National Jacob Riis: Shedding Light On NYC's 'Other Half' June 30, 2008 • Through photos and writings documenting poverty in New York City in the late 19th century, a Danish immigrant became a famous campaigner against slum housing. Two new books tell the story of Jacob Riis, a social reformer and natural showman. Jacob Riis: Shedding Light On NYC's 'Other Half' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91981589/92043727" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Jacob Riis: Shedding Light On NYC's 'Other Half' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91981589/92043727" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Review Book Reviews Fractious, Funny Lives of Mothers and 'Girls' June 30, 2008 • Jennifer Weiner's Good in Bed heroine is all grown up. Now a 40-something mother, Cannie Shapiro struggles with anxiety, anger and her teenage daughter. Reviewer Lizzie Skurnick calls the character "equal parts zaftig and Zola."
Review Three Books... Food, Glorious Food: Three Books with Bite June 30, 2008 • For years, Betsy Block thought the only way to indulge in her favorite pleasure — food — was to eat it. Then she discovered food writing and found a way to have her cake without sneaking even one bite.
Green Sci-Fi from Bacigalupi's 'Pump Six' June 29, 2008 • Sci-fi writer Paolo Bacigalupi uses real environmental science as a starting point for his stories. His collection, called Pump Six, describes a near future where massive droughts create a black market for calories. Green Sci-Fi from Bacigalupi's 'Pump Six' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92008378/92008325" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Green Sci-Fi from Bacigalupi's 'Pump Six' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92008378/92008325" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
So You Want to Learn Cartooning? Hit the Book June 29, 2008 • Two comic artists have created a textbook, Drawing Words and Writing Pictures, that teaches people the grammar of comic art, from penciling a story ever so lightly on tracing paper to inking a bubbly "The End" to the finished strip. So You Want to Learn Cartooning? Hit the Book Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91944828/92013789" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
So You Want to Learn Cartooning? Hit the Book Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91944828/92013789" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Author Interviews Hemingway's Son Marks 80th Birthday June 28, 2008 • Patrick Hemingway, son of famed writer Ernest Hemingway, celebrates his 80th on Saturday. He talks with Scott Simon about his life and his memories of his father. Hemingway's Son Marks 80th Birthday Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91993806/91984278" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Hemingway's Son Marks 80th Birthday Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91993806/91984278" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Fictional Airline Passenger Disgruntled with Life June 28, 2008 • Jonathan Miles talks about his new novel, Dear American Airlines, which finds failed poet and failed father, Bennie Ford, stuck in an airport on his way to his daughter's wedding. He writes a letter of complaint to the airline, demanding a refund. Fictional Airline Passenger Disgruntled with Life Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91993801/91993768" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Fictional Airline Passenger Disgruntled with Life Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91993801/91993768" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Hitting Barack Bottom: Too Many Obamaisms June 27, 2008 • Obombre: that's a Spanish-speaking male who supports Obama. Slate.com's Chris Wilson discusses how he plans to profit off hundreds of mashed up Obamaisms. Hitting Barack Bottom: Too Many Obamaisms Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91964136/91964117" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Hitting Barack Bottom: Too Many Obamaisms Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91964136/91964117" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Brain Scientist Gets a 'Stroke of Insight' June 27, 2008 • Imagine experiencing a stroke, and knowing exactly what is happening to you. That's just what happened to brain scientist Jill Bolte Taylor, who talks about the experience and what it taught her. Brain Scientist Gets a 'Stroke of Insight' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91965230/91965220" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Brain Scientist Gets a 'Stroke of Insight' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91965230/91965220" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Review Three Books... Smart, Funny Housewives Rule These Novels June 27, 2008 • Suburban misfit Marc Acito — author of Attack of the Theater People and other comic novels — relies on three fictional gal friends for comfort, laughs and inspiration. Smart, Funny Housewives Rule These Novels Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91889033/91977120" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Smart, Funny Housewives Rule These Novels Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91889033/91977120" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Librarian Offers Reading Tips for Gay Pride Month June 26, 2008 • June is when many gay and lesbian Americans celebrate their sexuality. In recognition of Gay Pride Month, Loriene Roy, President of the American Library Association tells listeners about books that highlight the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender experience. Librarian Offers Reading Tips for Gay Pride Month Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91908397/91908384" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Librarian Offers Reading Tips for Gay Pride Month Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91908397/91908384" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
World 'Uncle Wiggly Wings' and Berlin's Candy Bombers June 26, 2008 • When West Berlin was cut off by Soviet troops 60 years ago, British and U.S. aircraft flew in food, diesel and coal to residents. On the anniversary of the Berlin Airlift, Andrei Cherny, author of The Candy Bombers, and pilot Hal Halvorsen talk about a secret mission: showering the children of Berlin with candy. 'Uncle Wiggly Wings' and Berlin's Candy Bombers Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91906449/91906431" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
'Uncle Wiggly Wings' and Berlin's Candy Bombers Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91906449/91906431" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
In the Internet Age, a New Cultural Revolution Chinese Authors Find Creative Outlets on the Web June 26, 2008 • Chinese novelists were once encouraged to address politics and society through a Communist lens. Now young writers can be as entertaining as they want on the Web. Chinese Authors Find Creative Outlets on the Web Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91895391/91906441" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Chinese Authors Find Creative Outlets on the Web Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91895391/91906441" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Review Book Reviews Mortality's Lighter Side: Sedaris' 'Engulfed' June 26, 2008 • In his new book of essays, neurotic, death-fearing humorist David Sedaris visits a morgue, has a catheter inserted (just to see what it's like) and buys a skeleton as a gift. Reviewer John Freeman calls Engulfed in Flames "always funny, occasionally bittersweet." David Sedaris reads from "When You Are Engulfed in Flames" Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91814075/91710172" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
David Sedaris reads from "When You Are Engulfed in Flames" Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91814075/91710172" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
National Jefferson's Library Once Again Complete June 25, 2008 • The Library of Congress has managed to re-create --with the help of rare-book collectors ---the missing two-thirds of Thomas Jefferson's Library. Mark Dimunation, of the Library of Congress, discusses Jefferson's tastes and rare-book detectives. Jefferson's Library Once Again Complete Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91891808/91891785" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Jefferson's Library Once Again Complete Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91891808/91891785" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript