What books does Dana Perino recommend?
Between anchoring Fox News and reflecting on a career in public service, Dana Perino keeps up a steady stream of book recommendations that lean literary and personal. The former White House Press Secretary and co-host of The Five and America's Newsroom has shared 23 titles here, sourced largely from her Untold Story and Everything Will Be Okay podcasts, along with posts on Twitter and segments on The Five. Society and politics feature, but fiction, history, and memoir dominate her personal reading. Ashley Elston's thriller First Lie Wins is a top pick; "I read it in one day," Perino said, praising how "the stakes are high for all of these people." She has a soft spot for historical fiction, recommending Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl for its portrait of Estee Lauder, and a #1 bestselling author herself, she often folds her own life lessons into what she suggests.
Last updated March 2026 · Every recommendation cited to its original source.
First Lie Wins
A Novel
byAshley Elston
2024352 Pages“If you want a quick read and a fabulous read... I read it in one day. The stakes are high for all of these people that are involved.”
— Dana Perino
Source: Dana Perino's Top Books of 2023 list (Untold Story Podcast)
Read by Dana Perino
Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl
A Novel
byRenée Rosen
2023432 Pages“I love historical fiction... and it's based on the story of Estée Lauder. And how she grew up in New York, how she started her business making cosmetics in a sink... It's a beautiful book, I highly recommend it.”
— Dana Perino
Source: The Untold Story Podcast, December 2023
Read by Dana Perino
A Certain Idea of America
Selected Writings
byPeggy Noonan
2024352 Pages“A really great compilation of different writings... I think is a great gift too. I recommend it and I'm really enjoying it myself.”
— Dana Perino
Source: The Untold Story Podcast, December 2024
Read by Dana Perino
The Secret Book of Flora Lea
A Novel
byPatti Callahan Henry
2023368 Pages(88,000)
“You will love this book because it takes place in the 50s in England... I highly recommend it.”
— Dana Perino
Source: The Untold Story Podcast, December 2023
Read by Dana Perino
byBenjamin Myers
2019260 Pages“It's about the transformative power of a relationship and a friendship across the generations to heal a heart... the descriptions of the nature in the summertime in England are just fantastic.”
— Dana Perino
Source: The Untold Story Podcast, 2024
Read by Dana Perino
What So Proudly We Hail
The American Soul in Story, Speech, and Song
byAmy A. Kass, Leon R. Kass, Diana Schaub
2011790 Pages“I've sort of been thinking ahead to 2026 and the 250th anniversary of this country... so I've just started this one, I got it for a couple of people for Christmas.”
— Dana Perino
Source: The Untold Story Podcast, December 2024
Read by Dana Perino
I Miss You When I Blink
Essays
byMary Laura Philpott
2019288 Pages“I thought this book was spectacular... she's such a great writer, a terrific writer. Very self-deprecating fabulous book... I highly recommend.”
— Dana Perino
Source: The Untold Story Podcast, August 2024
Die With Zero
Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life
byBill Perkins
2020240 Pages“Bill reveals how his philosophy of maximizing life was discovered and the inspiration behind his book, Die with Zero... A must-listen!”
— Dana Perino
Source: Everything Will Be Okay Podcast, April 2023
Read by Dana Perino
Just Tyrus
A Memoir
byTyrus
2022240 Pages“There's a lot of fun in this book. There's a lot of heart and life in this book. I absolutely loved it. I read it in one day, I can't recommend it highly enough.”
— Dana Perino
Source: Everything Will Be Okay Podcast, April 2022
byGail Honeyman
2017336 Pages“Three cheers for this book. Finished it today — loved it.”
— Dana Perino
Source: Twitter/X Post
The Dutch House
A Novel
byAnn Patchett
2019352 Pages“I loved this book - a great read for the fall, too.”
— Dana Perino
Source: The Five (Fox News), June 2019
Read by Dana Perino
byMarkus Zusak
2018592 Pages“My goodness. I loved it.”
— Dana Perino
Source: Twitter/X Post
Read by Peter Attia, Changpeng Zhao, Chris Williamson and 4 others
The Psychology of Money
Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness
byMorgan Housel
2020256 Pages“The psychology of money is very interesting... I loved it too.”
— Dana Perino
Source: The Untold Story Podcast, August 2024
Read by Dana Perino
Mr. Churchill's Secretary
A Maggie Hope Mystery
bySusan Elia MacNeal
2012384 Pages“The book series I recommended on @TheFive.”
— Dana Perino
Source: The Five (Fox News)
Read by Dana Perino
False Light
A Novel
byEric Dezenhall
2021343 Pages“Loving this novel, False Light, by @EricDezenhall - and it just won a big award!”
— Dana Perino
Source: Twitter/X Post, June 2021
Read by Dana Perino
The Nazi Conspiracy
The Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill
byBrad Meltzer, Josh Mensch
2023400 Pages“My friend @BradMeltzer's new book The Nazi Conspiracy is out today. Winston Churchill is naked in it. For real.”
