Author Interviews

Books
Arts

Claire Tomalin Moves 'Between The Trivial And The Tragic' In 'A Life Of My Own'

1:31pm September 12, 2018

by Terry Gross

After writing biographies of Charles Dickens and Mary Wollstonecraft, Tomalin turned to memoir. Her new work tells of her conflicting desires to have children and to lead a meaningful working life.

Queue Listen Now

The Attack On Democracy In The 1930s And Today

5:11am September 12, 2018

As fascism spread globally in the 1930s, the U.S. responded with a series of radio programs informing the public about American democracy. Jill Lepore, author of These Truths, talks to Steve Inskeep.

Fukuyama: A New American 'Identity' Could Be Antidote To Polarizing U.S. Politics

4:35pm September 11, 2018

by Audie Cornish

Resentment and a loss of dignity has fueled a rise in identity politics and made compromise difficult, political scientist Francis Fukuyama says. He proposes a way out of that impasse in his new book.

Queue Listen Now

Author Bob Woodward says of his sources, "There's a lot of conscience and courage in this — people speaking up."

Bob Woodward: 'People Need To Wake Up' To What's Happening Under Trump

1:34pm September 11, 2018

by Terry Gross

The veteran journalist was shocked by the tactics White House staff use to circumvent Trump: "I've never heard in any way of staff going around a president this way." Woodward's new book is Fear.

Queue Listen Now

The 'Shadowlands' Of Southeast Asia's Illicit Networks: Meth, Dancing Queens And More

12:37pm September 11, 2018

by Ashley Westerman

In his new book, Hello, Shadowlands, journalist Patrick Winn describes how underground crime groups thrive in a region where democracy is in retreat.

Kenneth Starr Cautions Those Seeking To Impeach President Trump

6:58am September 11, 2018

In the second part of Steve Inskeep's interview with former independent counsel Kenneth Starr, Starr reflects on impeachment. His new book is called: Contempt: A Memoir of the Clinton Investigation.

Queue Listen Now

Books
Arts

A Ghanaian 'Housegirl' Navigates A Complex Maze Of Culture And Class

5:11pm September 10, 2018

by Audie Cornish

Michael Donkor's debut novel is a story of two teenage girls, pushed and pulled between two worlds.

Queue Listen Now

Independent counsel Kenneth Starr testifies before the House Judicial Committee on Nov. 19, 1998. He alleged that then-President Clinton engaged in "an unlawful effort to thwart the judicial process."

Ken Starr: 'Eerie Echoes' Between Lewinsky Probe And Mueller Investigation Of Trump

1:57pm September 10, 2018

by Scott Neuman

The man who nearly brought down President Bill Clinton over the Monica Lewinsky scandal in the late 1990s says he doesn't approve of the way President Trump has disparaged the special counsel.

Queue Listen Now

Cover detail of We Fed an Island, by José Andrés.

After Hurricane Maria, Chef José Andrés Had A 'Crazy Dream' To Feed Puerto Rico

1:36pm September 10, 2018

by Terry Gross

The James Beard award-winning chef started out preparing food for doctors and nurses. Then calls started pouring in from across the island. The message was clear, he says: "The island is hungry."

Queue Listen Now

Bob Woodward speaks at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., in 2012, during an event marking the 40th anniversary of Watergate. Woodward's new book describes chaos within the Trump administration.

Bob Woodward: 'Great Washington Denial Machine' Driven By Politics, Not Truth

12:12pm September 10, 2018

by Camila Domonoske

The veteran journalist stands behind the reporting in his new book, Fear, and says that administration officials who have denied quotes attributed to them are acting out of "political necessity."

Queue Listen Now