The Book Case

Roger Rosenblatt on the Magic of Books

The Book Case

Show Notes

Roger Rosenblatt wrote a column for the NY Times called Before You Toss that Book… We already loved Roger’s books, and this column moved us to reach out to him. We asked if he would come on our show to read the column for our audience and to talk to us about what makes books so important, what keeping books can do to grow your love for the written word. Roger is a national treasure and this conversation was both moving and insightful. If you love books, you must join us.

Roger's column:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/28/opinion/favorite-books-cleaning-out.html

Find books mentioned on The Book Case:

https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302

Books mentioned on this week's episode:

Making Toast by Roger Rosenblatt

Rules for Aging by Roger Rosenblatt

The Man in the Water by Roger Rosenblatt

The Boy Detective by Roger Rosenblatt

Cold Moon by Roger Rosenblatt

Unless it Moves the Heart by Roger Rosenblatt

Anything Can Happen by Roger Rosenblatt

Thomas Murphy By Roger Rosenblatt

Life Itself: Abortion and the American Mind by Roger Rosenblatt

Where We Stand by Roger Rosenblatt

Lapham Rising by Roger Rosenblatt

Beet by Roger Rosenblatt

The Story I am by Roger Rosenblatt

The Book of Love by Roger Rosenblatt

Cataract Blues by Roger Rosenblatt

A Steinway on the Beach by Roger Rosenblatt

Children of War by Roger Rosenblatt

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

Hamlet by William Shakespeare

The Far Field by Theodore Roethke

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More from The Book Case

Oct 22, 2026

Bonnie Garmus’ follow up to GMA Book Club Pick Lessons in Chemistry, called Peck & Peck, is a wild and funny foray into the world of poetry. Compulsively readable with unforgettable characters, the novel centers around Batter, a poetry editor who ends up at a world renown poetry publication, called Peck & Peck. What is the world of poets and their editors occupy? What do they have to believe in to do well? We ask the author. Also, we are joined by Periwinkle books, a new store in Bronxville NY. Join us!

Oct 15, 2026

When we visited with Ann Patchett a few months ago, she talked almost non stop about Yiyun Li’s newest, MUSIC AGAINST THE NIGHT, which she called “close the perfect novel”. We went right home and read it and booked Yiyun for her earliest availability, because she was right. Yiyun Li, the writer of MUSIC AGSINST THE NIGHT, joins us to talk about her beautifully written new book, and why she felt, at this stage in her career, she felt comfortable tackling a literary trilogy. We also talk to a not for profit, BINC, whose purpose is to financially support independent booksellers for any variety of reasons. Join us!

Oct 8, 2026

This week we have to terrific authors in one show. Robert Kolker’s newest, The Vanishing Family, is a look at a family afflicted with an early onset dementia, and how this family could revolutionize the way we think about the aging mind. Chloe Benjamin was GMA’s September Book Club pick, and although we are late to the party, we are proud to get to attend at all. It’s a mind-blowing book about time flowing backwards, and forwards. Join us for a sit down with two great authors and their two great books.

Oct 1, 2026

Up until now, there hasn’t really been a complete compendium on the Hindenburg disaster. Catherine Grace Katz gives it us in SHADOW BEFORE THE FLAME, and it is a page turner. Filled with top notch research, Katz drops readers squarely in the 1930’s so that they experience the majesty, mystery and looming fascism that cloaked the Hindenburg’s journey from Germany to the US. Something the size of three football fields was destroyed in 34 seconds. What did the people see on the ground? What did the passengers feel and see as it combusted? Did anyone live? These are all questions asked and answered on this week’s podcast. Join us!

Sep 30, 2026

Jennifer McMahon has been called the Shirley Jackson of her generation. Her newest, Stay Buried, is a fascinating look at what can happen to a small town when beset with an almost inhuman pandemic, and how they turn on each other as the diseases claims victim after victim (sound familiar?). Come join us for a great conversation with Jennifer in which we talk abut her ides, her process, and how there is a touch of the scary in so many of the classics we love.

See all episodes →