The summer I turned into a bookworm

Main Topic: The episode explores the concept of summer reading, its history, and how it has evolved over time. The hosts discuss how summer reading became a popular tradition, especially among women, and how it has been used as a marketing strategy by publishers.

Key Points:

1. The concept of summer reading originated in the 19th century, when it was seen as a way for men to escape the heat and pressures of their lives.
2. After the Civil War, summer reading became more popular among women, who were looking for a way to experience leisure and freedom.
3. Publishers began to promote summer reading as a way to sell books, and the concept of the "summer novel" emerged, which was a novel set in a summer resort and featuring a romantic plot.
4. The idea of summer reading as a marketing strategy is still used today, with publishers promoting books as "summer reads" to appeal to readers.
5. The hosts discuss how summer reading has evolved over time, with the rise of digital books and the changing ways in which people consume literature.
6. The episode also features an interview with Donna Harrington-Luker, the author of a book on summer reading, who discusses the history of summer reading and its cultural significance.

Participants: