Kuang-Yu Fong (left) and Stephen Kaplin pose for a photo at Chinese Theatre Works in New York. LI XIRUI/XINHUA A sunlit loft in Long Island City houses a miniature world stitched together by time.

November 24, 2025 • Our annual reading guide returns with 380+ new titles handpicked by NPR staff and trusted critics. Find 13 years of recommendations all in one place — that's more than 4,000 great ...