In 'Nicotine,' A Longtime Smoker Confronts His Old Habit
Writer Gregor Hens doesn't smoke anymore, but he still thinks about it every day. He says he started writing his memoir as a way to deal with the longing.
Books
The Man Behind Lemony Snicket Talks About Writing For Kids And His Childhood Fears
Lemony Snicket, AKA Daniel Handler, wrote the children's book series, A Series of Unfortunate Events. Handler spoke to Terry Gross in 2001 and in 2012, when he brought his accordion to the studio.
Free Speech Advocates, Publishers Wrestle With Questions Of Censorship
Simon and Schuster's book deal with controversial Breitbart editor Milo Yiannopoulos drew strong criticism online, and sparked a debate on publishing's role in limiting the availability of ideas.
Brief But Creepy, 'Fever Dream' Has A Poisonous Glow
Samanta Schweblin's debut novel starts as a warped child's game, and evolves into a terrifyingly toxic eco-horror tale in the vein of short-but-creepy Latin American classics like Pedro Páramo.
Fulfill Your Reading Resolutions With 6 Books From Librarian Nancy Pearl
Every once in a while, NPR's go-to books guru sends host Steve Inskeep a big stack of books. They're generally "under-the-radar" reads — titles she thinks deserve a little more attention.
Hall-Of-Fame Sportscaster Joe Buck Admits To Being A 'Lucky Bastard'
Buck's new memoir details his experiences in sports and life, including his addiction to hair-plug transplants. When it comes to announcing, he says, "I don't have a rooting interest for either side."
Earthy 'Lotus' Is A Fascinating Flower
Lijia Zhang's debut novel — about a young woman in China who fights her way out of the sex trade to become a teacher — is sensitively drawn, full of folk wisdom and concise, touching imagery.
Immigration And Infertility Bring Two Mothers Together Over One 'Lucky Boy'
Shanthi Sekaran's new novel tells the story of a Mexican woman who has entered the U.S. without papers and an Indian-American chef struggling to have a baby.
Why It's Literally Not Wrong To Say 'Literally'
Young people have always used language in new ways, and it has always driven older people crazy. But the linguist John McWhorter says all the LOLs are part of an inevitable evolution of language.
What Is Driving The 'Unbanking Of America'?
Author Lisa Servon says a growing number of Americans are giving up on traditional banks and relying instead on alternatives, including prepaid debit cards, check-cashing centers and payday lenders.