Zero to Well-Read

On the occasion of its 10th anniversary, Jeff and Rebecca turn to Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer- and National Book Award-winning fabulist reimagining of American history. They discuss the blend of speculative fiction and literary writing that made The Underground Railroad one of only 8 novels to win both the Pulitzer and the National Book Award, explore the ways that magic realism to highlights the horrific reality of slavery, and make the case for Colson Whitehead as the best living American novelist.

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Email us: zerotowellread@bookriot.com

Thank you to ThriftBooks for being the presenting sponsor of this season of Zero to Well-Read!

Zero to Well-Read is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network.

This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

 Go to quince.com/wellread for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. It's now available for our friends in Canada too!

 For a limited time, you can get 20% off sitewide at bollandbranch.com/wellread with the code WELLREAD.
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Christopher Nolan's adaptation of Homer's Odyssey is THE book-to-screen event of 2026, so how is it? Jeff and Rebecca sit down with Book Riot's managing editor Vanessa Diaz for a conversation about how Nolan's Odyssey compares to the epic poem that inspired it. They discuss how faithful the adaptation is to the classic text, standout performances, key differences in character and structure, and what this ancient story has to say about modern life.

Subscribe to our free newsletter, and become a member for access to early, ad-free listening and bonus content.

Follow Zero to Well-Read on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Email us: zerotowellread@bookriot.com

Thank you to ThriftBooks for being the presenting sponsor of this season of Zero to Well-Read!

Zero to Well-Read is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network.

This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

 Go to quince.com/wellread for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. It's now available for our friends in Canada too!

 For a limited time, you can get 20% off sitewide at bollandbranch.com/wellread with the code WELLREAD.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca answer listener questions about how to get more out of your reading, find the ideal reading position, and maintain reading as a part of your identity during major life changes. They also share how they track their own reading, the process for inviting guests to the show, and some of the books listeners request for future episodes.

Subscribe to our free newsletter, and become a member for access to early, ad-free listening and bonus content.

Follow Zero to Well-Read on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Email us: zerotowellread@bookriot.com

Thank you to ThriftBooks for being the presenting sponsor of this season of Zero to Well-Read!

Zero to Well-Read is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network.

This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

 Go to quince.com/wellread for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. It's now available for our friends in Canada too!

 For a limited time, you can get 20% off sitewide at bollandbranch.com/wellread with the code WELLREAD.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hot Greek Summer has arrived! Jeff and Rebecca set sail on the wine-dark sea to discover how and why The Odyssey became one of the most enduring stories of all time. They discuss the oral traditions that made the epic poem famous, compare the most popular modern translations, and highlight the themes that still resonate today as foundations of Western literature.

Subscribe to our free newsletter, and become a member for access to early, ad-free listening and bonus content.

Follow Zero to Well-Read on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Email us: zerotowellread@bookriot.com

Thank you to ThriftBooks for being the presenting sponsor of this season of Zero to Well-Read!

Zero to Well-Read is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network.

This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

 Go to quince.com/wellread for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. It's now available for our friends in Canada too!

 For a limited time, you can get 20% off sitewide at bollandbranch.com/wellread with the code WELLREAD.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In honor of America's 250th birthday, Jeff and Rebecca sit down with historical content creator and political commentator Amanda Nelson for a deep dive into the U.S. Constitution. They talk about what the framers were reacting to when they outlined the foundation of a new government, what the Constitution does and doesn't say about individual rights, and how a concept that is never specifically named in the document has shaped the country ever since.

Find Amanda's Mild Takes on Substack or follow @amandasmildtakes on the socials.

Subscribe to our free newsletter, and become a member for access to early, ad-free listening and bonus content.

Follow Zero to Well-Read on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Email us: zerotowellread@bookriot.com

Thank you to ThriftBooks for being the presenting sponsor of this season of Zero to Well-Read!

Zero to Well-Read is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network.

This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Thanks to our sponsor, Quince! Go to Quince.com/wellread for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices