NPR's Book of the Day

Episode: A Claire McCardell biography and an AI sci-fi are among NPR’s top book picks of 2025
Host: Andrew Limbong (A/B) | Guests: Michelle Martin (D), Scott Detrow (F)
Date: November 28, 2025

Overview

This episode celebrates the release of NPR’s annual “Books We Love” list for 2025, spotlighting standout nonfiction and fiction titles as recommended by the entire NPR staff. Host Andrew Limbong joins Morning Edition’s Michelle Martin and All Things Considered’s Scott Detrow to discuss some of the year's most buzzworthy books, ranging from insightful biographies to genre-bending sci-fi and contemporary family dramas. The conversation dives into why this book list is different, uncovers memorable picks, and offers listeners targeted reading inspiration for every interest.

Main Topics & Key Discussion Points

1. The Books We Love List: What Sets it Apart

Timestamps: [01:13], [06:22]

• Andrew explains the process:

  • The Books We Love list isn’t curated just by the books desk or critics, but by asking everyone across NPR – producers, editors, even those on the business side – for their favorites.
  • “It’s a democratic way of doing a best-of-year list… We’re not saying, ‘here’s the 10 best books of the year.’ We’re saying, ‘here’s a couple of options. You’re going to find something you love.’” – Andrew Limbong [06:33]

• Size and usability:

  • Approximately 380 books across genres, moods, and tags (“not just fiction and nonfiction, but also book club ideas, love and romance, for sports lovers… You can mix and stack the tags”). [01:51]
  • Makes for “an eclectic and diverse mix” where anyone can find the perfect gift or personal read. [07:25]

2. Notable Nonfiction Picks

Timestamps: [02:31] – [04:48]

Claire McCardell: The Designer Who Set Women Free by Elizabeth Evitz Dickinson

• Why it’s notable:
  • Claire McCardell, a fashion designer of the 1930s and 40s, is credited with making American women's wear more practical (and giving them pockets).
  • The biography also explores America’s search for its own aesthetic identity.
  • “Like a lot of good biographies, it’s not just about McCardell as a designer, but it’s also about America’s search for its own aesthetic identity.” – Andrew Limbong [03:03]

Medicine: A Story of Survival and the Legacy of Indian Boarding Schools by Mary Annette Pember

• Overview:
  • Deep reporting on brutal federally funded schools that tried to assimilate Native American children, spanning the 1800s to 1970s.
  • Pember has a personal family connection to the topic, enriching the narrative.
  • “It’s a deeply reported story that Pember has direct ties to through her family.” – Andrew Limbong [03:45]

Toni at Random by Dana A. Williams

• Focus:
  • A dive into Toni Morrison’s transformative impact as an editor, particularly her support of writers like Muhammad Ali and Angela Davis.
  • “She wasn’t just, you know, line editing their copy, but really championing her writers in the publishing offices.” – Andrew Limbong [03:57]

James Baldwin: A Love Story by Nicholas Boggs

• Highlight:
  • An expansive new biography exploring Baldwin’s life and legacy.
  • “If you know a lot about Baldwin, you learn things. If you don’t… it really will whet your app[...] I just had no idea what a footprint he had. I just can't say enough about it.” – Michelle Martin [04:30]
  • Clocking in at about 600 pages—“It’ll more than whet your appetite. It’s huge, right? It’s like a good 600 pages.” – Andrew Limbong [04:43]

3. Fiction Picks: Genres, Drama, and Hidden Gems

Timestamps: [07:31] – [09:45]

Friends to Lovers by Sally Blakely

• Description:
  • Romance about two longtime friends who become each other’s plus ones at a wedding; rich in genre awareness and playful with romance tropes.
  • “Like all good romance novels, I think this book is super aware of the tropes… and the genre conventions it is playing with.” – Andrew Limbong [07:36]

Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor

• Premise:
  • A meta sci-fi novel, split between the story of an author who becomes famous for her book about sentient AI and aliens, and excerpts from the in-universe book itself.
  • “Half of the book is the author grappling with becoming super duper famous, and the other half is the sci-fi book that she actually wrote. And these two narratives play off of each other in interesting ways.” – Andrew Limbong [08:19]

Canon by Lee Lai

• Why Andrew picked it:
  • A melancholy graphic novel about a woman emotionally stretched thin by caregiving and relationships, portrayed through sparse yet striking artwork.
  • “She’s the support system for all of these people, but she has no support system for herself… The artwork is really beautiful. It’s really subdued and it’s sparse. There’s a lot of blank space… a super dramatic way of portraying her life crumbling.” – Andrew Limbong [08:26]

Among Friends by Hal Ebbitt

• Setting:
  • Two old friends (and their families) rent a holiday house together, resulting in a dramatic unraveling of relationships after a mysterious incident.
  • “The family drama at play is half of the fun. The other is like just some really stunning writing.” – Andrew Limbong [09:27]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the list’s breadth:

  • “It is so big that people in my life have not caught on that I get them a gift based on this website just about every single year.” – Scott Detrow [07:19]

• Gift-giving hack:

  • “Oh man, I’m visiting my father-in-law. I forgot. Let me find something real quick.” – Andrew Limbong [07:25]

• Playful podcast banter:

  • “We’re just bigger and better than the other guys, you know what I mean?” – Andrew Limbong [06:33]
  • “That is Andrew Limbong trash talking other book lists and hosting NPR’s Book of the Day podcast.” – Scott Detrow [09:54]

Timeline of Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------------| | 01:13 | Introduction to Books We Love process | | 02:31 | Nonfiction recommendations with Michelle Martin | | 03:03 | Claire McCardell biography discussed | | 03:17 | Medicine by Mary Annette Pember highlighted | | 03:57 | Toni at Random/Toni Morrison’s editorial legacy | | 04:30 | Discussion of James Baldwin biography | | 07:31 | Pivot to fiction picks with Scott Detrow | | 07:36 | Friends to Lovers & Death of the Author introduced | | 08:26 | Lee Lai's Canon graphic novel recommendation | | 09:12 | Among Friends, holiday family drama pick | | 09:54 | Humorous outro & endorsement of the list’s breadth |

Tone & Experience

• The episode is brisk, friendly, and accessible, designed to demystify reading choices and celebrate NPR’s democratic, broad-ranging approach to book recommendations.
• Hosts are engaging and playful, dropping in personal anecdotes and encouraging listeners to explore beyond their usual picks.
• Ideal for both serious readers and those looking for gift ideas or an entry point into new genres.

Conclusion

Whether you're hunting for moving history, sharp biography, contemporary family drama, or clever genre-benders, NPR’s “Books We Love” list and this episode offer a launchpad for your next great read. Explore the full interactive guide at npr.org/bestbooks for many more discoveries.