NPR Topics: Author Interviews

NPR Topics: Author Interviews http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1033&ft=1&f=1033 NPR interviews with top authors and the NPR Book Tour, a weekly feature and podcast where leading authors read and discuss their writing. Subscribe to the RSS feed. Copyright 2009 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Author Interviews http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1033&ft=1&f=1033 Book Recounts Challenges Of Eradicating Smallpox In <em>Smallpox: The Death of a Disease</em>, Dr. D.A. Henderson recounts the history of the deadly virus, from the development of the first vaccine in the late 18th century to his involvement in the successful global eradication campaign in the 1960s and 70s. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120613268&ft=1&f=1033 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120613268&ft=1&f=1033 In Smallpox: The Death of a Disease, Dr. D.A. Henderson recounts the history of the deadly virus, from the development of the first vaccine in the late 18th century to his involvement in the successful global eradication campaign in the 1960s and 70s.

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]]> Judith Fox Turns A Close-Up Lens On Alzheimer's Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120568216&ft=1&f=1033 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120568216&ft=1&f=1033

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]]> Free Love's Discontents: A.S. Byatt's 'Children' The Booker Prize-winning author calls her new novel, <em>The Children's Book,</em> her "easiest to love." In it, the children of a bohemian turn-of-the-century couple discover the truth about their parents. Byatt is also the author of <em>Possession</em>. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:28:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120058248&ft=1&f=1033 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120058248&ft=1&f=1033 The Booker Prize-winning author calls her new novel, The Children's Book, her "easiest to love." In it, the children of a bohemian turn-of-the-century couple discover the truth about their parents. Byatt is also the author of Possession.

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]]> Byron Pitts Found Faith To 'Step Out On Nothing' When CBS correspondent Byron Pitts was 12 years old, he had a debilitating stutter and a terrible secret: he couldn't read. In his new memoir, <em>Step Out On Nothing</em>, Pitts describes how, with faith and family, he overcame illiteracy to become an award-winning correspondent. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120463986&ft=1&f=1033 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120463986&ft=1&f=1033 When CBS correspondent Byron Pitts was 12 years old, he had a debilitating stutter and a terrible secret: he couldn't read. In his new memoir, Step Out On Nothing, Pitts describes how, with faith and family, he overcame illiteracy to become an award-winning correspondent.

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]]> Joshua Kosman, Predicting The Next Credit Crisis In a new book, journalist Joshua Kosman predicts a coming credit crisis, and assigns blame to private equity firms. While such firms make a fast profit from buying companies, improving them and reselling them, the companies take on the debt incurred from the purchase, leaving them in danger of financial collapse. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:26:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120391729&ft=1&f=1033 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120391729&ft=1&f=1033 In a new book, journalist Joshua Kosman predicts a coming credit crisis, and assigns blame to private equity firms. While such firms make a fast profit from buying companies, improving them and reselling them, the companies take on the debt incurred from the purchase, leaving them in danger of financial collapse.

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]]> 'Mad Scientists,' Building The Future For 50 Years If you've used a GPS system — or if you happen to be using the Internet to read this — you can thank DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. For 50 years, the smallish, somewhat secretive division of the Pentagon has been mostly off-limits to reporters. Now author Michael Belfiore has profiled the agency in a new book. Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:52:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120400853&ft=1&f=1033 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120400853&ft=1&f=1033 If you've used a GPS system — or if you happen to be using the Internet to read this — you can thank DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. For 50 years, the smallish, somewhat secretive division of the Pentagon has been mostly off-limits to reporters. Now author Michael Belfiore has profiled the agency in a new book.

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]]> What The Future Holds When China Rules British author Martin Jacques witnessed the decline of the British Empire over his lifetime. He predicts that Americans will have a similar experience as the power of the United States declines in the coming years, yielding to an ever more powerful China. He discusses his new book, <em>When China Rules the World</em>. Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120416955&ft=1&f=1033 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120416955&ft=1&f=1033 British author Martin Jacques witnessed the decline of the British Empire over his lifetime. He predicts that Americans will have a similar experience as the power of the United States declines in the coming years, yielding to an ever more powerful China. He discusses his new book, When China Rules the World.

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]]> These Days, Anne Rice Prefers Angels Anne Rice doesn't write about vampires anymore, but in her latest book she turns her attention to another supernatural being: angels. Host Liane Hansen talks with Anne Rice about contemporary vampire fervor and her novel, <em>Angel Time</em>. Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120431150&ft=1&f=1033 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120431150&ft=1&f=1033 Anne Rice doesn't write about vampires anymore, but in her latest book she turns her attention to another supernatural being: angels. Host Liane Hansen talks with Anne Rice about contemporary vampire fervor and her novel, Angel Time.

