a sensation and cemented Dickens' legend.
When it came out in 1843, A Christmas Carol was a sensation. And Charles Dickens became a legend.
— Episode: NPR News: 12-22-2024 11AM EST
The episode noted that when it was first published in 1843 the novel caused a sensation and cemented Dickens' legend.
When it came out in 1843, A Christmas Carol was a sensation. And Charles Dickens became a legend.
Some people would consider him the originator of Christmas or the inventor of Christmas.
The past, present, and future of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.
The Deep State, the Truth, and the Battle for Our Democracy
The nominee's book was cited as containing a list of his enemies, and it was noted in the context of questions about his experience.
The 44-year-old is also facing questions about his list of enemies that's in his book, Government Gangsters, and his relative lack of experience.
— Episode: NPR News: 01-30-2025 11AM EST
The nominee's book was cited as containing a list of his enemies, and it was noted in the context of questions about his experience.
The 44-year-old is also facing questions about his list of enemies that's in his book, Government Gangsters, and his relative lack of experience.
Will Donald Trump Joe Biden in Shaping the Foundation of Our American Heritage?
The book was described as a 900page plan that Trump and Vance claimed represented their policy concept, though Trump later said he was not familiar with its creators.
their concept of a plan is in a 900-page book called Project 2025. But Trump has repeatedly distanced himself from Project 2025 and claimed not to know the creators of that project.
— Episode: NPR News: 11-03-2024 12AM EDT
The book was described as a 900page plan that Trump and Vance claimed represented their policy concept, though Trump later said he was not familiar with its creators.
their concept of a plan is in a 900-page book called Project 2025. But Trump has repeatedly distanced himself from Project 2025 and claimed not to know the creators of that project.
It was mentioned that Olivia Hussey appeared in the 1978 film version of Agatha Christie's novel Death on the Nile.
She went on to appear in the 1977 series Jesus of Nazareth, the 1978 version of Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile, and many other movies and TV shows.
— Episode: NPR News: 12-28-2024 5PM EST
It was mentioned that Olivia Hussey appeared in the 1978 film version of Agatha Christie's novel Death on the Nile.
She went on to appear in the 1977 series Jesus of Nazareth, the 1978 version of Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile, and many other movies and TV shows.
400th Anniversary Facsimile Edition
The Folger Shakespeare Library showcased 82 copies of Shakespeare's First Folio, the 1623 printed edition, marking the first time the collection was opened to the public beyond scholars.
The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, has more than a quarter of a million books at its collection, including 82 copies, more than a third of all the copies known to exist, of Shak...
— Episode: NPR News: 06-20-2024 3PM EDT
The Folger Shakespeare Library showcased 82 copies of Shakespeare's First Folio, the 1623 printed edition, marking the first time the collection was opened to the public beyond scholars.
The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, has more than a quarter of a million books at its collection, including 82 copies, more than a third of all the copies known to exist, of Shakespeare's First Folio printed in 1623, just a few years after his death.
Until now, the library's collection has been seen almost exclusively by scholars, but an $80 million redesign, says library director Michael Whitmore, will bring the jewels of the Folger's collection to the general public for the first time.
In the episode, the host referenced the author as being best known for the title, using it to contextualize discussion of his death. Chloe Veltman noted the book as his most recognized work. The mention served mainly as a factual identifier rather than a recommendation.
The counterculture figure, Hunter S. Thompson, was best known as the author of this book. Authorities reaffirmed that his death was a suicide, following a review requested by his widow.
The counterculture figure was best known as the author of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
Note: The book recommendations on this page are discovered automatically from podcast transcripts, and may be incorrect or incomplete.
Podcast Name