NPR People: Chris Lehmann http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5434824&ft=1&f=5434824 Chris Lehman is a fomer deputy editor and regular reviewer for the <em>Washington Post Book World.</em> He is now an editor at <em>Congressional Quarterly</em> and covers national politics for the <em>New York Observer.</em> He is the author of <em>Revolt of the Masscult.</em> Copyright 2009 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:00:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/thumbnail/npr_generic_image_75.jpg Chris Lehmann http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5434824&ft=1&f=5434824 yes Democrat Challenges Incumbent In Oregon Republican Sen. Gordon Smith is running in a tight race against Jeff Merkley, a relatively unknown Democrat. The latest polls have Smith and Merkley very close, with Smith a few points behind. Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95831663&ft=1&f=5434824 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95831663&ft=1&f=5434824 Republican Sen. Gordon Smith is running in a tight race against Jeff Merkley, a relatively unknown Democrat. The latest polls have Smith and Merkley very close, with Smith a few points behind. 0 no Republican Sen. Gordon Smith is running in a tight race against Jeff Merkley, a relatively unknown Democrat. The latest polls have Smith and Merkley very close, with Smith a few points behind.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Ore. Debates Why Counties Are Hurting For Cash The end of timber payments in the Pacific Northwest has left rural counties reeling. But some folks say the financial woes are due to fiscal mismanagement. In Curry County, petitions are circulating to overthrow elected officials. Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:59:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93389830&ft=1&f=5434824 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93389830&ft=1&f=5434824 The end of timber payments in the Pacific Northwest has left rural counties reeling. But some folks say the financial woes are due to fiscal mismanagement. In Curry County, petitions are circulating to overthrow elected officials. 0 no The end of timber payments in the Pacific Northwest has left rural counties reeling. But some folks say the financial woes are due to fiscal mismanagement. In Curry County, petitions are circulating to overthrow elected officials.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Ore. Uses Lottery Approach for Health Program Oregon officials knew demand for new slots in a state-funded health-insurance program would far exceed supply, so they decided to randomly pull names from the nearly 100,000 people who applied. Meet a winner and a loser in Oregon's health-insurance "lottery." Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:02:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89284522&ft=1&f=5434824 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89284522&ft=1&f=5434824 Oregon officials knew demand for new slots in a state-funded health-insurance program would far exceed supply, so they decided to randomly pull names from the nearly 100,000 people who applied. Meet a winner and a loser in Oregon's health-insurance "lottery." 0 no Oregon officials knew demand for new slots in a state-funded health-insurance program would far exceed supply, so they decided to randomly pull names from the nearly 100,000 people who applied. Meet a winner and a loser in Oregon's health-insurance "lottery."

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> A History Both Global and Personal Eric Hobsbawm's <em>The Age of Extremes</em> completes his four-book study of world history that began with <em>The Age of Revolution</em> in 1962. Author and historian Michael Kazin talks about its significance. Fri, 01 Sep 2006 16:52:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5739209&ft=1&f=5434824 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5739209&ft=1&f=5434824 Eric Hobsbawm's <em>The Age of Extremes</em> completes his four-book study of world history that began with <em>The Age of Revolution</em> in 1962. Author and historian Michael Kazin talks about its significance. no Eric Hobsbawm's The Age of Extremes completes his four-book study of world history that began with The Age of Revolution in 1962. Author and historian Michael Kazin talks about its significance.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> The Funniest, and Scariest, Book Ever Written Writer Charles Baxter offers praise for Flann O'Brien's <em>The Third Policeman</em>, which can be confusing, comical and harrowing. "Novels like <em>The Third Policeman</em> can sometimes throw readers into a panic," Baxter says. "They ask, 'What on earth is this?" Tue, 22 Aug 2006 15:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5684946&ft=1&f=5434824 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5684946&ft=1&f=5434824 Writer Charles Baxter offers praise for Flann O'Brien's <em>The Third Policeman</em>, which can be confusing, comical and harrowing. "Novels like <em>The Third Policeman</em> can sometimes throw readers into a panic," Baxter says. "They ask, 'What on earth is this?" no Writer Charles Baxter offers praise for Flann O'Brien's The Third Policeman, which can be confusing, comical and harrowing. "Novels like The Third Policeman can sometimes throw readers into a panic," Baxter says. "They ask, 'What on earth is this?"

