Authors Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman tell the story of their messy and life-affirming Big Friendship and discuss the books that changed them.

Heather Havrilesky on the books that shaped her.

Writer and Longform co-host, Evan Ratliff, discusses the books that made an indelible mark on him.

Hua Hsu looks back on the books that led him to the writing life.

Wesley Lowery discusses the books that influenced how he thinks about and writes about the historical moments we find ourselves in.

Alex Mar on the books that shaped her ability to reveal the hidden layers of outsider communities.

Krista Tippett on the books that sowed the seeds of On Being.

Ashley C. Ford shares the literary influences that shaped her sage worldview.

Rebecca Traister looks back on the literary influences that shaped her own writing on gender and politics.

Shea Serrano talks about the books that gave him the confidence to write.