Author Interviews

'Paved Paradise' examines how parking has changed the American landscape

1:22pm May 09, 2023

by Terry Gross

Author Henry Grabar says parking codes, parking lots and garages have shaped the landscape of cities and suburbs, and limited the creation of affordable housing.

Queue Listen Now

Tom Hanks used some of the pandemic slowdown to write a novel titled The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece.

Arts
Books

Tom Hanks has starred in dozens of movies. Now he's written a novel too

12:40pm May 09, 2023

by Ziad Buchh

For Tom Hanks, movies have always been transformative. Now, after acting in dozens of them, he's written a novel based on his experiences on movie sets. He talked to NPR's A Martinez.

Queue Listen Now

Bryan Robinson, author of Chained to the Desk in a Hybrid World.

Books
Arts

Advice from a recovering workaholic: break free

7:45pm May 08, 2023

by Reena Advani

How to achieve that hard-to-hit goal of work/life balance? NPR's A Martinez asks Bryan Robinson, author of Chained to the Desk in a Hybrid World.

Queue Listen Now

Why the U.S. builds more three-car garages than one-bedroom apartments

4:57pm May 08, 2023

NPR's Juana Summers talks with Henry Grabar about his book Paved Paradise. It makes the case that Americans' pursuit of abundant parking is upending our cities and our lives.

'The Last Honest Man' profiles the senator who exposed the CIA's crimes and cover-ups

1:48pm May 08, 2023

by Dave Davies

Journalist James Risen tells the story of Sen. Frank Church, who exposed the dirty laundry of the CIA and the FBI nearly 50 years ago, and inspired congressional oversight of intelligence agencies.

Queue Listen Now

Books

Burkhard Bilger's book 'Fatherland' explores his family's Nazi past in Germany

8:13am May 06, 2023

by Scott Simon

NPR's Scott Simon talks with author Burkhard Bilger about his new book "Fatherland" which explores his family's own Nazi past in Germany.

'A Day With No Words' can be full of meaningful communication

4:39pm May 05, 2023

NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer speaks with author and activist Tiffany Hammond about her new children's book A Day With No Words. It details a day in the life of non-speaking autistic kids and their families.

'The Covenant of Water' is the story of an Indian family haunted by a medical mystery

5:26pm May 04, 2023

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with the author Abraham Verghese about his new novel The Covenant of Water in which a family in India is haunted by a medical mystery.

Queue Listen Now

Alexandra Auder's memoir is Don't Call Me Home.

Books
Arts

Daughter of Warhol star looks back on a bohemian childhood in the Chelsea Hotel

1:39pm May 03, 2023

by Terry Gross

Alexandra Auder's mother, Viva, was one of Andy Warhol's muses. Auder's memoir, Don't Call Me Home, describes her early life in the Chelsea Hotel, in a world of underground artists and "weirdos."

Queue Listen Now

Meghan Trainor gives TMI advice on motherhood in her new book

4:44pm May 02, 2023

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Meghan Trainor about her new book Dear Future Mama. Grammy-winning singer-songwriter recently became a new mom.

Queue Listen Now