Books

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Books

'Rickey' documents the life, career and controversies of baseball's 'Man of Steal'

8:34am June 11, 2022

Scott Simon talks to sports journalist Howard Bryant about his new book "Rickey." It's on the life and career of one of baseball's greats, outfielder Rickey Henderson.

Books
Arts

5 YA books that offer a nuanced reading experience for summer

6:44am June 10, 2022

by Caitlyn Paxson

Beach reads are great — but here are some new books offering the stuff of sticky, heat-stroke dreams; overgrown, light-filled wildflower fields; and twisted alleys of old cities waking from winter.

An Idaho school board banned 23 books. So a local bookstore gave out copies for free

5:26pm June 09, 2022

by James Dawson

A school board in a Boise suburb banned books and state lawmakers cut state library funding — so a local bookstore raised money to buy banned books to distribute for free.

Overachiever Tracy Flick faces her unmet life expectations in 'Tracy Flick Can't Win'

4:57pm June 09, 2022

Tracy Flick is back — this time in middle age. How did life turn out for her? NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer talks with Tom Perrotta about his new novel, Tracy Flick Can't Win.

Books
Arts

Island Records founder Chris Blackwell looks back on his life in music

1:30pm June 08, 2022

by Terry Gross

Blackwell grew up in Jamaica, and, as the head of Island Records, helped launch the careers of reggae stars like Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff, as well as rock bands like U2. His memoir is The Islander.

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Books
Arts

'Ante body' asks us to be more open to the world

11:29am June 08, 2022

by Jeevika Verma

In her new collection, Egypt-born poet Marwa Helal plays with language to challenge the way we approach our problems.

Books
Arts

'The Facemaker' profiles the British surgeon who treated WWI's disfigured soldiers

5:01am June 08, 2022

by Maureen Corrigan

Lindsey Fitzharris' new book tells the true story of Harold Gillies, a British surgeon whose team worked to reconstruct the faces of some of the 280,000 men who suffered facial trauma during WWI.

Sotheby's is auctioning a special, fireproof copy of Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel The Handmaid's Tale. Proceeds will go to support PEN America's work opposing book bans.

Books
Arts

A fireproof copy of 'Handmaid's Tale' auctioned for $130,000 to help fight book bans

7:09pm June 07, 2022

by Elizabeth Blair

The special copy of Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel The Handmaid's Tale was auctioned by Sotheby's on Tuesday. Proceeds will help PEN America in its efforts to oppose book banning.

Prison reporter Keri Blakinger reflects on her time in incarceration in new memoir

4:29pm June 07, 2022

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Keri Blakinger, author of the new memoir Corrections In Ink, which is about her path from Olympic figure skating dreams, to drug addiction, and then to prison.

Maxine Hong Kingston: The Woman Warrior, China Men, Tripmaster Monkey, Other Writings

Books
Arts

Maxine Hong Kingston's work is as wondrous and alive as ever in this collection

12:46pm June 07, 2022

by John Powers

Kingston burst onto the scene in 1976 with The Woman Warrior and then kept writing. Critic John Powers says that, like James Baldwin, she's managed to shift American culture and remain relevant.