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What Should I Read Next?

Ep 524: Short books that still feel substantial

What Should I Read Next?

Anne Bogel

Arts, Books, Leisure

4.85.3K Ratings

🗓️ 5 May 2026

⏱️ 54 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Today Anne is talking books with Lee Weick, a Michigan-dwelling former teacher and grandmother who knows that variety keeps her reading life going. Lee loves big, long books and is most satisfied with her reading life when she's reading those big books on a regular basis. But as you will hear, Lee has learned that the rhythms of her reading life also require a nice, steady supply of books on the shorter side. Lately, Lee is feeling stuck when it comes to finding shorter reads that still feel substantial, thought-provoking, and interesting. Anne has lots of ideas for Lee, and today she'll put a few shorter books on Lee's radar that sound right up her alley. Find the list of titles discussed and leave your suggestions for Lee on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/524. Our Summer Reading Guide release is just around the corner, which means it's the time of year we welcome many new members to our Patreon community. When you join us there, you get immediate access to all our past Summer Reading Guides and seasonal previews, our weekly bonus episodes, and of course, this year's 15th Summer Reading Guide and Live Unboxing event. Choose from monthly or annual membership options that help you enjoy all that we do over in Patreon while also financially supporting our show and our team. Find out more at patreon.com/whatshouldireadnext. Chapters: 03:03 Meet Lee 07:25 What Lee is looking for in her reading life 16:52 Vera, or Faith by Gary Shteyngart 18:56 Patriot by Alexei Navalny 21:48 The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas 25:26 The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff 35:31 Wedding Toasts I'll Never Give by Ada Calhoun 38:45 Fight Night by Miriam Towes 41:48 Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood 46:22 The Summer Book by Tove Jansson 48:44 What will Lee read next? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Also, some of the ones I'm really interested in are in that very, very long book list.

0:07.0

And so for me to get to them, I have to have you tell me some short books I can read so I can get to those long biographies.

0:13.3

I will see what I can do.

0:20.1

Hey, readers, I'm Anne Bogle, and this is What Should I Read Next?

0:25.6

Welcome to the show that's dedicated to answering the question that plagues every reader.

0:30.6

What should I read next? We don't get bossy on the show. What we will do here is give you

0:36.0

the information you need to choose your next read.

0:39.0

Every week we'll talk all things books and reading and do a little literary matchmaking with one

0:43.2

guest.

0:51.9

Readers, the summer reading guide release is just around the corner, which means it's the time of year we welcome many new members to our Patreon community.

0:59.8

When you join us there, you get immediate access to all our past summer reading guides and seasonal previews, plus our weekly bonus episodes, and of course this year's 15th summer reading guide and live unboxing event.

1:10.7

Choose from monthly or annual membership options that help you enjoy all that we do over in Patreon

1:15.3

while also financially supporting our show and our team.

1:18.8

Many of our members join us for the summer reading season and then stick around for events and community all year long.

1:24.6

They love it there, and I think you may too.

1:27.2

Find out more at patreon.com slash

1:30.0

what should I read next. That's patreon.com slash what should I read next. Readers, you'll usually

1:37.8

find me listening to audiobooks while I'm doing my makeup, but that doesn't mean it's something I want

1:42.1

to linger over. I like to keep it simple,

1:44.4

so I can move on with my day, and Merritt Beauty makes that easy while still delivering the

1:48.4

fresh, polished look I prefer. Merritt features a collection of clean, thoughtfully curated essentials

1:53.4

designed to help you look put together in minutes. Their products do more with less, and

...

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