Arts

Reginald Dwayne Betts serves as a national spokesman for the Campaign for Youth Justice. He is also the author of A Question of Freedom and Shahid Reads His Own Palm.

Books
Arts

In 'Bastards Of The Reagan Era' A Poet Says His Generation Was 'Just Lost'

5:17pm December 08, 2015

After being convicted of carjacking as a teenager, Reginald Dwayne Betts spent eight years in an adult prison. Since his release, he has become a poet and a Yale law student.

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Arts

Colin Allured Releases "Always Music"

1:55pm December 08, 2015

by David Ford

Always Music is the name of Winston-Salem-based singer/songwriter Colin Allured's latest LP.

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Arts

From 'Scarface' To 'Sopranos': Remembering Character Actor Robert Loggia

1:24pm December 08, 2015

Best known for his roles as cops and outlaws, Loggia died Friday from complications related to Alzheimer's disease. He was 85. Originally broadcast in 1987.

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A collection of book covers from our 2015 book concierge

Books
Arts

NPR's Book Concierge: Our Guide To 2015's Great Reads

5:08am December 08, 2015

The Book Concierge is back and all new for 2015! Explore more than 260 standout titles picked by NPR staff and critics.

Science
Arts

How What Makes You Laugh (And Cringe) Reveals Your Hidden Biases

12:04am December 08, 2015

by NPR Staff

This week on Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam looks at what we find funny and what, well, crosses the line. Comedian Bill Burr joins us to talk about why race, gender and Caitlin Jenner can be so funny.

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Alex Brightman stars as Dewey Finn — a rocker turned substitute teacher — in the musical adaptation of School of Rock.

Arts

Andrew Lloyd Webber Says Music Empowers In 'School Of Rock'

6:59pm December 07, 2015

by Jeff Lunden

The composer teamed up with Julian Fellowes, creator of Downton Abbey, to create the new rock musical adaptation of the 2003 movie.

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Stack of books on the dark wood background.

Books
Arts

Maureen Corrigan's Best Books Of 2015: Short(ish) Books That Pack A Big Punch

6:18pm December 07, 2015

by Maureen Corrigan

This year, short stories and fragmented intense memoirs — along with the incredible true story of a short-haired dog — dominate Maureen Corrigan's best books list.

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Arthur Radebaugh imagined gigantic crops in his syndicated Sunday comic strip Closer Than We Think, which ran from 1958 until 1963.

Science
Arts

The Past Is Littered With Foods Of The Future

5:42pm December 07, 2015

by Benjamin Aldes Wurgaft

For as long as humans have eaten, they've entertained grand visions of the future of food. But the shiny objects of food futurism rarely pan out in the way the visionaries intended.

Arts

Aristophanes In Chicago: Spike Lee's Ancient Inspiration, On Film

3:32pm December 07, 2015

by Natalie Moore

Lee's new film, Chiraq, draws on an ancient idea to deal with the present-day crisis of gun violence in Chicago. Natalie Moore of member station WBEZ explains how.

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Books
Arts

A Downtrodden Protagonist Reveals Himself Room-By-Room In 'Hotels Of North America'

12:07pm December 07, 2015

Rick Moody discusses his new novel, which is told solely in the form of online hotel reviews. The narrator of Hotels Of North America is increasingly down on his luck — and may even be homeless.