Home
archive
NPR stories about Author Interviews
A Far-Out And Forgotten Renaissance Man()
November 18, 2012 Athanasius Kircher, a 17th-century Jesuit priest, was a renaissance man in name and deed. He strove to learn about almost everything. Unfortunately, many of his inventions and theories were pure nonsense. John Glassie writes about Kircher in his new book, A Man of Misconceptions.
Relationships, Short And Sweet, In 'Married Love'()
November 18, 2012 Host Rachel Martin speaks with British writer Tessa Hadley about her new collection of short stories, Married Love and Other Stories. Hadley teaches creative writing at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom, and her stories regularly appear in The New Yorker magazine.
Music Interviews
Willie Nelson: Road Rules And Deep Thoughts()
November 18, 2012 The 79-year-old country singer has done a lot of living, and he's written about it more than once. His latest memoir takes a different tack, collecting his thoughts from long stretches on his tour bus.
A Book To Break The Gun Control Stalemate()
November 18, 2012 Americans own an estimated 300 million guns, and the debate surrounding that ownership has long been a charged one. In Living With Guns, Craig Whitney explores areas where opposing sides might find common ground, and even compromise.
Books
Inspecting The Trend Of Autistic-Spectrum Characters()
November 18, 2012 As diagnoses of autism have risen, so too have autistic characters in literature. Tasha Robinson explains how an "intelligent outsider's view of humanity" has led to a growing number of autistic characters in young adult fiction.
'The Lawgiver': Telling Moses' Story, Differently()
November 17, 2012 At the age of 97, bestselling author Herman Wouk has written a novel that's told by the most contemporary storytelling technology, including emails and transcripts of Skype conversations. Host Scott Simon talks with Wouk about The Lawgiver.
What Makes A City 'Walkable' And Why It Matters()
November 17, 2012 City planner Jeff Speck says walking will remain a choice in most American cities for years to come, but that it's important to incentivize pedestrians. In his book, Walkable City, Speck says urban walks have to be useful, safe, comfortable and interesting.
'When God Talks Back' To The Evangelical Community()
November 16, 2012 Anthropologist T.M. Luhrmann studies the personal relationships evangelicals develop with God. In her book When God Talks Back, she explains how relationships with God are often cemented through the power of prayer. The book has just come out in paperback.
Finding 'Life, Death And Hope' In A Mumbai Slum()
November 16, 2012 Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Katherine Boo spent more than three years in Mumbai's Annawadi slum. In her book Behind the Beautiful Forevers, she profiles people living in extreme poverty — right in the shadow of luxury hotels. On Wednesday, the book won the National Book Award for nonfiction.
Books News & Features
Award Winning Author Hopes To Highlight Poor()
November 15, 2012 Journalist Katherine Boo won this year's National Book Award for Behind The Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death And Hope In A Mumbai Undercity. She talks with host Michel Martin about the award, and the story behind her book.
Money Coach
A Military Boot Camp For Your Money()
November 15, 2012 Service members are known for their discipline and their ability to stay cool under fire. Veteran and financial planner Steve Repak says those skills are crucial to managing everyday finances. He speaks with host Michel Martin about his book, Dollars and Uncommon Sense: Basic Training for Your Money.
A Young Reporter Recounts Her Descent Into Madness()
November 14, 2012 In her memoir, Susannah Cahalan writes about the month she descended into madness, experiencing seizures, paranoia, psychosis and catatonia. At first, her family was frightened, and her doctors, baffled. The eventual prognosis? A rare autoimmune disease that was attacking her brain.
'Antidote' Prescribes A 'Negative Path To Happiness'()
November 13, 2012 In his new book, Oliver Burkeman shuns motivational seminars and the power of positive thinking in favor of uncertainty, insecurity and even pessimism. "Trying to let [negative] feelings be and not always struggling to stamp them out is a more fruitful alternative," he says.
'Testament Of Mary' Gives Fiery Voice To The Virgin()
November 13, 2012 Irish writer Colm Toibin's novella recounts familiar stories of the New Testament, as seen through the eyes of Jesus' mother. But this isn't the iconic blushing virgin you're used to seeing. Toibin's Mary is modeled after the fierce heroines of Greek tragedies — and she is filled with anger.
Music Interviews
'Who I Am': The Public And Private Pete Townshend()
November 12, 2012 As the main songwriter and creative force behind The Who, Townshend has been through hell and back as a rock star. In his memoir, Who I Am, Townshend delves into the conflicts of his private life and public persona.
