Author Interviews

Lenny Kravitz's memoir, 'Let Love Rule,' chronicles the making of a rock star

1:22pm October 22, 2021

by Sam Briger

Kravitz's memoir follows his childhood and early career. Still touring in his 50s, Kravitz says, "I'm going to continue doing this as long as I can." Originally broadcast Oct. 6, 2020.

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Arts

Remembering Gary Paulsen, author of 'Dogsled' and 'Hatchet'

2:09pm October 20, 2021

by Terry Gross

The Newbery award-winning author, who died Oct. 13, wrote over 200 books, many of which were tales of adventure aimed at young adults. In 1994, Paulsen talked about Alaska's Iditarod dog sled race.

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Author profiles workers who were laid off when their jobs went to Mexico

7:52am October 20, 2021

An Indiana steel plant closed in 2017 and hundreds of jobs went to Mexico. NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Farah Stockman about her book: American Made — What Happens to People when Work Disappears.

Billy Porter attends the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party. "Fabulous and serious can go hand in hand. I am proof positive of that," he says.

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Arts

Billy Porter makes peace with himself: 'I set myself free, honey. No more secrets'

4:21pm October 19, 2021

by Terry Gross

Fourteen years after his initial diagnosis, the Pose actor revealed publicly that he is HIV-positive. Porter says being open about his health status felt like a rebirth. His new memoir is Unprotected.

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How Not to Be Afraid of Everything, by Jane Wong

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Arts

This book of poetry says, 'I have fists,' and the world needs to know

7:52am October 19, 2021

by Jeevika Verma

Chinese American poet Jane Wong's new collection, How Not to Be Afraid of Everything, grapples with fear and anger at her family's silence about what they suffered in China's Great Leap Forward.

Dr. Jane Goodall in 2019. She has co-authored a new book, The Book Of Hope.

Books

As Jane Goodall grieves climate change, she finds hope in young people's advocacy

1:35pm October 18, 2021

by Nell Clark

The world-renowned primatologist explains how small acts to protect the planet can spiral upwards. She has a new book, co-authored by Douglas Abrams, called The Book of Hope.

Books

Jamie Foxx, out with a new book, talks childhood, therapy and parenting

5:04pm October 17, 2021

NPR's Michel Martin speaks with award-winning actor and musician Jamie Foxx about his new book, Act Like You Got Some Sense: And Other Things My Daughters Taught Me.

Books

Drew Magary processes his recovery from a traumatic brain injury in a new memoir

7:54am October 17, 2021

NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro humorist and novelist Drew Magary about his new book, "The Night The Lights Went Out," about his harrowing recovery from a brain injury.

Louise Penny (left), a best-selling author, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, paired up to write State of Terror, a new novel that they say is meant to serve as a cautionary tale.

Hillary Clinton and Louise Penny tackle nuclear war and diplomacy in new crime novel

8:02am October 16, 2021

The former secretary of state and the best-selling author say their new book, State of Terror is meant to serve as an entertaining yet cautionary tale that deals with the perils of the "vast silence."

Books

Tiphanie Yanique's 'Monster in the Middle' tackles love and religion

7:51am October 16, 2021

NPR's Scott Simon speaks to author Tiphanie Yanique about her new book, "Monster in the Middle.