culture

The Man Who Broke Capitalism, by David Gelles

Books
Arts

Short-term profits and long-term consequences — did Jack Welch break capitalism?

2:16pm June 01, 2022

by Dave Davies

The General Electric CEO wowed investors and mingled with celebrities. But New York Times correspondent David Gelles says Welch's aggressive tactics also caused irreparable harm to American industry.

Queue Listen Now

Arts

Norm Macdonald's 'Nothing Special' gives us one last dose of the late comic

1:40pm June 01, 2022

by David Bianculli

Most of Netflix's special features Macdonald running through his set in one unbroken take. The rest is a small group of comics, including David Letterman and Conan O'Brien, talking about their friend.

Queue Listen Now

Elvis impersonator Brendan Paul (right) walks down the aisle during a wedding ceremony for Katie Salvatore and Eric Wheeler at the Graceland Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas.

No more Elvis-themed weddings for Las Vegas chapels, a licensing company says

1:27pm June 01, 2022

by The Associated Press

The company that controls the name and image of Elvis Presley is ordering Sin City chapel operators to stop using "The King" in themed ceremonies. Some say the move could decimate their businesses.

Writers and readers from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico share their picks for books that tell us something about the places where they live.

Traveling this summer? Here are book picks for all 50 states (and then some)

11:27am June 01, 2022

Poets laureate and other literary luminaries from all 50 states plus D.C. and Puerto Rico recommend quintessential reads that illuminate where they live.

a map of all 50 states, plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico

Books
Arts

What book best represents your state? We want to know

11:17am June 01, 2022

by Natalie Escobar

NPR Books asked state poets laureate, librarians and bookstore owners to recommend books they love about their states. Now, it's your turn.

Annie-Lois Acheampong, 13, from Accra, Ghana, reacts during the Scripps National Spelling Bee on Tuesday in Oxon Hill, Md.

The National Spelling Bee returns to its usual venue for the first time in 3 years

8:49pm May 31, 2022

by The Associated Press

Spellers were greeted with a new preliminary-round format that gave them no time to get comfortable. They had to get through three words in one turn at the microphone to continue in the bee.

Korean band BTS appears at the daily press briefing with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, to discuss Asian inclusion and representation, and addressing anti-Asian hate crimes and discrimination.

K-Pop stars BTS went to the White House to talk about anti-Asian hate crimes

8:25pm May 31, 2022

by Elizabeth Blair

K-Pop stars BTS met with President Biden Tuesday to talk about inclusion and representation. There's been an increase in hate crimes against Asian Americans and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders.