President Donald Trump is suing the New York Times and four of its reporters, alleging that they defamed him and sought to undermine his 2024 campaign. Penguin Random House, which published a Pulitzer Prize-winning book based on the reporting, is also named in the suit.

• The lawsuit claims that the articles and book were "carefully crafted," "calculated to inflict maximum damage," and published with "actual malice."
• It further claims that they resulted in "enormous" financial losses and damage to Trump’s "professional and occupational interests."
• President Trump is seeking damages of at least $15 billion.

In response, Penguin Random House called the current suit "meritless," and the Times identified it as "an attempt to stifle and discourage independent reporting."

This is not the first time Trump has pursued legal action over a book. His past suits against publishers—all failures—include a 2018 attempt to block the publication of Michael Wolff’s Fire and Fury and a 2020 effort to prevent the publication of his niece’s tell-all memoir.

Free speech advocates at PEN America also issued a statement , noting that the President’s action "follows other recent lawsuits and legal threats against the media, with the goal of chilling reporting that the administration deems unfavorable." – RS

On this week’s episode of Zero to Well-Read, we’re turning to a classic that was nearly forgotten.

Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God made a modest showing when it was originally published September 18, 1937. It had been out of print for decades by the time Alice Walker discovered Hurston’s grave in 1975 and published an essay in Ms. that kickstarted a Hurston revival.

Two years later , Robert E. Hemenway published a biography of Hurston with an introduction written by Alice Walker. Now we’re cooking with gas.

When Harper & Row reissued the book in 1978, the 75,000-copy print run sold out in less than a month. (For a frame of reference, that’s about how many copies Katabasis sold the week it was released.)

🎧 Get everything you need to know about this classic on Zero to Well-Read.

A good book can transport you, but a great towel can make your everyday reality a little more luxurious. If you’re still using a hand-me-down from a past life, you’re missing out on a serious upgrade. It’s time to ditch the old and embrace the stylish comfort of Brooklinen‘s bath towels.

The outpouring of affection and remembrances for Robert Redford yesterday showcased his titanic influence as an actor, director, and through-and-through advocate of filmmaking. I was struck by how many of his signature films were adaptations of books, plays, and short stories (in fact, though he has more than 80 acting credits, many high-profile directing credits, and dozens and dozens of producer credits, he doesn’t appear to have a single writing credit).

Here are three notable adaptations from Redford’s career (plus one personal favorite and one to skip). 

• All the President’s Men (1976), adapted from the book by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. One of the greatest non-fiction adaptations of all time, Redford’s portrayal of Bob Woodward is cool, determined, and more than a little skeptical. This scene, in which he is juggling a few different phone calls to jittery, guilty sources, is Redford at his effortless, competent best.
• Ordinary People (1980) – Redford’s directorial debut was a phenomenon, both at the box office and at the Academy Awards. Based on Judith Guest’s 1976 novel of loss, estrangement, and reconciliation, the movie is remarkably controlled and understated, showing that Redford’s onscreen presence could come through from the other side of the camera.
• The Natural (1984) – Where All The President’s Men is extremely faithful to the book, The Natural diverges considerably from Bernard Malamud’s novel (go Google it. Not going to spoil it here). Roy Hobbs, the hard-throwing wunderkind who gets mixed up with a mysterious trigger-woman and low-dealing club owners, is a tragic figure–the best that never was, who for one moment, glimpses the peak of what might have been. 

A Personal Favorite: A River Runs Through It (1992) – Redford’s direction of Norman MacLean’s luminous novella showcases one of the world’s natural wonders: the 29-year-old Brad Pitt. Also Montana. But my favorite part is Redford’s narration: he captures the wonder and world-weariness of MacLean’s prose, and I long wished that he had recorded an audio version after the audiobook boom happened. Alas. 

And One to Skip: The Great Gatsby (1974) – I had occasion recently to re-read The Great Gatsby and think about why this version just doesn’t work. And there are many reasons. Redford is one of them. He could get to stoic sadness in The Way We Were, but Redford’s preternatural steadiness makes for an oddly inert version of Fitzgerald’s mini-epic of heartbreak. – JO

If you’re finding it harder to focus on books these days, you’re not alone. Here’s some expert advice from Dr. Zelana Montminy, whose book Finding Focus: Own Your Attention in an Age of Distraction is out now.

