Arts & Life

Books
Arts

'Happy' Isn't So Happy, But It Packs A Punch

4:13pm February 01, 2015

by Nishant Dahiya

Novelist and playwright Yasmina Reza's new book is a slim collection of interlocking stories that's confusing but compelling. Reviewer Nishant Dahiya says it crackles with emotion and playfulness.

Books
Arts

'History Of Loneliness' Explores The Complexity Of Priest Sex Abuse

11:41am February 01, 2015

A History of Loneliness addresses the difficult subject of child sexual abuse by Catholic priests. NPR's Rachel Martin speaks with author John Boyne about his novel.

Queue Listen Now

Books
Arts

Be More Awesome — With Help From Kid President

11:39am February 01, 2015

by NPR Staff

Kid President (aka 11-year-old Robby Novak) is an Internet sensation whose sunny, personality-driven YouTube videos have garnered over 75 million views. Now, he's written a book on how to be awesome.

Queue Listen Now

Arts

The Ol' Puzzle Switcheroo

11:39am February 01, 2015

by Will Shortz

Every answer is a made-up two-word phrase, where the second and third letters of the first word are switched to get the second word.

Queue Listen Now

Books
Arts

Prime Minister Loses His Noggin But Keeps Talking In 'Head Of State'

11:05pm January 31, 2015

Who says a beheaded man can't still be head of state? NPR's Scott Simon speaks with British journalist, author and TV host Andrew Marr about his novel, Head of State.

Queue Listen Now

Books
Arts

Impressions From The Ice: A Poet Returns From Antarctica

6:30pm January 31, 2015

by NPR Staff

Jynne Dilling Martin spent six weeks living on the bottom of the world and watching scientists work. The experience inspired many of the poems in her new collection, We Mammals in Hospitable Times.

Queue Listen Now

Danny Glover plays Mr. Walker, the head of the black family held hostage by a white supremacist, in Supremacy.

Sports
Arts

Former Basketball Player Scores As A Filmmaker

6:30pm January 31, 2015

by Priska Neely

While Deon Taylor was playing professional basketball in Germany, he had an epiphany: he wanted to make movies. The self-taught director's latest film, Supremacy, was released this Friday.

Queue Listen Now

Colleen McCullough at home on Australia's remote Norfolk Island in 1990 — she told an interviewer she moved there to escape her difficult family.

Books
Arts

Remembering 'Thorn Birds' Author Colleen McCullough

1:20pm January 31, 2015

by Lynn Neary

Australian writer Colleen McCullough has died at 77; she was best known for her doomed Outback romance saga The Thorn Birds, famously adapted for TV with Richard Chamberlain as a passionate priest.

Queue Listen Now

Books
Arts

A Mismatched Crew Dreams Of Swashbuckling In 'We Are Pirates'

1:20pm January 31, 2015

Acclaimed writer Daniel Handler, a.k.a. Lemony Snickett, drew criticism last year for a racist comment at a literary event. NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Handler about his new novel, We Are Pirates.

Queue Listen Now

Books
Arts

Rod McKuen, The Cheeseburger To Poetry's Haute Cuisine

1:14pm January 31, 2015

by Scott Simon

Poet Rod McKuen was loved by millions but mocked by literary critics. He died this week at age 81.

Queue Listen Now