NPR's Book of the Day
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In need of a good read? Or just want to keep up with the books everyone's talking about? NPR's Book of the Day gives you today's very best writing in a snackable, skimmable, pocket-sized podcast. Whether you're looking to engage with the big questions of our times – or temporarily escape from them – we've got an author who will speak to you, all genres, mood and writing styles included. Catch today's great books in 15 minutes or less.
Categories: Arts
Listen to the last episode:
A new book from writer, BBC broadcaster and cellist Kate Kennedy tackles the stories of four cellists connected by a mutual musical obsession. Cello: A Journey Through Silence to Sound focuses on musicians like Lise Cristiani, the first female professional cello soloist, and Pál Hermann, a Jewish-Hungarian cellist captured by the Gestapo during World War II. In today's episode, Kennedy speaks with NPR's Daniel Estrin – also a cellist – about these musicians' histories and her own complicated relationship with her instrument.
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Previous episodes
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874 - Kate Kennedy's 'Cello' is part memoir, part musical detective story Wed, 15 Jan 2025
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873 - 'The Rest Is Memory' is a novel inspired by photos taken at Auschwitz Tue, 14 Jan 2025
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872 - Mark Lilla's new book explores the psychology and consequences of willful ignorance Mon, 13 Jan 2025
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871 - 'No Place to Bury the Dead', 'The Hunter' ask what lengths you'll go for others Fri, 10 Jan 2025
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870 - Daylight is something to celebrate in 'The Shortest Day' Thu, 09 Jan 2025
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869 - 'Small Things Like These' draws from the true story of Ireland's Magdalene Laundries Wed, 08 Jan 2025
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868 - A new book examines millennial nostalgia and the economic consequences of Y2K Tue, 07 Jan 2025
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867 - 'A Kwanzaa Keepsake and Cookbook' is an updated exploration of Kwanzaa's traditions Mon, 06 Jan 2025
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866 - 'King: A Life' and 'A Day in the Life of Abed Salama' are Pulitzer Prize winners Fri, 03 Jan 2025
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865 - In 'All Fours,' Miranda July tackles love, sex and reinvention in middle age Thu, 02 Jan 2025
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864 - Salman Rushdie's memoir 'Knife' recounts his attack and recovery Wed, 01 Jan 2025
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863 - Kaveh Akbar's novel 'Martyr!' is a journey of identity, addiction and poetry Tue, 31 Dec 2024
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862 - Percival Everett centers a new voice in 'James,' a retelling of 'Huckleberry Finn' Mon, 30 Dec 2024
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861 - BONUS: A biography and a memoir reexamine Jimmy Carter's extraordinary life Mon, 30 Dec 2024
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860 - 'Gather Me' and 'Subculture Vulture' are memoirs told through books and subcultures Fri, 27 Dec 2024
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859 - 'The Hanukkah Magic of Nate Gadol' is a mythical take on the Jewish holiday Thu, 26 Dec 2024
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858 - 'General Sherman's Christmas' captures the war-time holiday in Savannah 150 years ago Wed, 25 Dec 2024
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857 - New cookbook 'Jiggle!' aims to bring gelatin back in style Tue, 24 Dec 2024
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856 - 'Dylan Goes Electric!' is the book behind Timothée Chalamet's new Bob Dylan biopic Mon, 23 Dec 2024
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855 - Two books, two very different takes on Christmas stories Fri, 20 Dec 2024
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854 - 'When Southern Women Cook' is a diverse portrait of the American South's food culture Thu, 19 Dec 2024
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853 - Alizah Holstein writes about the complex echelons of academia in 'My Roman History' Wed, 18 Dec 2024
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852 - In 'Kingdom of No Tomorrow,' a young woman joins the Black Panther Party Tue, 17 Dec 2024
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851 - Colson Whitehead's novel 'The Nickel Boys' comes to the big screen Mon, 16 Dec 2024
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850 - Two books explore phases of female life, girlhood and womanhood Fri, 13 Dec 2024
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849 - In Zahid Rafiq's debut short story collection, the future of Kashmir is uncertain Thu, 12 Dec 2024
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848 - Remembering Nikki Giovanni, poet and icon of the Black Arts Movement Wed, 11 Dec 2024
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847 - Author of Wampanoag history discussed her children's book and erasure Tue, 10 Dec 2024
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846 - There is such a thing as too much quality time in Weike Wang's 'Rental House' Mon, 09 Dec 2024
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845 - 2 new nonfiction books explore the impact of cultural forces in the world of music Fri, 06 Dec 2024
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844 - Haruki Murakami's longtime editor spills the tea on working with the master Thu, 05 Dec 2024
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843 - In new memoir, Angela Merkel details her time as Germany's first woman chancellor Wed, 04 Dec 2024
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842 - A game design company has mysterious forces at play in the new YA thriller 'Darkly' Tue, 03 Dec 2024
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841 - In comedian Youngmi Mayer's new memoir, laughter is a lifeline Mon, 02 Dec 2024
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840 - 'Pig Years' and 'What the Chicken Knows' consider the interior worlds of farm animals Fri, 29 Nov 2024
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839 - A new cookbook from food journalist Mark Bittman invites kids into the kitchen Thu, 28 Nov 2024
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838 - In 'Growing Up Urkel,' actor Jaleel White reflects on a career-defining role Wed, 27 Nov 2024
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837 - NPR staffers pick their favorite reads of the year Tue, 26 Nov 2024
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836 - Bonnie Kistler's new thriller explores ageism from the lens of a murder Mon, 25 Nov 2024
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835 - Two nonfiction books take critical views of bankruptcy and microlending systems Fri, 22 Nov 2024
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834 - 'Say Nothing' tells the story of 'The Troubles' through one woman's murder Thu, 21 Nov 2024
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833 - In 'Citizen,' former President Clinton reflects on his post-White House years Wed, 20 Nov 2024
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832 - In a new version of 'The Cake Bible,' Rose Levy Beranbaum updates a culinary classic Tue, 19 Nov 2024
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831 - In the new novel 'Pony Confidential,' a crime-solving pony seeks revenge Mon, 18 Nov 2024
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830 - Two new books on Johnny Carson and Shirley MacLaine offer intimate views of celebrity Fri, 15 Nov 2024
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829 - Brit Barron's new book is a guide on maintaining relationships in a polarized world Thu, 14 Nov 2024
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828 - With 'Mystical Lotería,' Yvette Montoya reimagines a traditional Latino party game Wed, 13 Nov 2024
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827 - A parenting book by author Kelley Coleman focuses on the care of disabled children Tue, 12 Nov 2024
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826 - A shocking discovery follows an artist's death in Paula Hawkins' 'The Blue Hour' Mon, 11 Nov 2024
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825 - 'Tías and Primas' and 'Linguaphile' are new nonfiction books on family and language Fri, 08 Nov 2024