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'The Fire This Time': A New Generation Of Writers On Race In America

4:32pm August 02, 2016

by NPR Staff

Author Jesmyn Ward invited prominent writers from her generation to pen essays for The Fire This Time. It's a nod to James Baldwin's work of a similar name, which warned of today's racial tension.

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Sophisticated ways of tracking reading habits give publishers hard data that reveals the kinds of books people want to read. But a veteran editor says numbers only go so far in telling the story.

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Arts

Publishers' Dilemma: Judge A Book By Its Data Or Trust The Editor's Gut?

4:32pm August 02, 2016

by Lynn Neary

Sophisticated ways of tracking reading habits give publishers hard data that reveals the kinds of books people want to read. But a veteran editor says numbers only go so far in telling the story.

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A Neuroscientist Explores The Illogical Behaviors Of The Mind In 'Idiot Brain'

12:20pm August 02, 2016

Dean Burnett says the human brain is like a computer that files information in a way that defies logic. According to Burnett, brains can alter memory, cause motion sickness and affect intelligence.

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The Workings Of Nature: Naturalist Writing And Making Sense Of The World

10:00am August 02, 2016

by Genevieve Valentine

Humans have always been curious about the natural world; nature provides enough order to soothe and enough wildness to escape. We've got a roundup of great nature writing from all over the world.

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Good, Evil And Long Black Tentacles Make A 'Monstress'

7:00am August 02, 2016

by Etelka Lehoczky

Gaudy beauty and extravagant horror twine around each other in Marjorie Liu's new graphic novel Monstress. It's the story of a girl caught up in a war of magic in which neither side comes off well.

Jay McInerney is the author of four books, including the 1984 semi-autobiographical novel, Bright Lights, Big City.

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Beyond 'Bright Lights': Jay McInerney Reveals The Trials Of A 'Perfect Couple'

7:28pm August 01, 2016

McInerney became famous in the 1980s for his semi-autobiographical novel about a hard-partying young man in Manhattan. His new book, Bright, Precious Days, probes the challenges of a lasting marriage.

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Megan Abbott's Latest Novel: 'You Will Know Me'

9:06am July 31, 2016

Do we really know those we're closest to? The riveting book "You Will Know Me," set in the world of competitive gymnastics, suggests not. NPR's Elise Hu speaks with author Megan Abbott.

Midnight Release Party Summons Muggles For Eighth Harry Potter Installment

8:55am July 31, 2016

by Petra Mayer

The latest book in J.K. Rowling's series, really a script for a play, "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," went on sale at midnight. We check in with fans who lined up, wands in hand, to get a copy.

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Arts

'Dark Matter' Is A Jet-Propelled Science Thriller

7:00am July 31, 2016

by Jason Sheehan

Blake Crouch's new book — about a mild-mannered professor who's conked on the head and wakes up in another universe — doesn't make much sense, but it's a fast, tasty read with a killer twist.

'Picturing Children' Documents African-American Childhoods

5:01pm July 30, 2016

The National Museum of African American History and Culture's founding director Lonnie Bunch talks about a new book that features photos from the museum's collection. The museum opens in September.