Books

Books
Arts

The Freaky, Fabulous, Feminist 'Secret History' Of Wonder Woman

5:18am October 26, 2014

by Etelka Lehoczky

Jill Lepore's new book about Wonder Woman reveals the unconventional life of her creator, William Moulton Marston, who invented the lie detector, championed feminism, and lived with two women at once.

Books
Arts

Cartoonist Looks Back On Career Built On Unnerving Visions

6:54pm October 25, 2014

by NPR Staff

As a young man, Jim Woodring was looking for a sign — and he found it in a huge, green hallucinated amphibian. His new book of old drawings, Jim, includes many works inspired by such "apparitions."

Queue Listen Now

Books
Arts

The Life Of De Niro, From 'Mean Streets' To 'Meet The Parents'

11:57am October 25, 2014

by NPR Staff

Shawn Levy's brick-sized new biography of screen legend Robert De Niro was produced without cooperation from the actor — but Levy says that just forced him to do better research.

Queue Listen Now

Nuruddin Farah is the author of 11 novels, including Maps, Gifts and Secrets. He is a professor of literature at Bard.

Books
Arts

Novelist Nuruddin Farah: Facing A Blank Page Is 'Bravest Thing' A Writer Does

11:57am October 25, 2014

by NPR Staff

Farah's latest is called Hiding in Plain Sight. It's the story of Bella, a Somali photographer living in Rome who gets drawn into the lives of her niece and nephew after her half-brother is killed.

Queue Listen Now

Books
Arts

'Beautiful You' Makes Sex And Death Boring

10:03am October 25, 2014

by Jason Sheehan

Chuck Palahniuk aims for piquant social satire in his new novel, but reviewer (and longtime fan) Jason Sheehan finds his fandom severely dented by lazy characterizations and lack of actual satire.

Books
Arts

'Heap House' Is A Treasure Of A Trash Tale

5:39am October 25, 2014

by Amal El-Mohtar

Edward Carey's illustrated young adult novel about the keepers of mystical trash heaps (yes, you read that right) in an alternate Victorian London combines thrills with intelligence and compassion.

Designer Diane Von Furstenberg has written a memoir called The Woman I Wanted to Be.

Books
Arts

40 Years Later, Diane Von Furstenberg's Wrap Dress Still Wears Well

6:59pm October 24, 2014

by NPR Staff

In her memoir, The Woman I Wanted to Be, Diane von Furstenberg says she owes her success to her mother, a strong, strict Holocaust survivor who called Diane her "torch of freedom."

Queue Listen Now

For The Midterm Elections, A Book On 'What It Takes' To Win

6:59pm October 24, 2014

by Michael Schaub

The midterm elections are less than two weeks away. Writer Michael Schaub recommends a book that explores what it's like to run for office and live through all the dramatic ups and downs.

Queue Listen Now

Books

NPR Bestsellers: Week Of October 23, 2014

6:03pm October 24, 2014

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

Books

NPR Bestsellers: Hardcover Fiction, Week Of October 23, 2014

6:03pm October 24, 2014

A teenager teams up with a psychic and a detective to learn more about her estranged mother in Jodi Picoult's Leaving Time. It debuts at No. 2.