Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?

The Thread® - Books and Literary News

The Thread® is your source for book recommendations and other literary news.

Ask a Bookseller

Ask a Bookseller is a weekly series where The Thread checks in with booksellers around the country about their favorite books of the moment. Listen to Ask a Bookseller to find your next favorite book.

Big Books and Bold Ideas

Big Books and Bold Ideas is a weekly series hosted by Kerri Miller every Friday at 11 a.m., featuring conversations about books and other literary ideas. Listen to Big Books and Bold Ideas here.

Sign Up for The Thread® Newsletter

Sign up for The Thread newsletter to get reading recommendations from Kerri Miller and other bookworms around the MPR newsroom. Find reviews for new releases, as well as hidden gems you may have missed.

Talking Volumes

Talking Volumes is an annual event series featuring notable authors in conversation about their new books. Presented by MPR News and The Minnesota Star Tribune. 

Chester Higgins' camera brings a 360-degree view to Black life

Chester Higgins' camera brings a 360-degree view to Black life

Acclaimed African American photographer Chester Higgins has made dozens of trips to Africa since the 1970s to document the continent's history and culture. Now 75, he has no plans on slowing down.
by Jon Kalish

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Brace yourself for 'Young Mungo,' a nuanced heartbreaker of a novel

Brace yourself for 'Young Mungo,' a nuanced heartbreaker of a novel

Scottish author Douglas Stuart won the Booker Prize for his debut novel, “Shuggie Bain,” in 2020. His latest work is a suspense story wrapped around a novel of acute psychological observation.
by Maureen Corrigan

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Stone Age brain surgery? It might have been more survivable than you think

Stone Age brain surgery? It might have been more survivable than you think

Medical historian Ira Rutkow points to physical evidence that suggests Stone Age people conducted — and survived — brain surgery. His new book is “Empire of the Scalpel.”
by Dave Davies

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
In 'Ancestor Trouble,' Maud Newton wrestles with her family history

In 'Ancestor Trouble,' Maud Newton wrestles with her family history

Maud Newton spent decades researching genealogical records, genetic science, and the cultural history of "ancestor hunger." Her book is also a coming-to-terms with how to face and honor family history.
by Kristen Martin

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
From the archives: Climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe says all is not lost

From the archives: Climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe says all is not lost

Conspiracy theories have gone mainstream since 2020. Why are people so willing to believe almost anything and disregard science and reason? That’s Kerri Miller’s conversation coming up this Friday. In the meantime, enjoy this one from our archives. It’s a discussion with acclaimed climate scientist and evangelical Katharine Hayhoe, who knows a thing or two about dealing with folks who would rather deny than accept.
by Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Love 'Dickinson?' Here are 3 books you should not miss

Love 'Dickinson?' Here are 3 books you should not miss

For this week's Thread’s must-reads, Kerri Miller is inspired by a sassy, stylish television series about a 19th century poet.
by Kerri Miller

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Mesha Maren on the oft-misunderstood complexity of the southern border

Mesha Maren on the oft-misunderstood complexity of the southern border

Mesha Maren’s new novel examines the misperceptions that endure about the U.S.-Mexico border, as it follows an earnest but naïve couple who moves to the El Paso region and must grapple with a mysterious disappearance.
by Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
3 nonfiction translations to read this spring

3 nonfiction translations to read this spring

It's been rare for non-academic nonfiction to be translated into English — but that's beginning to change. These three books may be academic in the depth of their inquiries — but not in style.
by Lily Meyer

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!