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Author Interviews 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.

Author Interviews

'Fasting And Feasting': The Remarkable Life of Patience Gray

A portrait of Patience Gray taken in 1959 by a colleague at the Observer. A British food writer, Gray advocated slow food and foraging long before the rest of the food world. Her work had outsized influence on chefs from Alice Waters on. A new biography tells her story. Photo by David Sim hide caption

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Photo by David Sim

The Salt

'Fasting And Feasting': The Remarkable Life of Patience Gray

A British food writer, Gray advocated slow food and foraging long before the rest of the food world. Her work had outsized influence on chefs from Alice Waters on. A new biography tells her story.

Vacationland

John Hodgman Reflects On His Mother's Death And White Privilege

Fresh Air

Hodgman says, "The biggest privilege of white privilege is the ability to turn off race and pretend that it is not an issue." His new book is called Vacationland.

John Hodgman Reflects On His Mother's Death And White Privilege

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Long Way Down

In 'Long Way Down,' The Ghosts Of Gun Violence Chill A Plan For Revenge

Jason Reynolds' new book follows a 15-year-old who must make a crucial decision after the murder of his brother, all in the time it takes for an elevator to travel 60 seconds to the ground floor.

In 'Long Way Down,' The Ghosts Of Gun Violence Chill A Plan For Revenge

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The Conjoined

Tea And Memories With Vancouver Author Jen Sookfong Lee

Lee's grandfather owned a barber shop — there's a tea shop there now — and was a pillar of Vancouver's Chinese-Canadian community. Over jasmine tea, Lee talks about her memories of her grandfather.

Tea And Memories With Vancouver Author Jen Sookfong Lee

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Previously Unseen Photos Of Michelle Obama Illuminate 'Chasing Light'

Mrs. Obama welcomes girls from Morocco and Liberia in the State Dining Room before a screening of We Will Rise: Michelle Obama's Mission to Educate Girls Around the World, October 11, 2016. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon) Image Courtesy of Amanda Lucidon hide caption

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Image Courtesy of Amanda Lucidon

Previously Unseen Photos Of Michelle Obama Illuminate 'Chasing Light'

Official White House photographer Amanda Lucidon's new book collects scenes featuring the former first lady — "one of the most genuine and compassionate and thoughtful people" she'd ever met.

Previously Unseen Photos Of Michelle Obama Illuminate 'Chasing Light'

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The King Is Always Above the People

'The King Is Always Above The People' In More Lands Than One

Daniel Alarcón's new collection of short stories follows a young man living in a capital post-revolution and includes an Abraham Lincoln love story, set in modern-day Chicago.

'The King Is Always Above The People' In More Lands Than One

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'Ghosts of the Tsunami' Shows How 2011 Event Transformed Japan

NPR's Robert Siegel talks to journalist Richard Lloyd Parry about his new book, Ghosts of the Tsunami, that documents life after the massive earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in March 2011.

'Ghosts of the Tsunami' Shows How 2011 Event Transformed Japan

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Animals

Who Says You Can't Train A Cat? A Book Of Tips For Feline-Human Harmony

Fresh Air

Feline behavior specialist Sarah Ellis explains how you can train your kitty to come on command, take medicine and stop waking you up in the middle of the night. Originally broadcast Sept. 12, 2016.

Who Says You Can't Train A Cat? A Book Of Tips For Feline-Human Harmony

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Celeste Headlee: How Can We Have Civil Conversations With The Other Side?

Celeste Headlee on the TED stage Video still courtesy of TED hide caption

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Video still courtesy of TED

TED Radio Hour

Celeste Headlee: How Can We Have Civil Conversations With The Other Side?

Public radio host Celeste Headlee has lots of experience with difficult conversations. She has learned that sometimes the most persuasive tool is to reserve judgement and just listen.

Celeste Headlee: How Can We Have Civil Conversations With The Other Side?

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Paperbacks from Hell

These 'Paperbacks From Hell' Reflect The Real-Life Angst Of The 1970s

Author Grady Hendrix's new book is a celebration of the lurid horror paperbacks of the 1970s, books that gave already frightened readers an endless supply of things to fear, from jellyfish to clowns.

These 'Paperbacks From Hell' Reflect The Real-Life Angst Of The 1970s

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A Moonless, Starless Sky

Africa

Journalist Chronicles Ordinary People Fighting Extremism In Africa

Fresh Air

New Yorker writer Alexis Okeowo wanted to get past standard journalistic narratives of war and tragedy and show people as flawed, complicated individuals in her new book, A Moonless, Starless Sky.

Journalist Chronicles Ordinary People Fighting Extremism In Africa

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John Hodgman And The Three Wildernesses Of 'Vacationland'

Comedian John Hodgman at the 20th Annual Webby Awards in New York. Andy Kropa/Invision/AP hide caption

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Andy Kropa/Invision/AP

Pop Culture Happy Hour

John Hodgman And The Three Wildernesses Of 'Vacationland'

Author, comedian, and fake internet judge John Hodgman talks about his new book Vacationland, mediating internet disputes, writing a serious book after a lot of fake facts, and lots more.

John Hodgman And The Three Wildernesses Of 'Vacationland'

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