Fresh Air
Weekdays at 7:00pm
Opening the window on contemporary arts and issues with guests from worlds as diverse as literature and economics.
Rachel Kushner's new espionage thriller may be her coolest book yet
In Creation Lake, a hard-drinking American spy infiltrates a radical farming collective in a remote region of France. Kushner challenges readers to keep up with her and not to flinch.
Violinist Johnny Gandelsman Infuses Bach's 'Sonatas & Partitas' With Joy
by Lloyd Schwartz
Gandelsman has been celebrated for playing a wide variety of music, from purely classical to the most inventive contemporary pieces. He takes on Bach's complex sonatas and partitas on his new album.
How Rodgers And Hammerstein Revolutionized Broadway
by Terry Gross
Todd Purdum's new book is about the creative partnership and strained personal relationship behind such hit shows as Carousel, South Pacific and The Sound of Music. Originally broadcast April 9, 2018.
Fresh Air Remembers Novelist Philip Roth
We listen back to excerpts from Roth's interviews about The Plot Against America and Everyman. Roth died Tuesday at age 85. He spoke with Terry Gross seven times over the years.
'Solo: A Star Wars Story' Is A High-Speed, Low-Energy Intergalactic Heist
by Justin Chang
The latest blockbuster from Disney and Lucasfilm tells of the early adventures of Han Solo. Critic Justin Chang says the plot somehow feels both utterly inconsequential and exasperatingly busy.
Ronan Farrow: 'I Was Raised With An Extraordinary Sense Of Public Service'
by Terry Gross
The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist talks about growing up the son of famous parents, investigating the allegations against Harvey Weinstein and writing his new book, War on Peace.
New Book Explores The Science Of Pregnancy 'Like A Mother'
by Terry Gross
As a first-time mother, journalist Angela Garbes craved unbiased, scientific information — not just anecdotal advice. Her new book debunks myths and assumptions about pregnancy and childbirth.
Courtney Barnett's New Album Blends Forceful Guitar With Lyrical Complexity
by Ken Tucker
Barnett sings about fame, feminism and self-doubt on her new album, Tell Me How You Really Feel. Ken Tucker says the songs are like "inner monologues, shaped and sharpened for public consumption."
Novelist Michael Chabon: 'My Family And Kids Have Been My Gang'
by Terry Gross
The Pulitzer Prize-winning author writes about his relationship with his father, as well as his own experiences as the parent of four, in Pops: Fatherhood in Pieces.