Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

Zero to Well-Read

Riot New Media Group, Inc.

Arts, Books, Society & Culture

4.7 • 837 Ratings

🗓️ 14 April 2026

⏱️ 106 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

It's a very special week on Zero to Well-Read as Jeff and Rebecca pick up one of their shared favorite novels, Marilynne Robinson's magisterial meditation on life, death, family, and faith. They discuss why a book where almost nothing happens is impossible to put down, how Robinson examines the great mystery of existence without ever getting heavy or preachy, and the reasons Gilead has stayed with both of them for more than twenty years. 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 member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Use code THEBOOKS for 20% off at Cozy Earth. Go to quince.com/bookriot for free shipping and 365-day returns. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode of Zero to Well Read is sponsored by ThriftBooks.com.
0:04.0	And let me talk about some great editions of Gilead by Marilynne Robinson, which is one of our favorites, the subject of today's episode, that you can find on thriftbooks.com.
0:13.8	There's a bunch of paperbacks. There's been a perennial paperback bestseller. So you can get a lot of used paperback editions. Those are all great. I have one myself.
0:21.8	I have a first edition that I bought after the fact. Not one available right now on Thriftbooks.com,
0:26.4	but I think what you can get is actually think sort of the sweet spot here, Goldilocks,
0:31.4	is you can get a hardcover edition of Gilead. It's not the first edition, but it's a second
0:36.3	printing that FSG did in November of 2004. Gilead. It's not the first edition, but it's a second printing that FSG did in November of 2004.
0:40.5	Gilead came out in January of 2004, but it's still a hardcover. You don't have a Pulitzer sticker.
0:46.3	You don't have an Oprah sticker. You don't have any of that stuff if you don't like that.
0:49.6	And it looks, smells, holds, reads, shelves like a first edition.
0:55.0	And you can get one in like a new condition on Thrift Books for $5.69.
1:01.0	How about that?
1:02.0	All right, thanks to Thriftbooks.com for sponsoring Zero to Well Read.
1:06.0	Time for the show.
1:17.7	Welcome to Zero to Well Red, a podcast about everything you need to know about the books you wish you'd read.
1:18.4	I'm Jeff O'Neill.
1:20.0	And I'm Rebecca Shinsky.
1:23.2	Big day for us here today on Zero to Well Red.
1:25.9	This is not heaven, but it is Iowa.
1:31.0	We're talking about one of the most highly acclaimed novels of the 21st century so far,
1:35.4	and more important, I think, one of our shared all-time favorites.
1:37.2	It's Gilead by Marilynne Robinson.
	...

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