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The Daily

This is what the news should sound like. The biggest stories of our time, told by the best journalists in the world. Hosted by Michael Barbaro, Rachel Abrams and Natalie Kitroeff. Twenty minutes a day, six days a week, ready by 6 a.m. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts an...

Episodes 545
Books 195

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Latest Recommendations

The Song of Achilles cover

The Song of Achilles

Madeline Miller

Mentioned 1 week ago

What’s Epic About the ‘Odyssey’? Everything.

The novelSong of Achilleswas mentioned alongsideCirceto establish Miller's credentials as a bestselling author of modern Greekmyth retellings.

Emily Wilson, who translated The Odyssey and is the very first woman to do so, and Madeline Miller, author of Circe and Song of Achilles, two bestselling novels inspired by Homer's poems.

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Circe cover

Circe

Madeline Miller

Mentioned 1 week ago

What’s Epic About the ‘Odyssey’? Everything.

Madeline Miller's novelCircewas highlighted as her personal favorite and praised for giving voice to the witchgoddess from the Odyssey.

You've written a number of brilliant books and short stories, including Circe, my personal favorite, which is about one of the goddesses that Odysseus encounters on his way home.

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Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World cover

Paved Paradise

Henry Grabar

Mentioned 2 weeks ago

The Most American Episode of The Daily, Ever.

The nonfiction book was highlighted as the most American book because it links parking to broader questions of urban planning and resource allocation, and it helped the speaker understand the country in a new way.

The most American nonfiction book is Paved Paradise, How Parking Explains the World by Henry Grabar. Grabar makes the argument that a lot of questions about how to allocate resources and cities, questions of building affordable housing, all of these really urgent issues are actually tied to the American fixation not just on cars but on parking those cars. It really made me understand the country in a new way.

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The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois: An Oprah's Book Club Pick cover

The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois

Honoree Fanonne Jeffers

Mentioned 2 weeks ago

The Most American Episode of The Daily, Ever.

The book was chosen as the most American work after the Century Cycle, praised for weaving together personal and ancestral narratives that illuminate American history and identity.

But then I chose the book, The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honore Fanonne Jeffers.

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Joe Turner's Come and Gone (August Wilson's Century Cycle, 2) cover

Joe Turner's Come and Gone (August Wilson's Century Cycle, 2)

August Wilson

Mentioned 2 weeks ago

The Most American Episode of The Daily, Ever.

The tenplay collection was cited as a contender for the most American work, with each play set in a different decade of the 20th century, portraying AfricanAmerican experiences across a century.

I actually came up with ten plays. That would be August Wilson's Century Cycle.

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Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump cover

Regime Change

Maggie Haberman

Mentioned 3 weeks ago

Robby Hoffman Will Always Feel Poor, No Matter How Rich She Gets

The book was advertised as an explosive inside account of power, conflict, and decisions reshaping America during Donald Trump's White House.

This podcast is supported by Simon and Schuster. What's really happening inside Donald Trump's White House? In regime change, Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan deliver the explosive inside account of power, conflict, and decisions reshaping America. Regime change, wherever books are sold.

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PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY IN CLINICAL PRACTICE: Prescribing, Monitoring & Deprescribing cover

PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY IN CLINICAL PRACTICE

LAVINIA JUNIOR JACOBSON

Mentioned 4 weeks ago

R.F.K. Jr.’s Newest Mission: Getting Us Off Antidepressants

The hosts noted that a new deprescribing handbook was available for sale at the conference exhibition hall, indicating its relevance to the discussion on tapering off psychiatric medications.

There was a new deprescribing handbook, and it was selling a lot downstairs in the exhibition hall.

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In the Days of My Youth I Was Told What It Means to Be a Man: A Memoir cover

In the Days of My Youth I Was Told What It Means to Be a Man

Tom Junod

Mentioned 1 month ago

Can a Bad Man Be a Good Father?

The book was presented as Tom Junod's new work, blending memoir and detective storytelling to explore fatherhood and the legacy a father leaves behind.

In the Days of My Youth, I Was Told What It Means to Be a Man. And it's a powerful meditation on what we need from a father, what we inherit from a father, and how we somehow make peace with the gap in between those.

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The Road cover

The Road

Cormac McCarthy

Mentioned 1 month ago

A Gen Z Revolution at the Movies

The host noted that Ryan Holiday nominated the novel as one of his top books of the 21st century, praising it for capturing both the beauty and horror of parenthood.

