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. 

Amid controversy, Scholastic pulls picture book about Washington's slave

Amid controversy, Scholastic pulls picture book about Washington's slave

The book tells the story of Hercules, a slave whom George Washington used as a chef. The book shows Hercules and his daughter happy and taking pride in making the president a birthday cake.

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 Slate: Is history written about men, by men?

From Slate: Is history written about men, by men?

Slate Magazine analyzed more than 600 popular history books published last year, and confirmed a trend: The majority of authors in the field are men, and they're writing about other men.
by Tracy Mumford

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!
'The Crooked House' is haunted, in a world that denies ghosts

'The Crooked House' is haunted, in a world that denies ghosts

Christobel Kent's literary thriller follows a young woman who reinvents herself -- even taking a new name -- after the mysterious murder of most of her family. But she can't escape the past forever.
by Carmen Maria Machado

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!
Norway's national library discovers rare atlas -- with a little help from Reddit

Norway's national library discovers rare atlas -- with a little help from Reddit

"The Cedid" was one of the first printed atlases from the Muslim world. There were 14 known copies in existence -- until a Norwegian reference librarian with a fondness for Reddit noticed something.

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!
Frisky, subversive 'American Housewife' practices shock and awwww

Frisky, subversive 'American Housewife' practices shock and awwww

The slightly demented homemakers in Helen Ellis's new collection wield sharp elbows and sharper knives, but critic Heller McAlpin says the stories build to touching, unexpected punchlines.
by Heller McAlpin

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!
Book briefs: David Bowie's 100 favorite books

Book briefs: David Bowie's 100 favorite books

The musician made the list three years ago. It's a bit like your high school syllabus, but with a psychedelic twist.
by Tracy Mumford

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!
On health: 'This is the luckiest time yet to be alive'

On health: 'This is the luckiest time yet to be alive'

"For the first time, we have at our disposal all the information we need to design our own health," Dr. David Agus writes.
by MPR News Staff

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!