Author Interviews

A woolly mammoth skeleton gets auctioned off in Billingshurst, England.

If Science Could 'Clone A Mammoth,' Could It Save An Elephant?

8:21pm May 09, 2015

by NPR Staff

De-extinction technology could soon bring back lost species — or preserve endangered ones. In her new book, evolutionary biologist Beth Shapiro explores the scientific and ethical challenges.

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Books
Arts

Just 'Between You & Me,' Here Are Some Handy Grammar Tips

6:22pm May 08, 2015

by NPR Staff

Mary Norris has been a copy editor at The New Yorker since 1978. She dispenses some of the collected grammatical wisdom of those decades in a new book, Between You & Me (and it is "me," not "I").

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FUDS, a complete encyclofoodia, is by Kelly Hudson, Dan Klein and Arthur Meyer writing as the fictional Mizretti twins.

Straight Out Of Brooklyn: 'Encyclofoodia' Pokes Fun At Foodies

6:21pm May 08, 2015

by NPR Staff

Comics posing as chefs have written a book with sensational recipes and explanations of essential tools like the "spankler." It's designed to "spank the food if it does anything wrong."

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Books
Arts

'Fresh Air' Remembers Mystery Novelist Ruth Rendell

1:56pm May 08, 2015

The British author wrote crime novels for 50 years, many featuring Chief Inspector "Reg" Wexford. Rendell died May 2. Originally broadcast in 1989 and 2005.

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Books

Six Weeks In World War I Transformed How Wars Are Fought

7:22pm May 07, 2015

NPR's Robert Siegel talks with historian Diana Preston about her book A Higher Form of Killing: Six Weeks in World War I That Forever Changed the Nature of Warfare.

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Books

How NASA's Space Race Helped To Integrate The South

2:02pm May 06, 2015

Writers Richard Paul and Steven Moss's new book is called We Could Not Fail. It's about the first African-Americans to work for NASA. They profile 10 African-American scientists and engineers.

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"I began to learn at least what other people felt and what they wanted to say before cutting them off with my own diatribe. I used to do that." - John Francis

Why Would Someone Choose Silence For 17 Years?

1:24pm May 06, 2015

by NPR/TED Staff

For almost three decades, John Francis has been a planetwalker, traveling the globe by foot and sail with a silent message of environmental respect. For 17 of those years he didn't speak a word.

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"In an age of constant movement, nothing is so urgent as sitting still." -Pico Iyer

How Can We Find More Time To Be Still?

1:24pm May 06, 2015

by NPR/TED Staff

Pico Iyer says sitting still and reflecting is hard work, but we bring so much more to our experiences and relationships when we make time to think.

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"What I'm saying is that culturally we need a much better balance. We need more of a yin and yang between [introverts and extroverts]." - Susan Cain

Why Do We Undervalue Introverts?

1:22pm May 06, 2015

by NPR/TED Staff

In a culture where being social and outgoing are celebrated, it can be difficult to be an introvert. Susan Cain argues introverts bring extraordinary talents to the world, and should be celebrated.

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Environmentalist John Francis speaks about the 17 years of his life during which he never spoke a word.

How Do Years Of Silence Change Someone?

1:22pm May 06, 2015

by NPR/TED Staff

For almost three decades, John Francis has been a planetwalker, traveling the globe by foot and sail with a silent message of environmental responsibility. For 17 years he didn't speak a word.

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