Best Podcasts About Books (2026)
A good book podcast does what a good bookshop does — puts something in your hands you'd never have found on your own. These 10 shows cover everything from new releases to forgotten classics, and every one of them will wreck your to-read list in the best possible way.
Waking up with a podcast on iOS
Podcast Alarm is a fully featured podcast player and alarm. You can set up queues of your favourite episodes and listen to them whenever you like. Why not subscribe to your favourite podcast and have the latest episode wake you up every weekday morning. There are lots of screenshots and videos in our "How to set a podcast as an alarm on iphone?" blog post.
1. What Should I Read Next?
Anne Bogel asks every guest the same three questions: what do you love, what don't you love, and what are you reading now? Then she recommends three books. The format is simple and addictive. You'll add at least two books to your list every episode.
2. The Stacks
Traci Thomas talks books with authors, critics and fellow readers with infectious enthusiasm and sharp opinions. Her taste is broad — literary fiction, memoirs, nonfiction, genre — and she's not afraid to say when a hyped book doesn't deliver. Honest and deeply well-read.
3. Backlisted
Andy Miller and John Mitchinson champion books that deserve a second life — forgotten novels, overlooked classics, out-of-print gems. Each episode features a guest author discussing a book they love. It's the literary equivalent of digging through a secondhand bookshop's back room.
4. Book Fight!
Two writing professors read a short story every week and argue about whether it's any good. It's funny, opinionated and surprisingly educational about craft. They've been doing it for over a decade now, which means the back catalogue alone will keep you busy for months.
5. Totally Booked with Zibby
Zibby Owens interviews authors with genuine warmth and curiosity, covering everything from literary fiction to memoirs to debut novels. She's read every book she discusses, asks questions other interviewers miss, and her enthusiasm for reading is completely infectious.
6. Currently Reading
Kaytee and Meredith share what they're reading right now with the energy of two friends catching up over coffee. Covers new releases, backlist picks and bookish news. If you want a casual, relatable book podcast that feels like a group chat, this is it.
7. Books Unbound
A deep dive into one book per episode, pulling apart themes, structure and what makes it stick with you. The hosts bring genuine literary analysis without academic stuffiness. Great for readers who want more than just "should I read this or not."
8. Shelf Discovery
A podcast about rediscovering books you loved — or missed — with fresh eyes. Each episode revisits a title and asks whether it holds up. Part nostalgia trip, part literary criticism. Particularly good on YA classics and the books that shaped a generation of readers.
9. From the Front Porch
Annie Jones runs an independent bookshop in Tennessee and interviews authors on her podcast with the warmth you'd expect from someone who hand-sells books for a living. Conversations are thoughtful, unhurried and always end with a recommendation you'll actually want to follow up on.
10. The Bookshelf
Author interviews and book reviews delivered with genuine passion and thoughtful criticism. The Bookshelf covers a wide range of genres and never feels like it's pushing an agenda. A reliable weekly source of reading recommendations that consistently delivers.
Wake up with a good book
Set a book podcast as your morning alarm and start every day with a new recommendation. Download Podcast Alarm and never run out of things to read.
Waking up with a podcast on iOS
Podcast Alarm is a fully featured podcast player and alarm. You can set up queues of your favourite episodes and listen to them whenever you like. Why not subscribe to your favourite podcast and have the latest episode wake you up every weekday morning. There are lots of screenshots and videos in our "How to set a podcast as an alarm on iphone?" blog post.
