PBS Books

Pack your parka and join PBS Books and the Library of Congress as we make the trek to Alaska on American Stories: A Reading Road Trip! Inspired by the shimmering dance of the Northern Lights and the sweeping expanse of its landscape, Alaskans have been weaving stories long before the written word. There are many local libraries and bookstores throughout this expansive state.

PBS Books Readers Club welcomes co-authors Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie to discuss their New York Times best-selling historical novel America’s First Daughter. Grounded in thousands of Jefferson’s letters, this novel blends meticulous research with powerful, emotional storytelling. The result is a vivid & intimate portrait of a woman whose resilience and influence helped shape both her family.

oin PBS Books for a Virtual Town Hall Author Talk with Nolan Finley & Stephen Henderson as they share the personal journey behind The Civility Book. Hosted by Heather-Marie Montilla, this live conversation explores the real-world challenges of staying connected across differences & the everyday ways their Four Pillars of Civility can help families, friends, and communities build stronger relations

Hit the gas and join PBS Books and the Library of Congress as we roll into Louisiana on American Stories: A Reading Road Trip! Step into a literary heritage as rich and soulful as a bowl of gumbo. From George Washington Cable’s The Grandissimes and Grace King’s Balcony Stories, which sought to capture Creole life, to Ernest J. Gaines’s powerful reflections in A Lesson Before Dying and much more!

PBS Books Readers Club welcomes celebrity writer Richard Osman to discuss his best-selling novel The Thursday Murder Club. A classic cozy crime with a modern twist, The Thursday Murder Club combines the charm of amateur sleuths piecing together clues with thoughtful reflections on friendship, purpose, a& aging. Heartfelt, funny, and clever, it’s a mystery that appeals to adult readers of every age

Join PBS Books and the Library of Congress as we wxplore Western literature and Wyoming lore and its influence on writers across America. From the rugged landscapes that inspired Ernest Hemingway as he finished Death in the Afternoon, to the birth of the Western genre in Owen Wister’s The Virginian, Wyoming has shaped the imagination of generations.

Join Dr. Michael McAfee, President & CEO of PolicyLink for a powerful keynote on community, equity, and leadership in a time of deep division. Speaking to Detroit’s unique role in shaping the future, McAfee calls for a renewed commitment to “all”—a vision of justice and inclusion that goes beyond words to action. This is a call to courage, love, and nation-building, urging us to embrace a founder’

Join PBS Books and the Library of Congress as we hit the road on American Stories: A Reading Road Trip. Our next stop…the Buckeye State! This episode shines a spotlight on Ohio’s powerful role in shaping American literature—from Pulitzer Prize–winning poets like Mary Oliver (Devotions), Paul Laurence Dunbar (Sympathy), and Toni Morrison. Plus so much more!

Join PBS Books for an inspiring conversation withauthor Emma Heming Willis about her deeply personal new book, The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path. In this moving work, Heming Willis transforms her own experience of navigating her husband Bruce Willis’s frontotemporal dementia diagnosis into a compassionate guide for caregivers everywhere.

PBS Books Readers Club welcomes award winning author Silvia Moreno-Garcia to discuss her brand-new thriller The Bewitching, and her New York Time Bestseller, Mexican Gothic. Dark, elegant, and deeply atmospheric, The Bewitching blends literary horror with folkloric dread, drawing readers into a web of obsession, memory, and witchcraft.

Join PBS Books, the Library of Congress, and the affiliated Centers for the Book for a one-of-a-kind literary adventure in American Stories: A Reading Road Trip. Next stop: Georgia! This episode celebrates Georgia’s powerful influence on American storytelling—from Pulitzer Prize winner Margaret Mitchell (Gone with the Wind) and a lot more!

From iconic authors & unforgettable books to hidden-gem bookstores, amazing libraries, & the real-life locations that inspired great works, this cross-country adventure celebrates the stories that have shaped our shared identity. Along the way, we'll meet bestselling authors, passionate booksellers, & local storytellers - plus share highlights from local programs and events hosted by each state.