Author Interviews

Books
Arts

Words Of Wisdom From Young Adult Authors: John Corey Whaley

11:41am August 13, 2016

John Corey Whaley is the author of the YA novels Noggin and Highly Illogical Behavior. For our series "Next Chapter," he tells us about how he struggled with feeling isolated at college.

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Books
Arts

It's Electric: Novel Re-Creates Charged Rivalry Between Edison And Westinghouse

8:57am August 13, 2016

by NPR Staff

In the 1880s, Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse battled over control of America's nascent electrical system. Graham Moore tells their story in The Last Days of Night.

L Is For Learning: A New Book On Proven Approaches And How Teachers Can Use Them

6:16pm August 12, 2016

by Eric Westervelt

We talk with the author of The ABCs of How We Learn. It's based on a popular Stanford course.

Books
Arts

From Gladiator Duels To Caesar's Last Words: The Myths Of Ancient Rome

1:32pm August 12, 2016

Historian Mary Beard says many of our popular notions about the empire are based on culture rather than fact. Her new book is called SPQR. Originally broadcast Nov. 30, 2015.

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Jacqueline Woodson is also the author of Brown Girl Dreaming, Miracle's Boys, Show Way and Feathers.

Books
Arts

Jacqueline Woodson's New Novel For Adults Has Its Roots In Adolescence

4:28pm August 10, 2016

by Lynn Neary

Best known for her kids' and young adult books, Woodson has written her first adult novel in 20 years. Another Brooklyn is a dreamlike narrative about friendship, memory and dealing with death.

Books
Arts

3 Steps To Faking Your Own Death From The Author Of 'Playing Dead'

5:13pm August 09, 2016

by NPR Staff

Elizabeth Greenwood has spent a lot of time researching the death fraud industry. She says the hardest step for many aspiring fraudsters would be cutting all ties with friends and family.

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Arts

Jacqueline Woodson's 'Brooklyn' Is Full Of Dreams And Danger

1:28pm August 09, 2016

The National Book Award winner's new novel is based in part on her memories of growing up in Brooklyn in the 1970s. Woodson describes the teen years as an "amazing and urgent moment" in life.

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'Brazillionaires' Tracks An Economic Collapse Through The Eyes Of The Rich

6:21pm August 08, 2016

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with author Alex Cuadros about his book, Brazillionaires: Wealth, Power, Decadence, and Hope in an American Country.

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Colson Whitehead is also the author of the novel Zone One, and the memoir The Noble Hustle.

Books
Arts

Colson Whitehead's 'Underground Railroad' Is A Literal Train To Freedom

3:03pm August 08, 2016

As a child, Whitehead was surprised to learn that escaped slaves did not ride an actual subway. His new novel follows Cora, a young slave who has escaped a Georgia plantation and is heading north.

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Books
Arts

'Imperial Wife' Trains Its Spotlight On Powerful Women, Past And Present

9:14am August 07, 2016

by NPR Staff

Irina Reyn's new novel focuses on two women in difficult marriages. Though they're centuries apart, both relationships are tied to the strong woman's struggle to fulfill gender expectations.