Book Riot - The Podcast

Book Riot

News in the world of books and reading, including hot industry releases, adaptations, publishing industry events, and more with Book Riot’s Jeff O’Neal and Rebecca Schinsky.

Book Riot is the largest independent editorial book site in North America and home to a host of media, from podcasts to newsletters to original content, all designed around diverse readers and across all genres.

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920 episodes
Updated Wednesday

Episodes920

Newest first

Wednesday · 52 min
UPDATED The Latest Research on Gen Z's Reading Habits
Rebecca sits down with Portland State University researchers Kathi Inman Berens and Rachel Noorda to discuss the findings in their new book, How Gen Z Discover and Consume Books.
Monday · 1 hr 9 min
THE ODYSSEY Afterglow, Slop Biographies, Best Adaptations of the Century, and Much More.
Jeff and Rebecca enjoy The Odyssey afterglow, lament AI slop biographies, cover a bunch of adaptation news, recent reading, and much more.
July 20 · 59 min
Amazon's 50 Best-Selling Books of All-Time, a New FOURTH WING (sorta), a Fierce AI Lawsuit, and much more.
Jeff gets off some takes before the show gets going to talk about Amazon's best-selling books of all-time, a formidable new AI lawsuit, sales of THE ODYSSEY editions, recent reading, and much more.
July 15 · 46 min
The Hot List for July 2026
Jeff and Rebecca go over what books are selling, being talked about, and otherwise generating a little heat this month.
July 13 · 1 hr 1 min
Book Sales Down so Far in 2026, THE ODYSSEY Hype is Peaking, and more.
Jeff and Rebecca note the fever-pitch buzz for Nolan's The Odyssey, before talking about the state of book sales, mention some new book announcements, discuss recent reading, and much more.
July 8 · 1 hr 31 min
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER
Nolan's The Odyssey looms. Today we are sharing the episode we did on The Odyssey for Zero to Well-Read.
July 6 · 59 min
Big Time Book Announcements, PW's Fall Preview, the AI State of Play, and More.
Jeff and Rebecca rejoice over new Ishiguro and Everett announcements, have our concerns partially confirmed by the Klara & the Sun trailer, note PW's fall preview, and acknowledge the AI muck we are all going to have to deal with for the foreseeable future.
July 1 · 58 min
The It Books of July 2026
Jeff and Rebecca run through the candidates for the It Book of July 2026.
June 29 · 56 min
How Reading Became Sexy (but We're Doing Less of It)
Vanessa and Sharifah discuss the latest in American reading habits, another exciting 2027 book release, a batch of buzzy trailers and adaptation news, and an update to an AI scandal linked to a literary prize.
June 24 · 40 min
The Best Books of 2026 So Far
Jeff and Rebecca do a mid-year check-in about their favorite books of 2026 so far.
June 22 · 40 min
What 20,000 AI-Generated Stories Have in Common
Rebecca and Vanessa discuss recent research that reveals surprising commonalities between 20,000 AI-generated stories, the winners of the Lambda Literary Awards and more!
June 17 · 42 min
The Hot List for June 2026
Rebecca and Vanessa break down the books topping the best-of and bestseller lists as we near the halfway point of the year.
June 15 · 1 hr 2 min
The Publishing Pie is Getting Bigger, But Not Enough to Keep Up with The Slices
Jeff and Rebecca talk about the growth of the number of books (and authors) vying for reader dollars, continue to lament the long 2025 award season, wonder about the expansion of PRH's audio initiatives, talk about recent reading, and more.
June 10 · 47 min
The Messy Power Couple of the Harlem Renaissance
Vanessa Diaz returns to regale Rebecca with the messy tale of the marriage between a well-known Harlem Renaissance poet and the daughter of a famous public thinker.
June 8 · 1 hr 11 min
Best Books of the Year So Far Lists Have Begun. PLUS: Dr. Maria McCauley of the ALA
Jeff and Rebecca talk about some new best books of the year so far lists, adaptation news, recent reading, and more before talking with the new President of the American Library Association, Dr. Maria McCauley.
June 3 · 54 min
The It Books of June 2026
Jeff and Rebecca select the It Book of June 2026.
June 1 · 1 hr
The Summer Slowdown is Here
Jeff and Rebecca talk about a relatively sleepy week in book news, but James Daunt bails us out by not shutting up about AI books that don't exist.
May 27 · 52 min
2026 Summer Adaptation Preview
Jeff and Rebecca preview summer adaptations to check out this year.
May 25 · 1 hr 6 min
AI is Making Reading Really Messy.
Jeff and Rebecca talk about the full Guardian Best Novels of All-Time List, The International Book Prize Winner, a whole rat's nest of AI-related stories, recent reading, and more.
May 20 · 47 min
The Hot List for May 2026
Jeff and Rebecca talk about what books are making waves as summer gets rolling.

Book Riot - The Podcast

UPDATED The Latest Research on Gen Z's Reading Habits

THE ODYSSEY Afterglow, Slop Biographies, Best Adaptations of the Century, and Much More.

Amazon's 50 Best-Selling Books of All-Time, a New FOURTH WING (sorta), a Fierce AI Lawsuit, and much more.

The Hot List for July 2026

Book Sales Down so Far in 2026, THE ODYSSEY Hype is Peaking, and more.

THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER

Big Time Book Announcements, PW's Fall Preview, the AI State of Play, and More.

The It Books of July 2026

How Reading Became Sexy (but We're Doing Less of It)

The Best Books of 2026 So Far

What 20,000 AI-Generated Stories Have in Common

The Hot List for June 2026

The Publishing Pie is Getting Bigger, But Not Enough to Keep Up with The Slices

The Messy Power Couple of the Harlem Renaissance

Best Books of the Year So Far Lists Have Begun. PLUS: Dr. Maria McCauley of the ALA

The It Books of June 2026

The Summer Slowdown is Here

2026 Summer Adaptation Preview

AI is Making Reading Really Messy.

The Hot List for May 2026