I talked to the author Ryan Holiday about why he nominated Cormac McCarthy's The Road as one of his top books of the 21st century.

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The Rational Bible: Genesis cover

The Rational Bible

Dennis Prager

Mentioned 1 month ago

Do Aliens Exist? Steven Spielberg Believes They Do

The biblical book was cited when discussing concepts of creation and humanity's place in the universe.

Because Genesis says that we're his supreme creation, but do you think it's possible that...

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The War of the Worlds: The Original Unabridged and Complete Edition ( H. G. Wells Classics) cover

The War of the Worlds

H. G. Wells

Mentioned 1 month ago

Do Aliens Exist? Steven Spielberg Believes They Do

Spielberg referenced the novel as a thematic influence for his film, noting that it was quoted in the movie.

It's very much part of War of the Worlds, H.E. Wells' book that you quote from for your film.

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Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief cover

Going Clear

Lawrence Wright

Mentioned 1 month ago

Seth Rogen Is 44, Often Stoned and on a Roll

The host mentioned reading Going Clear, noting that a single sentence from the book about Scientology abruptly shifted his perspective on how famous people interpret treatment and status.

I read that Going Clear book. Every once in a while, you know, like you read like one sentence and it like snaps your whole perspective into place a little bit. And I remember reading that book about Scientology and there was just one sentence in it about how famous people tend to do a thing where if they aren't treated in a certain way, it makes them think they're not as talented as they wish they were.

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Most Recommended

A Promised Land Cover

Barack Obama

A Promised Land

The host said he had read Obama's first presidential memoir, noting its focus on paradoxes, selfdoubt and the costs of persuasion, and later referenced how the book illustrated the political shifts that began during Obama's tenure.

"

I've been, I read his first volume of his presidential memoirs, Promised Land, but I've also been listening to his podcast and other interviews he's given and reading interviews he's given.

— Episode: Bonus: Ezra Klein Talks to Obama About H...

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Episode: Bonus: Ezra Klein Talks to Obama About How America...

The host said he had read Obama's first presidential memoir, noting its focus on paradoxes, selfdoubt and the costs of persuasion, and later referenced how the book illustrated the political shifts that began during Obama's tenure.

"

I've been, I read his first volume of his presidential memoirs, Promised Land, but I've also been listening to his podcast and other interviews he's given and reading interviews he's given.

there's a right answer... you see it happening even when i first came in... in promised land you could see it happening even when i first came in...

A Field Guide to Getting Lost Cover

Rebecca Solnit

A Field Guide to Getting Lost

Solnit's book was recalled as a personal favorite, noted for its 20thanniversary edition, and described as an introspective work about uncertainty and wandering.

"

in part because A Field Guide to Getting Lost was a really big book for me.

— Episode: 'The Interview': Rebecca Solnit Says the...

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Episode: 'The Interview': Rebecca Solnit Says the Left's Ne...

Solnit's book was recalled as a personal favorite, noted for its 20thanniversary edition, and described as an introspective work about uncertainty and wandering.

"

in part because A Field Guide to Getting Lost was a really big book for me.

And yeah, that book, we just put out a 20th anniversary edition.

and A Field Guide to Getting Lost, which is introspective and kind of melancholy,

Congratulations, The Best Is Over!: Essays Cover

R. Eric Thomas

Congratulations, The Best Is Over!

Essays

The viral convocation speech was repackaged as a bestselling book titled Congratulations.

"

That speech went viral and then was repackaged as the bestselling book titled Congratulations.

— Episode: 'The Interview': George Saunders Says Di...

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Episode: 'The Interview': George Saunders Says Ditching The...

The viral convocation speech was repackaged as a bestselling book titled Congratulations.

"

That speech went viral and then was repackaged as the bestselling book titled Congratulations.

The Beauty Myth: How Images of Female Beauty Are Used Against Women Cover

Naomi Wolf

The Beauty Myth

How Images of Female Beauty Are Used Against Women

The book was cited as a critique of unrealistic beauty standards that limited women, comparing its impact to historical ideals of domesticity and chastity.

"

When Naomi Wolfe wrote The Beauty Myth more than three decades ago, she chastened the industry for pushing an unrealistic standard of beauty that prevented women from reaching their f...

