Though Amor Towles’ writing talent was recognized when he was just a child, his career as an author didn’t begin until after a 20 year stint as an investment banker on Wall Street. He wrote in his spare time and on weekends before finally finishing “Rules of Civility,” his first New York Times bestseller. He went on to release two more bestseller novels, including a Read With Jenna pick, selling more than six million copies and earning praise from Bill Gates and Barack Obama. In this episode of Read With Jenna, Amor and Jenna chat in front of an audience at the Aspen Ideas Festival, where he opens up about his writing journey and the inspiration behind his historical novels. Amor will release his latest book, “Table for Two: Fictions”, April 2024. 

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Ruth Simmons came from humble beginnings, growing up in east Texas as the daughter of sharecroppers. But she saw no barriers for her future. Simmons pursued a career as a successful professor and academic administrator, eventually serving as president of Smith College, Brown University and Prairie View A&M University. In this episode of Read With Jenna, Ruth reflects on her childhood and her mission to give back to others with similar life stories. 

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Beloved author Judy Blume is a literary trailblazer. Cherished by millions of readers across multiple generations, her books have acted as a rite of passage for kids and pre-teens. The prolific author’s 29 books, including "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret", have sold over 90 million copies, and have been printed in more than 39 languages. Her stories are touchstones for adolescents eager to feel seen and understood. Blume joined Jenna Bush Hager for a conversation on the impact of her books, the 25th anniversary of her novel “Summer Sisters" and her very own next chapter, opening an independent bookstore. 

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Javier Zamora is a renowned Salvadoran poet, author and activist. When he was just 9 years old, he emigrated from El Salvador to the U.S. to reunite with his parents, who were already there. His memoir "Solito" details this harrowing solo journey away from a war-torn country and into one where home always felt far away. Zamora is the first Salvadoran author to make the New York Times bestsellers list. Jenna Bush Hager spoke to Javier about his memoir “Solito”, a recent Read with Jenna pick, and what it means to tell his story now. 

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Colleen Hoover is a publishing phenomenon. While she didn’t necessarily set out for fame, she has achieved literary super-stardom, becoming one of the bestselling authors in the world and the top-selling author in the United States. In 2022, she outsold the Bible. She continues to dominate the New York Times bestseller list week after week, thanks to her passionate and dedicated following of fans, known as “CoHorts”. Hoover sat down with Jenna Bush Hager at her “Book Bonanza” charity event in Texas to talk about her lifelong love of writing, the anticipated movie adaptation of her novel "It Ends With Us," and how readers have resonated with her books on this episode of Read with Jenna. 

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In this podcast, TODAY’s Jenna Bush Hager brings you intimate, entertaining, and revealing conversations with her favorite writers. Hear from authors as they share their creative process, their love of books, and what inspires them to share their stories with the world. Join Jenna as she continues her mission to connect readers, create conversations and share her love of reading.  

Follow now to hear new episodes of ‘Read with Jenna’ every week.

And the fun doesn’t stop here! Want to join our Read with Jenna community of book lovers? You can find our monthly book list and sign up for our newsletter here: TODAY.com/ReadwithJenna

You can also find us on Instagram on @ReadwithJenna