How Basketball Great Bill Walton Thrived In A Life Of Limitations
Bill Walton has written a memoir: "Back from the Dead." NPR's Scott Simon speaks with him about his childhood, basketball career and The Grateful Dead.
Books
With Just Pencil And Paper, A Patient Found Escape Inside State Hospital No. 3
In 1970, a teenager found a hand-made album in a pile of trash. Inside were 283 extraordinary drawings made on mental hospital stationary. The Electric Pencil tells the artist's story.
This 'Jane' Is Eyre's Steely Sister
Lyndsay Faye's new Jane Steele reimagines the classic Victorian heroine as a killer with a heart of gold, who refuses to settle for her historical lot and strikes out at men who try to abuse her.
In 'Navel Gazing,' Michael Ian Black Lays It All Out, Insecurities And All
"When I'm acting, I always imagine myself as looking totally different than the person that appears onscreen," Black says. The comedian writes about family, masculinity and vanity in his new memoir.
Shadows Haunt A Lovely Season In 'Summer Before The War'
Helen Simonson's new novel is a gently charming portrait of a small British town in the last, fraught moments before the outbreak of World War I.
A Journalist Delves Deep Inside 'Putin Country'
Steve Inskeep talks with former NPR foreign correspondent Anne Garrels about her new book Putin Country: A Journey into the Real Russia.
'Caped Crusade' Peeks Under Batman's Iconic Cowl
Glen Weldon's new book lays out the history of Batman — from pow-biff-zap camp icon to dour Dark Knight — with the witty, informed perspective of a diehard fan. To the Batcave, readers!
The Many Masks Of Batman In 'Caped Crusade'
Glen Weldon's book The Caped Crusade traces the evolution of Batman, and argues that his anger and obsession are only part of the character; his childhood anti-crime oath makes him a hopeful figure.
Whither Bridget Jones? Britain's 'Independent' Newspaper Goes Digital
Helen Fielding's memorable comic creation started as a series of columns in the Independent some 20 years ago; as the paper goes digital-only, Fielding says the next Bridget could come from a blog.
Mysterious Keys Unlock Surreal Landscapes In 'What Is Yours Is Not Yours'
Book critic Maureen Corrigan says each of the "nouveau Gothic" stories in Helen Oyeyemi's new collection leaves a deep impression — like a scar that stubbornly refuses to fade.