— Episode: The Sunday Read: ‘The Beauty of 78.5 Mil...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: The Sunday Read: ‘The Beauty of 78.5 Million Follo...

The book was cited as a critique of unrealistic beauty standards that limited women, comparing its impact to historical ideals of domesticity and chastity.

"

When Naomi Wolfe wrote The Beauty Myth more than three decades ago, she chastened the industry for pushing an unrealistic standard of beauty that prevented women from reaching their full potential, much as ideals of domesticity, motherhood and chastity once did.

Wuthering Heights Cover

Emily Brontë

Wuthering Heights

The host mentioned the novel briefly while discussing reaching out to another filmmaker, simply stating the title twice.

"

Wuthering Heights. Wuthering Heights.

— Episode: 'The Interview': Maggie Gyllenhaal Think...

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Episode: 'The Interview': Maggie Gyllenhaal Thinks Hollywoo...

The host mentioned the novel briefly while discussing reaching out to another filmmaker, simply stating the title twice.

"

Wuthering Heights. Wuthering Heights.

The Descent Of Man Cover

Charles Darwin

The Descent Of Man

Darwin's 1871 work was noted for devoting hundreds of pages to sexual selection, illustrating his early thinking on the subject.

"

In The Descent Of Man, published in 1871, he devoted hundreds of pages to sexual selection.

— Episode: The Sunday Read: 'Beauty of the Beasts'

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Episode: The Sunday Read: 'Beauty of the Beasts'

Darwin's 1871 work was noted for devoting hundreds of pages to sexual selection, illustrating his early thinking on the subject.

"

In The Descent Of Man, published in 1871, he devoted hundreds of pages to sexual selection.

The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration Cover

Isabel Wilkerson

The Warmth of Other Suns

The Epic Story of America's Great Migration

It was described as the speaker's favorite book of all time, helping them grapple with American history.

"

my favorite book of all time is The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

— Episode: From Opinion: Nikole Hannah-Jones and Ta...

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Episode: From Opinion: Nikole Hannah-Jones and Ta-Nehisi Co...

It was described as the speaker's favorite book of all time, helping them grapple with American history.

"

my favorite book of all time is The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

Housekeeping: A Novel (Picador Modern Classics) Cover

Marilynne Robinson

Housekeeping

A Novel (Picador Modern Classics)

The narrator recalled that Dorland's classmates discussed Robinson's novel and she picked up a copy of Housekeeping. It was mentioned as an example of a book that influenced Dorland's writing aspirations.

"

when she noticed classmates cooing over Marilynne Robinson's novel Housekeeping, she picked up a copy.

— Episode: The Sunday Read: ‘Who Is the Bad Art Fri...

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Episode: The Sunday Read: ‘Who Is the Bad Art Friend?’

The narrator recalled that Dorland's classmates discussed Robinson's novel and she picked up a copy of Housekeeping. It was mentioned as an example of a book that influenced Dorland's writing aspirations.

"

when she noticed classmates cooing over Marilynne Robinson's novel Housekeeping, she picked up a copy.

Between the World and Me Cover

Ta-Nehisi Coates

Between the World and Me

The book was highlighted as a National Book Award winner and later cited as a lifechanging work for the speakers.

"

Ta-Nehisi Coates, of course, is the author of the National Book Award winner Between the World and Me, the Oprah Book Club pick The Water Dancer

— Episode: From Opinion: Nikole Hannah-Jones and Ta...

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Episode: From Opinion: Nikole Hannah-Jones and Ta-Nehisi Co...

The book was highlighted as a National Book Award winner and later cited as a lifechanging work for the speakers.

"

Ta-Nehisi Coates, of course, is the author of the National Book Award winner Between the World and Me, the Oprah Book Club pick The Water Dancer

when I started probably the piece that really, really altered my life, Case for Reparations and the same with Between the World and Me, it was like, I kind of knew what I wanted to argue

The Wes Anderson Collection: The Grand Budapest Hotel Cover

Matt Zoller Seitz

The Wes Anderson Collection

The Grand Budapest Hotel

The host described the richly illustrated Wes Anderson Collection as a book about the filmmaker that sat on the coffee table in Bailey's living room.

"

The Wes Anderson Collection, Matt Zoller's site's richly illustrated book about the movie director's work, sat on the coffee table.

