Arts & Life

From Stick Figures To Portraits, Bush Frees His Inner Rembrandt

4:26pm April 15, 2014

by Lauren Silverman

Former President George W. Bush worked with many world leaders while in office. Now, he's unveiling 24 portraits he painted of some of them. The exhibit will be at his new presidential library.

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According to Dr. Martin Blaser, the overuse of antibiotics has contributed to killing off strains of bacteria that typically live in the gut.

Modern Medicine May Not Be Doing Your Microbiome Any Favors

8:18pm April 14, 2014

In Missing Microbes, Dr. Martin Blaser argues that the overuse of antibiotics, as well as now-common practices like C-sections, may be messing with gut microbes.

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Books
Arts

NSA Coverage Garners Pulitzers For Post And Guardian

6:42pm April 14, 2014

by Neda Ulaby

Winners of the 2014 Pulitzer Prizes were announced Monday. The Washington Post and The Guardian were among the notable winners, commended for together breaking the news of NSA surveillance programs.

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Books
Arts

Jackie Collins' Mob Princess Serves Up A Cookbook You Can't Refuse

1:52pm April 14, 2014

by NPR Staff

Collins' The Lucky Santangelo Cookbook is named for her plucky heroine, the daughter of a former gangster. It's got recipes for linguine and the author's eponymous cocktail — but no health food.

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Don Draper (Jon Hamm) has a lot on his mind as the new season of Mad Men gets underway.

Arts

Don Draper, The Truth Is: You Lied

7:56am April 14, 2014

by Eric Deggans

One of TV's most popular shows kicked off its new — and final — season with some big surprises. Is Mad Men's mesmerizing pitchman still living a lie?

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Books
Arts

A Sheep Killer Is On The Loose In 'All the Birds, Singing'

1:26pm April 12, 2014

All The Birds, Singing is the second novel by Australian-British author Evie Wyld. NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Wyld about her sinister story revolving around the life of Jake, a sheep farmer.

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Books
Arts

Poisoned Cigars And A Painful Chapter In Our History

11:54am April 12, 2014

This week saw celebrations of the anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and revelation of the ZunZuneo scandal. Paul Reyes and Ralph Eubanks recommend The Cultural Cold War and We Are Not Afraid.

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Mad Men — starring Jon Hamm as Don Draper — returns for its seventh and final season Sunday on AMC.

Arts

Without Giving Too Much Away, Here's What We Can Say About 'Mad Men'

3:38pm April 11, 2014

by David Bianculli

The AMC period drama returns Sunday, with the usual shroud of secrecy that makes it difficult — but not impossible — to review. Fresh Air critic David Bianculli does his best.

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Frozen is the tale of sisters Anna and Elsa, whose relationship is captured in music by songwriters Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez.

Songwriters Behind 'Frozen' Let Go Of The Princess Mythology

8:29am April 11, 2014

Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez tell Terry Gross about the inspiration for "Let It Go" and a "very strong strike across the bow at all princess-myth things" song that didn't make the film.

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Books
Arts

After A Disaster In 'Family Life,' Relief Never Comes

8:12pm April 10, 2014

by Meg Wolitzer

Akhil Sharma took over a decade to write his novel, Family Life, a mostly autobiographical account of an immigrant family and an accident that shatters their dreams for the future.

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