Books

Free-range chickens stand in a pen at an organic-accredited poultry farm in Germany.

Books
Arts

Chicken Confidential: How This Bird Came To Rule The Cultural Roost

12:05pm November 29, 2014

by NPR Staff

Andrew Lawler's Why Did the Chicken Cross the World? explores the secret to the domesticated bird's success: "You can turn the chicken into almost anything," he says, from religious symbol to dinner.

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The Mystery Of The Missing Brains

12:05pm November 29, 2014

by Matt Largey

For decades, a rare collection of human remains sat in a basement closet at the University of Texas. A new book tells the story of that collection — and the enduring mysteries that surround it.

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After The Ferguson Decision, A Poem That Gives Name To The Hurt

6:22pm November 28, 2014

by Syreeta McFadden

This week, a Missouri grand jury decided not to indict Darren Wilson, the officer who killed Michael Brown. Writer Syreeta McFadden turns to Audre Lorde's poetry to make sense of this decision.

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Books
Arts

'Queen Of Crime' PD James Was A Master Of Her Craft

7:12pm November 27, 2014

A remembrance of murder mystery writer PD James, who died Thursday at her home in Oxford, England.

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Books
Arts

For P.D. James, A Good Mystery Celebrated Human Intelligence

12:12pm November 27, 2014

The British author of best-selling detective stories has died at age 94. "In a sense, the detective story is a small celebration of reason and order in our very disorderly world," she told NPR.

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Author P.D. James, whose publisher says died at age 94.

British Mystery Novelist P.D. James Dies At 94

11:32am November 27, 2014

by Scott Neuman

The author of such books as The Black Tower was best-known for her series featuring Scotland Yard detective Adam Dalgliesh.

Books
Arts

North-Of-The-Border Horror In 'Go Down Together'

2:41pm November 26, 2014

by Jason Heller

Cold, dark winter nights are the perfect time to dip into Gemma Files' chilling new story collection, We Will All Go Down Together. Critic Jason Heller praises Files' "ghostly, magical storytelling."

Books
Arts

Box Of Love Letters Reveals Grandfather Didn't Escape WWII With 'Everyone'

6:31pm November 25, 2014

by NPR Staff

Years after her grandfather's death, Sarah Wildman discovered letters from a young woman he'd left behind in Vienna in the 1930s. So Wildman set out to find her grandfather's true love.

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'All The Truth Is Out' Examines How Political Journalism Went Tabloid

3:54pm November 25, 2014

Matt Bai says that while voters have always cared about candidates' characters, some news used to be off limits. His new book looks at Gary Hart's 1987 affair that destroyed his political ambitions.

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Books
Arts

Book Review: 'All The Truth Is Out: The Week Politics Went Tabloid'

3:53pm November 25, 2014

by Ted Koppel

The new book by Matt Bai explores the political resonance of Gary Hart, whose presidential ambitions were dashed when he revealed he had an affair.

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