The Thread® - Books and Literary News

The Thread from MPR 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.

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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. 

Tickets are now available for our 26th season. Join award-winning journalist and MPR News host Kerri Miller (and special guest host Catharine Richart) as they talk with authors including Stacey Abrams, Patricia Lockwood, Misty Copeland, John Grisham, and Kate Baer. 

New book teaches kids 'How to Solve a Problem' like a rock climber would
Ashima Shiraishi may be one of the most talented rock climbers in the world, but lofty titles aside, she wants kids to know that most of climbing — and life — is "just falling."
New book explores cycles and whiplash of Minneapolis history
Journalist Tom Weber has published a new biography of the City of Lakes. He explores the history of Minneapolis and examines the repetition and rhyme of the city’s understanding of its past.
A doctor confronts medical errors — and flaws in the system that create mistakes
Dr. Danielle Ofri says medical errors are more common than most people realize: "If we don't talk about the emotions that keep doctors and nurses from speaking up, we'll never solve this problem."
Kevin Kwan's new 'Sex and Vanity' is a summer romp with a satirical sting
For his latest novel, Kevin Kwan decided to update one of his own favorite books, “A Room With a View.” The result is “Sex and Vanity,” a fun, decadent whirl that manages to take on some serious subjects.