Books

Cover art from Do No Harm, by Dr. Henry Marsh.

A Neurosurgeon Reflects On The 'Awe And Mystery' Of The Brain

4:59pm May 27, 2015

In his memoir Do No Harm, Henry Marsh confesses to the uncertainties he's dealt with as a surgeon, revisits his triumphs and failures and reflects on the enigmas of the brain and consciousness.

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From left: Recipe developer Esme Robinson, chef-owner Yotam Ottolenghi and Nopi head chef Ramael Scully hover over the electric stovetop while preparing a dessert in the Ottolenghi test kitchen in London.

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In This Test Kitchen, The Secret To A Great Cookbook Is Try, Try Again

4:48pm May 27, 2015

by Madhulika Sikka

Yotam Ottolenghi and his partner have a thriving food empire that includes wildly successful cookbooks. We go inside their London test kitchen as recipes are put through their paces.

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Fat Is Not A Four-Letter Word In 'Dietland'

3:53pm May 27, 2015

by Annalisa Quinn

There are different kinds of fat people in literature — funny or comforting, sometimes despicable. But Sarai Walker's Dietland gives us a new fat protagonist — complex, compelling and dangerous.

Librarian Nancy Pearl shares her selections of under-the-radar books that you may have missed.

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Beyond The Best-Sellers: Nancy Pearl Recommends Under-The-Radar Reads

12:17pm May 27, 2015

by Nancy Pearl

NPR's go-to books guru has sent Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep a stack of books — titles she thinks deserve more attention. Here are her fiction picks, to kick off your summer reading.

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Author Margaret Atwood Contributes Manuscript To Future Library

7:54am May 27, 2015

by Andrew Limbong

As part of the Future Library project, Margaret Atwood's Scribbler Moon will not be read until 2114. Trees, that will be made into paper for that text, were planted last year in Norway.

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Prolific Fantasy And Science-Fiction Writer Tanith Lee Has Died

7:35pm May 26, 2015

by Bill Chappell

Lee wrote dozens of books, including Don't Bite The Sun and Death's Master -- the latter of which was part of her popular Flat Earth series. She was 67.

A range of Darjeeling tea at Goomtee Tea Estate in Darjeeling, India.

Sip It Slowly, And Other Lessons From The Oldest Tea Book In The World

6:03pm May 26, 2015

by Jeff Koehler

Over 800 years before tea was known in the West, a Chinese master penned the The Classic of Tea. In it, he blends the practical with the spiritual and emphasizes rituals from cultivation to drinking.

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Learning To Love, And Forgive, In Brilliant 'Day'

5:52pm May 26, 2015

by Michael Schaub

Mat Johnson's funny, humane new novel follows a biracial man coming to terms with his identity — and the daughter he never knew about. Michael Schaub calls it a "beautiful, triumphant miracle."

Myles Johnson and Kendrick Daye are raising money on Kickstarter to publish their children's book Large Fears.

Lovely Illustrations From The Story Of A Black Boy Who Dreams Of Going To Mars

5:48pm May 26, 2015

by Maanvi Singh

The authors — who are black and queer — didn't see a lot of kids like them in children's books growing up. They wanted to help change that.

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The Fireworks Of 'Illusionarium' Never Quite Feel Real

1:44pm May 26, 2015

by Tasha Robinson

Heather Dixon's novel is a rough roller-coaster of magic and conspiracy, centered on a boy battling a deadly plague. Reviewer Tasha Robinson says it seems more like a movie treatment than a book.