NPR Topics: Books http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1032&ft=1&f=1032 Book reviews, interviews with authors, and NPR Book Tour, a weekly audio feature and podcast where leading authors read and discuss their work. Subscribe to the RSS feed. Copyright 2009 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:43:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/thumbnail/npr_generic_image_75.jpg Books http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1032&ft=1&f=1032 yes Why You're Not The Great Driver You Think You Are Our sense of what's dangerous on the road is not always accurate, according to Tom Vanderbilt, author of <em>Traffic: Why We Drive The Way We Do.</em> Take roundabouts: "People fear roundabouts in America &mdash; they've been called 'Circles of Death,' Vanderbilt says. "And nothing could be further from the truth." Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:43:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120541921&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120541921&ft=1&f=1032 Our sense of what's dangerous on the road is not always accurate, according to Tom Vanderbilt, author of <em>Traffic: Why We Drive The Way We Do.</em> Take roundabouts: "People fear roundabouts in America &mdash; they've been called 'Circles of Death,' Vanderbilt says. "And nothing could be further from the truth." no Our sense of what's dangerous on the road is not always accurate, according to Tom Vanderbilt, author of Traffic: Why We Drive The Way We Do. Take roundabouts: "People fear roundabouts in America — they've been called 'Circles of Death,' Vanderbilt says. "And nothing could be further from the truth."

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]]> Excerpt: 'Vanity Fair's Proust Questionnaire' <em>Vanity Fair's Proust Questionnaire</em> collects celebrity answers to deep (and not-so-deep) questions. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:07:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120696741&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120696741&ft=1&f=1032 <em>Vanity Fair's Proust Questionnaire</em> collects celebrity answers to deep (and not-so-deep) questions. no Vanity Fair's Proust Questionnaire collects celebrity answers to deep (and not-so-deep) questions.

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]]> Big And Beautiful: Best Gift Books of 2009 Reviewer John McAlley selects gems from the worlds of fine art, fashion, photography, science, lit-crit and cartoons. These luxe volumes will be gracing coffee tables long after the lights and wrapping paper are gone. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:15:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120685579&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120685579&ft=1&f=1032 Reviewer John McAlley selects gems from the worlds of fine art, fashion, photography, science, lit-crit and cartoons. These luxe volumes will be gracing coffee tables long after the lights and wrapping paper are gone. no Reviewer John McAlley selects gems from the worlds of fine art, fashion, photography, science, lit-crit and cartoons. These luxe volumes will be gracing coffee tables long after the lights and wrapping paper are gone.

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]]> The Secret Political Reach Of 'The Family' A secretive fellowship of powerful Christian politicians includes some names that have recently been prominent in the headlines: Sen. John Ensign, Rep. Bart Stupak and Rep. Joe Pitts. Writer Jeff Sharlet describes the men's involvement with the Family, and discusses recent developments within the group. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:55:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120746516&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120746516&ft=1&f=1032 A secretive fellowship of powerful Christian politicians includes some names that have recently been prominent in the headlines: Sen. John Ensign, Rep. Bart Stupak and Rep. Joe Pitts. Writer Jeff Sharlet describes the men's involvement with the Family, and discusses recent developments within the group. 2291 no A secretive fellowship of powerful Christian politicians includes some names that have recently been prominent in the headlines: Sen. John Ensign, Rep. Bart Stupak and Rep. Joe Pitts. Writer Jeff Sharlet describes the men's involvement with the Family, and discusses recent developments within the group.

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]]> What We're Reading: Nov. 24 - 30, 2009 This week, Michael Crichton's last book, ever, sails the seas of pirate adventure. In story collections: Alice Munro's strong and subtly mysterious women; Ha Jin's immigrants caught between two worlds. And a space-program history finds surprising drama in the unmanned voyages. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120713800&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120713800&ft=1&f=1032 This week, Michael Crichton's last book, ever, sails the seas of pirate adventure. In story collections: Alice Munro's strong and subtly mysterious women; Ha Jin's immigrants caught between two worlds. And a space-program history finds surprising drama in the unmanned voyages. no This week, Michael Crichton's last book, ever, sails the seas of pirate adventure. In story collections: Alice Munro's strong and subtly mysterious women; Ha Jin's immigrants caught between two worlds. And a space-program history finds surprising drama in the unmanned voyages.

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]]> At 150, Darwin's 'Origin' Stirs Even More Debate On Nov. 24, 1859, a book that changed the world first appeared in print. <em>On the Origin of Species</em> proposed a radical new theory about how all life on Earth evolved. In many respects, the book sparks greater controversy today than when it first appeared. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:16:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120692695&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120692695&ft=1&f=1032 On Nov. 24, 1859, a book that changed the world first appeared in print. <em>On the Origin of Species</em> proposed a radical new theory about how all life on Earth evolved. In many respects, the book sparks greater controversy today than when it first appeared. 291 no On Nov. 24, 1859, a book that changed the world first appeared in print. On the Origin of Species proposed a radical new theory about how all life on Earth evolved. In many respects, the book sparks greater controversy today than when it first appeared.

