Stephen Colbert shocks fans with his unexpected November book club pick that everyone’s talking about.NH
Stephen Colbert has a book for you to read this Thanksgiving.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert host, who joined celebrity bookworms Reese Witherspoon, Jenna Bush Hager, and Oprah Winfrey by launching his own book club in June 2025, is doing something different for the month of November and shaking things up from the way he normally runs his monthly book club.
In a post shared to social media, Colbert announced his November pick and explained why he’s breaking from his usual book club format. He said:
“Hey everybody, this month we’re doing something a little different for the Late Show book club. Evie and I picked a book from a few years back that we just loved, and we think you will too. Our November book is This Is Happiness by Niall Williams. It’s a coming-of-age story about a teenage boy who goes to live with his grandparents in a small Irish village and learns about love, regret, and what makes a life well lived. Thanksgiving is coming up, and there’s nothing better than reading about complicated families when they aren’t yours. Enjoy.”
This Is Happiness by Niall Williams
Set in the fictional Irish village of Faha, This Is Happiness follows a young boy named Noe in the 1940s and later as he looks back upon his life. The book explores themes of memory, love, community, nature, and the tension between innocence and experience.
The book, first published in 2019 before being released in the U.S. as a paperback in 2021, has many fans in addition to the beloved talk show host. This Is Happiness was shortlisted for the Best Novel category in the Irish Book Awards in 2020. The book was also long-listed for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction in 2020. The Washington Post is also a fan of Williams’ novel, calling it one of the “Best Books of the Year.”
“Such a beautiful book,” responded a commenter on Colbert’s social media share. Another added, “One of the best books I have ever read. Wonderful story.”
Colbert shares a monthly book choice on his show, often interviewing the author on his late-night talk show.
This story was originally reported by Parade on Nov 5, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
