What A Day
Book Recommendations

What A Day

If you’re looking for hype, fake outrage, and groupthink, kindly keep moving. Our mission at What a Day is simple: to be your guide to what truly matters each morning (and the fun stuff you might have missed) in just 20 minutes. Host Jane Coaston brings you in-depth reporting and substantive analysi...

Episodes 1,649
Books 142

Recently mentioned

Latest Recommendations

Hated by All the Right People: Tucker Carlson and the Unraveling of the Conservative Mind cover

Hated by All the Right People

Jason Zengerle

Mentioned 5 months ago

Mayhem In Minneapolis

The book was highlighted as a fascinating and informative look into Tucker Carlson's political evolution and how his rise mirrored the growth of the MAGA movement. It was described as being as much a piece of media criticism as it was a professional biography of Carlson.

Mordant, insightful, vigorously reported, and yes, deliciously entertaining.

Buy on Amazon
Melania cover

Melania

Melania Trump

Mentioned 1 year ago

California and New York Could Decide Which Party Controls The House

Melania Trump's memoir includes her support for abortion access, and details of her telling her husband to end the family separation immigration policy. She promoted her book with social media videos.

Individual freedom is a fundamental principle that I safeguard. Without a doubt, there is no room for compromise when it comes to this essential right that all women possess from birth.

Buy on Amazon
The Devil Never Sleeps: Learning to Live in an Age of Disasters cover

The Devil Never Sleeps

Juliette Kayyem

Mentioned 1 year ago

The Next Steps In Hurricane Helene Recovery

The book's author, Juliette Kayyem, was interviewed about disaster recovery following Hurricane Helene. She is the faculty chair of the Homeland Security Program at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and wrote this book.

And the author of 'The Devil Never Sleeps: Learning to Live in an Age of Disasters,' explains what the next steps in recovery will look like.

Buy on Amazon
Wasteland: The Secret World of Waste and the Urgent Search for a Cleaner Future cover

Wasteland

Oliver Franklin-Wallis

Mentioned 1 year ago

The Plastic Recycling Long Con

It was mentioned as a 2023 book that details the dirty truth about what we throw away; the author was interviewed in the podcast.

It's certainly true that for a long time, the plastics industry has known that not a lot of recycling is actually happening.

Buy on Amazon
Wasteland: The Dirty Truth About What We Throw Away, Where It Goes, and Why It Matters cover

Wasteland

Oliver Franklin-Wallis

Mentioned 1 year ago

The Plastic Recycling Long Con

The book discusses the truth behind what we throw away. It was mentioned in relation to the history of the plastics industry and its role in misleading the public about recycling.

We See Each Other: A Black, Trans Journey Through TV and Film cover

We See Each Other

Tre'vell Anderson

Mentioned 1 year ago

North Carolina's Mark Robinson Extremism Revealed (Again)

The book, written by the podcast co-host, was mentioned as a great gift idea and is available wherever books are sold.

In case you were wondering, my books make for great birthday and holiday gifts. Also for that gender reveal party you probably shouldn't be going to, we see each other, A Black Trans Journey Through TV and Film, and the NAACP Image Award winning, Historically Black Phrases from I Ain't One of Your Little Friends to Who All Gone Be There are both available wherever good books are sold and bad ones too.

Buy on Amazon
CARISPIBET So Many People Come into Our Lives | Home Decorative Sign, Homage to Friends and Family 6" x 12" cover

CARISPIBET So Many People Come into Our Lives | Home Decorative Sign, Homage to Friends and Family 6" x 12"

Mentioned 1 year ago

North Carolina's Mark Robinson Extremism Revealed (Again)

This NAACP Image Award-winning book was also suggested as a gift and is available for purchase or at local libraries.

and the NAACP Image Award winning, Historically Black Phrases from I Ain't One of Your Little Friends to Who All Gone Be There are both available wherever good books are sold and bad ones too. Also at your local library.

Buy on Amazon
Strengthening American Democracy: Reflection, Action, and Reform cover

Strengthening American Democracy

John R. Baker

Mentioned 1 year ago

Trump’s Lies About Haitian Immigrants Create Chaos In Springfield, Ohio

It was mentioned as a new book by Dr. Robert Baker, a political science professor. It was said that he and some friends were flabbergasted by Donald Trump's comments about Haitian immigrants in Springfield.

Baker is also the author of the new book, Strengthening American Democracy, Reflection, Action and Reform.

Buy on Amazon
The Chaos Machine: The Inside Story of How Social Media Rewired Our Minds and Our World cover

The Chaos Machine

Max Fisher

Mentioned 1 year ago

When Countries Ban Social Media

It was mentioned as a book written by Max Fisher about social media leading to widespread discord. The author's publisher was expected to send a check to Erin Ryan.

Max is being humble. He literally wrote a book about social media leading to widespread discord called The Chaos Machine.

