Podcast Summary: Reading Glasses Ep 451 – Being Well read with Rebecca Schinsky!
Date: February 26, 2026
Hosts: Brea Grant & Mallory O’Meara
Guest: Rebecca Schinsky (Chief of Staff, Book Riot; Host, Zero to Well Read podcast)
Overview
This episode delves deep into the meaning and value of being "well read." Hosts Brea and Mallory are joined by Rebecca Schinsky, who shares insights from her extensive career in books and her experience running the new podcast Zero to Well Read. The discussion unpacks the expectations and anxieties around reading widely, the flexibility of the term “well read,” and offers advice for anyone feeling overwhelmed about keeping up with the literary world. The episode also features listener questions, cozy book recommendations, and honest conversations about what makes a reader "well read"—and whether it matters.
What Are the Hosts Reading?
(00:41–04:30)
- Brea is reading The Knockout Queen by Rufi Thorpe, praising its immersive, effortless writing and complex characters.
- “You start reading, you’re like, wow, I’m so comfortable with where she’s taking me. Like, I’m on the journey in the bathtub.” (01:09, Brea)
- Mallory is reading Humble Cut by Alison Mick, described as eco-horror—“Jordan Peele meets Jeff VanderMeer” and “Redwood Gothic.” She loves its blend of humor with serious themes like eco-terrorism and family secrets.
Listener Feedback and Community Happenings
(04:30–08:20)
- Shelly from Minneapolis thanked the show for being a “light in the dark,” and shared how Mallory’s recommendation led her to discover Humble Cut.
- Aaron confessed to marking audiobooks as print on StoryGraph for page metrics—“no one's going to care.” (06:04, Brea)
- Emily’s daughter is in a 4th grade reading challenge—40 books in a year—which inspired Emily to explore new reading picks alongside her child.
- Upcoming Event: Reading Glasses Winter Readathon—March 1st, 10am–2pm PT, designed for “short king” readers who want a mini four-hour readathon experience.
Main Discussion: What Does It Mean To Be "Well Read"?
(09:26–40:26)
Introduction to Guest & Project
(09:41–12:49)
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Rebecca Schinsky introduces the Zero to Well Read podcast, which serves readers who fear being “called out” at a party for not knowing major books.
“Everyone is walking around with this secret fear...that you’re going to be at a cocktail party...where some dude in a black turtleneck...is like, ‘But what’s your take on Dostoevsky?’” (10:21, Rebecca)
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The show covers classics AND pop culture touchstones: Twilight, Judy Blume, Stephen King, as well as big literary names, seeking to broaden “well read” beyond just canonical works.
What Does "Well Read" Mean?
(12:49–15:42)
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Rebecca’s Definition:
“Being well read means having a general familiarity with foundational and socially relevant books, both what they’re about and why they’re important.” (14:02)- Includes Western canon, award-winners, and pop-cultural phenomena.
- “You just want to know what’s going on with books and why these books are important.”
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The Value of Context: Classics often refer to one another (Shakespeare, Greeks), so knowing them can deepen your experience with modern books.
Is It Possible—or Even Desirable—to Be "Well Read"?
(15:54–24:34)
- Genre Focus: Brea feels “well read” in YA and science fiction; Mallory claims horror as her “well read” space.
- Rebecca: Admits the definition is always shifting and emphasizes the journey: “The pursuit is the point, it’s the journey, not the destination.” (21:30)
- Seeing Your Gaps: Even professionals have major reading gaps; it’s about balancing expertise and curiosity.
“There’s always those trade-offs...Being expert in the things I’m expert in means that I don’t know nearly as much about horror as I would like to.” (20:35, Rebecca)
- Should We Strive for It?
- Rebecca is adamant: “Really only if it matters to you.” (22:40)
- There’s no virtue or moral high ground, and many “well read assholes” exist.
- “I just don’t think we need any more shoulds in our reading life.” (24:07)
How Does One Become Well Read—If They Want To?
(31:04–39:39)
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Rebecca’s Take: Build your own curriculum and consult award lists (National Book Award, Pulitzer). Seek out recommendations from podcasts, critics, or friends whose taste matches yours.
- “Find experts...farther down the path whose taste jives with yours.” (33:18)
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Mallory: Examine your intentions—don’t make it “pointless homework.”
