Books

Books

Drew Magary processes his recovery from a traumatic brain injury in a new memoir

7:54am October 17, 2021

NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro humorist and novelist Drew Magary about his new book, "The Night The Lights Went Out," about his harrowing recovery from a brain injury.

British author Douglas Adams, left, and Nick Landau read Adams' book The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy in October 1979.

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It's been 42 years since 'The Hitchhiker's Guide' answered the ultimate question

7:54am October 17, 2021

The first Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy book was published in October 1979. Fans are looking back at how the series has endured in popularity and why it's still relevant.

Fan Fiction, by Brent Spiner and Jeanne Darst

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Here's the data on Brent Spiner's loopy, self-referential new novel 'Fan Fiction'

5:00am October 17, 2021

by Jason Sheehan

Fan Fiction is part memoir, part noir pastiche and maybe a little bit true. Is it a great work? No. Is it a lot of fun? Yes. Is it a book that could only have been written by Brent Spiner? Absolutely.

Louise Penny (left), a best-selling author, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, paired up to write State of Terror, a new novel that they say is meant to serve as a cautionary tale.

Hillary Clinton and Louise Penny tackle nuclear war and diplomacy in new crime novel

8:02am October 16, 2021

The former secretary of state and the best-selling author say their new book, State of Terror is meant to serve as an entertaining yet cautionary tale that deals with the perils of the "vast silence."

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Tiphanie Yanique's 'Monster in the Middle' tackles love and religion

7:51am October 16, 2021

NPR's Scott Simon speaks to author Tiphanie Yanique about her new book, "Monster in the Middle.

Omar Mohamed, left, and his brother, Hassan. In the graphic memoir he coauthored, When Stars Are Scattered, Mohamed shares what their life was like in the refugee camps in Kenya — and their journey to resettlement in the U.S.

A refugee at 4, he felt like a lost star. Now his voice shines in a graphic memoir

7:00am October 16, 2021

by Jacky Habib

When Stars Are Scattered is the story of Omar Mohamed's years at a refugee camp in Kenya. He cared for his brother and found the courage to dream big. The book was a National Book Awards finalist.

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'This Thing Between Us' wants to hurt you — and you should let it

5:00am October 16, 2021

by Gabino Iglesias

Gus Moreno's new novel follows a man who flees the city where his wife's murder became a political and media sensation, but he can't escape either his grief or the thing that haunted their apartment.

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Anthology 'The Matter of Black Lives' reflects on America's past to guide its future

5:13pm October 15, 2021

NPR's Sarah McCammon talks with writer Jelani Cobb about a new collection of work from The New Yorker, "The Matter of Black Lives." Cobb co-edited it and wrote the introduction.

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In 'Maid,' a single mother struggles to make it on minimum wage

1:34pm October 15, 2021

by Terry Gross

While raising her young daughter, Stephanie Land cleaned houses to scrape by. It was back-aching work for low pay. Her memoir inspired the Netflix series, Maid. Originally broadcast Jan. 29, 2019.

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Grover's iconic Sesame Street children's book turns 50

5:09am October 15, 2021

For NPR's 50th anniversary we look at an influential children's book that is turning 50. It features Sesame Street's Grover trying desperately to avoid "The Monster at the End of this Book."