Buy on Amazon
Undue Burden: Life and Death Decisions in Post-Roe America cover

Undue Burden

Shefali Luthra

Mentioned 1 year ago

Trump Alienates His Base With Flip Flopping On Reproductive Rights

The book, "Undue Burden: Life and Death Decisions in Post-Roe America," was mentioned as Shefali Luthra's work, where she covers reproductive health for The 19th. The discussion touched upon the complex situation for Trump, the Republican Party, and the anti-abortion movement after the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

The Reactionary Spirit: How America's Most Insidious Political Tradition Swept the World cover

The Reactionary Spirit

Zack Beauchamp

Mentioned 1 year ago

The Gender Gap Is Widening In The 2024 Election

The book explores America's most insidious political traditions and how they spread globally. It was mentioned as being released and available.

The Reactionary Spirit, how America's most insidious political traditions swept the world

Buy on Amazon
Trying Trump: A Guide to His First Election Interference Criminal Trial cover

Trying Trump

Norman Eisen

Mentioned 1 year ago

Jack Smith Won’t Back Down

Norm Eisen, the author of "Trying Trump," discussed the book's content which is a guide to Trump's first election interference criminal trial. He explained that his analysis of the case, detailed in a report he co-authored and published online, closely matched the content of the revised indictment.

He's taken it out that the Supreme Court said cannot be covered, which is official conduct, whether you agree or disagree.

Buy on Amazon

Most Recommended

Melania Cover

Melania Trump

Melania

Melania Trump's memoir includes her support for abortion access, and details of her telling her husband to end the family separation immigration policy. She promoted her book with social media videos.

"

Individual freedom is a fundamental principle that I safeguard. Without a doubt, there is no room for compromise when it comes to this essential right that all women possess from birth.

— Episode: California and New York Could Decide Whi...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: California and New York Could Decide Which Party C...

Melania Trump's memoir includes her support for abortion access, and details of her telling her husband to end the family separation immigration policy. She promoted her book with social media videos.

"

Individual freedom is a fundamental principle that I safeguard. Without a doubt, there is no room for compromise when it comes to this essential right that all women possess from birth.

It's OK to Be Angry About Capitalism Cover

Senator Bernie Sanders

It's OK to Be Angry About Capitalism

It was mentioned as a book written by Bernie Sanders, with a great title, in the context of discussing how outliers in the political spectrum are more willing to openly discuss capitalism.

"

Bernie Sanders who's a guy who this year wrote a book called It's OK to Be Mad About Capitalism, which great title.

— Episode: Capitalism, Explained

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Capitalism, Explained

It was mentioned as a book written by Bernie Sanders, with a great title, in the context of discussing how outliers in the political spectrum are more willing to openly discuss capitalism.

"

Bernie Sanders who's a guy who this year wrote a book called It's OK to Be Mad About Capitalism, which great title.

All the Women in My Brain: And Other Concerns Cover

Betty Gilpin

All the Women in My Brain

And Other Concerns

Betty Gilpin's new book, "All The Women In My Brain," was described as being for anybody that feels insane.

"

Betty Gilpin returns to talk about her new book, "All the Women in My Brain", which she says is for quote, anybody that feels insane.

— Episode: A Freight Knot

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: A Freight Knot

Betty Gilpin's new book, "All The Women In My Brain," was described as being for anybody that feels insane.

"

Betty Gilpin returns to talk about her new book, "All the Women in My Brain", which she says is for quote, anybody that feels insane.

Trying Trump: A Guide to His First Election Interference Criminal Trial Cover

Norman Eisen

Trying Trump

A Guide to His First Election Interference Criminal Trial

Norm Eisen, the author of "Trying Trump," discussed the book's content which is a guide to Trump's first election interference criminal trial. He explained that his analysis of the case, detailed in a report he co-authored and published online, closely matched the content of the revised indictment.

"

He's taken it out that the Supreme Court said cannot be covered, which is official conduct, whether you agree or disagree.

— Episode: Jack Smith Won’t Back Down

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Jack Smith Won’t Back Down

Norm Eisen, the author of "Trying Trump," discussed the book's content which is a guide to Trump's first election interference criminal trial. He explained that his analysis of the case, detailed in a report he co-authored and published online, closely matched the content of the revised indictment.

"

He's taken it out that the Supreme Court said cannot be covered, which is official conduct, whether you agree or disagree.

I published a big report several weeks ago at the New York University Just Security website where we went through with my co-authors line by line and we said, hey, almost everything in this indictment rides through and the new indictment pretty closely tracks our analysis.

So the Supreme Court did, despite writing a terrible opinion, I disagreed with it in so many ways. It did leave an opening for unofficial conduct, political conduct, Donald Trump acting as a political candidate.

