archive
Al Roker On Being 'The Jolly Fat Person'
February 18, 2013 Al Roker won fame as the ever-smiling weatherman on NBC's Today show. But he also endured years of indignities because of his weight. That was until he had bariatric surgery, and lost more than 100 pounds. During this encore presentation, Roker talks with host Michel Martin about his experiences, and his latest book, Never Goin' Back.
Poetry
Inaugural Poet Richard Blanco: 'I Finally Felt Like I Was Home'
February 18, 2013 Blanco, who read his poem "One Today" at Obama's second inauguration, is the first immigrant, Latino and openly gay poet chosen to read at an inauguration. He tells Fresh Air's Terry Gross that while he was on the podium, "I really embraced America up there like I never had before."
The Two-Way
Book News: Amazon Fires German Security Firm After Claims Of Intimidation
February 18, 2013 Also: the best books coming out this week; the return of Haruki Murakami; and Ian McEwan's crisis of faith.
'The Dinner' Asks: What Will You Do To Protect Your Family?
February 18, 2013 Herman Koch's new novel The Dinner asks the uncomfortable question: How far will you go to protect your family? Two couples gather for dinner to discuss their teenaged sons, who've most likely committed a terrible crime. Will they report it? Or will they cover it up to keep their sons safe?
Three-Minute Fiction
Three-Minute Fiction: You Have Reached Sarah Wellman
February 17, 2013 Oh, um, hey Sarah, this is Brad Davis from Slingshot and, um, I'm pleased — Hold on: your greeting there on your voice mail kind of threw me off. Did it seriously say "you have reached Sarah Wellman. Please leave a message"? It did, didn't it? Wow.
Three-Minute Fiction
Three-Minute Fiction: It's Not OK To Act This Way
February 17, 2013 Hi Mom, it's me, I guess you're out. I'm trying to follow this recipe and I was hoping you would know what I could substitute for a half cup of butter. I figure probably oil or something but it would be nice to know from someone who has first hand experience.
Author Interviews
Days With John And Yoko: A Writer Remembers
February 17, 2013 Rock writer Jonathan Cott met John Lennon in 1968 and formed a working relationship with him, as well as with Yoko Ono, that would span more than two decades. Cott was the last journalist to interview Lennon, just three days before the singer was killed.
Author Interviews
Control The Chaos With 'Secrets Of Happy Families'
February 17, 2013 What makes some families stronger, more harmonious, and just plain happier than others? To find out, Bruce Feiler asked parents and experts from a wide variety of fields for advice that parents could apply to improve life at home.
Author Interviews
'Above All Things' Tells The Story Of A Mountain, A Marriage
February 17, 2013 George Mallory, famed mountaineer, perished in his attempt to be the first man to summit Mount Everest. Tanis Rideout's debut novel combines the tale of that famous climb with the lesser-known story of George's wife, Ruth.
From The NPR Bookshelves
5 Presidential Stories That Might Surprise You
February 17, 2013 In honor of Presidents Day, NPR Books dove into the archives for some lesser-known stories about America's commanders in chief, including the tale of Teddy Roosevelt's perilous journey down the Amazon and Grover Cleveland's top-secret, mustache-preserving cancer surgery.
Three Books...
3 Books About House Hunting In The Gilded Age
February 17, 2013 The money and mansions of the turn of the century provide rich fodder for some fabulous reads. Author Janet Wallach recommends three books that give a glimpse of Gilded Age houses. Do you have a favorite book that highlights architecture? Let us know in the comments.
Three-Minute Fiction
Three-Minute Fiction: Call From The Cabin
February 16, 2013 Hey Jimmy, it's Kevin. Pick up if you're there. We just pulled up to your cabin. What? Oh. Ellen says hi. Annie too, but she's sleeping in her car seat. Anyway, it's pitch black. No lights on in the cabin. You said you'd leave the porch light on.
Poetry
Pentametron Reveals Unintended Poetry of Twitter Users
February 16, 2013 A program that makes poems from our tweets / With rhyming lines and smooth iambic beats ... Ranjit Bhatnagar wrote a program to find tweets in iambic pentameter and retweet them in rhyming pairs. With NPR's Jacki Lyden, he shares some of the resulting couplets.
Author Interviews
'Noble Savages': A Journey To Break The Mold Of Anthropology
February 16, 2013 In 1964, Napoleon Chagnon did what few other anthropologists had ever done: He went to the Amazon to study an isolated tribe. His findings cast him out from his profession as a heretic.
Uncovering A Dead Father's Secrets In 'After Visiting Friends'
February 16, 2013 Michael Hainey was 6 years old when he was told his father had died after "visiting friends." As he grew up, he began to suspect that the phrase was a euphemism.