— Episode: The Sunday Read: ‘The Ghost Writer’

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: The Sunday Read: ‘The Ghost Writer’

The host described the richly illustrated Wes Anderson Collection as a book about the filmmaker that sat on the coffee table in Bailey's living room.

"

The Wes Anderson Collection, Matt Zoller's site's richly illustrated book about the movie director's work, sat on the coffee table.

What Are the Odds? From Crack Addict to CEO Cover

Mike Lindell

What Are the Odds? From Crack Addict to CEO

The host introduced Mike Lindell as the author of the book "What Are The Odds?" while bringing him onto the program to discuss the lawsuit.

"

Joining us now to discuss is the founder and CEO of Mike Pillow and the author of the book What Are The Odds? Mike Lindell.

— Episode: The $2.7 Billion Case Against Fox News

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Episode: The $2.7 Billion Case Against Fox News

The host introduced Mike Lindell as the author of the book "What Are The Odds?" while bringing him onto the program to discuss the lawsuit.

"

Joining us now to discuss is the founder and CEO of Mike Pillow and the author of the book What Are The Odds? Mike Lindell.

The Underground Railroad (Pulitzer Prize Winner) (National Book Award Winner) (Oprah's Book Club): A Novel Cover

Colson Whitehead

The Underground Railroad (Pulitzer Prize Winner) (National Book Award Winner) (Oprah's Book Club)

A Novel

The series was described as being based on the novel by Colson Whitehead.

"

They were still early in their work on The Underground Railroad, a ten-part series based on the novel by Colson Whitehead.

— Episode: The Sunday Read: ‘The Composer at the Fr...

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Episode: The Sunday Read: ‘The Composer at the Frontier of...

The series was described as being based on the novel by Colson Whitehead.

"

They were still early in their work on The Underground Railroad, a ten-part series based on the novel by Colson Whitehead.

The Plus: Self-Help for People Who Hate Self-Help Cover

Greg Gutfeld

The Plus

Self-Help for People Who Hate Self-Help

In this book from a couple of years prior to the interview, Gutfeld lamented something called the 'opposition toxin,' which describes the media's tendency to frame everything as a conflict between two groups.

"

There was something that in particular that was interesting to me in a book you wrote a couple years ago called The Plus. Yes. Where you sort of lamented a problem that you called the...

— Episode: 'The Interview': Fox News Wanted Greg Gu...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 'The Interview': Fox News Wanted Greg Gutfeld to D...

In this book from a couple of years prior to the interview, Gutfeld lamented something called the 'opposition toxin,' which describes the media's tendency to frame everything as a conflict between two groups.

"

There was something that in particular that was interesting to me in a book you wrote a couple years ago called The Plus. Yes. Where you sort of lamented a problem that you called the opposition toxin, which is the inclination of the media to always see two groups in conflict.

Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief Cover

Lawrence Wright

Going Clear

Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief

The host mentioned reading Going Clear, noting that a single sentence from the book about Scientology abruptly shifted his perspective on how famous people interpret treatment and status.

"

I read that Going Clear book. Every once in a while, you know, like you read like one sentence and it like snaps your whole perspective into place a little bit. And I remember reading...

— Episode: Seth Rogen Is 44, Often Stoned and on a...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Seth Rogen Is 44, Often Stoned and on a Roll

The host mentioned reading Going Clear, noting that a single sentence from the book about Scientology abruptly shifted his perspective on how famous people interpret treatment and status.

"

I read that Going Clear book. Every once in a while, you know, like you read like one sentence and it like snaps your whole perspective into place a little bit. And I remember reading that book about Scientology and there was just one sentence in it about how famous people tend to do a thing where if they aren't treated in a certain way, it makes them think they're not as talented as they wish they were.

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll: The Original Edition With Complete Illustrations Cover

Lewis Carroll

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

The Original Edition With Complete Illustrations

The book was invoked as a metaphor to describe how Wall Street felt disoriented by the GameStop frenzy.

"

This is Alice in Wonderland. Everything has just been turned upside down to them.

— Episode: The GameStop Rebellion

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Episode: The GameStop Rebellion

The book was invoked as a metaphor to describe how Wall Street felt disoriented by the GameStop frenzy.

"

This is Alice in Wonderland. Everything has just been turned upside down to them.