• Spot Your “Reading Thieves” – Notice what quietly pulls you away from the page…extra tabs, buzzing phones, or even wandering worries. Naming these distractions gives you the power to set them aside and re-immerse in your book.
• Anchor Your Body, Deepen the Story – A brief stretch, walk, or a few slow breaths can reset attention and increase blood flow, priming your brain to sink into narrative worlds with less restlessness.
• Feed Your Focus Shelf – The gut-brain connection matters for readers, too. Omega-3s, fiber, and probiotics help stabilize mood and clarity, making it easier to stay with long chapters without mental fatigue.
• Take Story-Saving Breaks – Focus isn’t endless, so step outside, rest your eyes on something green, or let yourself daydream between chapters. These restorative pauses strengthen memory and help you savor the story.
• Create a Reading Ritual –  Signal your brain that it’s time to read: light a candle, pour tea, or settle into a favorite chair. Ritual cues shift the mind from scattered to absorbed, letting you drop fully into the page.

In a world designed to hijack attention, reclaiming focus is less about productivity hacks and more about resilience, presence, and self-return. With a few intentional shifts, book lovers can protect their most precious resource, their attention, and immerse themselves fully in the joy of reading.

Sometimes, all you need is a good book to transport you to a gentler, more charming place. Welcome to the Cozy Corner at ThriftBooks, your ultimate source for comfort reads.

Like bookshelf space, kitchen space is precious and limited, so cookbooks really have to earn their spots on the shelf. The ones I’ve rounded up here all offer a firm grasp of the fundamentals and a wide range of flavor profiles.

• How to Cook Everything: The Basics by Mark Bittman – A lot of cookbooks claim to be for absolute beginners; this one actually is. Covering everything from how to crack an egg to how to know when food is done, Bittman’s behemoth includes more than 1,000 photos, most of which illustrate essential techniques.
• Start Here by Sohla El-Waylly – Think of this as more like Cooking 201: Nerd Edition. Each of the chapters is about a foundational technique or skill, and they’re organized to build on each other. True beginners should follow El-Waylly’s instruction to start at the very beginning and cook through in order.
• Cook This Book by Molly Baz – Molly Baz is stoked about food, and she wants you to be, too. Don’t know what a term or technique is? Simply scan a QR code on the recipe to watch a quick video demonstration. Baz also offers clear guidance about which elements of a recipe to complete when, because efficiency matters.

🍴 Dig into new cookbooks out this fall.

Just announced as a finalist for the 2025 Barnes & Noble Discover Prize, Jason Diamond’s debut novel is a book about food. It’s a book about Chicago. It’s a book about being a Jew. And about the mob and immigration and coming to terms with complicated family history (and family present). 

A pair of brothers leave Odessa after the pogroms in 1905, and find their way to Chicago, where the American Dream, as so often was the case, took more than a little sharp-dealing to realize. Their struggles are cross-cut with one of their descendants uncovering his literal and figurative inheritance. Will he embrace it? Disown it? Or can he find some middle ground between being beholden to it and turning his back on it?

Kaplan’s Plot is a warm and winning ode to a city and a people, one that doesn’t look away from the darker moments, but also isn’t haunted by them.  

Who will like this:
✅ Historical Fiction Fans
✅ Crime Readers
✅ Chicago Expats (and current-pats of course)
✅ Foodies
✅ Readers interested in Jews in America

Is your toiletry bag a graveyard of half-empty bottles and exploded lotions? The Cadence capsule system is the elegant solution, a set of magnetic, leakproof capsules stylishly designed to perfectly hold all your must-haves. Stop worrying about spills and save that precious space for the real MVP of your trip: more books.

🎧 Audiobook fans, listen up. Libro.fm’s BOGO sale ends tomorrow.

Members can get two audiobooks for one credit from a curated selection that includes Thank You For Listening by beloved audiobook narrator Julia Whelan, When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole, and Network Effect by Murderbot author Martha Wells.

New to Libro.fm? Use our code – BR3 – to get three audiobooks for the price of one when you sign up for a new membership. Then snag the deal and turn your three credits into six audiobooks. 💥 Magic!

🤓 See your books clearly with stylish, affordable glasses, many of which are named after authors and literary characters.**

🍿 Watch the trailer for the movie adaptation of The Housemaid starring Sydney Sweeney.

🚶‍♀️Take a literary walk through Jane Austen’s Bath.

👀 The Baby-sitters Club is being adapted for a stage musical with music and lyrics by the writer of KPop Demon Hunters.

✅ These are the 95 books critics think you should read this fall.

_{**This is a product recommendation from the Book Riot team. When you buy through these links, we may earn a commission.}

Written by Rebecca Schinsky and Jeff O’Neal. Thanks to Vanessa Diaz for copy editing.

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