NPR Topics: Books

NPR Topics: Books http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1032&ft=1&f=1032 Book reviews, interviews with authors, best-seller lists and more. Subscribe to the RSS feed. Copyright 2010 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:20:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Books http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1032&ft=1&f=1032 Tina Brown's Must-Click List: Bad Things Edition The editor-in-chief of <em>The Daily Beast</em> returns to <em>Morning Edition</em> for one of her regular conversations with NPR's Steve Inskeep about the books and articles that have caught her eye lately. On the list this time: "America the Miserable," overlong newspaper articles, and a political wife's memoir. Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:20:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123240222&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123240222&ft=1&f=1032 The editor-in-chief of The Daily Beast returns to Morning Edition for one of her regular conversations with NPR's Steve Inskeep about the books and articles that have caught her eye lately. On the list this time: "America the Miserable," overlong newspaper articles, and a political wife's memoir.

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]]> Creepy Or Clever, Ads Offer Adventures In Voyeurism Before there was online dating, there was the personal ad. Author David Rose compiles clever, charming — and sometimes creepy — personals in <em>Sexually, I'm More of a Switzerland.</em> Rose's favorite ads tend to include the phrase, "You know who you are." Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:15:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123527991&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123527991&ft=1&f=1032 Before there was online dating, there was the personal ad. Author David Rose compiles clever, charming — and sometimes creepy — personals in Sexually, I'm More of a Switzerland. Rose's favorite ads tend to include the phrase, "You know who you are."

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]]> What We're Reading, Feb. 9 - 15, 2010 Three novels of past and present: Lynn Neary reviews the "perfect" novel for our down economy — written <em>before</em> the banks failed. Steve Inskeep reads a tale of political infighting resonant of today, but that follows events in Cicero's Rome. And Alan Cheuse celebrates <em>The Lost Books of the Odyssey,</em> a novel both timeless and very contemporary. Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123504445&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123504445&ft=1&f=1032 Three novels of past and present: Lynn Neary reviews the "perfect" novel for our down economy — written before the banks failed. Steve Inskeep reads a tale of political infighting resonant of today, but that follows events in Cicero's Rome. And Alan Cheuse celebrates The Lost Books of the Odyssey, a novel both timeless and very contemporary.

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]]> Doctor Works To Get Young Men Out Of 'Wrong Place' When young African-American men showed up at Boston City Hospital with knife and gunshot wounds, most were thought to be thugs or drug dealers. But Dr. John Rich took time to interview these victims and found out what was really behind their injuries. Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122791527&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122791527&ft=1&f=1032 When young African-American men showed up at Boston City Hospital with knife and gunshot wounds, most were thought to be thugs or drug dealers. But Dr. John Rich took time to interview these victims and found out what was really behind their injuries.

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]]> Two New Novels Based On Homer's Work Two new novels this month are based on motifs from Homer's great poems, the <em>Iliad</em> and the <em>Odyssey</em>. Alan Cheuse reviews <em>Ransom</em> by David Malouf and <em>The Lost Books of the Odyssey</em> by Zachery Mason. Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123502263&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123502263&ft=1&f=1032 Two new novels this month are based on motifs from Homer's great poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey. Alan Cheuse reviews Ransom by David Malouf and The Lost Books of the Odyssey by Zachery Mason.

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]]> Observations Of China, From Behind The Wheel In summer 2001, <em>New Yorker</em> Beijing correspondent Peter Hessler got his Chinese driver's license. For the next seven years, he traveled thousands of miles through China, reporting on how the car is transforming the country. Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:24:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123499063&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123499063&ft=1&f=1032 In summer 2001, New Yorker Beijing correspondent Peter Hessler got his Chinese driver's license. For the next seven years, he traveled thousands of miles through China, reporting on how the car is transforming the country.

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]]> Imagining 'The Next Hundred Million' Americans The U.S. population is expected to reach 400 million by mid-century. In his book, <em>The Next Hundred Million: America in 2050,</em> Joel Kotkin argues that future will be green, diverse and suburban. Kotkin explains how the nation's changing demographics will transform American life and communities. Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123497650&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123497650&ft=1&f=1032 The U.S. population is expected to reach 400 million by mid-century. In his book, The Next Hundred Million: America in 2050, Joel Kotkin argues that future will be green, diverse and suburban. Kotkin explains how the nation's changing demographics will transform American life and communities.

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]]> 20 Years Of Defending Death Row Inmates Attorney David Dow has spent his career representing inmates who have been sentenced to death. Despite his efforts, many of his clients have been executed — and most of them were guilty. In his new memoir, <em>The Autobiography of an Execution,</em> Dow details what it's like to become emotionally involved with the people living on death row. Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123491414&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123491414&ft=1&f=1032 Attorney David Dow has spent his career representing inmates who have been sentenced to death. Despite his efforts, many of his clients have been executed — and most of them were guilty. In his new memoir, The Autobiography of an Execution, Dow details what it's like to become emotionally involved with the people living on death row.

