Books

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Arts

Baldwin And Bridges: Two Artists, Two Debuts, One Fire

10:17am July 06, 2015

by Juan Vidal

Reviewer Juan Vidal has had the debut album by Texas soul crooner Leon Bridges on heavy rotation, and it's making him think of parallels with James Baldwin's first novel, Go Tell It on the Mountain.

Director, writer and producer Judd Apatow has both a new memoir and a new movie right now. Trainwreck, which he directed, is in theaters starting July 17 and Sick in the Head was published in June.

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Arts

From Early Failures To New 'Trainwreck,' Judd Apatow Gets Serious

10:11pm July 05, 2015

by NPR Staff

It's an understatement to call the man busy. With a new book out, a movie due soon and another wrapping up on set, Apatow caught a breath and reflected on stumbling blocks, Freaks and Amy Schumer.

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Greek flags fly beside those of the European Union in Athens. Many people chalk the phrase up to Shakespeare, but its origins likely date back much earlier than that -- to medieval monks eager for a cop-out.

Is It All Greek To You? Thank Medieval Monks, And The Bard, For The Phrase

10:11pm July 05, 2015

by NPR Staff

Ben Zimmer, language columnist at The Wall Street Journal, explains the origin of the phrase "it's all Greek to me" — and shares a few variants from other languages.

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In 'Playing Scared' Pianist Grows Less Frightened Of Stage Fright

12:08pm July 05, 2015

by NPR Staff

Performance anxiety kept journalist Sara Solovitch away from the piano for several decades. Then one day she decided to search for the key to putting her back in tune with her performance side.

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If Robots 'Speak,' Will We Listen? Novel Imagines A Future Changed By AI

6:42pm July 04, 2015

by NPR Staff

As artificial intelligence alters human connection, Louisa Hall's characters wrestle with whether machines can truly feel. Some "feel they have to stand up for a robot's right to exist," Hall says.

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Decades Of Politics And Partnership In Jimmy Carter's 'Full Life'

11:59am July 04, 2015

by NPR Staff

Former president Jimmy Carter was one of the youngest ex-presidents ever when he left office in 1981. His new memoir, A Full Life, looks back at his years of public service, in and out of office.

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Arts

'Shadowshaper' Paints A Vibrant Picture

10:55am July 04, 2015

by Amal El-Mohtar

Daniel José Older's new young adult novel follows a Brooklyn teenager who discovers her family has a dangerous magical heritage. Reviewer Amal El-Mohtar says it's full of music, flavor and color.

A recent version of Indian Slapjacks, a recipe featured in American Cookery, the first cookbook of American food.

Books
Arts

New Nation, New Cuisine: The First Cookbook To Tackle 'American Food'

12:45pm July 03, 2015

by Anne Bramley

The first American cookbook, published in 1796, promised local food and a kind of socioculinary equality. But generations later, foodies are still puzzling over how to define "American food."

Books
Arts

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Judy Blume's New Book And Lifetime's 'UnREAL'

11:22pm July 02, 2015

by Linda Holmes

On this week's show, a beloved author of books for kids writes another one for adults, and Lifetime sets a drama behind the scenes of a reality dating show.

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Books
Arts

Book Review: 'The Uses Of The Body,' Deborah Landau

6:35pm July 02, 2015

Poet Tess Taylor reviews The Uses of the Body by Deborah Landau.

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