Author Interviews

Books

Talking With Author Sam J. Miller About 'Blackfish City: A Novel'

7:38am April 21, 2018

The new book Blackfish City tells of a near future that's both dystopian and utopian all at once. NPR's Scott Simon talks to Sam J. Miller about his story and about the influence of his father.

Novelist Richard Powers moved to Tennessee after first visiting the Smoky Mountains — shown above, at sunset — for research.

Novelist Richard Powers Finds New Stories Deep In Old Growth Forests

4:42pm April 19, 2018

by Lynn Neary

In The Overstory, Powers explores how humans can revere ancient trees with "the same kind of sanctity that we reserve exclusively for ourselves."

In War on Peace: The End of Diplomacy and the Decline of American Influence, Ronan Farrow writes about his time at the State Department and describes what he sees as a dangerous whittling away of the agency's influence.

'Shoot First, Ask Questions Later': Ronan Farrow On A Diplomacy-Less State Department

9:51am April 18, 2018

by Rachel Martin

Journalist Ronan Farrow worked for years in the State Department. In his new book, he describes what he sees as a dangerous whittling away of the agency's influence.

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James Comey served director of the FBI from Sept. 4, 2013, until his dismissal on May 9, 2017.

James Comey To 'Fresh Air': The FBI Isn't 'On Anybody's Side'

12:16pm April 17, 2018

by Terry Gross

The former FBI director tells Terry Gross that he wants to sound the alarm about the "forest fire" of the Trump presidency — and also to defend the FBI against charges of partisanship.

James Comey Says FBI 'Would Be Worse Today' If Not For His Actions

12:15pm April 17, 2018

by Carrie Johnson

In an interview with NPR, the fired FBI director maintained he wouldn't do things differently if he had a chance. "I saw this as a 500-year flood," he said, "and so where is the manual?"

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Transcript: James Comey's Full Interview With Steve Inskeep And Carrie Johnson

8:56am April 17, 2018

Nearly a year after President Trump fired James Comey, the former FBI director has a new memoir, A Higher Loyalty. He talked to NPR about the book and his decisions in the run-up to the 2016 election.

Ex-FBI Chief Comey Reflects On Circumstances Surrounding His Firing

8:05am April 17, 2018

by Steve Inskeep

In his new book, A Higher Loyalty, former FBI Director James Comey says he did his very best to protect the FBI and the Justice Department from an assault by President Trump.

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Former FBI Director Comey Discusses How He Views Trump's Conduct In New Book

7:44pm April 16, 2018

by Terry Gross

Former FBI Director James Comey's book, A Higher Loyalty, comes out Tuesday. Terry Gross of WHYY's Fresh Air talked to Comey about his tell-all memoir a day before it published.

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After A Journey Through The Lone Star State, Author Concludes: 'The Future Is Texas'

1:48pm April 16, 2018

by Dave Davies

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Lawrence Wright predicts that the largest "red" state in the union will eventually move into the "blue" column — and change the nation's politics in the process.

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Books

'Circe' Gets A New Motivation

8:20am April 15, 2018

Weekend Edition's books editor, Barrie Hardymon, asks Madeline Miller about her latest book, Circe. It's a modern take on the mythological temptress.