Episode notes
Percival Everett won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award for his novel James, a modern masterpiece that retells The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of Jim, the enslaved man who accompanies Huck on his journey down the Mississippi River. This week, Jeff and Rebecca discuss what Everett does with Jim's interiority and intelligence that Twain couldn't, how the novel's central conceit literalizes W.E.B. Du Bois's theory of double consciousness, and how Everett pulled off making a book that is layered and intellectually rich into a genuine page-turner.…
Zero to Well-Read
by Book Riot · English · Arts & Books
Part book club, part English class, Zero to Well-Read is a fun and informative guide to the books people talk about like everyone has read them. Each week, hosts Jeff O'Neal and Rebecca Schinsky take on a new title—from classics you should have read in high school to prize winners, cult favorites to
More from Zero to Well-Read
-
7 May 2026 · 3 min
Start Here: Welcome to Zero to Well-Read!
Part book club, part English class, Zero to Well-Read is a podcast about everything you need to know about the books you wish you’d read. Each week, hosts Jeff O'Neal and Rebecca Schinsky take on a new title, from classics you should have read in high school to major prize winners and cult favorites to modern hits. We believe being well-read is about more than just the classics, so we've dissected The Great Gatsby and One Hundred Years of Solitude, sure, but we've also explored The Secret History and Hamnet. Our syllabus has included Toni Morrison, Octavia Butler, Judy Blume, Salman Rushdie,…
-
5 May 2026 · 1 hr 33 min
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Do you remember what it was like to feel infinite? This week, Jeff and Rebecca crack open the millennial nostalgia time capsule that is Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallflower. They talk about how it has provided multiple generations of teenage outsiders with assurance that they're not alone, why it has been a frequent target of book banning and censorship attempts, and what gives it continued resonance today. 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.…
-
28 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 54 min
Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
How did a debut short story collection by an unknown writer become one of the most significant publishing successes of the twentieth century? Jeff and Rebecca are joined by literary historian and data scientist Dr. Laura McGrath for a conversation about Jhumpa Lahiri's Interpreter of Maladies. They explore what makes Lahiri's stories so meaningful and memorable, chart the book's path from paperback original to Pulitzer Prize winner, and marvel at the word-of-mouth magic that a turned a book that began with the most modest of prospects into a bestseller with more than 15 million copies in…
-
6 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 24 min
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Rebecca and Jeff pit reason against romance as they consider Jane Austen's beloved tale of sisters trying to find love and preserve their family's legacy. Join us on Patreon for access to read-alongs, 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…
-
30 Sep 2026 · 1 min
Vote for Zero to Well-Read: Signal Awards 2026
Vote for Zero to Well-Read in the Signal Awards for Best Arts & Culture Podcast and Best New Podcast! Thanks to ThriftBooks for sponsoring this season of Zero to Well-Read. Zero to Well-Read is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
-
29 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 53 min
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Jeff and Rebecca dive into John Steinbeck's epic, magisterial novel about fathers and sons, family legacies, and the question of free will. They discuss the story's biblical roots, Steinbeck's wide-ranging philosophy, the controversy that surrounded his Nobel win, and much more. 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…
-
22 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 41 min
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Twenty years after it was published, Cormac McCarthy's The Road remains a landmark work of post-apocalyptic fiction. This week, Jeff and Rebecca explore what the bleak and beautiful story has to say about hope, humanity, masculinity, and the power of storytelling. 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…
-
15 Sep 2026 · 59 min
17 Books to Better Understand America, with Sharon McMahon
Rebecca and Jeff sit down with history and civics educator Sharon McMahon to recommend books—both fiction and nonfiction—to help you better understand American history and politics. Sharon's book, The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement, is available in paperback now. You can find more of her work at The Preamble and on the socials @sharonsaysso. 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,…
-
8 Sep 2026 · 59 min
Ask Us Anything: Anniversary Mailbag Edition
Jeff and Rebecca celebrate Zero to Well-Read's first anniversary with a brief look at some of the show's most popular episodes. Then, they dip into the mailbag to answer listener questions about Book Riot's origin story, tips for staying focused while reading, how they manage their reading lives, spoiler etiquette, and more. 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…
-
1 Sep 2026 · 2 hr 22 min
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen, with Rob Harvilla
Jeff and Rebecca are joined by Rob Harvilla, host of 60 Songs That Explain the '90s: The 2000s, for a conversation about Jonathan Franzen's award-winning breakout novel. They discuss Franzen's singular blend of Midwestern sensibility and postmodern satire, the Oprah controversy that made him a household name, why he continues to be a lightning rod in literary circles, and how The Corrections became one of the most underrated Great American Novels of the 21st Century. Subscribe to our free newsletter, and become a member for access to early, ad-free listening and bonus content. Follow Zero to…
Take it with you
The Melo app keeps playing with the screen off, works in the car and on your watch, wakes you to your station, and browses the whole catalogue offline. Free, no ads, no account.