— Dana Perino
Source: Twitter/X Post, January 2023
Read by Dana Perino
The Great Revolt
Inside the Populist Coalition Reshaping American Politics
bySalena Zito, Brad Todd
2018320 Pages“I already read it AND highly recommend it. Suggested it on FNC - it's really terrific.”
— Dana Perino
Source: Twitter/X Post, May 2018
The Nightingale
A Novel
byKristin Hannah
2015448 Pages(2,145,026)
“Recommended book, The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. story swept me up into the fight of the free French in WWII. Poignant. Relevant today.”
— Dana Perino
Source: Twitter/X Post, 2015
Read by Dana Perino
Don't Burn This Book
Thinking for Yourself in an Age of Unreason
byDave Rubin
2020240 Pages“Really loved this new book by @RubinReport - Don't Burn this Book. Especially the advice on finding a mentor.”
— Dana Perino
Source: Twitter/X Post, March 2021
Read by Dana Perino
The Man I Knew
The Amazing Story of George H. W. Bush's Post-Presidency
byJean Becker
2021368 Pages“What a triumph for Jean and Tom — we owe them a debt of gratitude for writing these stories down.”
— Dana Perino
Source: I Wish Someone Had Told Me... endorsement
Read by Dana Perino
Saving America
7 Proven Steps to Make Government Deliver Great Results
byMark Aesch
2016256 PagesSource: Blinkist Expert Page (Verified via Multiple Mentions)
The Righteous Mind
Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion
byJonathan Haidt
2012419 PagesSource: Blinkist Expert Page / Official Recommendations
Read by Dana Perino
The Warmth of Other Suns
The Epic Story of America's Great Migration
byIsabel Wilkerson
2010640 PagesSource: Blinkist Expert Page / Official Recommendations
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Frequently asked questions
What books does Dana Perino recommend?
Her 23 recommendations include First Lie Wins, Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl, A Certain Idea of America, The Secret Book of Flora Lea, and The Nightingale, a mix of thrillers, historical fiction, and political writing.
What is Dana Perino's favourite book?
Ashley Elston's First Lie Wins is among her top picks. Perino called it "a fabulous read," adding, "I read it in one day. The stakes are high for all of these people that are involved."
Where do Dana Perino's book recommendations come from?
They are drawn from her podcasts The Untold Story and Everything Will Be Okay, her posts on Twitter/X, and book segments on Fox News's The Five, where she has recommended titles like The Dutch House.
Has Dana Perino written any books?
Yes. She has authored three titles noted here: And the Good News Is..., Let Me Tell You About Jasper..., and Everything Will Be Okay, which also lends its name to her podcast.
Does Dana Perino recommend historical fiction?
Yes, often. She loves the genre, praising Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl, based on Estee Lauder, The Secret Book of Flora Lea set in 1950s England, and Kristin Hannah's WWII novel The Nightingale, which she found "poignant" and "relevant."
All 23 Books Dana Perino Has Recommended
- First Lie Wins · Ashley Elston
- Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl · Renée Rosen
- A Certain Idea of America · Peggy Noonan
- The Secret Book of Flora Lea · Patti Callahan Henry
- The Offing · Benjamin Myers
- What So Proudly We Hail · Amy A. Kass
- I Miss You When I Blink · Mary Laura Philpott
- Die With Zero · Bill Perkins
- Just Tyrus · Tyrus
- Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine · Gail Honeyman
- The Dutch House · Ann Patchett
- Bridge of Clay · Markus Zusak
- The Psychology of Money · Morgan Housel
- Mr. Churchill's Secretary · Susan Elia MacNeal
- False Light · Eric Dezenhall
- The Nazi Conspiracy · Brad Meltzer
- The Great Revolt · Salena Zito
- The Nightingale · Kristin Hannah
- Don't Burn This Book · Dave Rubin
- The Man I Knew · Jean Becker
- Saving America · Mark Aesch
- The Righteous Mind · Jonathan Haidt
- The Warmth of Other Suns · Isabel Wilkerson