Arts & Life

To Reform Prison System, Corrections Officer Put Himself In Solitary Confinement

8:53am September 04, 2016

Rachel Martin speaks to Secretary Gregg Marcantel about reforming the New Mexico state penitentiary system. He appears on season 2 on A&E's "Behind Bars."

A writer by profession, Robert Hoge was the first member of his family to go to college.

'Ugly': A Memoir Of Childhood, Deformity And Learning To Love A Distinctive Face

8:49am September 04, 2016

by NPR Staff

Robert Hoge was born with deformed legs and a giant tumor between his eyes. In his new memoir, he describes his mother's shock and how she decided whether or not to bring him home.

Podcast Extra: Juan Gabriel And The Tricky Conversation About Sexual Identity

11:29pm September 03, 2016

by Adrian Florido

Many remembrances of Mexican vocalist Juan Gabriel suggested that he overcame homophobia in Mexico to achieve super-stardom. The reality is a bit more complicated.

Books
Arts

Former Journalist Sabaa Tahir Writes Dystopian Fantasies Inspired By The News

3:38pm September 03, 2016

by Neda Ulaby

Tahir got the idea for her series An Ember in the Ashes in 2007, after she was asked to edit a haunting news story at The Washington Post.

Queue Listen Now

Arts

Not My Job: Pitcher Bill 'Spaceman' Lee Gets Quizzed On Kevin Spacey

12:08pm September 03, 2016

Lee played for the Boston Red Sox in the 1970s and the Montreal Expos in the early 1980s. Known for his outspoken nature and unconventional left-handed pitch, he ended up with the nickname "Spaceman."

Queue Listen Now

We Got Your Letters: Listeners Puzzled By Tom Wolfe's Words On Evolution

9:04am September 03, 2016

NPR's Scott Simon's interview last week with author Tom Wolfe prompted an unusual number of responses from listeners regarding the author's questioning of some aspects of the theory of evolution.

Rybczynski believes the oldest kind of chair was not a throne, but a folding chair.

Books
Arts

Better Sit Down For This One: An Exciting Book About The History Of Chairs

8:50am September 03, 2016

by Elizabeth Blair

OK, fine ... this new chair anthology might not keep you on the edge of your seat, but it does reveal some very interesting ideas about trends in design, culture and social values.

Books
Arts

'A Gentleman In Moscow' Is A Grand Hotel Adventure

7:00am September 03, 2016

by Annalisa Quinn

Amor Towles' new novel stars a Russian aristocrat, sentenced by the Soviets to permanent house arrest in a luxury hotel. It's a frothy romp that tends to overlook the reality of life under Stalin.

Books
Arts

'The Curse Of Cash' Makes Case For A World Without Paper Money

2:25pm September 02, 2016

NPR's Robert Siegel talks with Kenneth Rogoff about his latest book, The Curse of Cash, in which he argues advanced economies should slowly phase out most paper currency.

Queue Listen Now

Arts

Ray Liotta On 'Goodfellas,' Acting And His Return To TV

1:37pm September 02, 2016

"My career has been up and down, and I like it much better being up," Liotta says. He plays a corrupt NYC police lieutenant on the NBC series Shades of Blue. Originally broadcast Jan. 12, 2016.

Queue Listen Now