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]]> Jenny Sanford Details Tumult In 'Staying True' Of the recent political scandals involving infidelity — John Edwards, Elliott Spitzer, James McGreevy — one stands out, not for what the politician did, but for what his wife did not do. Jenny Sanford, wife of Gov. Mark Sanford, did not stand by her man in the cameras' glare. Her new memoir explains why. Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:55:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123411066&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123411066&ft=1&f=1032 Of the recent political scandals involving infidelity — John Edwards, Elliott Spitzer, James McGreevy — one stands out, not for what the politician did, but for what his wife did not do. Jenny Sanford, wife of Gov. Mark Sanford, did not stand by her man in the cameras' glare. Her new memoir explains why.

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]]> DeLillo's Man In The Desert, Up Against The Wall The author's latest novel is <em>Point Omega,</em> the story of a man who aided in the planning of the Iraq war. Like many of the books in DeLillo's 40-year career, it connects real-life events with themes of isolation and inevitability. Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123417824&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123417824&ft=1&f=1032 The author's latest novel is Point Omega, the story of a man who aided in the planning of the Iraq war. Like many of the books in DeLillo's 40-year career, it connects real-life events with themes of isolation and inevitability.

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]]> Book Probes 'Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks' Henrietta Lacks, a poor African-American woman and mother of five, never knew that she revolutionized medicine. Shortly before she died of cancer in 1951, doctors took a tissue sample from her — without her permission. Those cells became the first human cells to gain "immortality" — replicating themselves in laboratories long after Henrietta Lacks died. Host Guy Raz talks to science journalist Rebecca Skloot about her new book, <em>The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.</em> Sun, 07 Feb 2010 15:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123472238&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123472238&ft=1&f=1032 Henrietta Lacks, a poor African-American woman and mother of five, never knew that she revolutionized medicine. Shortly before she died of cancer in 1951, doctors took a tissue sample from her — without her permission. Those cells became the first human cells to gain "immortality" — replicating themselves in laboratories long after Henrietta Lacks died. Host Guy Raz talks to science journalist Rebecca Skloot about her new book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.

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]]> First Black Woman POW 'Still Standing' Shoshana Johnson was one of seven American POWs rescued alive 22 days after the 507th Maintenance Company was ambushed in An Nasiriyah, Iraq, in March of 2003. Her capture made her the first African-American female prisoner of war in U.S. history. Host Liane Hansen talks to Johnson about her new memoir <em>I'm Still Standing: From Captive U.S. Soldier to Free Citizen, My Journey Home</em>. Sun, 07 Feb 2010 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123463716&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123463716&ft=1&f=1032 Shoshana Johnson was one of seven American POWs rescued alive 22 days after the 507th Maintenance Company was ambushed in An Nasiriyah, Iraq, in March of 2003. Her capture made her the first African-American female prisoner of war in U.S. history. Host Liane Hansen talks to Johnson about her new memoir I'm Still Standing: From Captive U.S. Soldier to Free Citizen, My Journey Home.

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]]> 'Birthright': The Astonishing Story Behind 'Kidnapped' In his new book, <em>Birthright</em>, author A. Roger Ekirch gives a historical account of the 18th-century kidnapping of 12-year-old British aristocrat James Annesley. The story captivated public attention and inspired at least five novels, including Robert Louis Stevenson's classic adventure tale <em>Kidnapped.</em> Sun, 07 Feb 2010 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123463730&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123463730&ft=1&f=1032 In his new book, Birthright, author A. Roger Ekirch gives a historical account of the 18th-century kidnapping of 12-year-old British aristocrat James Annesley. The story captivated public attention and inspired at least five novels, including Robert Louis Stevenson's classic adventure tale Kidnapped.

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]]> From Erdrich, A Page Turner With Deceit At Heart Louise Erdrich's new novel, <em>Shadow Tag,</em> is the story of a woman who writes two diaries — one that she knows her husband is reading, and one that she keeps secret. As she manipulates her husband, their marriage falls apart. Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123420779&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123420779&ft=1&f=1032 Louise Erdrich's new novel, Shadow Tag, is the story of a woman who writes two diaries — one that she knows her husband is reading, and one that she keeps secret. As she manipulates her husband, their marriage falls apart.

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]]> Brautigan's Surreal Story: 'Trout Fishing In America' The book <em>Trout Fishing in America</em> was published in 1967 and became an instant cult favorite. Guest host Audie Cornish speaks with writer and former national poet laureate Billy Collins about the book's author, Richard Brautigan. Collins describes Brautigan's writing as an American form of surrealism. Sat, 06 Feb 2010 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123439516&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123439516&ft=1&f=1032 The book Trout Fishing in America was published in 1967 and became an instant cult favorite. Guest host Audie Cornish speaks with writer and former national poet laureate Billy Collins about the book's author, Richard Brautigan. Collins describes Brautigan's writing as an American form of surrealism.

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