Trying Trump: A Guide to His First Election Interference Criminal Trial Cover

Norman Eisen

Trying Trump

A Guide to His First Election Interference Criminal Trial

Norm Eisen, a former special counsel, discussed his book about Trump's first election interference criminal trial, explaining how Special Counsel Jack Smith's revised indictment differs from the original and how it addresses the Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity.

"

He's taken it out that the Supreme Court said cannot be covered, which is official conduct, whether you agree or disagree.

— Episode: Jack Smith Won’t Back Down

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Jack Smith Won’t Back Down

Norm Eisen, a former special counsel, discussed his book about Trump's first election interference criminal trial, explaining how Special Counsel Jack Smith's revised indictment differs from the original and how it addresses the Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity.

"

He's taken it out that the Supreme Court said cannot be covered, which is official conduct, whether you agree or disagree.

I published a big report several weeks ago at the New York University Just Security website where we went through with my co-authors line by line and we said, hey, almost everything in this indictment rides through and the new indictment pretty closely tracks our analysis.

So the Supreme Court did, despite writing a terrible opinion, I disagreed with it in so many ways. It did leave an opening for unofficial conduct, political conduct, Donald Trump acting as a political candidate.

I think that if Donald Trump doesn't get reelected, this superseding indictment, that means replacement indictment is going to put him in jail.

The one issue that will be interesting for the courts, I think Jack Smith got it right, but there's going to be a fight over it. How do you treat Mike Pence?

Shirley Chisholm 1972 Presidential Election T-Shirt Cover

Shirley Chisholm 1972 Presidential Election T-Shirt

This book explores Shirley Chisholm's life, vision for the country, and her efforts to become the first female president. It was described as timely and significant.

"

I am officially an author! My book, "A More Perfect Party: The Night Shirley Chisholm and Diane Carroll Reshaped Politics," is available for pre-order now.

— Episode: "Do Something": How Stacey Abrams And Or...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: "Do Something": How Stacey Abrams And Organizers O...

This book explores Shirley Chisholm's life, vision for the country, and her efforts to become the first female president. It was described as timely and significant.

"

I am officially an author! My book, "A More Perfect Party: The Night Shirley Chisholm and Diane Carroll Reshaped Politics," is available for pre-order now.

This book is about Shirley Chisholm's humanity, her vision for this nation, and her efforts to create a pathway for the first woman to be elected president of these United States.

and honestly this book could not have come at a better time

Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey Cover

Florence Williams

Heartbreak

A Personal and Scientific Journey

Florence Williams, author of Heartbreak, offered advice on coping with heartbreak, suggesting the three C's: calm, connection, and creativity.

"

just because you've been dumped, you're still in love. You're at least you still feel like you're still in love and now you're processing, right, the withdrawal of the dopamine.

— Episode: Supreme Court Rules Against Texas' Borde...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Supreme Court Rules Against Texas' Border Razor Wi...

Florence Williams, author of Heartbreak, offered advice on coping with heartbreak, suggesting the three C's: calm, connection, and creativity.

"

just because you've been dumped, you're still in love. You're at least you still feel like you're still in love and now you're processing, right, the withdrawal of the dopamine.

you need the three C's in your life. Calm, connection and creativity. To get through it.

Death in Custody: How America Ignores the Truth and What We Can Do about It (Health Equity in America) Cover

Roger A. Mitchell Jr.

Death in Custody

How America Ignores the Truth and What We Can Do about It (Health Equity in America)

The podcast hosts promoted an episode of another podcast where the authors Roger A. Mitchell Jr. and J.D. Aronson would be discussing their new book, "Death in Custody."

"

Plus, you'll hear authors Roger A. Mitchell Jr. and J.D. Aronson talk about their new book, Death in Custody, How America Ignores the Truth and What We Can Do About It.

— Episode: Kevin Knows I'm Miserable Now

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Kevin Knows I'm Miserable Now

The podcast hosts promoted an episode of another podcast where the authors Roger A. Mitchell Jr. and J.D. Aronson would be discussing their new book, "Death in Custody."

"

Plus, you'll hear authors Roger A. Mitchell Jr. and J.D. Aronson talk about their new book, Death in Custody, How America Ignores the Truth and What We Can Do About It.

The Story of The Masters: Drama, joy and heartbreak at golf's most iconic tournament Cover

David Barrett

The Story of The Masters

Drama, joy and heartbreak at golf's most iconic tournament

It is a nearly 400-page book featuring interviews with seven white male rock and roll icons; the author was criticized for not including interviews with women or Black artists, stating that they were not articulate enough.

"

Insofar as the women, I mean, there were just none of them were as articulate enough on this intellectual level.

— Episode: Autoworkers, Roll Out!

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Autoworkers, Roll Out!

It is a nearly 400-page book featuring interviews with seven white male rock and roll icons; the author was criticized for not including interviews with women or Black artists, stating that they were not articulate enough.

