Book Riot – The Podcast

Episode: A Proposed Nationwide Book Ban, The NYPL’s Most Checked Out Books of All-Time, and more

Date: March 2, 2026
Hosts: Jeff O’Neal (sitting in for Rebecca), Sharifa Williams

Episode Overview

This episode covers pressing news in the book world, led by a discussion about a newly proposed nationwide book ban in the U.S. The hosts also dive into the NYPL’s most checked out books of all time, share listener follow-up on audiobooks and print/ebook synergies, discuss prize longlists, indie bookstore triumphs, and adaptations of literary classics. Packed with commentary, anecdotes, and in-depth analysis, the episode blends industry headlines with reader nostalgia and practical reading life tips.

1. The Nationwide Book Ban Proposal (Main Theme)

[32:29–35:55]

Headline Discussion:

• HR 7661, aka the "Stop the Sexualization of Children Act," was introduced in Congress. If enacted, it would prohibit public schools from providing or promoting any literature deemed "sexually oriented" to minors.
• Introduced by Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) with 17 co-signers.
• The act uses intentionally vague, sweeping definitions—anything related to sex could be flagged.
• Sharifa: "It's preposterous. Like, it's obviously written in bad faith from the name of it, because who's gonna—who wants to say no to something called the Stop the Sexualization of Children Act?" [33:08]
• The bill references “lewd and lascivious dancing,” evoking comparisons to the movie "Footloose."
• The law would initially affect only public schools, but similar tactics are known to spread to public libraries.
• While chances of passage are unclear, it’s important for listeners to be informed, stay politically active on the topic, and check out Kelly Jensen's comprehensive reporting for deeper context.

Notable Quotes:

• Jeff: “This seems to have been the most successful tactic right now in book bans and censorship, which is to make very broad and sweeping laws, regulations, guidelines... that are really vague about sex, so that anything related to sex can be flagged.” [32:20]
• Sharifa: “It is hard sometimes to see how a bill like this can have a broader effect and how it can be the start of many similar bills and many other ways to silence certain people's stories” [33:57]

2. NYPL’s Most Checked Out Books of All Time

[13:06–26:15]

Overview:

• The New York Public Library released its list of the top 10 most checked out books in its 125-year history.
• The top spots are dominated by children’s books. Adult titles like "1984" and "To Kill a Mockingbird" are notably present.

Top 10 NYPL Most Checked Out Books:

1. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
2. The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
3. 1984 by George Orwell
4. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
5. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
6. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
7. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
8. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
9. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
10. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Segment Highlights:

• Jeff and Sharifa play a guessing game, offering hints for the top spots.
• Discussion about why children's books dominate ("kids check them out over and over; longer shelf life").
• Surprised by certain classics’ positions, especially the enduring popularity of self-help title "How to Win Friends and Influence People."

Memorable Moment:

• Discussion of "Goodnight Moon" being excluded from the list for 25 years because of a single influential librarian, Anne Carroll Moore.
  • Sharifa (laughing/shocked): "What problem could anybody have with Goodnight Moon? ... That's like a vendetta against a children's book." [26:40]
• Deep dive into Anne Carroll Moore's eccentric "Not Approved by Expert" stamp and librarian lore.

Quote:

• Jeff: "Time in market really matters. And children's books and these contemporary readable classics... are all really page turner too." [22:14]
• Sharifa: “I think I am kind of surprised that The Very Hungry Caterpillar didn't get up higher on the list… it just feels so ubiquitous in children’s literature.” [23:28]

3. Listener Follow-Up: Audiobook & Ebook/Print Book Synergy

[09:09–13:06]

Summary:

• Listeners wrote in with tips for bundling audiobooks and ebooks (notably, Amazon’s “Whispersync”, which offers discounts on audiobooks when you already own the ebook edition).
• Discussion about switching between audio and print/ebook formats.
• Sharifa: “With most books that are just regular old chapter-long chapters, I find it easier... to find the page in the physical copy. I can scan the text.” [11:55]
• Jeff: “Flippability is real... Flipping is hard on audio.” [12:26]
• The “page match” feature is useful for those who regularly bounce between formats.

