Hey everybody, Seth Meyers here. Welcome to Late Night Lit, our monthly podcast devoted

to books and authors. If you're looking for something to read this summer, our very

own literary expert Sarah Jenks daily is here to discuss two new books and the writers

behind them. Take it away, Sarah.

Hi everyone, I'm Sarah Jenks daily and welcome to Late Night Lit. This month we're featuring

two incredible authors.

Novelist Nick McDonald and humanitarian and author Elizabeth Yamanyaro. Nick McDonald's

latest book is called The Council of Animals and it was published this month. And for fans

of this podcast, you might remember that Helen Oyeyemi recommended it a few months back.

It's witty and delightful and definitely worth checking out.

Our second chat is with Elizabeth Yamanyaro, who serves as the United Nations Special

Advisor to the World Food Program and is the founder of the He For She Movement for Gender

Equality. She writes about her incredible and uplifting story in her memoir, I am a

girl from Africa, which is out now. And finally, we'll hear some book recommendations from

two late night staffers.

There is a rich literary history of stories told through the perspective of animals. These

fables offer both the writer and the reader a chance to reflect on and critique the world

around them. The Council of Animals is a unique and inspired entry into this canon. It's

a timeless story about an eclectic group of animals facing the aftermath of a calamity

and the existential question of survival. It also features some fantastic animal puns.

Nick McDonald is a best-selling novelist and a renowned journalist who has spent time

covering the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Here's my chat with Nick.

...