What College Freshmen Are Reading
Book programs for freshmen — or a whole campus or community — are meant to spark discussion and unity. This year's picks at nine U.S. schools range from memoirs to political advice from 64 B.C.
Arts
Rachel Chavkin Loves Chaos, And With 3 Shows In The Works, It Shows
The avant garde director has two shows running off-Broadway and a musical opening in October. Though she's working on several different projects, she says there's always "a conversation" between them.
Indie Bookseller Recommends 3 Vacation Reads
Nina Barrett, owner of Bookends and Beginnings in Evanston, Ill., recommends The Royal We by Heather Cox and Jessica Morgan, Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld and The Violet Hour by Katie Roiphe.
New 'Merchant Of Venice' Recasts Shylock As A Sympathetic Everyman
Actor Jonathan Pryce is playing the Jewish moneylender in a new touring production of The Merchant of Venice that reimagines Shakespeare's supposedly-comic villain as a tragic and universal figure.
For A Female Banker At The Top Of Her Game, What Does It Take To Stay There?
In the film Equity, investment banker Naomi Bishop navigates the male-dominated world of Wall Street. Screenwriter Amy Fox discusses the film and her research, which included many interviews with women who worked on Wall Street.
Comparing Both Conventions As TV: Did Either One Get An Edge?
Now that the national conventions have concluded, NPR TV critic Eric Deggans looks back on both, judging them purely as television programs. Policy aside, did either convention make for compelling TV?
'Easy' Writer: Walter Mosley's Passion For Bringing Black LA Stories To Life
In Charcoal Joe, Mosley brings his iconic private eye Easy Rawlins into the haze of the late '60s, extending a literary odyssey through the transformation of black Los Angeles.
Not A Feminist? Caitlin Moran Asks, Why Not?
Moran says that most women who don't want to be called feminists don't understand the term. She writes about high heels, housework and abortion in How to Be a Woman. Originally broadcast Aug. 1, 2012.
Remembering Hollywood 'Ghost Singer' Marni Nixon
Nixon, who died on Sunday, was a classically trained actress who mostly worked behind the scenes. She dubbed vocals for many films, including My Fair Lady. Originally broadcast in 2001.
Stories In Stitches: Lessons From Political Convention Fashion
Tried-and-true red, white and blue stood out these last two weeks of political convergence. Here are some looks that also tell a story about the parties and the people who sported them.