Books

Dr. BJ Miller's new project, the Center for Dying and Living, is a website designed for people to share their stories related to living with illness, disability or loss, or their stories of caring for someone with those conditions.

After A Freak Accident, A Doctor Finds Insight Into 'Living Life And Facing Death'

10:03am December 04, 2019

by Terry Gross

In 1990, BJ Miller was hit with 11,000 volts of electricity. That accident took most of his limbs, but the event and his recovery inspired him to pursue a career as a palliative care physician.

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Labyrinth of Ice: The Triumphant and Tragic Greely Polar Expedition, by Buddy Levy

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Arts

Greely's Polar Expedition Faces Heartbreak Amid Heroism In 'Labyrinth Of Ice'

7:01am December 04, 2019

by Gabino Iglesias

Author Buddy Levy's superbly written, meticulously researched chronicle tells the adventure story of a group of explorers aiming to achieve "Farthest North" and claim the win for the U.S. in 1881.

Books

What Bestseller Lists Really Tell Us About A Book's Popularity

5:27pm December 03, 2019

by Rose Friedman

The Republican National Committee spent nearly $100,000 buying copies of Donald Trump Jr.'s new book. But did that money buy a spot on the New York Times bestseller list? Not exactly.

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Milan Kundera is seen with his wife Vera Hrabankov in Prague in 1973, two years before they emigrated.

Milan Kundera's Czech Citizenship Is Restored After 40 Years

4:02pm December 03, 2019

by Laurel Wamsley

The author of The Unbearable Lightness of Being saw his books banned and citizenship revoked in 1979. Exiled in Paris, Kundera began writing his novels in French.

Books
Arts

NPR's Favorite Books Of 2019: The Book Concierge Is Back With 350+ Great Reads

2:05pm December 03, 2019

Explore seven years of recommendations all in one place: Here are more than 2,000 titles, hand-picked by NPR staff and trusted critics — with handy filters to help you find the perfect book!

Open books stacked on top of one another.

Books
Arts

Maureen Corrigan's Favorite Books Of 2019: Here Are 10 Unputdownable Reads

1:16pm December 03, 2019

by Maureen Corrigan

This year's list is a mix of literary fiction, true crime, memoirs and essays, from acclaimed authors as well as some brand new voices — and you won't be able to put any of them down.

'Free, Melania' Takes On The First Lady, Her Marriage And Influence On The President

6:17pm December 02, 2019

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Kate Bennett about her new book, Free, Melania, that looks at a multitude of questions swirling around the first lady.

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Jay-Z performs at Day 2 of Something in the Water Festival 2019 in Virginia Beach, Va.

For Jay-Z's 50th Birthday, A New Biography Centers His Lyrical Legacy

2:38pm December 02, 2019

Jay-Z drew criticism for partnering with the NFL after having supported Colin Kaepernick. A new biography centers the rapper's business ethos with his lyrics and the concept of the constant hustle.

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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson Meets Leo Varadkar In Ireland

Politics Of Pain: Ireland, Britain And Brexit

1:14pm December 02, 2019

We check in with journalist Fintan O'Toole about how Ireland is handling Brexit.

Little Bird, by Darcy Van Poelgeest and Ian Bertram

Books
Arts

Stunning 'Little Bird' Mashes Up Myth, Family, Technology And Religion

7:00am December 02, 2019

by Etelka Lehoczky

Filmmaker and author Darcy van Poelgeest's sweeping dystopian epic sometimes falls short on plot and character, but it's redeemed by virtuoso work from its illustrator, colorist and letterer.