Arts

While Leonard Nimoy became famous as Star Trek's Mr. Spock, he was conflicted about the role. He later came to embrace it. He's shown here with actor William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk.

Arts

He Was, And Will Always Be, Our Friend: Remembering Leonard Nimoy

10:45am March 02, 2015

by Neda Ulaby

The Star Trek actor, writer, poet and photographer has died of lung disease at 83. NPR's Neda Ulaby has a look back at the long career of the man who was (and was not) Spock.

Queue Listen Now

Books
Arts

The Zig-Zagging History Of The Number Zero

10:17am March 02, 2015

There was a time when a zig-zagging line didn't mean two, and a circle didn't mean zero. NPR's Eric Westervelt talks with Amir Aczel about the origins of our numbers and his book, Finding Zero.

Queue Listen Now

Every Brilliant Thing, starring Jonny Donahoe, follows a son's efforts to fight his mother's deep depression.

Arts

One-Man Show Casts 'Brilliant' Light On Realities Of Suicide, Depression

10:15am March 02, 2015

by Jeff Lunden

The off-Broadway play Every Brilliant Thing tackles its dark subject through audience participation and comedy. Both critics and audience members have described it as incredibly moving.

Queue Listen Now

"Nana, how come we don't have a car?" CJ asks. "Boy, what do we need a car for?" Nana replies. "We got a bus that breathes fire."

Books
Arts

On Board A City Bus, A Little Boy Finds The Route To Gratitude

10:15am March 02, 2015

by NPR Staff

In Last Stop on Market Street, a little boy goes on a journey with his grandmother. Along the way he meets many interesting passengers and learns to recognize the blessings right in front of him.

Queue Listen Now

Books
Arts

Dangerous Freedoms And Fading Memories In 'Find Me'

10:13am March 02, 2015

by NPR Staff

Imagine a future where an epidemic that erases memories (and eventually kills) takes over the country: That's the setting for the first novel from celebrated short story writer Laura Van Den Berg.

Queue Listen Now

In The Rewrite Grant plays a washed-up Hollywood screenwriter who takes a job teaching at a university in upstate New York.

Arts

Hugh Grant On Smart Romantic Comedies And Standing Up To The Tabloids

10:12am March 02, 2015

by NPR Staff

In The Rewrite Grant plays a washed-up Hollywood screenwriter who takes a job teaching at a college. Recently, Grant has been fighting against British tabloids using illegal hacking tactics.

Queue Listen Now

Bass Reeves, depicted here in an illustration from Joel Christian Gill's Tales of the Talented Tenth, was one of the first African-American U.S. marshals. Click here for a closer look.

Books
Arts

'Strange Fruit' Shares Uncelebrated, Quintessentially American Stories

10:12am March 02, 2015

by NPR Staff

Have you heard of Bass Reeves? Richard Potter? Spottswood Rice? "Box" Brown? If not, illustrator-historian Joel Christian Gill says, you're missing out on some of the best stories in American history.

Queue Listen Now

Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) made the acquaintance of Henry Talbot (Matthew Goode) on the season finale of Downton Abbey.

Arts

'Downton' Wraps Another Season Of Marriage And (Sigh) Muuuuuurder!

8:59am March 02, 2015

by Linda Holmes

The fifth season of Downton Abbey, like all of its seasons, certainly wasn't perfect and had way too much murder. On the whole, though: pretty good.

Arts

Van Dyke Dance Group Performs Early Piece, "Full Circle", at Greenhill Art Gallery

8:57am March 02, 2015

by David Ford

Queue Listen Now

Books
Arts

'The Sellout' Is A Scorchingly Funny Satire On 'Post-Racial' America

7:03am March 02, 2015

by Michael Schaub

Paul Beatty takes no prisoners in this tale of two men trying to save their dying town through provocative moves like reinstituting segregation. Critic Michael Schaub calls it a comic masterpiece.