'Blue Beetle' offers a 3-step cure for superhero fatigue
The current state of superhero cinema may look bleak, but the latest DC film adopts an approach that wrings new life and humor out of a tired formula.
Books
As hip-hop turns 50, Biggie Smalls' legacy reminds us of what the genre has survived
Author Justin Tinsley discusses the life and legacy of the Notorious B.I.G., who was killed in 1997: "You can't talk about the story of hip-hop without mentioning the name Biggie Smalls."
How did a family achieve the American dream — only to see it unravel?
NPR's Leila Fadel talks to Indian American writer Prachi Gupta about how chasing the American dream destroyed her relationship with her parents. Her new book is: They Called Us Exceptional.
The book 'In the Upper Country' looks at the Underground Railroad's history in Canada
NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with author Kai Thomas about his debut novel In the Upper Country and exploring the Underground Railroad's little-known history in a community of free Black people in Canada.
Harvard's Drew Gilpin Faust says history should make us uncomfortable
Growing up in the South, Faust rejected the narrative she was fed about slavery and the Civil War. She writes about her journey to activism and becoming the president of Harvard in Necessary Trouble.
The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris threaten riverside booksellers' livelihood
Book stalls along the Seine River have been a beloved Paris tradition for centuries. A plan to remove them before next summer's Olympic Games has not been well received.
'Unearthing' couples the natural world with the meaning of family
Kyo Maclear presents a unique take on the paternity mystery memoir, one that eschews a predetermined narrative arc for a wide-ranging exploration of what it means to be a family.
Kate Zernike's book explores the long battle for gender equality at MIT
NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with author Kate Zernike about her book The Exceptions: Nancy Hopkins, MIT, and the Fight for Women in Science.
This book dissects the years-long battle for gender equality at MIT
The few female scientists at MIT in the late 20th century found themselves faced with hurdles related to their gender rather than their research. So they did what scientists do: they quantified it.
The best spooky reads for summer, according to a horror writer
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe asks horror writer Joe Hill for some spine-tingling summer reading recommendations.