- “I think the pursuit of being well read can be a really fun one that has a lot of benefits for you as long as you are doing it in a way that is going to improve your life and is not just pointless homework.” (36:30)
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Avoid Perfectionism:
- “Maybe take an experimental approach to it. Try out some of these books...see how it actually goes.” (37:52, Rebecca)
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Surprise Benefit: Rebecca shares that reading higher quality, classic works made her pickier and less tempted by distractions:
“Engaging with these really beautifully crafted books and high levels of art made me dnf a lot of things much faster...It’s also made me...more connected to what reading can do...which is a great gift.” (38:57)
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No Value Judgment:
- “There’s no value judgment on the term being well read. It’s the same to me as being jacked. Are you a good person? That has nothing to do with anything.” (31:07, Mallory)
Memorable Quotes & Moments
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On Classics and Age:
“As I was reading [The Great Gatsby], I was like, okay, I’m 43. That is the age to read The Great Gatsby. This is a book for middle-aged people who have seen some shit.” (11:24, Rebecca)
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On Well-Read Anxiety:
“People love to get mad.” (13:21, Mallory)
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On Fitting In:
“I think you can be well read in your particular corner of the book world, which is a pretty big place.” (19:29, Mallory)
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On Artificial Value:
“The idea of being a good enough reader or a good enough literary citizen is a really dumb construct of the Internet that people use to create misery for each other.” (30:57, Rebecca)
Listener Problem Solving: Putting Down an Unputdownable Book
(40:26–46:52)
Candice: “I cannot put down a good book—how can I motivate myself to do chores instead of reading?”
- Rebecca: Try “eat the frog” (get chores done first), or use a Pomodoro timer to alternate reading with chores.
- Brea: Switch to audiobook format to combine tasks.
- Mallory: Use a self-reward system—do chores first, then reward yourself with reading in the evening, knowing her “obsessive brain” can’t stop in the middle of a good story.
“If you’re an extreme level...just don’t pick up that book until nighttime.” (44:50, Mallory)
Book Recommendations:
(48:01–52:23)
Listener Erica is returning to fiction after a long break, looking for gentle entry points; she prefers nonfiction and is “terrified” of anything too intense.
- Rebecca:
- Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (“reads like a real oral history of a rock band”)
- James by Percival Everett
- The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy
- Ann Patchett for accessible literary fiction
- Suggests: “Go to your local bookstore and browse...Whatever you get that ‘click’ with is the book to start with.”
- Brea:
- Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop (“cozy,” “calming,” feels almost nonfictional)
- Mallory:
- How Much of These Hills is Gold by C. Pam Zhang (“part western, part literary, historical flavor but with gorgeous language”)
How to Connect & Final Thoughts
(52:23–end)
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Rebecca:
- Zero to Well Read podcast, available wherever you listen
- Book Riot Podcast for book news, monthly “It Books,” revisiting past bestsellers
- Bookriot.com and Book Riot on socials
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Mallory & Brea:
- Winter Readathon March 1st; subscribe to newsletter for book lists; send listener mail to readingglassespodcastmail.com; merch and more in show notes
Takeaways
- "Well read" means what you want it to mean—it’s not competitive, prescriptive, or about showing off. Pursue it if it brings you joy or enriches your reading life.
- You can be “well read” in a genre or era; it's not limited to classics.
- Build your own path: use award lists, friendly experts, or bookstores as guides.
- Don’t let anxieties about what you “should” read overwhelm you. Your reading life is yours alone.
Selected Timestamps:
- Brea’s “bathtub” metaphor for reading Rufi Thorpe: 01:09
- Rebecca on the genesis of Zero to Well Read: 10:04–11:46
- Rebecca’s definition of “well read”: 14:02
- “Is it worth striving for?” debate: 22:40–25:31
- Practical advice for becoming well read: 31:34–33:47
- Listener problem: how to put a great book down: 40:26–46:52
- Erica’s recommendation request (non-scary fiction): 48:01–52:23
Whether you want to read the classics, get deeper into your favorite genre, or just enjoy reading without guilt, this episode reassures: being “well read” is about curiosity and connection, not meeting someone else’s checklist. And if you need more help, there’s a spreadsheet for that.