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. 

Author Dina Nayeri on breaking down stereotypes of the refugee experience
Dina Nayeri fled the Iran revolution with her family when she was 8. In her new book, "The Ungrateful Refugee: What Immigrants Never Tell You," she examines what it means to be a refugee.
Churchill's first year as prime minister is electric in 'The Splendid And The Vile'
One of America's best storytellers does it again: Erik Larson's gripping account of Winston Churchill's leadership through Hitler's bombing campaign against England is nearly impossible to put down.
Carleton College researcher uncovers the Boston Massacre’s human element
An infamous moment in American revolutionary history takes on new meaning after research by professor Serena Zabin reveals new details about the lives of the women and children living in Boston 250 years ago.
'Dark Towers' exposes chaos and corruption at the bank that holds Trump's secrets
New York Times financial editor David Enrich details, in a new book, Deutsche Bank's quest to become the world's largest bank — and how its corporate culture led to countless scandals.
In 'Counterpoint' Bach helps an art critic mourn a mother whose criticism lingers
The Washington Post's Philip Kennicott suffered his mother's harsh words and actions throughout childhood. His book is partly a need to acknowledge her "sadness and anger and unaccountable rages."
Uber whistleblower takes on Silicon Valley, armed with Stoic philosophy
In 2017, Susan Fowler published a blog post that revealed Uber's misogynistic corporate culture — and helped change the world. In her memoir, she urges readers not to see her as a victim.
Minnesota photographer captures hockey rinks, the calm before the game
The pictures are just of the arena, without any skaters or crowds. “I wanted to show off the character of these places without people being distracted by people in the stands or what's going on in the game,” said Matthew Jasper. His new book, “Home Ice,” features 72 of the couple hundred ice rinks in Minnesota.
Author P. Carl on 'Becoming a Man'
For 50 years, author P. Carl lived as a girl and queer woman before transitioning to become a man. Carl joins us to discuss his experiences and what he’s learned about gender, masculinity and inequality in the United States along the way.