May 2000

Going Bowling -- Robert Siegel talks with Robert Putnam who is author of Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. Putnam uses an observation about the decline in bowling leagues in the US as a metaphor to describe the increasing alienation of Americans from their families and communities, and the political process. One crucial factor leading to the social isolation is television. Says Putnam, "People watch Friends on TV -- they don't have them." (7:30) Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community is published by Simon & Shuster)

Wild Life -- Book reviewer Alan Cheuse reviews Wild Life, by Molly Gloss (Simon & Schuster), the harrowing adventures of a turn of the century female adventure writer from Oregon. (2:00)

Friendship & Women -- Linda Wertheimer talks with Ellen Goodman and Patricia O'Brien, authors of I Know Just What You Mean: The Power of Friendship in Women's Lives (Simon & Shuster). The authors talk about the interviews they did with numerous women of all ages and walks of life about friendship. Goodman and O'Brien have shared a 30 year long friendship. They recount personal stories illustrating the issues of relationships between women. (5:45)

Bruised Hibiscus -- Elizabeth Nunez's new novel is called Bruised Hibiscus. Set in Trinidad, it deals with love, death and race. Alan Cheuse has our review. Bruised Hibiscus is from Seal Press.

From Dawn To Decadence -- Robert talks to historian Jacques Barzun about his new book, From Dawn To Decadence. It's an 800-page narrative tracing great themes of Western Culture from the time of the rise of Protestantism in Europe to our own times. The book is a culmination of a lifetime of research. (8:00)

Youssou N'Dour -- Charles de Ledesma reviews a new CD from Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour, called Joko. Ledesma says the album is a bit of a hybrid, with half the songs based in the classic tradition of West African music, and the other half with a more pop and hip-hop music sound.(4:00)

Deus Lo Volt -- Alan Cheuse reviews Deus Lo Volt! -- or God Wills It! a new novel by Evan Connell. The book builds on historic documents to tell the story of the Crusades, through the eyes of a soldier. (2:00)

Supergrass -- The British rock band Supergrass produces music rooted in the "British invasion" pop of the 1960s. The band started out as teen pop sensations in the UK and Europe. Eventually, critics warmed to the sound. Supergrass has just released its third album and the band is on tour in the US. NPR's Guy Raz has a profile. (7:30)

The Human Stain -- Book reviewer Alan Cheuse discusses Philip Roth's latest, The Human Stain. It's the story of a Jewish classics scholar who is hiding a remarkable secret. (1:45)

Travis -- Tom Moon reviews Travis, a pop quartet from Scotland. Moon says that although their lyrics cover the same well worn ground about love and despair, they do it with clever understatement. The groups second album, The Man Who, topped both sales charts and critics polls in the UK last year. Now its been released in the US. (5:30) The cd is on Epic Records.

Shelby Lynne -- Noah talk with country music artist Shelby Lynne. Her new CD I Am Shelby Lynne (Island/DefJam) was recorded outside of the Nashville country music studios, giving her the opportunity to "find her voice." Her new CD contains everything from torch songs to R&B to twang.

Bowman -- Noah talks with our poetry reviewer, Catherine Bowman, about a book called, The Daily Mirror, by David Lehman. Poet and teacher David Lehman decided to write a poem every day over the last four years. He's collected the best of these poems in his new book, which is named after a defunct New York City newspaper.

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