Books

The Twelve-Mile Straight, by Eleanor Henderson

Books
Arts

In 'The Twelve-Mile Straight,' Characters Are Symbols First, People Second

7:01am September 21, 2017

by Annalisa Quinn

Eleanor Henderson's novel, set in 1930s Georgia, seeks to portray a time when "slavery was over, but not past," says our reviewer. But a lack of nuance keeps its characters from emerging as individuals.

Forest Dark by Nicole Krauss and Afterglow (a dog memoir) by Eileen Myles

Books
Arts

Novel 'Forest Dark' And Dog Book 'Afterglow' Consider The Meaning Of Life

12:54pm September 20, 2017

by Maureen Corrigan

Critic Maureen Corrigan reviews two books that use experimental forms to tackle weighty topics. "Both of these odd new books offer something special," she says.

'Cuz' Examines The Tragic Life And Death Of A Young Black Man In LA

12:52pm September 20, 2017

Danielle Allen's memoir centers on her cousin Michael, who was sentenced to a long prison term for carjacking when he was 15. Three years after his release, he was found shot to death in a parked car.

Books
Arts

Zine And Heard: In 'Moxie,' A Young Woman Fights Back

10:00am September 20, 2017

by Caitlyn Paxson

In Jennifer Mathieu's novel, "nice girl" Vivian secretly publishes a zine decrying her high school's culture of sexist harassment. Our reviewer says Moxie works on a "pure, wish-fulfillment level."

Books
Arts

In A Future Ruled By Big Pharma, A Robot Tentatively Explores Freedom — And Sex: 'Autonomous'

7:01am September 20, 2017

by Amal El-Mohtar

Annalee Newitz's tale of a pharmaceutical pirate and the dangerous agents hunting her is built on tender, intimate characterizations that probe notions of selfhood, gender and ownership.

"It's just truth," Gucci Mane says of his new book. "It's the underdog story because I been jumping hurdles my whole life."

'The Autobiography Of Gucci Mane': A Story Of Rap And Rebirth

5:42pm September 19, 2017

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks to rapper about his new book, The Autobiography of Gucci Mane. It traces his life as an artist who forged an unlikely path to stardom and personal rebirth.

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Could The Trump Presidency Lead To An Era Of Democratic Renewal?

2:55pm September 19, 2017

Journalists E.J. Dionne and Norm Ornstein say that a new wave of political activism springs from the fact that Trump is unfit for office. Their new book (with Thomas Mann) is One Nation After Trump.

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A map in Where the Animals Go shows how baboons move near the Mpala Research Centre in Kenya, as tracked by anthropologist Margaret Crofoot and her colleagues in 2012.

The Science And Art Of Mapping Animal Movements

2:08pm September 19, 2017

by Barbara J. King

Technology allows mapping of wildlife movements with new precision — and a fresh approach to conservation — as evidenced by Where the Animals Go, released Tuesday in the U.S., says Barbara J. King.

Ellen Pao is a tech investor, co-founder of inclusion nonprofit Project Include, and former Reddit CEO.

Books
Arts

Silicon Valley's Ellen Pao Tackles Sex Discrimination, Workplace Diversity In Memoir

1:46pm September 19, 2017

by Mary Louise Kelly

The tech investor dives into the lawsuit that thrust her into the national spotlight and the workplace conditions that prompted it. She says firms are largely applying "tepid diversity solutions."

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Second Nature, by Ric and Charlotte Flair.

Books
Arts

Wooooo! 'Second Nature' Is A Winningly Unadorned Memoir Of The Wrestling Life

10:01am September 19, 2017

by Michael Schaub

"Nature Boy" Ric Flair is one of the greatest pro wrestlers of all time. His daughter Charlotte followed him into the ring, and now, they've written a joint memoir that's moving and brutally honest.