Book Offers A Get-Wit-Quick Workout
NPR's Ari Shapiro gets schooled in the art of being interesting by Benjamin Errett, the author of the new book, Elements of Wit.
Arts & Life
TV Giant Norman Lear Shares Gems From 92 Years Of 'Experience'
Where did Lear get the confidence to spend three years fighting to get All In The Family on air? His answer: "Can you say 'beats the **** out of me' on NPR?"
Hugs For Hecklers: Cameron Esposito On Life As A Lesbian Comedian
Esposito discusses her new album, Same Sex Symbol, and tells NPR's Arun Rath she feels concern for the people who heckle her about her sexuality: "I just wonder, what's up with your life? Are you OK?"
Behind The Motorcycles In 'Easy Rider,' A Long-Obscured Story
The alleged last authentic motorcycle used in the 1969 film Easy Rider is going up for auction. The man who designed the bikes, Clifford Vaughs, says he has never gotten proper credit for his work.
'Schiaparelli': The Shocking, Shadowed Life Of A Fashion Icon
A new biography by Meryle Secrest looks at the troubled life of designer Elsa Schiaparelli — renowned as the Queen of Fashion, a glamorous innovator whose career never recovered from World War II.
AMC's 'The Walking Dead' Is A Hit Show With Two Meanings
As The Walking Dead returns for a fifth season Sunday, NPR TV Critic Eric Deggans says some storylines offer extra meaning for fans who have read the graphic novels which inspired the show.
'Art & Craft' Explores How One Forger Duped More Than 45 Museums
For nearly 30 years, Mark Landis tricked dozens of museums into accepting his "philanthropic" donations. Landis, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teen, says "copying is reassuring."
'Bad Paper' Explores The Underworld Of Debt Collection
In his new book, Jake Halpern looks at the industry, where having a criminal background is no barrier to entry. He explains debt buying and how little regulation gave rise to a chaotic marketplace.
A Slow Simmer Of Grief And Strength In 'Nora Webster'
Colm Tóibín's new novel is set in his Irish home town in the early 1970s, and follows the titular Nora as she and her family struggle to cope with the loss of her beloved husband.
For This Baseball Season, Roger Angell Has Just The 'Ticket'
The American League Championship Series begins tonight. Writer Kate Tuttle says Roger Angell's 1988 collection of essays, Season Ticket, is the perfect accompaniment to the postseason.