Arts & Life

The price of gold rose dramatically after Lehman Brothers collapsed in 2008.

Books
Arts

Underground Cities And 'Ghost' Miners: What Some People Do For Gold

2:41pm December 03, 2013

South Africa's Mponeng gold mine is a 2.5-mile-deep network of chutes and tunnels that employs about 4,000 miners. Of course, that number doesn't include the miners who wander its tunnels clandestinely, stealing and refining ore. In a new book, journalist Matthew Hart investigates why gold and crime sometimes go hand in hand.

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Ben Bradlee Jr.'s other books include Prophet Of Blood and Guts And Glory.

Ted Williams: A Perfectionist Ballplayer With Many Demons

2:25pm December 03, 2013

The hitter had a swing so pure and flawless that Mickey Mantle would watch him take batting practice. But he was also a tormented soul who hurt a lot of people, including himself. Ben Bradlee Jr. delivers a deeply personal account of Williams' life in The Kid.

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Arts

Director Alexander Payne On Mining Every Film For Comic Potential

2:18pm December 02, 2013

Payne tells Fresh Air's Terry Gross that he first read Nebraska — a film about an old man who is beginning to show signs of dementia — as a comedy "with moments of gravity." Payne also directed Election, About Schmidt, Sideways and The Descendants.

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Books
Arts

An Unlikely Explorer Stumbles Into Controversy

1:03pm December 02, 2013

by NPR Staff

The mostly forgotten explorer Paul du Chaillu first introduced the world to gorillas. His methods were attacked and his work discredited during his lifetime, but he also experienced fame and redemption. Now, there's a new book that tells his story.

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Arts

Dear Amy: How Do I Deal With My Family For The Holidays?

10:04am December 02, 2013

Let's face it, while Thanksgiving get-togethers can be joyful, they can also be stressful. Audie Cornish talks with Amy Dickinson, who writes the syndicated column "Ask Amy," about how to navigate tricky family relationships during the Thanksgiving holiday.

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After 20 years in captivity, Joe (Josh Brolin) is released into the world with a hammer and an appetite for revenge in Oldboy, a Spike Lee remake of the 2003 South Korean film.

Arts

A Korean Cult Thriller Gets A Spike Lee Makeover

10:04am December 02, 2013

by David Edelstein

Oldboy, the director's remake of a 2003 film of the same name, follows a man who's held captive for 20 years — and out for revenge after his release. Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen and Samuel L. Jackson star.

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Books
Arts

Nightclub King Jon Taffer Sets A High Bar

7:55pm December 01, 2013

by NPR Staff

Jon Taffer is a bar and nightclub consultant and the host of the reality show Bar Rescue. His new book is called Raise the Bar, and he says bars and pubs are part of America's fiber.

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In addition to Hodgman's work on Judge John Hodgman, he has contributed pieces toÂ This American LifeÂ andÂ Wiretap. His most recent book,Â That Is All, was published in 2011.

Arts

In The World Of Podcasts, Judge John Hodgman Rules

6:08pm November 30, 2013

by NPR Staff

Everyone knows TV judges like Judge Judy, Judge Wapner, or Judge Joe Brown. But do you know Judge John Hodgman? Hodgman — a comedian known for his appearances on The Daily Show -- hosts the podcast Judge John Hodgman, where he rules on real-life disputes between siblings, friends and couples.

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Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (second from left) shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry next to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (far left) and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius (far right) after a statement on early Nov

Books
Arts

A Poet's Advice For Unlikely Partners: Just Dance

6:49pm November 29, 2013

by Ariel Dorfman

Earlier this week, international negotiators agreed on a deal to curb the Iranian nuclear program temporarily. Author Ariel Dorfman offers context to the reactions that have followed. He suggests a book of poetry by the Sufi master Rumi, a fascinating glimpse into the lives and ideas that shape Persian identity.

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In The Great Beauty, director Paolo Sorrentino surveys the city of Rome through the eyes of jaded journalist Jep Gambardella (Toni Servillo), taking in the city's degeneracies alongside its eternal beauties.

Arts

Finding 'Great Beauty' Amid Rome's Corruptions

6:49pm November 29, 2013

by Bilal Qureshi

The Great Beauty is the latest portrait of the city onscreen, in all its wonder, decadence, sinfulness and ugliness. The film, directed by Paolo Sorrentino, is also Italy's official entry for this year's Academy Awards.

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