Book Lust

Book Lust is a reading guide by Nancy Pearl, a longtime librarian at the Seattle Public Library who later became a familiar voice on National Public Radio. Rather than tracking a single story, the book helps readers choose what to read next. It groups recommendations by mood, theme, setting, and genre, with short notes on each title.

Pearl draws on her years of working with library patrons, so the suggestions reflect the questions readers actually ask. The lists cover a wide range of fiction and nonfiction, and they are meant to be browsed, not read straight through. Readers can dip in whenever they want a new book to try.

The guide is aimed at adult readers, book clubs, and anyone who likes talking about books. It works equally well as a source of ideas for a gift or for a personal reading plan.