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Zero to Well-Read

The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

Zero to Well-Read

Riot New Media Group, Inc.

Arts, Books, Society & Culture

4.7 • 837 Ratings

🗓️ 17 February 2026

⏱️ 102 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Rebecca and Jeff are joined by Book Riot's director of content Sharifah Williams for a conversation about Isabel Wilkerson's groundbreaking oral history of the Great Migration, The Warmth of Other Suns. They discuss Wilkerson's singular blend of journalism, history, and storytelling; the magic of making a serious work of nonfiction read like fiction; and why this just might be the best nonfiction book of the century so far. 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 Join the Zero to Well-Read challenge on Storygraph Zero to Well-Read is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. 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 Red is sponsored by ThriftBooks.com with more than 19 million books,

0:06.4

both new and used, in addition to games, movies, and gifts. Find everything you need at Thriftbooks.com.

0:13.9

Today on the show, it's The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson. Again, there's not that many

0:19.6

editions. There's really three.

0:21.2

There's the original first edition hardcover. There was a hardcover that came out that had like New York Times, Notable Book and some other stickers on it, and then, of course, the paperback there. So really pick which one of those you want. I don't see any first editions available right now, but you can set an alert and find it. I'd go ahead and get that hardcover, even though it's not a first edition.

0:38.6

It just feels more substantial.

0:40.3

And the thicker the book, the more I want in a hardcover for reading and is keepsake. That's something I keep on my shelf and come back to over and over again. Thanks to Thriftbooks.com for sponsoring this episode and this season of Zero to Well Red.

0:56.7

McDonald's wraps, all flavour, no mess.

0:59.0

No drips on your drip or grease on your shirt.

1:01.6

No crumbs on your keyboard or sauce on your dashboard.

1:06.5

Just all the flavour of sweet chili chicken, barbecue and bacon chicken and new Tika chicken.

1:07.5

Raptop neat.

1:10.0

Served after 11 a.m.

1:12.2

Teakia chicken wrap available until the 13th July 26.

1:13.9

Fees applied to delivery orders subject to availability.

1:22.0

Welcome to Zero to Well Read, a podcast on everything you need to know.

1:24.5

About the books you wish you read, I'm Jeff O'Neill.

1:26.1

And I'm Rebecca Shinsky.

2:01.2

Today we are delighted to have our colleague Sharifa Williams. She is Book Riot's Executive Director of Content, joining us as we dive into Isabel Wilkerson's award-winning oral history of the Great Migration, The Warmth of Other Suns. Sherifa, welcome. Thank you. Thank you for having me, especially to talk about this book. You know, you are responsible for this book happening at this time on zero to well read. You read this back in the fall and you raved about it in several places across Book Riot. And then as I was looking for some big signal nonfiction to incorporate into this season, it was right top of mind. So thank you for giving us an excuse to read this right now. That's wonderful to hear. I am so glad that me talking endlessly about

2:07.6

this book, which is so special, did something positive because I feel like I want to throw this

2:13.4

book at everybody I passed by on the street lately. Yeah. Yeah, we'll ask you when we get to our section about how we first encountered it or whatever.

2:21.2

I want to hear more about, or I read more about your story about why now and your experience.

...

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