Books
Josh Drummond: A cynic's guide to self-help books
In a quest to optimise his own life, writer Josh Drummond has spent years consuming and reviewing self-help books for his Substack The Cynic's Guide to Self-Improvement. He joins Emile Donovan. Audio
Fantasy claims 25 percent of NZ's top books list
Ruby Wallace, the owner of Auckland romance bookstore Enamoured Books, joins Emile Donovan to explain the craze behind fantasy, and particularly the steamy sub-genre romantasy. Audio
Top 100 books list as voted by NZ readers
Bookstore Whitcoulls has just released their 2025 Top 100 books list. This list - voted by readers - provides a snapshot of our every shifting reading habits. To talk us through this years winners and… Audio
Book review: An Uncommon Land by Catherine Knight
Harry Broad reviews An Uncommon Land by Catherine Knight, published by Totara Press. Audio
Regional Wrap on the Waikanae River
This week for our Regional Wrap on Culture 101 we visit the beautiful Waikanae River on the Kapiti Coast, and the settlements on its banks of Waikanae and Otaihanga. Audio
A 27-year-old novel still getting loved is turned into star-studded film
"There are moments when you feel trapped by the life that you are on as if it is a commuter train ride in and back every day," screenplay writer and author Niall Williams says.
Booktowns saving towns: Peter Biggs
Arts and culture can help revitalise a once prosperous town - Featherston, Aotearoa's only Booktown and one of 23 worldwide, is the living proof. Audio
Niall Williams: Four Letters of Love
After decades of writing novels, bestselling author Niall Williams has turned his hand to the screen, adapting his first novel into a star-studded movie. Audio
The 'sea change' that fast-tracked a husband's alcoholism
Writer Kate Halfpenny gets real about the addiction that took hold of her husband when they left Melbourne for a simpler life.
Bookmarks with author Gina Butson
Gina Butson worked as a lawyer for many years but seems to have always harboured a love for fiction writing. She's had short stories published in a variety of local outlets, she's won the Salient… Audio
The people openly judging books by their covers
General advice is to never judge a book by its cover, but our next guests' job is literally to do that. Chloe Blades is one of the judges for the 2025 PANZ Book Design Awards, she tells Jesse what… Audio
Book review: Untold Intimacies by Cheryl Ware
Cynthia Morahan reviews Untold Intimacies: A history of Sex Work in Aotearoa by Cheryl Ware, published by Auckland University Press. Audio
Celebrating Aotearoa's book industry
The 2025 Book Industry awards took place over the weekend and Louise and Gareth Ward won a prize for their Bookstore Detective novels. Audio
Book review: Secret Art Powers by Jo Randerson
Emma Hislop reviews Secret Art Powers: How creative thinking can achieve radical change by Jo Randerson, published by Barbarian Productions. Audio
'It feels naive to be joyous right now, but I choose to put myself there'
In a world of fear, creativity can be our guiding light, says Wellington artist Jo Randerson, author of the new book Secret Art Powers.
The many cultures of India meet Aotearoa through radical publishing: Spoor Books
Erena and Balamohan Shingade are partners in life and in a distinctive publishing enterprise. Based in Titirangi, they describe Spoor Books as a community-oriented platform. Audio
Jo Randerson's secret art powers revealed!
Artist Jo Randerson calls them Secret Art Powers. Superpowers that everyone, individually and collectively, has access to. Audio
Kitchen Confidential at 25: Bourdain revealed high-end chefs as rock-star pirates
In his 2000 memoir Kitchen Confidential, Anthony Bourdain lifted the pot lid on what goes down in restaurant kitchens.
Sameer Pandya: Our Beautiful Boys
"Can you ever really know your kids?" That's the question at the heart of Sameer Pandya's new novel Our Beautiful Boys. Audio
Decline and fall: Why golden eras end
If we want to continue living in a golden era we must be like the Athenians - not the Spartans, says Swedish historian Johan Norberg.