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]]> 'Twilight' Craze Inspires Manuals For Toothy Teens The latest film in the teen supernatural romance series <em>Twilight</em> opens Friday. This installment, <em>New Moon</em>, pits dreamy vampires against hunky werewolves in a battle for the hearts of teenage girls across America. Meanwhile, two humorists — Joe Garden and Bob Powers — have authored self-help books for new members of the vampire and werewolf communities. The authors talk with Guy Raz about the misconceptions and challenges facing the vampire and werewolf communities. Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120422652&ft=1&f=1033 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120422652&ft=1&f=1033 The latest film in the teen supernatural romance series Twilight opens Friday. This installment, New Moon, pits dreamy vampires against hunky werewolves in a battle for the hearts of teenage girls across America. Meanwhile, two humorists — Joe Garden and Bob Powers — have authored self-help books for new members of the vampire and werewolf communities. The authors talk with Guy Raz about the misconceptions and challenges facing the vampire and werewolf communities.

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]]> A Basketball Hoop Changed UNC Coach's Life The next time you see Roy Williams prowling the sidelines in a dapper Alexander Julian suit at University of North Carolina games, you might remember what a dime his mother left on their kitchen table once meant to him. Williams, the winningest active college basketball coach, has written the story of his life with Tim Crothers. Host Scott Simon talks to Williams about his book, <em>Hard Work: A Life On and Off The Court</em>. Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120416164&ft=1&f=1033 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120416164&ft=1&f=1033 The next time you see Roy Williams prowling the sidelines in a dapper Alexander Julian suit at University of North Carolina games, you might remember what a dime his mother left on their kitchen table once meant to him. Williams, the winningest active college basketball coach, has written the story of his life with Tim Crothers. Host Scott Simon talks to Williams about his book, Hard Work: A Life On and Off The Court.

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]]> Obama's Half-Brother Recasts Story Of Their Father One person who plans to meet with President Obama during his trip to China is his half-brother, Mark Obama Ndesandjo, who lives in China. Ndesandjo has recently released a semi-autobiographical novel, revealing the abusive nature of their father. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:14:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120387029&ft=1&f=1033 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120387029&ft=1&f=1033 One person who plans to meet with President Obama during his trip to China is his half-brother, Mark Obama Ndesandjo, who lives in China. Ndesandjo has recently released a semi-autobiographical novel, revealing the abusive nature of their father.

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]]> Two Graphic Novels Explain Science, Colorfully Moving beyond traditional superheroes, two new graphic novels recount the epic tales of scientists and the research that made them famous. Ira Flatow talks with authors Michael Keller and Apostolos Doxiadis about their graphic novels on natural selection and logic. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120387143&ft=1&f=1033 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120387143&ft=1&f=1033 Moving beyond traditional superheroes, two new graphic novels recount the epic tales of scientists and the research that made them famous. Ira Flatow talks with authors Michael Keller and Apostolos Doxiadis about their graphic novels on natural selection and logic.

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]]> Scalia Book Explores The Man Behind The Justice In <em>American Original: The Life and Constitution of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia</em>, author Joan Biskupic examines the justice's life as the son of Italian immigrants. She also explores his conservative views from interviews with him, his critics — and his writing. "His core essence comes out not so much in the majority opinion, but in his dissents," she says. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:55:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120350132&ft=1&f=1033 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120350132&ft=1&f=1033 In American Original: The Life and Constitution of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, author Joan Biskupic examines the justice's life as the son of Italian immigrants. She also explores his conservative views from interviews with him, his critics — and his writing. "His core essence comes out not so much in the majority opinion, but in his dissents," she says.

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]]> Hudson Landing An Engineering Miracle, Pilot Says In January, pilot Chelsey "Sully" Sullenberger was hailed as a hero, after he glided his U.S. Airways plane — which had lost both engines — to a safe landing in the Hudson. In <em>Fly by Wire</em>, writer and former pilot William Langewiesche argues that it was the engineering of the plane, and not Sullenberger's skill, that made the "miracle" possible. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120355655&ft=1&f=1033 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120355655&ft=1&f=1033 In January, pilot Chelsey "Sully" Sullenberger was hailed as a hero, after he glided his U.S. Airways plane — which had lost both engines — to a safe landing in the Hudson. In Fly by Wire, writer and former pilot William Langewiesche argues that it was the engineering of the plane, and not Sullenberger's skill, that made the "miracle" possible.

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]]> Excerpt: 'Anonyponymous' Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120017573&ft=1&f=1033 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120017573&ft=1&f=1033

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