Arts

Caissie Levy performs as Elsa in the stage adaptation of Frozen, which opened on Broadway in 2018.

For Many With Disabilities, 'Let It Go' Is An Anthem Of Acceptance

12:46pm January 22, 2019

by Joseph Shapiro

The breakout song from Disney's Frozen has inspired many marginalized groups — but its message of rejecting stigma holds special resonance for disabled people and their families.

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North facade of the White House in Washington D.C.

In 'Team Of Vipers,' It's Mr. Sims Who Goes To Washington

11:23am January 22, 2019

by Ron Elving

In the movies, "Mr. Smith" stands by his principles and prevails in the capital. In Cliff Sims's story, told in a new book, the hero descends into disillusionment — but not before enjoying the ride.

Science
Arts

Historian Henry Louis Gates Jr. On DNA Testing And Finding His Own Roots

1:58pm January 21, 2019

by Terry Gross

As host of the PBS series Finding Your Roots, Gates tells celebrities about their family history. He reflects on his own history and some of the more controversial aspects of DNA testing.

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The Birds, the Bees and You and Me, by Olivia Hinebaugh

Books
Arts

In 'The Birds, The Bees,' Teens Take On Sex Ed

11:41am January 21, 2019

by Alethea Kontis

In Olivia Hinebaugh's new novel, a girl gets fed up with her school's abstinence-only classes and sets herself up as a sex ed expert, handing out condoms and advice with help from her mom, a nurse.

Moscow's Fyodor Dostoevsky Library was renovated in 2013 and now sees some 500 visitors a day, up from just a dozen or so per day in earlier years. The library hosts language clubs, readings, lectures and concerts.

Once Centers Of Soviet Propaganda, Moscow's Libraries Are Having A 'Loud' Revival

7:02am January 21, 2019

by Lucian Kim

"A library can be a loud place," says a city official in charge of Moscow's 400-plus public libraries, which have begun attracting visitors with coffee shops, theater rehearsals and lectures.

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Books
Arts

Carl Reiner, Who Turns 97 Soon, Is Still Working On Projects

6:00am January 21, 2019

by Susan Stamberg

A comedian, writer, actor, director and producer, Carl Reiner was part of the golden days of television. But these days, he's producing a lot of books.

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Books
Arts

'Unmarriageable' Sets 'Pride And Prejudice' In Pakistan

7:01am January 20, 2019

by Ilana Masad

You may not think the world needs another retelling of Jane Austen's classic, but Soniah Kamal's Unmarriageable has an undercurrent of social and political commentary that makes it a worthwhile read.

Books
Arts

There's No Rest For Anyone In 'The Dreamers'

5:29pm January 19, 2019

by Melissa Block

Karen Thompson Walker's new novel imagines a pandemic that puts victims into a deep sleep, giving them strange dreams from which they may not wake up — and panicking those still awake.

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Comedian Conan O'Brien speaks at The New Museum on May 17, 2016 in New York City.

Arts

Not My Job: Conan O'Brien Gets Quizzed On Hot Cocoa

12:34pm January 19, 2019

We've invited the longtime, late night talk show host to play a game called "Team Coco, meet hot cocoa!" O'Brien is now host of Conan on TBS, and has a new podcast called Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend.

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The key to making the quintessential biscuit of the American South, like these from Callie's Charleston Biscuits Bakery in Charleston, S.C., is more about technique than a specific flour, some bakers say.

Science
Arts

Is The Power Of The Flour Really The Secret To Baking The Perfect Biscuit?

8:02am January 19, 2019

by Kristen Hartke

While some bakers believe that soft wheat flour, found primarily in the American South, is the best for making light, flaky biscuits, others say the key to better biscuits comes down to technique.