Books

Professor and author Cornel West in 2008.

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Arts

Reviving A Grand Tradition Of 'Black Prophetic Fire'

12:35pm November 02, 2014

by NPR Staff

African-American philosopher Cornel West's new book laments the decline of "prophetic" black leadership, lifting up examples of people who were willing to risk their lives in the service of the truth.

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Like It Or Not, Architect Le Corbusier's Urban Designs Are Everywhere

10:04am November 02, 2014

by NPR Staff

"He's blamed for urban renewal ... urban freeways, even countless suburban office parks," says Anthony Flint, author of the new Le Corbusier biography Modern Man.

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Faber's 'Strange New Things' Is A Tribute To His Wife

10:04am November 02, 2014

Michel Faber talks about how he came to write his new novel, The Book of Strange New Things. It's the story of a husband and wife, separated by a huge distance. They're on different planets.

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An Ambivalent Double Agent, Torn Between Two Countries

8:10pm November 01, 2014

by NPR Staff

Ha Jin's new spy novel resembles the story of the real-life Chinese agent Larry Chin — and echoes the expat author's own experiences. But, he notes, a writer's life is less political than a spy's.

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William Gibson Skypes The Future In 'The Peripheral'

10:03am November 01, 2014

by Jason Sheehan

The master of cyberpunk returns to form with a new novel set in his old stomping grounds — the near future. Reviewer Jason Sheehan says it sings with controlled, dark energy and effortless grace.

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A Century Of Black Glamour In This Fine 'Vintage'

5:23am November 01, 2014

by Richard Torres

Nichelle Gainer's new Vintage Black Glamour, based on the popular Tumblr, collects a wealth of historical and biographical information — alongside gorgeous imagery — on great black entertainers.

This photo, taken at Katherine Tucker Windham's Selma house, shows reporter Nikki Davis Maute — and in the background, some say, the spirit the family calls Jeffrey.

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Arts

Spine-Tingling With A Twang: Great Alabama Ghost Stories

7:41pm October 31, 2014

by Debbie Elliott

There's nothing like a good ghost story on Halloween — and some of the best tales were told by the late storyteller and NPR commentator Kathryn Tucker Windham.

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Books

NPR Bestsellers: Week Of October 30, 2014

4:03pm October 31, 2014

The lists are compiled from weekly surveys of close to 500 independent bookstores nationwide.

Books

NPR Bestsellers: Hardcover Nonfiction, Week Of October 30, 2014

4:03pm October 31, 2014

Comedian Jim Gaffigan shares his offbeat love affair with American junk food in Food. It debuts at No. 12.

Books

NPR Bestsellers: Paperback Fiction, Week Of October 30, 2014

4:03pm October 31, 2014

A museum owner's daughter and an immigrant photographer fall for each other in Alice Hoffman's The Museum of Extraordinary Things. It appears at No. 6.