Latest from Books

Book takes: Why does cuteness have such a power over us - and could it prove dangerous in the AI future?

Joshua Paul Dale on Irresistible - and how the "cute factor" helped alter human behaviour.

Top 10 best-selling New Zealand books: January 27

A surprise entry into this week's Top 10.

Short cuts: Mark Broatch rounds up 3 new books

A mind-bending spy novel, cuteness, and the young Joseph Banks feature in new releases.

Reviews: Summery reads for young ones

Ann Packer surveys picture books perfect for kids.

Why I made: How a miscarriage led to a law change and a literary adventure

Writer Kathryn van Beek on why her pick your own adventure book is more like real life.

Summer reads: WWII dramas and a rollicking Aussie romance

Different experiences of WWII and a lively read from Australia in latest summer reads.

Review: Real-life adventure story mapping the world’s unexplored seabed

Laura Trethewey on the race to map the world’s unexplored seabed.

Review: Award-winning writer explores American slavery in all its horror

Jesmyn Ward's first historical fiction Let Us Descend is not for the faint-hearted.

Review: Music-loving novelist Michel Faber on the psychology and sociology behind the sounds that keep us hooked

Michel Faber: "The music we love is our billboard to the world."

Short story: Moving out, shifting in by Vincent O’Sullivan

The latest in our summer collection of short stories by top NZ writers.

Culling the books: How to declutter a book collection

Holidays might be the perfect time to reduce towering stacks of books, but how to start?

Short story: Honestly by Kelly Ana Morey

Each summer, we commission some of Aotearoa’s finest writers to tell us a short tale.

Short story: A hard man to forget by Josie Shapiro

Aotearoa’s finest writers share a short tale under the theme "second acts".

Short story: Sweet selection by Tina Shaw

Each summer, we commission some of Aotearoa’s finest writers to tell us a short tale.

Short story: Flamingo lady by Jacqueline Bublitz

Some of Aotearoa’s finest writers have written a story to the theme of "second acts".

Best of the Listener 2023: Favourite book reviews

Which books have Listener readers been particularly curious about this year?

Short story: The dog by Chad Taylor

Aotearoa’s finest writers tell us a short tale under the theme "second acts".

Long read: Remember Me

The first chapter from the award-winning Remember Me by Charity Norman.