Podcasts
Big Books & Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller

Big Books & Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller

Minnesota Public Radio 2829 - Author Sarah Longwell says political character counts in ‘How to Eat an Elephant’

Where Readers Meet Writers. Conversations on books and ideas, Fridays at 11 a.m.

No episode description available.

Published 25 Sep 2026

Duration 52:05

Episodes

MPR News Update podcasts

Big Books & Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller

Episodes

Author Sarah Longwell says political character counts in ‘How to Eat an Elephant’

Talking Volumes: Marlon James on his deeply personal novel ‘The Disappearers’

Author Edwidge Danticat examines what it means to live after trauma in 'Dèy'

A new coming-of-age novel by Chang-rae Lee examines how we become who we are

What makes something invasive? A new book explores that, and environmental loss

Paul Yoon's novel 'Etna' is told from a dog's point of view, thanks to Oscar

In search of true wilderness with Cal Flyn

Naturalist Robert Macfarlane on the wonder — and warning — of birds

Our road trip series concludes with 'The Last American Road Trip'

Lauren Hough road trips across America and finds a 'Monster of a Land'

Why Americans are reading less — and how to pull out of the reading slump

Big Books and Bold Ideas hits the road. First stop: 'The Road to Tender Hearts'

The extraordinary American history behind the very first baseball All-Star Game

Aired grievances: Robert Parkinson on forefathers' frustrations in 'Tyrants and Rogues'

Emma Straub celebrates the pleasure of fandom in 'American Fantasy'

Maggie O'Farrell pulls from the mythology of her own family for 'Land'

Ann Patchett lauds the romance of friendship in 'Whistler'

Is Medea misunderstood?

Kate Bowler is not living her best life — and she's OK with that

Kelly Yang's 'The Take' is an anti-aging thriller

'Five Weeks in the Country' with Charles Dickens and Hans Christian Anderson

Family matters when it comes to books

Lush nature and fathomless loss coexist in 'Under Water'

In 'Good People,' the story depends on who's telling it

Minnesota bestseller Abby Jimenez on the sweet and spicy genre of romance

Tayari Jones on female friendships, divergent bonds and 'Kin'

Presidential historian Jeffrey Engel on executive power and the current state of democracy

Daisy Hernandez on the many layers of 'Citizenship'

Louise Erdrich seduces with 'Python's Kiss'

Looking for grace in ‘The Glorians’

How ancient stones helped megalith-hunter Fiona Robertson stay grounded through grief

Daniyal Mueenuddin pulls from his life for an upstairs-downstairs novel set in Pakistan

Between a rock and adulthood: Risk and reward in Gabriel Tallent's novel 'Crux'

Tracy K. Smith prescribes poetry as a balm to our wounds in 'Fear Less'

Cognitive scientist Maya Shankar on 'The Other Side of Change'

'Moby-Dick' is recast with a woman at its center in 'Call Me Ishmaelle'

A journalist uncovers her family secret: They were spies for the Nazis

An aspiring novelist faces off against a spiteful and famous author in 'The Award'

Made to mingle: Why your brain is happier with friends

Jen Hatmaker rises from the ashes in 'Awake'

The best and most surprising Big Book shows of 2025, part two

The best and most surprising Big Book shows of 2025, part one

The delight — and potential downfall — of the modern dictionary

Looking for a chill? 'The Unveiling' is spooky, discomforting literary horror

Catherine Newman’s witty, warm and wary Rocky returns in ‘Wreck’

Mary Lucia shares it all in 'What Doesn’t Kill Me Makes Me Weirder and Harder to Relate To'

Talking Volumes: Kate Baer asks 'How About Now'

Oyinkan Braithwaite talks curses, karma and the power to change fate in 'Cursed Daughters'

The Minnesota author whose book inspired the movie 'Nuremberg'

John Grisham talks justice, his new book and why he doesn't write sex