First Edition

Book Riot

4.8 (92)
BOOKS
UPDATED BIWEEKLY

BookRiot.com co-founder Jeff O'Neal explores the wide bookish world. Interviews, lists, rankings, retrospectives, recommendations, and much more, featuring people who know and love books.

OCT 28

Erin Somers on THE TEN YEAR AFFAIR and Naomi Huffman on Katherine Dunn

Jeff is joined by Erin Somers to talk about her terrific new novel, The Ten Year Affair. Then, editor Naomi Huffman on Katherine Dunn, Geek Love, and the new collection of Dunn's work, Near Flesh. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Check out Zero to Well-Read, wherever you get your podcasts. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1h 8m
OCT 9

Censorship, Inclusivity, Book Banning and more with Hachette CEO David Shelley

Hachette CEO David Shelley joins Jeff to talk about how Hachette is fighting book bans and censorship, working on greater exclusivity and access, and other issues facing publishing today. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Check out Zero to Well-Read, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

38 min
OCT 7

The Guggenheim Fellowships at 100

Over its first century The Guggenheim Fellowships have supported more than 19,000 artists, writers, thinkers, scientists, and makers of ideas and culture in America. In honor of this milestone, The Guggenheim Fellowship at 100, on view at The New York Historical Society through November 30th, shows off correspondence, application materials, cultural objects, and other signs and tokens of what Guggenheim these fellowships and fellows have done. In this episode, Jeff talks to Guggenheim President Edward Hirsch about the fellowships and what they mean. Then, Hanna Pennington, Associate Director and Archivist at the Guggenheim, joins to talk about the work and materials that went into making this exhibition. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

47 min
SEP 25

Sasha Bonét on THE WATERBEARERS and Jason Diamond on KAPLAN'S PLOT

Jeff talks with Sasha Bonét about her memoir, The Waterbearers. Then, Jason Diamond joins to talk about his debut novel, Kaplan's Plot. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1h 21m
SEP 4

How to Make a Literary Festival with Amanda Bullock and Creating Modern Book Coverage with Boris Kachka

First Edition returns after a summer hiatus. Amanda Bullock of Portland's Literary Arts talks about how to make a literary festival, Literary Arts growth over the past several years, and advice for book festival attendees. Then, The Atlantic Books editor Boris Kachka joins to talk about The Atlantic's new The Writer's Way series and creating modern book coverage. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Discussed in this episode: The 2025 Portland Book Festival Literary Arts The Writer's Way Series at The Atlantic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1h 22m
JUL 18

What Are Social Media Algorithms Doing to How We Talk?

Jeff talks to Adam Aleksic about his new book, Algospeak: How Social Media is Transforming the Future of Language. Not sure if you will better or worse about how algorithms, censorship, and influencer culture are shaping language, but you will at least understand it better. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Looking to elevate your reading life? Tailored Book Recommendations delivers reading recommendations hand-picked just for you by real human book nerds. Plans start at just $18! This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode: Algospeak: How Social Media is Transforming the Future of Language by Adam Aleksic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

26 min
JUL 3

HOT GIRLS WITH BALLS by Benedict Nguyen

Jeff talks about Hot Girls with Balls with author Benedict Nguyen. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. The Book Riot Podcast Live at Powell’s on July 9th, 2025 This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

36 min
JUN 26

A Rare Bookseller Turns to Fantasy: Oliver Darkshire & ISABELLA NAGG AND THE POT OF BASIL

Jeff talks to rare-bookseller turned fantasy author Oliver Darkshire about his debut work of fantasy, Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil. Darkshire's breakout memoir of being an accidental rare bookseller is Once Upon a Tome. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. The Book Riot Podcast Live at Powell’s on July 9th, 2025 This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

27 min

See All (71)

TRAILER

Announcing FIRST EDITION: A New Book Riot Podcast

Announcing FIRST EDITION: BookRiot.com co-founder Jeff O'Neal explores the wide bookish world. Interviews, lists, rankings, retrospectives, recommendations, and much more, featuring people who know and love books. Follow on Instagram @FirstEdPod and Twitter @FirstEdPod. And also sign up for the free companion newsletter! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

03/17/2023

•

1 min

4.8

out of 5

92 Ratings

Great!

Mar 27

readerincolorado

Love the Reading Life episodes!
Fellow book nerds this podcast is for you

Mar 21

BlueBirdRSC

This is a great edition to the Book Riot podcasts. Very interesting topics. Industry insights, author interviews that discuss writing techniques; how they’ve developed their craft etc. Jeff is a great host and asks very insightful questions.
Love this!!

10/24/2023

MichaelaRundle

Love this new addition to the Book Riot podcasts. I’m getting so many new book recommendations and have found myself persuaded to read books I wasn’t previously excited about (and possibly a bit of the opposite, too, which I appreciate so I’m not spinning my wheels on books I’m not going to love). Looking forward to November’s episode already!!
Dismissive of popular fiction…

12/12/2023

filmilibrarian

…their site should be called, Book Snob. This last episode where they picked the It Books of the Year was my last Book Riot podcast (and I’ve subscribed to many of their shows over several years). They weren’t picking the “best” of the year, instead the “it” books of the year and of course Fourth Wing and Spare should have both been on it, not just Fourth Wing begrudgingly. For the record, I’ve not read either. But they were two of the most talked about books of the year! For the record. I’m a liberal, rare book librarian who reads across genres and you would think I would be their target demographic. But, no thanks! Not anymore.

BookRiot.com co-founder Jeff O'Neal explores the wide bookish world. Interviews, lists, rankings, retrospectives, recommendations, and much more, featuring people who know and love books.