Arts

Humor is both a creative and a cognitive process, says Bob Mankoff, who has contributed cartoons to The New Yorker since 1977. His memoir is called How About Never — Is Never Good For You?

For comic Mike Birbiglia, getting his parents to accept his career choice was the hardest part of getting started. Appearing on the Late Show with David Letterman seemed to signal he wasn't so bad.

It was a strange and wonderful year for young adult fiction, says critic Maggie Stiefvater. This list rounds up five magical books for young adults and grown-ups alike.

What do you get when you cross gritty east Texas honky-tonks with flamboyant art school kids? Well, as Technical Producer Eddie Garcia finds out you get a friend: Amigo. They have a new album out and Eddie chats it up with front man Slade Baird. Then we wipe off the honky-tonk dust, grab our smoking jacket and sit down for a civilized evening of world class chamber music. Van Cliburn International Piano Competition gold medalist is coming to town to play Music for a Great Space with mind-blowingly good clarinetist Jon Manasse, and he talks shop with me. Then, speaking of international, Eddie's back with RiverRun International Film Festival Executive Director Andrew Rodgers. The Fest turns 16 this year and Andrew gives us a sweet preview. International award-winning poet Terri Kirby Erickson is here too. She's ready to launch her new book—with a cool title: A Lake of Light and Clouds. Terri's got a way of seeing the everyday as if we just got a new pair of specks.

Charlotte Gainsbourg and newcomer Stacy Martin anchor Lars von Trier's four-hour inquiry into the nature of impulse and desire.

America's Test Kitchen knows how to make gluten-free food taste just as good as the regular stuff. The ATK team tells Fresh Air about the best packaged pasta, and the secrets of gluten-free baking.

NPR's David Greene speaks with some of the cast members of the British TV hit Downton Abbey. The third season premieres in the U.S. Sunday on PBS.

NPR's go-to librarian recommends five "under the radar" books she thinks you should read this summer. They range from a Jane Austenesque love story to a real life, intellectual detective tale.