Author Interviews

William Finnegan surfs Cloudbreak, off the island of Tavarua in Fiji, in 2005.

A Lifelong Surfer Explains Why There's No Such Thing As A 'Perfect' Wave

2:24pm July 21, 2015

by NPR Staff

"Waves are not stationary objects in nature. They're not diamonds or roses or something that you just look at," says New Yorker journalist William Finnegan. His new memoir is called Barbarian Days.

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Birds, Bees And The Power Of Sex Appeal: The Ribald Lives Of Flowers

6:33pm July 18, 2015

by NPR Staff

They're billboards for sexual favors, says ecologist Stephen Buchmann. But get your minds out of the dirt: We're talking pollination — and it's played a surprising role in global trade and history.

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Books
Arts

Contriving Characters From Celebrity Culture For 'Lizzie Pepper'

10:33am July 18, 2015

NPR's Scott Simon speaks with author and celebrity ghostwriter Hilary Liftin about her new novel, Movie Star by Lizzie Pepper. Liftin describes the process of pulling fiction from the tabloids.

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'The Great Fish Swap': How America Is Downgrading Its Seafood Supply

3:13pm July 17, 2015

One-third of the seafood Americans catch is sold abroad, but most of the seafood we eat is imported and often of lower quality. Author Paul Greenberg explains why. Originally broadcast July 1, 2014.

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Don Winslow has written 17 novels, including The Power of the Dog and The Cartel.

Books
Arts

'Cartel' Author Spins A Grand Tale Of Mexico's Drug Wars

4:42pm July 15, 2015

Novelist Don Winslow spent 10 years researching the Mexican drug wars. His new novel, The Cartel, reveals "a new generation of cartel leaders that are more violent, more sadistic" than ever before.

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Books
Arts

After Fight For Life And Media Firestorm, 'Distressed Baby' Is Happy Toddler

2:11pm July 15, 2015

by NPR Staff

When a CEO blamed "distressed babies" for cuts to benefits last year, Deanna Fei discovered her infant was national news. She reflects on how she coped with a baby on life support — and in headlines.

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When Weed Is The Cure: A Doctor's Case for Medical Marijuana

11:25am July 15, 2015

Dr. David Casarett used to think of medical marijuana as "a joke." But after taking a deeper look, he's changed his mind. Casarett's new book is Stoned: A Doctor's Case for Medical Marijuana.

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Ta-Nehisi Coates Looks At The Physical Toll Of Being Black In America

10:02am July 15, 2015

by NPR Staff

Coates writes about race and social issues for The Atlantic. His new book, Between the World and Me, brings to bear his fear that his life and the lives of his loved ones might end unnaturally.

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Ta-Nehisi Coates is national correspondent for The Atlantic. He is also the author of The Beautiful Struggle.

Books
Arts

Ta-Nehisi Coates On Police Brutality, The Confederate Flag And Forgiveness

4:52pm July 14, 2015

Growing up in Baltimore, the writer faced threats from both the streets and the police. His book, Between the World and Me, is an open letter to his teenage son.

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In Palestine, A Child Of Violence Becomes A Music Educator

8:29am July 12, 2015

by NPR Staff

Children of the Stone tells the story of a rock-throwing Palestinian teen's journey to found a music school. NPR's Lynn Neary speaks with Ramzi Aburedwan and author Sandy Tolan.

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