Books

Books

After her mother's stroke, Lara Porzak helped finish new novel 'Properties of Thirst'

12:53pm August 06, 2022

NPR's Scott Simon speaks with novelist Marianne Wiggins about her latest book, "Properties of Thirst," along with her daughter, Lara Porzak, who helped her mother finish writing it after a stroke.

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'The Devil Takes You Home' invites readers to consider the depths of darkness

6:00am August 06, 2022

by Ilana Masad

Gabino Iglesias' barrio noir may not be a cheerful book, but it still allows glimpses of love, moments of connection, and glimmers of beauty to exist.

Books

Ackerman's 'Fifth Act' focuses on the final week of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan

10:34am August 05, 2022

NPR's Rachel Martin talks to Elliot Ackerman about his new book, The Fifth Act: America's End in Afghanistan. Waves of Afghans were trying to evacuate the country.

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Matt de la Peña and Hanif Abdurraqib on how basketball feeds their writing

10:31am August 05, 2022

Children's book writer Matt de la Pena and poet and essayist Hanif Abdurraqib talk about how basketball feeds their writing.

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Morpheus (Tom Sturridge) blows you a kiss in The Sandman.

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For fans and non-fans alike, Netflix's 'The Sandman' is a dream come true

5:25am August 05, 2022

by Glen Weldon

To the many fans of Neil Gaiman's comic book series: Relax. The new Netflix show nails it.

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Emi Nietfeld is done reaching for redemption in 'Acceptance'

5:27pm August 03, 2022

by Kristen Martin

The memoir is not a phoenix-rising-from-the-ashes tale. Instead, Nietfeld refuses silver linings and focuses on the toll of contorting oneself into a "perfect, deserving" victim.

'How Fast Did T. rex Run?' and other questions about dinosaurs examined in new book

3:44pm August 03, 2022

by Barbara J. King

British paleontologist David Hone set out to write a book that stresses what isn't yet known about dinosaurs — as much as what is known.

College is increasingly out of reach for many students. What went wrong?

1:32pm August 03, 2022

by Terry Gross

Journalist Will Bunch says instead of opening the door to a better life, college leaves many students deep in debt and unable to find well-paying jobs. His new book is After the Ivory Tower Falls.

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Julia Whelan on narrating her romance novel about a narrator who hates romance novels

4:58pm August 02, 2022

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with writer and audiobook narrator Julia Whelan about what it was like bringing her own profession to the pages of her new novel Thank You For Listening.

A bag of assorted pills and prescription drugs is dropped off for disposal during the Drug Enforcement Administration's National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 24, 2021 in Los Angeles.

New book chronicles how America's opioid industry operated like a drug cartel

12:37pm August 02, 2022

by Terry Gross

Two Washington Post journalists say pharmaceutical companies collaborated with each other — and with lawyers and lobbyists — to create laws to protect the industry. Their new book is American Cartel.