Michael Silverblatt

The debut novel of Robert Jones, Jr., “The Prophets,” is lyrical prose about the dimensionality and interiority of people.

Domenico Ingenito speaks about his book, “Beholding Beauty: Saʿdi of Shiraz and the Aesthetics of Desire in Medieval Persian Poetry.”

Alice McDermott discusses the madness in fiction and her new book, “What About the Baby?: Some Thoughts on the Art of Fiction.”

Jackie Kay’s “Bessie Smith: A Poet’s Biography of a Blues Legend” is a terrific mixture of memoir and biography.

As in past years , this is a list of favorite books of the year. Critics who use the term “best books” are not thinking. Of the thousands of books published each year, no one has read enough to say which are the best. These are our favorites.

Sheila Heti speaks about her new book, “Pure Colour,” and how she couldn’t think or write in the same way she did before the death of her own father.

Zac Smith’s “Everything is Totally Fine” creates intense emotions in small space — and inspired special guest Tao Lin to awaken his Muumuu House imprint after a ten year slumber.

Tao Lin’s ‘Leave Society,’ in which he grows his idea of himself in a book.

The debut novel of Robert Jones, Jr., “The Prophets,” is lyrical prose about the dimensionality and interiority of people.

Close friend of Michael Silverblatt’s and Bookworm editor for 30 years, Alan Howard guest hosts this episode on grief and loss. When the two met more than 33 years ago, Michael’s first words were, “What are you reading?”