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

Big Books and Bold Ideas host Kerri Miller interviews a lot of authors over the course of a year. But some conversations stand out for being especially fascinating, delightfully fun or unexpectedly candid.

Last week, we unveiled three of Miller’s top five favorites from 2025. This week, the final two — plus one surprise.

2025 Best Book Roundups

• 
  
  MPR News staff picks The 43 best books MPR News staff read in 2025
  
  


• 
  
  From NPR Hunker down with these 13 mysteries and thrillers from 2025
  
  


• 
  
  From U.S. libraries Genre fiction and female authors top most-borrowed lists in 2025
  
  

If you want to hear the full episodes, you can find them here:

• Misty Copeland at Talking Volumes
• Catherine Newman
• Kate DiCamillo

Big Books and Bold Ideas is produced by Kelly Gordon and engineered by Cliff Bentley. Here’s to more great books and more fascinating interviews in 2026.

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