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Seeing Flowers in a New Way, Through Loren Eiseley Given his status as a political writer, Michael Lind may seem to come from left field with his must-read recommendation: Loren Eiseley's essay "How Flowers Changed the World," which takes an expansive view of botany's impact on humans. Eiseley, Lind says, is capable of cinematic constructs that are "breathtaking." Thu, 17 Aug 2006 13:11:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5634196&ft=1&f=5434824 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5634196&ft=1&f=5434824 Given his status as a political writer, Michael Lind may seem to come from left field with his must-read recommendation: Loren Eiseley's essay "How Flowers Changed the World," which takes an expansive view of botany's impact on humans. Eiseley, Lind says, is capable of cinematic constructs that are "breathtaking." no Given his status as a political writer, Michael Lind may seem to come from left field with his must-read recommendation: Loren Eiseley's essay "How Flowers Changed the World," which takes an expansive view of botany's impact on humans. Eiseley, Lind says, is capable of cinematic constructs that are "breathtaking."

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Admiring Oe's Talent for Discomfort Victor Lavalle, the author of <em>slapboxing with jesus</em>, says Kenzaburo Oe's novella "Prize Stock" explores themes of racism and brutality while avoiding simplistic escapes: "It's not a story about right or wrong, democracy versus anarchy, and you can't pick out the good guys." Thu, 03 Aug 2006 18:12:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5613311&ft=1&f=5434824 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5613311&ft=1&f=5434824 Victor Lavalle, the author of <em>slapboxing with jesus</em>, says Kenzaburo Oe's novella "Prize Stock" explores themes of racism and brutality while avoiding simplistic escapes: "It's not a story about right or wrong, democracy versus anarchy, and you can't pick out the good guys." no Victor Lavalle, the author of slapboxing with jesus, says Kenzaburo Oe's novella "Prize Stock" explores themes of racism and brutality while avoiding simplistic escapes: "It's not a story about right or wrong, democracy versus anarchy, and you can't pick out the good guys."

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Breece D'J Pancake's Short, Stunning Career Breece D'J Pancake took his own life in 1979, not long after <em>The Atlantic Monthly</em> published his first stories. He was 26. Author Susan Straight often shares his work with twentysomething students. She wants them "to heed the fullness of his fictional world... his anger and exact prose." Thu, 27 Jul 2006 17:21:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5584619&ft=1&f=5434824 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5584619&ft=1&f=5434824 Breece D'J Pancake took his own life in 1979, not long after <em>The Atlantic Monthly</em> published his first stories. He was 26. Author Susan Straight often shares his work with twentysomething students. She wants them "to heed the fullness of his fictional world... his anger and exact prose." no Breece D'J Pancake took his own life in 1979, not long after The Atlantic Monthly published his first stories. He was 26. Author Susan Straight often shares his work with twentysomething students. She wants them "to heed the fullness of his fictional world... his anger and exact prose."

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Jonathan Ames' Personal Hardboiled Hero Author Jonathan Ames extols the virtues of Dashiell Hammett's hardboiled classic, <em>The Dain Curse</em>. "I started reading Hammett about a dozen years ago, after a long and enjoyable romance with Chandler," Ames says. "I return and reread both writers all the time." Thu, 20 Jul 2006 12:15:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5567922&ft=1&f=5434824 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5567922&ft=1&f=5434824 Author Jonathan Ames extols the virtues of Dashiell Hammett's hardboiled classic, <em>The Dain Curse</em>. "I started reading Hammett about a dozen years ago, after a long and enjoyable romance with Chandler," Ames says. "I return and reread both writers all the time." no Author Jonathan Ames extols the virtues of Dashiell Hammett's hardboiled classic, The Dain Curse. "I started reading Hammett about a dozen years ago, after a long and enjoyable romance with Chandler," Ames says. "I return and reread both writers all the time."

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Zoe Heller on a Joseph Roth Classic Zoe Heller realizes that her work may not have much in common with Joseph Roth. But Roth's <em>The Radetzky March</em>, she says, has a quality to it that she would not mind emulating. His writing makes Heller feel "a surge of renewed enthusiasm and energy for the business of novel-writing." Thu, 13 Jul 2006 14:45:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5552090&ft=1&f=5434824 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5552090&ft=1&f=5434824 Zoe Heller realizes that her work may not have much in common with Joseph Roth. But Roth's <em>The Radetzky March</em>, she says, has a quality to it that she would not mind emulating. His writing makes Heller feel "a surge of renewed enthusiasm and energy for the business of novel-writing." no Zoe Heller realizes that her work may not have much in common with Joseph Roth. But Roth's The Radetzky March, she says, has a quality to it that she would not mind emulating. His writing makes Heller feel "a surge of renewed enthusiasm and energy for the business of novel-writing."

