Book Riot – The Podcast

Episode: Deals Deals Deals for August 2025 [Teaser]
Hosts: Jeff O’Neal and Rebecca Schinsky
Date: August 29, 2025

Overview

In this teaser episode, Jeff O’Neal and Rebecca Schinsky (Book Riot) run through a lively, insightful “window shopping” session of hot new book deals recently announced in the publishing world. The segment highlights intriguing forthcoming titles and broader industry trends, touching on popular nonfiction, emerging fiction trends, and significant seven-figure deals. The tone remains conversational, opinionated, and playful—with honest assessments and some deep cut literary references.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Premise of the "Deals" Episode

• Window Shopping Not Curation:
  Jeff frames this quarterly update as keeping tabs on interesting book deal announcements—not personal recommendations, not curation, but a way to put exciting titles on listeners’ future radar.
  • “This is more like window shopping than it is curation or, you know, annotated bibliography.” (B, 00:23)
• No Show Notes or Links:
  Since these are new deals, pre-orders and links don’t exist yet.

2. Adam Grant’s Upcoming Book “Vibe”

• Book Announcement:
  Adam Grant, prolific organizational psychologist and bestselling author, will release Vibe: The Secrets of Strong Connections in a Lonely World with Viking next year. It explores the science of forming and sustaining meaningful human connections.
• Shifting Focus / Brand Trajectory:
  The hosts reflect on Grant’s evolution, noting how topic selection has shifted from “nerdier” territory to broad mainstream appeal.
  • “There’s not, it’s not quite regression to the mean.” (A, 02:34)
  • “It’s like ascension to the mean… a move toward a more common denominator.” (B, 02:38)
  • Concern is expressed that as Grant achieves greater mainstream success, the work risks becoming less distinctive and more generalized, though it still serves a much-needed cultural purpose.
    • “With each successive Adam Grant book, I’m a little less guaranteed to be in.” (A, 04:13)
• Notable Comparison:
  • Contrasted with Daniel Kahneman and Oliver Sacks, both known for retaining uniqueness in their fields even after mainstream success.
    • "[Kahneman] was never a take artist… until he died." (B, 04:24)
    • “[Sacks] was able to take these really scientific, fascinating medical things and spin them into fascinating stories that you did not have to be a medical person to relate to or be awed by.” (A, 04:59)

3. Exciting Forthcoming Literary Nonfiction

• Karen Karbiener, "American Cosmos"
  A new biography on Walt Whitman, promising fresh perspectives on his career, queerness, wellness philosophies, and methods of self-promotion. This was a clear favorite for Jeff.
  • “That’s one for me.” (B, 05:46)
  • “Yeah, that is—looking forward to that.” (A, 05:48)

4. Trends in Fiction

• Rise of "Horror Romantasy":
  Observations of a growing subgenre combining elements of horror with romantic fantasy, outpacing the previously hot “dark academia.”
  • “Emergent trend, maybe even after dark academia, is horror romantasy… but scarier.” (B, 05:52)

5. Major Fiction Deals

• Philip Meyer’s Roman Epic
  • New, as-yet-untitled novel from the acclaimed author of Rust and The Son, focusing on Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius. Hosts speculate it won’t be mere fodder for the “Stoic bros” podcast crowd, but something more complex and “spiky.”
    • “I would expect this to be spiky in some way that might be unexpected to the Stoic podcast bros—but very enjoyable.” (A, 06:46)
• Yvonne Normandin, "The Good Parts"
  • A much-buzzed, seven-figure dual-timeline speculative love story pitched as “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind meets Rebecca Serle’s In Five Years.” It involves irreversible memory erasure and second-chance romance. International rights sales were particularly strong.
    • “So that's what you get seven figures for these days.” (B, 06:54)
    • “That's going to have a movie deal attached to it, if it doesn't already soon.” (A, 07:30)
    • “You're gonna hear about this.” (B, 07:35)

6. Forthcoming Narrative Nonfiction

• New Yorker Staff Writer’s “Tear Down, Build Over: The Story of New York, New York in Ten Real Estate Deals”
  • Jeff’s enthusiasm is obvious; combining New York’s history, real estate, and magazine journalism makes this a must-follow.
    • “Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner. New York real estate in 10 deals.” (A, 08:16)
    • “Come on, New Yorker staff writer, let’s go.” (B, 08:22)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “There’s not, it’s not quite regression to the mean.” (A, 02:34)
• “It’s like ascension to the mean.” (B, 02:38)
• “If an Adam Grant book stops having charts, I will be very sad.” (A, 02:45)
• “With each successive Adam Grant book, I’m a little less guaranteed to be in.” (A, 04:13)
• “[Sacks] was able to spin [medical things] into fascinating stories that you did not have to be a medical person to relate to or be awed by.” (A, 04:59)
• “Horror romantasy, romanticy, but scarier.” (B, 05:52)
• “Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner. New York real estate in 10 deals.” (A, 08:16)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 00:23 – Introduction & premise for the “Deals” episode
• 01:29 – Discussion of Adam Grant’s new book “Vibe”
• 03:32 – Reflections on Grant’s COVID-era writing & broader trends in self-help
• 04:24 – Daniel Kahneman and Oliver Sacks comparisons
• 05:13 – Announcement of Karen Karbiener’s Walt Whitman biography
• 05:52 – Observing trends: horror romantasy
• 06:09 – Philip Meyer’s forthcoming Marcus Aurelius novel
• 06:54 – Big money deal: Yvonne Normandin’s “The Good Parts”
• 08:03 – “Winner” pick: New Yorker staffer’s NYC real estate book

Conclusion

This teaser effectively whets listeners’ appetites for what’s new and buzzy across genres, mixing humor, critical insight, and genuine booknerd giddiness. The episode is both an industry snapshot and a trusted friend tipping you off to the titles—and trends—you’ll be talking about in a year or two.

For the full conversation and deeper dives, listeners are prompted to join Book Riot’s Patreon.