Books

Books

Journalist Kevin Powell On His New Book And His Hopes And Fears For His Future Child

5:26am June 26, 2020

NPR'S Rachel Martin speaks with writer, journalist and activist Kevin Powell about his New York Times essay, A Letter from Father to Child, excerpted from his new book, When We Free the World.

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A poll worker cleans a voting booth between voters during a primary election on June 23 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Have Questions About Voting? A Law Professor Tells You 'What You Need To Know'

2:19pm June 25, 2020

by Rachel Martin

In a new book, Kim Wehle explains voting basics. She tells NPR, "if we don't go to the polls to protect democracy itself, it could fail. And I believe that's what's on the ballot in November."

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Fascinating, Messy 'Death In Her Hands' Is A Portrait Of An Unraveling Mind

7:00am June 25, 2020

by Bethanne Patrick

Ottessa Moshfegh's latest isn't exactly a murder mystery, though there seems to be a mysterious murder. It's more a portrait of a woman gradually losing her mind, using the mystery to try to hang on.

Books

NPR Books Summer Reader Poll To Focus On Books For Kids This Year

3:24pm June 24, 2020

by Petra Mayer

This year NPR Books Summer Reader Poll is all about books for the youngest readers. People can nominate their favorite books at npr.org/kidsbooks. The results are expected by mid-August.

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Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation, by Kristin Kobes Du Mez

'Jesus And John Wayne' Explores Christian Manhood — And How Belief Can Bolster Trump

7:03pm June 23, 2020

by Steve Inskeep

Author Kristin Kobes Du Mez says: "It seemed like evangelicals had betrayed their values. But if you look at this longer history of evangelical masculinity and militarism ... this wasn't a betrayal."

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Readers wait in line at Macmillan booth at the Book Expo trade show in 2013.

Books
Arts

Macmillan CEO Steps Back From Day-To-Day Operations

4:53pm June 23, 2020

by Petra Mayer

John Sargent, CEO of Macmillan — one of the Big Five book publishing houses — has stepped back from day-to-day operations, after five employees organized an industry-wide protest against racism.

Author Susan Burton struggled with disordered eating for decades. "Hunger was something that I believed protected me and gave me power," she says.

From 'Empty' To 'Satisfied': Author Traces A Hunger That Food Can't Fix

4:19pm June 23, 2020

by Terry Gross

For Susan Burton, decades of disordered eating was about power. "As long as I was bingeing, I didn't have to think. I didn't have to think about any loss or pain or wanting or yearning."

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Books

How To Spot Sacred Practices In Everyday Life

3:58pm June 23, 2020

NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with author Casper ter Kuile about his new book, The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities Into Soulful Practices.

All the Way to the Tigers by Mary Morris

Books
Arts

'The Tigers' Two-Way Travelogue Is A Journey Both Within And Without

2:14pm June 23, 2020

by Maureen Corrigan

Known for her meditative travel memoirs, Mary Morris' wanderings were nearly curtailed by a serious ankle injury. All the Way to the Tigers is a passage deep into the broken places that shaped her.

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Arts

Summer Reader Poll 2020: Meet Our Esteemed Panelists!

1:45pm June 23, 2020

by Petra Mayer

Every year, we recruit a panel of experts — authors, critics, librarians — to help us curate a fantastic list of 100 favorite reads. And this year we're celebrating books for the littlest readers.