"

Insofar as the women, I mean, there were just none of them were as articulate enough on this intellectual level.

Ragged Dick (Mint Editions (Literary Fiction)) Cover

Horatio Alger

Ragged Dick (Mint Editions (Literary Fiction))

The podcast mentioned Horatio Alger, author of Ragged Dick and other "rags to riches" stories, whose name is used for the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. The association was discussed in relation to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas's membership and the benefits he received.

"

the group is named after the author Horatio Alger, who is known for his quote-unquote rags to riches stories.

— Episode: Clarence The Big Red Flag

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Clarence The Big Red Flag

The podcast mentioned Horatio Alger, author of Ragged Dick and other "rags to riches" stories, whose name is used for the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. The association was discussed in relation to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas's membership and the benefits he received.

"

the group is named after the author Horatio Alger, who is known for his quote-unquote rags to riches stories.

Science of Stretch: Reach Your Flexible Potential, Stay Active, Maximize Mobility (DK Science of) Cover

Dr. Leada Malek

Science of Stretch

Reach Your Flexible Potential, Stay Active, Maximize Mobility (DK Science of)

The podcast mentioned that this book, written by Lydia Kessling, was Crooked Media Reads' first book published and features a complicated heroine who works in the oil industry while the world faces a climate crisis. It was included on Vulture's list of anticipated summer reads.

"

The novel is called Mobility by Lydia Kessling, who also wrote the incredible book, The Golden State.

— Episode: Betting On Bidenomics

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Betting On Bidenomics

The podcast mentioned that this book, written by Lydia Kessling, was Crooked Media Reads' first book published and features a complicated heroine who works in the oil industry while the world faces a climate crisis. It was included on Vulture's list of anticipated summer reads.

"

The novel is called Mobility by Lydia Kessling, who also wrote the incredible book, The Golden State.

Vulture included Mobility on its 14 books we can't wait to read this summer list, stating that Mobility's main character, Bunny Glenn, is a complicated heroine for the ages, a striver who values the comforts of her oil industry job, yikes, even as she must reckon with the fact that the world is quite literally on fire, as we discussed earlier.

Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy Cover

Jamie Raskin

Unthinkable

Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy

Jamie Raskin wrote this book following the death of his son, exploring themes of loss and optimism in the context of American politics. It discusses how easy it is to change society and reach individual people, and the importance of tempering optimism with realism.

"

He wrote a book after his son died about losing his optimism and or wondering if maybe his optimistic lens on politics and society had been foolish.

— Episode: Our Healthy News Diet Starts Tomorrow

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Our Healthy News Diet Starts Tomorrow

Jamie Raskin wrote this book following the death of his son, exploring themes of loss and optimism in the context of American politics. It discusses how easy it is to change society and reach individual people, and the importance of tempering optimism with realism.

"

He wrote a book after his son died about losing his optimism and or wondering if maybe his optimistic lens on politics and society had been foolish.

The Black Joy Project Cover

Kleaver Cruz

The Black Joy Project

A listener, Jeffrey, mentioned he planned to finish reading Tracey Michelle Lewis-Jigot's book, "Black Joy: Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration," over the Juneteenth weekend. He described it as a collection of essays about the Black experience that provided inspiration during difficult times.

"

I'm going to take the time to finish reading Tracey Michelle Lewis-Jigot's latest book, Black Joy Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration. It's a collection of essays of her thoughts regard...

— Episode: Some VP That I Used To Know

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Some VP That I Used To Know

A listener, Jeffrey, mentioned he planned to finish reading Tracey Michelle Lewis-Jigot's book, "Black Joy: Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration," over the Juneteenth weekend. He described it as a collection of essays about the Black experience that provided inspiration during difficult times.

"

I'm going to take the time to finish reading Tracey Michelle Lewis-Jigot's latest book, Black Joy Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration. It's a collection of essays of her thoughts regarding the black experience. It's really awesome and just gives me spirit during these hard times to be truthful.

Balls and Strikes : Understanding Tax Liability Cover

Tehrrek Fitzpatrick

Balls and Strikes

Understanding Tax Liability

The speaker mentioned having written in the book a few weeks before the podcast episode's recording date. The book's content was referenced in the context of the discussion surrounding Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination to the Supreme Court and her background as a public defender.

"

as I wrote in Balls and Strikes a few weeks ago Brown Jackson's history as a public defender is what makes her nomination so important

— Episode: Conservatives Dig Deep To Oppose Ketanji...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Conservatives Dig Deep To Oppose Ketanji Brown Jac...

The speaker mentioned having written in the book a few weeks before the podcast episode's recording date. The book's content was referenced in the context of the discussion surrounding Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination to the Supreme Court and her background as a public defender.

"

as I wrote in Balls and Strikes a few weeks ago Brown Jackson's history as a public defender is what makes her nomination so important

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