Books

Oscar Pistorius' Sentencing And The Classic True Crime Novel

3:21pm October 21, 2014

by Mandy Wiener

Oscar Pistorius, superstar athlete, was back in court this week for his sentencing hearing, after a culpable homicide conviction. Journalist Mandy Wiener says his case reminds her of a favorite book.

Books
Arts

Who Is 'Limonov'? Not Even His Biographer Really Knows

10:39am October 21, 2014

by Matt Taibbi

A new biography of the Russian political prankster/author/revolutionary Edward Limonov asks what turns out to be an unanswerable question: What's Limonov thinking, and what does he really want?

Bryan Stevenson takes on cases to exonerate people wrongfully convicted. "One of the things that pains me is we have so tragically underestimated the trauma, the hardship we create in this country when we treat people unfairly, when we incarcerate them un

One Lawyer's Fight For Young Blacks And 'Just Mercy'

3:59pm October 20, 2014

When police pulled a gun on Bryan Stevenson as he was sitting quietly in his car in Atlanta, he knew he had to effect change. His memoir describes his attempts, including freeing men on death row.

Queue Listen Now

Books
Arts

Chef Ottolenghi Makes The Case For 'Plenty More' Vegetables

12:46pm October 20, 2014

by NPR Staff

Israeli chef Yotam Ottolenghi talks with Rachel Martin about the difference between supermarket hummus and Middle Eastern hummus and why he doesn't like to call his cookbooks "vegetarian."

Queue Listen Now

Books
Arts

Understanding Society Through 3 American Classics

11:43am October 20, 2014

NPR's Rachel Martin speaks with Azar Nafisi about her new book, The Republic of Imagination, a reflection on America through three of its most memorable books.

Queue Listen Now

A woman looks at an oil portrait of Toni Morrison at the National Portrait Gallery. A self-portrait of sorts, Morrison's life of fiction drawn in words will be permanently kept at Princeton.

Books
Arts

Book News: Toni Morrison's Collection Finds A Permanent Home At Princeton

10:31am October 20, 2014

by Colin Dwyer

The Nobel laureate taught at Princeton University for 17 years. Now, her papers — some 180 linear feet of them — are returning to be housed in the school's library. Also: a roundup of new releases.

Amid The Chaos Of Debt Collection, 'Bad Paper' Offers A Riveting Roadmap

5:32am October 19, 2014

by Colin Dwyer

It's not often that a book can mix machetes with hedge funds. Then again, few industries are as chaotic, and compelling, as debt collection — which Jake Halpern's book reveals in alarming detail.

Books
Arts

Back Across The Wall: Questions For Garth Nix

7:07pm October 18, 2014

by Petra Mayer

Author Garth Nix returns to the world of the Old Kingdom with Clariel, the story of a young woman of great magical power who, denied the freedom to live as she wants, chooses a dangerous path.

Books
Arts

A Funny Philosopher Tackles A Tough Query: 'Does Santa Exist?'

6:49pm October 18, 2014

by NPR Staff

Eric Kaplan's son had a zoo trip canceled because one mom worried about reindeer-induced questions. So Kaplan, a comedy writer and philosophy grad student, started pondering the puzzle of St. Nick.

Queue Listen Now

Books
Arts

424 Steps To Happiness: A Father's Journey Beyond 'The Fall'

3:46pm October 18, 2014

by NPR Staff

A son with cerebral palsy inspires a new way to think about imperfection, exaltation and love in a new memoir by Brazilian novelist and screenwriter Diogo Mainardi.

Queue Listen Now