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> 'Dirty Snow': Dismal Perfection Georges Simenon's <em>Dirty Snow</em>, a noir chronicle of a mean, vicious soul, is anything but the feel-good read of the summer. But novelist Jim Hynes is going to recommend it to you anyway. Thu, 29 Jun 2006 15:41:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5516313&ft=1&f=5434824 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5516313&ft=1&f=5434824 Georges Simenon's <em>Dirty Snow</em>, a noir chronicle of a mean, vicious soul, is anything but the feel-good read of the summer. But novelist Jim Hynes is going to recommend it to you anyway. no Georges Simenon's Dirty Snow, a noir chronicle of a mean, vicious soul, is anything but the feel-good read of the summer. But novelist Jim Hynes is going to recommend it to you anyway.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> A Historian's Pivotal Take on Theodore Roosevelt For decades after his death, Roosevelt was regarded as a hyperactive New York swell. It wasn't until John Morton Blum published <em>The Republican Roosevelt</em> that Roosevelt assumed his stature as a force to be reckoned with in the Oval Office. Political historian Lewis Gould talks about the impact of Blum's study. Mon, 26 Jun 2006 12:24:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5504102&ft=1&f=5434824 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5504102&ft=1&f=5434824 For decades after his death, Roosevelt was regarded as a hyperactive New York swell. It wasn't until John Morton Blum published <em>The Republican Roosevelt</em> that Roosevelt assumed his stature as a force to be reckoned with in the Oval Office. Political historian Lewis Gould talks about the impact of Blum's study. no For decades after his death, Roosevelt was regarded as a hyperactive New York swell. It wasn't until John Morton Blum published The Republican Roosevelt that Roosevelt assumed his stature as a force to be reckoned with in the Oval Office. Political historian Lewis Gould talks about the impact of Blum's study.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Sam Lipsyte on Elkin's Comic 'Living End' Sam Lipsyte, author of the recent comic novels <em>Home Land</em> and <em>The Subject Steve</em>, discusses Stanley Elkin's vision of life, the universe and everything. Fri, 16 Jun 2006 01:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5489188&ft=1&f=5434824 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5489188&ft=1&f=5434824 Sam Lipsyte, author of the recent comic novels <em>Home Land</em> and <em>The Subject Steve</em>, discusses Stanley Elkin's vision of life, the universe and everything. no Sam Lipsyte, author of the recent comic novels Home Land and The Subject Steve, discusses Stanley Elkin's vision of life, the universe and everything.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Tom Perrotta Hails Suburban Sendup 'Neighbors' Thomas Berger's <em>Neighbors</em> recounts the chaotic events of the deliriously sleepless weekend that descends on a suburban family when a shady couple move in next door. Tom Perrotta, a sharp suburban satirist himself, appreciates Berger's antic tale. Thu, 08 Jun 2006 06:28:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5457975&ft=1&f=5434824 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5457975&ft=1&f=5434824 Thomas Berger's <em>Neighbors</em> recounts the chaotic events of the deliriously sleepless weekend that descends on a suburban family when a shady couple move in next door. Tom Perrotta, a sharp suburban satirist himself, appreciates Berger's antic tale. no Thomas Berger's Neighbors recounts the chaotic events of the deliriously sleepless weekend that descends on a suburban family when a shady couple move in next door. Tom Perrotta, a sharp suburban satirist himself, appreciates Berger's antic tale.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Pelecanos on the Enduring Power of 'True Grit' <em>True Grit</em> is a tale of vengeance told in the deceptively innocent voice of a 14-year-old frontier girl. George Pelecanos, master of noir fiction set in contemporary Washington, D.C., hails it as "one of the very best American novels." Fri, 02 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5445836&ft=1&f=5434824 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5445836&ft=1&f=5434824 <em>True Grit</em> is a tale of vengeance told in the deceptively innocent voice of a 14-year-old frontier girl. George Pelecanos, master of noir fiction set in contemporary Washington, D.C., hails it as "one of the very best American novels." no True Grit is a tale of vengeance told in the deceptively innocent voice of a 14-year-old frontier girl. George Pelecanos, master of noir fiction set in contemporary Washington, D.C., hails it as "one of the very best American novels."

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]>