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]]> Excerpt: 'A New Literary History of America' Editors Greil Marcus and Werner Sollers curated this new anthology of essays about American culture Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120708853&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120708853&ft=1&f=1032 Editors Greil Marcus and Werner Sollers curated this new anthology of essays about American culture no Editors Greil Marcus and Werner Sollers curated this new anthology of essays about American culture

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]]> Alan Cheuse's Book Picks To Warm A Winter's Night Book reviewer Alan Cheuse selects the highlights of this holiday season: futuristic dystopias; things that go bump in the night; portraits from Norman Rockwell's America; gay New York; a celebration of our immigrant adventures; one writer's journey to manhood; and, of course, Long John Silver. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:15:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120539406&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120539406&ft=1&f=1032 Book reviewer Alan Cheuse selects the highlights of this holiday season: futuristic dystopias; things that go bump in the night; portraits from Norman Rockwell's America; gay New York; a celebration of our immigrant adventures; one writer's journey to manhood; and, of course, Long John Silver. no Book reviewer Alan Cheuse selects the highlights of this holiday season: futuristic dystopias; things that go bump in the night; portraits from Norman Rockwell's America; gay New York; a celebration of our immigrant adventures; one writer's journey to manhood; and, of course, Long John Silver.

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]]> Excerpt: 'City Boy' The latest installment of Edmund White's biography remembers gay life in 1960s and '70s New York. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:45:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120587284&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120587284&ft=1&f=1032 The latest installment of Edmund White's biography remembers gay life in 1960s and '70s New York. no The latest installment of Edmund White's biography remembers gay life in 1960s and '70s New York.

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]]> Damned 'From Here To Eternity' Author James Ellroy was 12 when <em>From Here To Eternity</em> showed him a new, damned world: Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, in the months before the Pearl Harbor attack. Ellroy had already come to see the world as a harsh place, but the book gave him characters at the outset of America's most perilous moment and ultimate ascent. He says you must read it. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:43:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112212197&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112212197&ft=1&f=1032 Author James Ellroy was 12 when <em>From Here To Eternity</em> showed him a new, damned world: Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, in the months before the Pearl Harbor attack. Ellroy had already come to see the world as a harsh place, but the book gave him characters at the outset of America's most perilous moment and ultimate ascent. He says you must read it. no Author James Ellroy was 12 when From Here To Eternity showed him a new, damned world: Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, in the months before the Pearl Harbor attack. Ellroy had already come to see the world as a harsh place, but the book gave him characters at the outset of America's most perilous moment and ultimate ascent. He says you must read it.

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]]> Excerpt: 'American Fantastic Tales' This collection &mdash; edited by Peter Straub &mdash; draws from 300 years of American horror and fantasy. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:27:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114251245&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114251245&ft=1&f=1032 This collection &mdash; edited by Peter Straub &mdash; draws from 300 years of American horror and fantasy. no This collection — edited by Peter Straub — draws from 300 years of American horror and fantasy.

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]]> Excerpt: 'Becoming Americans' 400 years of poems, essays and stories about coming to America, edited by Ilan Stavans. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:47:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114198368&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114198368&ft=1&f=1032 400 years of poems, essays and stories about coming to America, edited by Ilan Stavans. no 400 years of poems, essays and stories about coming to America, edited by Ilan Stavans.

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]]> Excerpt: 'The Complete Stories of J.G. Ballard' Nearly 100 stories from the celebrated author of <em>Crash</em> and <em>Empire of the Sun</em>. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:42:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120606346&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120606346&ft=1&f=1032 Nearly 100 stories from the celebrated author of <em>Crash</em> and <em>Empire of the Sun</em>. no Nearly 100 stories from the celebrated author of Crash and Empire of the Sun.

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]]> Turan's Book Spotlights Theater Producer Joe Papp There's a new book out about legendary theater producer Joseph Papp. Kenneth Turan's book is called <em>Free for All: Joe Papp, the Public, and the Greatest Theater Story Ever Told.</em> Papp founded the New York Shakespeare Festival and the Public Theater. He also produced works like <em>Hair</em> and <em>A Chorus Line.</em> Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120676350&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120676350&ft=1&f=1032 There's a new book out about legendary theater producer Joseph Papp. Kenneth Turan's book is called <em>Free for All: Joe Papp, the Public, and the Greatest Theater Story Ever Told.</em> Papp founded the New York Shakespeare Festival and the Public Theater. He also produced works like <em>Hair</em> and <em>A Chorus Line.</em> 439 no There's a new book out about legendary theater producer Joseph Papp. Kenneth Turan's book is called Free for All: Joe Papp, the Public, and the Greatest Theater Story Ever Told. Papp founded the New York Shakespeare Festival and the Public Theater. He also produced works like Hair and A Chorus Line.

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]]> Author: Polar Bears Are 'On Thin Ice' Polar bears are some of the most high-profile victims of global warming. They’re irresistibly cute, and author Richard Ellis says they’ll disappear from the wild within a hundred years as irreversible warming destroys the polar ice caps. Ellis talks to host Guy Raz about his new bo<em>ok, On Thin Ice: The Changing World of the Polar B</em>ear. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120668816&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120668816&ft=1&f=1032 Polar bears are some of the most high-profile victims of global warming. They’re irresistibly cute, and author Richard Ellis says they’ll disappear from the wild within a hundred years as irreversible warming destroys the polar ice caps. Ellis talks to host Guy Raz about his new bo<em>ok, On Thin Ice: The Changing World of the Polar B</em>ear. 342 no Polar bears are some of the most high-profile victims of global warming. They’re irresistibly cute, and author Richard Ellis says they’ll disappear from the wild within a hundred years as irreversible warming destroys the polar ice caps. Ellis talks to host Guy Raz about his new book, On Thin Ice: The Changing World of the Polar Bear.

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