Person
Every book Jumanna Katib recommended on podcasts
Jumanna Katib appears as a guest and contributor on literary discussion programs such as The Book Review, where she shares anticipation for upcoming releases, guides readers through seasonal publishing lineups, and explores notable works of fiction and memoir. As an insightful critic who keeps a close pulse on contemporary literature, Katib recommends a diverse array of upcoming and notable books across various genres. Her recommendations range from immersive non-fiction and science writing, such as Michael Pollan's A World Appears and Frances Wilson's Electric Spark: The Enigma of Dame Muriel, to highly anticipated contemporary fiction like Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney's Lake Effect. Katib also highlights compelling biographical and personal works, including Arundhati Roy's memoir Mother Mary Comes to Me, Gabrielle Hamilton's Next of Kin, and Beth Macy's Paper Girl. In addition to spotlighting new releases, Katib frequently engages in broader literary reflections, expressing personal reading goals centered around influential classics like Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights and reflecting on profound past reading experiences such as Arundhati Roy's celebrated novel The God of Small Things.
Books recommended by Jumanna Katib
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A World Appears
A World Appears by Michael Pollan is a non-fiction book that investigates human consciousness through the lenses of neuroscience, meditation, and psychedelic exploration.
Recommended“So, this is a world appears, a journey into consciousness by Michael Pollen.”
Where to get it
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Electric Spark
Electric Spark by Frances Wilson is a biographical work exploring the life and enigma of author Dame Muriel Spark.
Recommended“So this is Electric Spark, The Enigma of Dame Muriel by Francis Wilson.”
Where to get it
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Lake Effect
Lake Effect is a novel written by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney.
Recommended“So, this is Lake Effect by Cynthia Depri Sweeney. This is coming out on March 3rd.”
Where to get it
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Mother Mary Comes to Me
Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy is a deeply personal memoir focusing on the author's complex relationship with her mother.
Recommended“So, this is Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arand Roy, and she is the of course is the author of The God of Small Things”
Where to get it
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Next of Kin
Next of Kin by Gabrielle Hamilton is a deeply anticipated second memoir by the acclaimed chef and author, exploring complex familial relationships and personal evolution.
Recommended“This is Next of Kin by Gabrielle Hamilton.”
Where to get it
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Paper Girl
Paper Girl by Beth Macy is an intimate personal memoir set in Ohio that explores themes of community, resilience, and personal history through the author's characteristic journalistic lens.
Recommended“This is called Paper Girl, and it's coming out the beginning of October”
Where to get it
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Blood, Bones, & Butter
Blood, Bones, and Butter is a compelling memoir by chef Gabrielle Hamilton that chronicles her unconventional path through the culinary world, family complexities, and personal self-discovery.
Discussed“Her first one, Blood, Bones, and Butter, came out in 2011.”
Where to get it
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Dopesick
Dopesick by Beth Macy is an investigative non-profit chronicle that explores the devastating human and systemic impact of the American opioid epidemic.
Discussed“She's best known for the Dopessick, which has also become a Hulu series, Raising Lazarus.”
Where to get it
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Raising Lazarus
Raising Lazarus by Beth Macy is a deeply reported piece of investigative journalism that examines the ongoing American opioid epidemic and the heroic community efforts combating it.
Discussed“She's best known for the Dopessick, which has also become a Hulu series, Raising Lazarus.”
Where to get it
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The God of Small Things
The God of Small Things is the Booker Prize-winning debut novel by Arundhati Roy that traces the childhood experiences of fraternal twins in Kerala, India, whose lives are shattered by the destructive societal rules governing love and caste.
Discussed“So, this is Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arand Roy, and she is the of course is the author of The God of Small Things, which is a novel that honest to God I think was one of the more profound reading experiences I had.”
Where to get it
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The Orchid Thief
The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean is a true-life narrative exploring the eccentric world of orchid poachers and plant obsession in the Florida Everglades.
Discussed“Her book, The Orchid Thief, was essentially adapted into the movie adaptation, the Spike Jones Charlie Kaufman movie”
Where to get it
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The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie is a classic novella by Muriel Spark that follows an eccentric, charismatic schoolteacher in 1930s Edinburgh who exerts a powerful, controversial influence over a select group of young students.
Discussed“She's best known for the slim but mighty novel called The Prime of Miss Jean Brody.”
Where to get it
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Weathering Heights
Discussed“One of them is to read more classics and I have a series of classics that I want to read that include Weathering Heights and Anna Corin just things I really I feel are so influential but I never got around to.”
Where to get it
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Books We're Excited About in Early 2026 | The Book Review | 2026-01-16 | 3 |
| 17 Nonfiction Books We’re Looking Forward to This Fall | The Book Review | 2025-09-12 | 11 |
Other mentions (9: passing, ad reads, own books)
“So he's best known for The Omnivore's Dilemma.”
“And then actually his last book, How to Change Your Mind, from 2018 started looking at psychedelics and how they play with our very plastic consciousnesses.”
“It's like Fates and Furies the Lauren Grath book.”
“It's like Fates and Furies the Lauren Grath book.”
“This was my problem with Creation Lake among other things.”
“The author is the best-selling writer of The Nest and Good Company.”
“The author is the best-selling writer of The Nest and Good Company.”
“You might also have heard of Momento my or a Far Cry from Kensington.”
“You might also have heard of Momento my or a Far Cry from Kensington.”