4. Dystopian Canon and NYPL List Context

[02:23–05:55]

• Both hosts reflect on the lasting relevance of "1984" in literary and popular culture, especially in light of ongoing censorship battles.
• Discussion expands to the broader dystopian canon: Atwood, Octavia Butler ("Parable of the Sower"), Malka Older’s "Infomocracy", and YA dystopias like "The Hunger Games".
• Sharifa: “Octavia Butler is the person I would think of for this because of Parable of the Sower. And it has the same sort of rise in popularity in recent years as 1984 does.” [03:57]

5. Major Book News Headlines

a. International Booker Prize Longlist

[36:12–40:59]

• Jeff and Sharifa discuss their perennial shame at not having read many longlisted international titles.
• Sharifa’s anticipated pick: "The Witch" by Marie Ndiaye (coming to the U.S. in April).
  • Sharifa: "Of course I have to read it because it's called The Witch and it's about twin daughters. I have twin daughters..." [38:33]
• Complaints about "longlist creep" – these lists are getting too long.
  • Jeff: "We can't do 16 titles ... Ten at the most for a longlist." [39:54]

b. Indie Bookstore Win: Mother Foucault’s in Portland

[41:02–47:40]

• Portland's Mother Foucault’s Bookshop successfully crowdfunded (with some mysterious benefactor help) a down payment to buy its building—a method for indie bookstores to control their own destiny.
• Sharifa: "I think that this could be successful as a model for other independent bookshops that are specifically deeply rooted in the community and have evolved beyond the small business model into more of a third place, like a library." [45:00]

c. Upcoming Literary Adaptations: Pride and Prejudice & Jane Eyre

[49:02–59:16]

• Two TV adaptations announced:
  • New "Pride and Prejudice" miniseries with a moodier, Brontëesque teaser trailer.
  • New "Jane Eyre" series starring Amy Lou Wood (of White Lotus fame).
• Sharifa’s favorites: the BBC "Pride and Prejudice". Mixed feelings toward the Keira Knightley adaptation.
• Both hosts debate adaptation styles and actor choices.
  • Sharifa: “I was like, wow. They're like, really? It feels ... different than what I would expect from an adaptation for Pride and Prejudice.” [51:37]
• Mini history of Jane Eyre movies—many, but few that have permeated pop culture.

6. Frontlist Foyer: What Are We Reading?

[60:51–63:49]

• Sharifa: "The Seven Daughters of Dupree" by Nikisha Elise Williams

  • Generational saga spanning 19th-century Alabama to 1990s Chicago. Historical, moving, with a powerful matrilineal story.
  • Sharifa: “It is a hard read, but it is so good. I love a generational saga. This speaks to my heart.” [61:58]

• Jeff: "Two Women Living Together" by Kim Hana & Hwang Sunwoo (trans. from Korean)

  • Memoir about two women buying a house together platonically.
  • Found it interesting but wanted more introspection and depth: "I kind of wanted more of a story and more of. I don't. I guess I wanted to feel more like a family story. But they happen to be two single women who aren't romantically entangled, but they are entangled by a real estate transaction." [62:58]
  • Currently ensconced in Patrick Radden Keefe’s "London Calling" (not finished at time of recording, but extremely engaged).

7. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On "How to Win Friends and Influence People":
  • Jeff: "[It’s] the original sort of self-business slash self-help crossover... it’s number 8 with 284,000 checkouts." [19:57]
• On Anne Carroll Moore’s Library Power:
  • Sharifa: "She had a stamp which read 'Not Approved by Expert' which she would stamp in the books that she didn't like." [27:46]
• On Indie Bookstore Real Estate:
  • Jeff: "So many times a bookstore closes not necessarily because its fundamental business is bad or unprofitable, but the realities of the real estate market and landlords and commercial real estate, it can't keep up." [43:08]

8. Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:03] Episode begins with news about the book ban proposal
• [09:09] Listener email segment – audiobook/ebook/print switching
• [13:06] NYPL Top 10 most checked out books (Game & analysis)
• [19:57] "How to Win Friends and Influence People" chat
• [26:04] "Goodnight Moon" library ban lore
• [32:29] Headline: Proposed federal book ban
• [36:12] International Booker Prize longlist
• [41:02] Mother Foucault’s Indie bookstore story
• [49:02] Upcoming "Pride and Prejudice" and "Jane Eyre" adaptations
• [60:51] Frontlist Foyer: current reads
• [65:09] Teasers for upcoming Book Riot content

9. Tone & Style

The tone is warm, bookish, witty, and sometimes gently irreverent. The hosts provide deep dives and tangents with a literary-loving audience in mind. They balance critique and appreciation, invite participatory guessing games, and pepper the discussion with personal anecdotes and thought-provoking questions.

For More:

• Extended reading: Kelly Jensen’s reporting on book bans via Book Riot
• NYPL’s complete 125-year most checked out list
• International Booker Prize longlist (2026)
• Mother Foucault’s campaign updates
• Adaptation casting news

Contact:
podcast@bookriot.com
Bookriot.com/listen for show notes

End of Summary