12 Books to Read According to PBS 

There are so many books out there to read but choosing what to read can be a struggle. That is why we will be looking at which 12 books to read according to PBS and see how their list holds up!

2025 has been a fantastic year for new books and we still have a ways to go. I can’t wait for some books but until then, I need books to hold me over. And PBS’s list of books to read is a solid one.

The list was curated with the help of bestselling author Ann Patchett and Maureen Corrigan, a professor and a book critic who works for NPR. We are getting the Avengers assembled for this list as PBS and NPR team up! 

All jokes aside, I do like that they are collaborating because NPR and PBS are well respected when it comes to books. And as you see this list, you will see why. And who doesn’t want Ann Patchett recommending them books? You can see the full list below!

Books to Read According to PBS 

• The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
• The Satisfaction Cafe by Kathy Wang
• King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby
• El Dorado Drive by Megan Abbott
• The Antidote by Karen Russell
• Who is Government? edited by Michael Lewis
• Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green
• A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhurst
• The Salt Stones by Helen Whybrow
• Swimming Studies by Leanne Shapton
• Mister Dog by Margaret Wise Brown
• In the Wild by Zadie Smith and Nick Laird

The list is a strong one and includes popular authors as well as ones that you most likely haven’t heard of before. And there are fiction and nonfiction books so no matter what you like to read, there is something for you.

King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby is one that I have seen often and this list might be why I end up getting around to reading it. There’s also books here by beloved authors such as John Green and Michael Lewis.

Or if you want to surprise yourself, you can read some of the most talked about books on the list such as The Antidote by Karen Russell or The Salt Stones by Helen Whybrow. I really like the variety this list offers. No matter your reading interest, you will be leaving your comfort zone and trying new genres and writing styles.

Conclusion

These are the 12 books to read according to PBS. While the list is specifically made for the summer, I think you can and should read them anytime. Ann Patchett and Maureen Corrigan did a great job of coming up with these recommendations and I can’t wait to check them out. Happy reading!

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