» James McBride discusses his new book Song Yet Sung.

» Listen to other Penguin Podcasts.

Other author podcasts:

» On The New Yorker: Fiction Podcast, Junot Diaz reads "How to Date a Brown Girl (Black Girl, White Girl, or Halfie)" from his short story collection Drown, and Edwidge Danticat discusses.

» Sudhir Venkatesh, author of Gang Leader for a Day on NPR's Book Tour Podcast.

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Penguin Group (USA) Dominates The New York Times Bestseller Lists, With Four
#1 Bestsellers Simultaneously for the Third Time in First Seven Weeks of the Year

Penguin Group (USA) holds four #1 positions simultaneously on The New York Times bestseller lists for the week of February 17th: In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan (The Penguin Press) holds at #1 in its fifth week on the hardcover nonfiction list; The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett (NAL) shoots up to #1 in its twelfth week on the trade paperback fiction list; Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (Penguin) is #1 in its 54th week on the paperback nonfiction list; and A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle (Plume) debuts in the #1 slot on the paperback advice, how-to, and miscellaneous list. This is the third time (out of only seven weeks!) that Penguin Group (USA) has achieved four simultaneous #1 New York Times bestsellers in the same week; and has had at least one #1 for every week of the year so far.

I made the transition from writing for radio to writing a book, and now I'm writing a blog. I'm fascinated - and more than a little daunted - by the way basic forms of language and discourse are evolving so rapidly. And I'm frankly amazed at how my primary subject - the vast spectrum of human experience we anchor in terms of religion, faith, and spirituality - has become a more fluid force in our culture in a relatively short period of time. It - or talk about it - is everywhere. And yet "fundamentalist" voices are not as prominent and defining as they once were. All the candidates for President this year - Democrats as well as Republicans - are open about their lives of faith. At the same time, non-religious people have joined their voices and perspectives to the new cultural adventure I believe we're on - of reimagining and re-engaging the act of "speaking of faith." Traveling around with the paperback these past few weeks I've experienced less fear than at this time last year, and a greater sense of possibility. I am most delighted when people tell me that reading the book gives them hope - that together we can begin to navigate this vital, messy, and important aspect of our common life with generosity, creativity, and grace.