Exodus: A Novel of Israel Cover

Leon Uris

Exodus

A Novel of Israel

He mentioned that Exodus, the 1950s novel by LeonUris, was one of his favorite books and recalled checking out a paperback copy of it from the library as a child.

"

one of his favorite books was Exodus, the 1950s novel by Leon Uris about the founding of the state of Israel which he borrowed from the prison library cart. I remembered the paperback...

— Episode: The Sunday Read: ‘I Write About the Law....

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Episode: The Sunday Read: ‘I Write About the Law. But Could...

He mentioned that Exodus, the 1950s novel by LeonUris, was one of his favorite books and recalled checking out a paperback copy of it from the library as a child.

"

one of his favorite books was Exodus, the 1950s novel by Leon Uris about the founding of the state of Israel which he borrowed from the prison library cart. I remembered the paperback copy I checked out from the library when I was growing up.

The Koran Cover

N.J. Dawood

The Koran

The host noted that Franco's livingroom bookshelf held a copy of the Koran alongside other texts.

"

He's got a gigantic bookshelf in his living room, with the Bible, The Koran and a copy of the German constitution.

— Episode: Day X, Part 4: Franco A.

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Day X, Part 4: Franco A.

The host noted that Franco's livingroom bookshelf held a copy of the Koran alongside other texts.

"

He's got a gigantic bookshelf in his living room, with the Bible, The Koran and a copy of the German constitution.

Wicked Collector’s Edition: The Inspiration for the Smash Broadway Musical and the Upcoming Major Motion Picture Cover

Gregory Maguire

Wicked Collector’s Edition

The Inspiration for the Smash Broadway Musical and the Upcoming Major Motion Picture

The first film adaptation, which covered Act One of the musical, was an undeniable success, being financially dominant and culturally significant. The speaker mentioned that Gregory Maguire wrote the original book, which established the world the musical is based on.

"

Wicked the novel, boil it down, it's fanfic, which is a deeply online genre.

— Episode: Sunday Special: Wicked, Good?

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Sunday Special: Wicked, Good?

The first film adaptation, which covered Act One of the musical, was an undeniable success, being financially dominant and culturally significant. The speaker mentioned that Gregory Maguire wrote the original book, which established the world the musical is based on.

"

Wicked the novel, boil it down, it's fanfic, which is a deeply online genre.

And so much happened before the house dropped in. Like, mostly the second act exists to tie all those things together and make you go, oh. And then you get For Good and we all cry.

When Gregory Maguire wrote this in 1995, when the musical came out, around the time of the Iraq War, you know, it was sort of a different idea of who's in power and what are the messages that they were giving us and who are the people that are spreading what some consider to be propaganda.

Red Roulette: An Insider's Story of Wealth, Power, Corruption, and Vengeance in Today's China Cover

Desmond Shum

Red Roulette

An Insider's Story of Wealth, Power, Corruption, and Vengeance in Today's China

The memoir was highlighted for its vivid scene of Xu taking a private jet to Paris, splurging on $100,000 of wine and contemplating a $100million yacht, illustrating the excesses of China's property boom.

"

And there's this scene in a recent memoir from a Chinese businessman named Desmond Shum. The book is called Red Roulette.

— Episode: A Threat to China’s Economy

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Episode: A Threat to China’s Economy

The memoir was highlighted for its vivid scene of Xu taking a private jet to Paris, splurging on $100,000 of wine and contemplating a $100million yacht, illustrating the excesses of China's property boom.

"

And there's this scene in a recent memoir from a Chinese businessman named Desmond Shum. The book is called Red Roulette.

And in it, Xu takes a trip on a private jet with some friends. They fly to Paris and then when they get there, they spend an evening downing $100,000 worth of Chateau Lafitte wine.

The King of Late Night Cover

Greg Gutfeld

The King of Late Night

This was Greg Gutfeld's most recent book, which the interviewer referenced when quoting Gutfeld using strong language about 'the left'.

"

I want to say it was in your most recent one, The King of Late Night. I could be wrong, but it's in one of your books.

— Episode: 'The Interview': Fox News Wanted Greg Gu...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 'The Interview': Fox News Wanted Greg Gutfeld to D...

This was Greg Gutfeld's most recent book, which the interviewer referenced when quoting Gutfeld using strong language about 'the left'.

"

I want to say it was in your most recent one, The King of Late Night. I could be wrong, but it's in one of your books.

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