Books

Caroline Kennedy's other works include of A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children and A Patriot's Handbook.

Books
Arts

'Poems To Learn By Heart': The Merits Of Memorizing Verse

1:17pm May 03, 2013

Caroline Kennedy isn't just an advocate for reading poetry. In her latest book, Poems to Learn by Heart, Kennedy stresses the importance of memorizing poetry and presents a collection of poems that she believes kids and adults alike should internalize.

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In 1948, Thelma Porter became the first African-American Miss Subways.

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Arts

'Miss Subways': A Trip Back In Time To New York's Melting Pot

7:13pm May 02, 2013

by April Fehling

Between 1941 and 1976, New York commuters were charmed by posters of regular New York women while riding the city's trains and buses. "Miss Subways" was selected each month by New Yorkers, in a pageant that reflected America's diversity long before the nation's other beauty contests.

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Casual clothing detail fashion background made in the USA

Ethical Fashion: Is The Tragedy In Bangladesh A Final Straw?

4:05pm May 02, 2013

Since a garment factory collapsed last month in Dhaka, killing more than 400 people, ethical fashion has been in the spotlight. Elizabeth Cline, author of Overdressed: The Shockingly High Price of Cheap Fashion, explains the economy that created this tragedy and what we can do to fix it.

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Criminologist Believes Violent Behavior Is Biological

1:22pm May 01, 2013

In a new book, The Anatomy of Violence, Adrian Raine argues that violent behavior has a biological basis just like depression or schizophrenia. This raises questions about treatment, accountability and punishment, including the death penalty.

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"War" by Touka Neyestani: Neyestani received a degree in architecture from Tehran's Science and Industry University, and has been a cartoonist for more than 30 years.

Iran's Political Scene Is Sketchy For Cartoonists

12:32pm May 01, 2013

by NPR Staff

Political cartoons have a long history in Iran and give voice to critics of the authoritarian regime. Lately cartoonists have been increasingly persecuted for their work. A recent book, Sketches of Iran, pairs 40 political essays with cartoons depicting life in Iran today.

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Tulip tree in Alley Pond Park, Queens, taken on Nov. 4, 2005. When it was last measured, it stood 134 feet tall.

New York: A Concrete Jungle And 'City Of Trees,' Too

8:26pm April 30, 2013

by Margot Adler

People generally don't associate trees with New York City, and if they do, they tend to think only of Central and Prospect parks. But the city is filled with old, beloved trees, some dating back more than 200 years, many of them located in the unsung outer boroughs.

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Marc Maron, whose latest book is Attempting Normal, is also the author of The Jerusalem Syndrome: My Life As a Reluctant Messiah.

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Arts

Marc Maron: A Life Fueled By 'Panic And Dread'

2:15pm April 29, 2013

The comedian turned his life around when he started "WTF with Marc Maron" out of his garage in 2009. He has parlayed the popularity of the podcast into a new television show called Maron, based on his life, as well as a new memoir.

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Brother and sister Rod Dreher and Ruthie Leming grew up in a small town in rural Louisiana. Dreher left the tightknit community to pursue a journalism career but returned home after Leming died of lung cancer in 2010.

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Arts

A Grieving Brother Finds Solace In His Sister's 'Small Town'

12:21pm April 29, 2013

by Debbie Elliott

Philadelphia journalist and author Rod Dreher moved back to his hometown in Louisiana after his sister died there in 2010, and adopted the community she left behind. His experiences led to the book The Little Way of Ruthie Leming: A Southern Girl, a Small Town, and the Secret of a Good Life.

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The Summer of Beer and Whiskey by Edward Achorn.

Hard Hits, Hard Liquor In 'The Summer of Beer and Whiskey'

6:13pm April 27, 2013

by NPR Staff

In the 1880s, it took a German immigrant to change America's pastime forever. Chris Von der Ahe founded the St. Louis Browns and later helped form a new baseball league. Author Edward Achorn recalls baseball's early days in his new book.

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David Sedaris's new book is called Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls.

Books
Arts

'Let's Explore': David Sedaris On His Public Private Life

7:43pm April 25, 2013

The best-selling author and humorist has kept journals for 36 years. Those diaries have been the jumping-off point for the personal essays that appear in his collections, including Me Talk Pretty One Day and now Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls.

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