Arts & Life

Until about 30,000 years ago — around the same time these animals were drawn on the walls of France's Chauvet Cave — there were at least five other species of humans on the planet.

Books
Arts

We Went From Hunter-Gatherers To Space Explorers, But Are We Happier?

9:29pm February 07, 2015

by NPR Staff

In his book Sapiens, Yuval Noah Harari packs the history of humanity into 400 pages. "In some areas we've done amazingly well," the historian says. "In other areas we've done amazingly bad."

Queue Listen Now

Afghan war rugs featuring U.S. drones is a recent trend in the market, says collector Kevin Sudeith.

Arts

'War Rugs' Reflect Afghanistan's Long History With Conflict

9:29pm February 07, 2015

by NPR Staff

Afghanistan has suffered through decades of war. The modern history of violence has seeped into the nation's ancient art of rug making — rugs now feature imagery of tanks, AK-47s and U.S. drones.

Queue Listen Now

Reforming Prisoners Through Poetry

9:29pm February 07, 2015

For the last 40 years, poet Richard Shelton has been helping prisoners in Arizona reclaim their humanity. NPR's Arun Rath talks with Shelton about his work.

Queue Listen Now

An undated photo provided by Yusuf Syed shows his brother, Adnan Syed. Adnan Syed, now 33, was the subject of a popular public radio podcast that raised questions about his guilt. A Maryland court on Saturday granted his request for an appeal.

Adnan Syed, Subject Of 'Serial' Podcast, Granted Appeal

3:41pm February 07, 2015

by Scott Neuman

Syed was convicted in 2000 of murdering his ex-girlfriend. In October, a series of podcasts produced by the makers of This American Life re-examined his case and raised questions about his guilt.

Arts

Missing Your 'Breaking Bad' Fix? 'Better Call Saul' Will Hit The Spot

2:24pm February 07, 2015

by Eric Deggans

This Sunday, AMC debuts Better Call Saul, the backstory behind Breaking Bad drug kingpin lawyer Saul Goodman. NPR TV critic Eric Deggans says the show's so good, TV lightning just might strike twice.

Queue Listen Now

Larry David hasn't been in a play since the eighth grade, but he's written and stars in a new comedy called Fish in the Dark, directed by Anna D. Shapiro. "I didn't think it was going to get any laughs at all," he says. "The first time we did it, like eve

Arts

Much To His Chagrin, On Broadway Larry David Has To 'Wait And Talk'

2:24pm February 07, 2015

by NPR Staff

"I like to interject, and there's no interjections here," says the comedian behind Curb Your Enthusiasm. It's "very unnatural for an interrupter." David makes his Broadway debut in Fish in the Dark.

Queue Listen Now

John Cameron Mitchell will play Hedwig on Broadway until April 26.

Arts

For John Cameron Mitchell, Midlife Crisis Means Returning To 'Hedwig'

11:48am February 07, 2015

by NPR Staff

Hedwig and the Angry Inch's hero is once again being played by the man who created every punk and glam-rock inch of her. "I feel like I'm doing this to find out what's next in my life," Mitchell says.

Queue Listen Now

Grammys Show Producer Explains The Origin Of Onstage Mashups

11:45am February 07, 2015

Katy Perry, Sam Smith, Meghan Trainor and Taylor Swift are just a few of the musicians up for Grammy Awards. NPR's Scott Simon speaks with the executive producer of the award show, Ken Ehrlich.

Queue Listen Now

Arts

Family Flees To 'Schitt's Creek' — That's 'Schitt' With A C

11:44am February 07, 2015

Eugene Levy and his son, Daniel Levy, star in Schitt's Creek on the CBC and Pop TV. The Levys talk with NPR's Scott Simon about the comedy, family dynamics and what it's like to work together.

Queue Listen Now

Books
Arts

'Alphabetical' Tells The Story Behind Every Letter, A To Z

11:43am February 07, 2015

by NPR Staff

There are 26 letters in the English alphabet. But how did they get there, and why do they look the way they do? Michael Rosen looks for answers in his new book Alphabetical.

Queue Listen Now