Episode Overview

Podcast: The Stacks
Host: Traci Thomas
Guest: Kiley Reid (Booker Prize Judge, Author)
Episode Title: Unabridged: Behind the Booker Prize with Kiley Reid
Date: October 24, 2025

In this episode, Traci Thomas sits down with acclaimed novelist Kiley Reid to take listeners behind the scenes of literary prize judging—specifically, the 2025 Booker Prize. Reid, one of five judges for this year’s prestigious prize, reveals the logistics, pressures, and (often nerdy) joys of narrowing down 153 submitted novels to a single winner.

Main Theme

Unveiling the Booker Prize Judging Experience:
Kiley Reid shares her candid, often amusing account of what it’s like to be tapped as a judge for one of the literary world’s most prominent awards. She brings listeners inside the secretive and intensive process—discussing everything from the logistics of the call, to reading strategies, to the odd demands of literary marathoning.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Moment of the Offer (02:54–04:01)

• Recruitment Surprise: Kiley heard from her friend Sarah Collins (a Booker judge the previous year) that the Booker Prize president was interested in contacting her. Despite clues in emails, Kiley assumed it was a more routine request—“maybe to write something,” she jokes.
• Emotional Impact: On receiving the invite, Kiley is overwhelmed:

  “I laid on the floor in my daughter’s room. I was, like, bowled over. … It is the biggest privilege to be put in a situation where you’re forced to read so much and kind of remember why you started.” (03:19–03:35)

• Comparison to Ballet:

  “It’s like if you’re a ballerina and someone’s like, ‘I want you to take a barre class every day, all day, and remember why you started this.’” (03:46–03:54)

2. The Reality Check: Excitement vs. Practicality (04:13–05:32)

• Initial Reactions: Traci admits her reaction would be: “This sounds like a lot of work. Can I? Will I? Should I?” (04:13–04:24)
• Overwhelmed but Eager: Despite a planned move to the Netherlands and a two-year-old daughter, Kiley says, “I was too excited to be smart and ask those questions. … I thought, I’ll make it work. I’m never going to have this opportunity again.” (04:36–05:05)
• Admits Sacrifice:

  “Did it kick me in the head so hard and make me understand that I could not write my own stuff immediately? Yeah.” (05:19–05:23) She prioritized the move and Booker commitment over her own writing.

3. Explaining the Booker Prize (06:00–07:17)

• What Sets Booker Apart: It’s a fiction prize for all English-speaking books published in the UK and/or Ireland. Since opening to American authors a decade or two ago, submissions span global Anglophone literature.
• Full Immersion:

  “What I think is special about the Booker Prize is that all of the judges are reading all of the books.” (06:47–06:51)

• Comparison with Other Prizes: Reid highlights that, unlike some juries which split reading assignments, every Booker judge reads every single submission.

4. The Logistics of Reading 153 Books (08:54–10:46)

• Volume of Work:

  “That’s what we had. … 153 books.” (08:54–08:56)

• Reading Strategies:
  • “I would pick two books that were kind of the same size and I would, like, make them compete, basically.” (09:00–09:06)
  • Running “matchups” of one hour with each book, with breaks in between.
  • She learned to “walk and read at the same time” to keep moving and get through material. (09:17–09:27)
• On Skimming Books: While you can skim, Reid stresses: “There are books that are from really heavy hitters and even if you don’t like them, you want to come in with a strong argument. So you want to read every book.” (07:46–07:57)

Notable Moment

“Another thing I really had to do was learn how to walk and read at the same time. … I found this stretch of woods so I could just walk back and forth.” (09:17–09:27)

5. Neurofeedback for Focus (09:36–10:37)

• High-Tech Help: Kiley did neurofeedback training—often used by athletes or people recovering from brain injuries—to improve her focus and stamina for reading.
• How It Works:

  “They basically put electrodes to your brain and you watch screens … when your brain is moving in the way that it’s supposed to, the screen stays lit up. … So it’s training your brain to redo those pathways.” (09:51–10:18)

• Traci Jokes About Sponsorship:

  “I need a brand deal for Neuro, whatever the fuck. I will be your influencer of choice.” (10:38–10:41)

6. Prize Submission Structure & Panel Dynamics (07:57–08:49)

• Automatic Entries and Publisher Limits: Previously shortlisted authors’ new books are automatically submitted. Publishers choose a certain number of titles to put forward.
• Judge’s Power of Recommendation: Panelists can flag omitted titles for consideration, but it’s rare and the suggested book must really stand out.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Opportunity:

  “[Being a judge is] the biggest privilege to be put in a situation where you’re forced to read so much and kind of remember why you started.”—Kiley Reid (03:22–03:30)

• On Judging:

  “We’re all reading every single book and, and making each other change their minds and making people read.”—Kiley Reid (07:02–07:11)

• On Life Balance:

  “Did it kick me in the head so hard and make me understand that I could not write my own stuff immediately? Yeah. I mean, between my move and reading I just had to only do the move and the book. The Booker. That was all I had time for.” —Kiley Reid (05:18–05:32)

• On Strategy:

  “I would pick two books that were kind of the same size and I would, like, make them compete, basically. … I had to learn to walk and read at the same time. … I found this stretch of woods so I could just walk back and forth.”—Kiley Reid (09:03–09:27)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:54] — Kiley describes her surprise invitation and emotional reaction
• [04:36] — Accepting the offer despite personal upheaval
• [06:09] — Explanation of the Booker Prize's scope and uniqueness
• [07:57] — Details about how books get on the list and judge responsibilities
• [08:54] — The daunting task: “153 books”
• [09:00] — Head-to-head book reading strategy
• [09:36] — Neurofeedback as a focus tool
• [10:38] — Traci’s quip about becoming a neurofeedback influencer

Overall Tone & Style

The episode is informal, honest, and often humorous—Traci and Kiley share real talk about high-pressure reading and literary prize logistics. There’s a real mutual enthusiasm for books and the behind-the-scenes world of judging, plus a willingness to spotlight both the nerdy pleasures and daunting challenges of the process.