Books

Books
Arts

Flexible, Fluid 'Revision' Bounces From Rom-Com To Sci-Fi

10:03am May 07, 2015

by Amal El-Mohtar

What if you could rewrite reality? Andrea Phillips' debut novel follows an unambitious barista whose life is turned upside down when she discovers a website that lets her change lives with a click.

Books

Book Review: 'The New World'

7:55pm May 06, 2015

by Alan Cheuse

NPR's Alan Cheuse reviews the novel, The New World, by Chris Adrian and Eli Horowitz.

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How NASA's Space Race Helped To Integrate The South

2:02pm May 06, 2015

Writers Richard Paul and Steven Moss's new book is called We Could Not Fail. It's about the first African-Americans to work for NASA. They profile 10 African-American scientists and engineers.

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In 'Subprimes,' Swiftian Satire Hits Close To Home

11:56am May 06, 2015

by Jean Zimmerman

Karl Taro Greenfeld's new book imagines a near-future America where credit scores determine your fate, and a new generation of Okies travel the country in dilapidated SUVs, searching for prosperity.

Elizabeth Gilbert shares a new perspective on traditional creative careers.

Books
Arts

Where Does Creativity Come From?

10:57am May 06, 2015

by NPR/TED Staff

Writer Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses. She shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person "being" a genius, all of us "have" a genius.

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After 'Life,' 'A God In Ruins' Picks Up The Epic Tale Of The Todds

10:38am May 06, 2015

by Tasha Robinson

Kate Atkinson's 2013 best-seller, Life After Life, depicted the century-spanning lives of Ursula Todd; her new book takes a more constrained approach to Ursula's brother, Royal Air Force pilot Teddy.

Books
Arts

'One Of Us' Examines The Damaged Inner Terrain Of Norwegian Mass Shooter

8:08am May 06, 2015

by Maureen Corrigan

Journalist Asne Seierstad's book chronicles the 2011 shooting massacre in her country. Critic Maureen Corrigan calls the work "engrossing, important and undeniably difficult to read."

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Pedro Martinez On 2004 Red Sox: 'We Were A Laughing Group'

7:32pm May 05, 2015

Pitching great Pedro Martinez, who helped end the Boston Red Sox World Series drought, talks about his new memoir Pedro.

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Author Barry Estabrook says pigs can be taught to play computer games and recognize themselves in a mirror.

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Arts

'Tales' Of Pig Intelligence, Factory Farming And Humane Bacon

5:59pm May 05, 2015

Journalist Barry Estabrook wanted to know more about the animal and its journey from the farm to his plate. In a new book, he explores the dichotomies of the industry that's raising our pork chops.

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Parul Sehgal, an editor at The New York Times Book Review, says literature would hardly exist without the "grim thrill" of envy.

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Arts

How Does Envy Help Us Better Understand Ourselves?

4:22pm May 05, 2015

by NPR/TED Staff

Parul Sehgal, an editor at The New York Times Book Review, says as dangerous as envy can be, it can teach us a lot about who we are and what we really want.

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