After The California Downpour, 'The Drought' Offers Some Dry Reading December 5, 2014 It rained in California this week. That might not sound like news, but the state is experiencing a record-setting drought. Jason Heller turns to science fiction to reflect on the strange weather.
After The Ferguson Decision, A Poem That Gives Name To The Hurt November 28, 2014 This week, a Missouri grand jury decided not to indict Darren Wilson, the officer who killed Michael Brown. Writer Syreeta McFadden turns to Audre Lorde's poetry to make sense of this decision. Listen Loading… 1:59 Download Playlist
These 'True Tales' Add Nuance To The Immigration Discussion November 21, 2014 President Obama announced an executive action on immigration this week. For an in-depth look at the issue, author Gustavo Arellano recommends two nonfiction collections about Mexican immigrants. Listen Loading… 1:52 Download Playlist
After Catalonia's Independence Vote, An 'Homage' To George Orwell November 14, 2014 This week Spain's northeast region voted in favor of independence. But the results weren't recognized by the Spanish government. The situation reminds poet Rowan Ricardo Phillips of a favorite book. Listen Loading… 2:20 Download Playlist
For Political Junkies, A (Literary) Post-Election Fix November 7, 2014 Post-elections, Molly Antopol and Jason Sheehan reflect on the results by turning to their favorite political books, Elect Mr. Robinson for a Better World and Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail. Listen Loading… 1:38 Download Playlist
A 19th Century Novel Explains Quantitative Easing October 31, 2014 This week, the Federal Reserve ended the quantitative easing program. Author John Lanchester says Anthony Trollope's 19th century novel The Way We Live Now clarifies the current financial situation. Listen Loading… 2:01 Download Playlist
After The Blackwater Convictions, A Book On Iraq's Nightmarish Reality October 26, 2014 Four former Blackwater guards were found guilty last week in connection with a fatal shooting in 2007. Author Brian Castner recommends a book on the toll violence has taken on Iraq. Listen Loading… 2:05 Download Playlist
For The Midterm Elections, A Book On 'What It Takes' To Win October 24, 2014 The midterm elections are less than two weeks away. Writer Michael Schaub recommends a book that explores what it's like to run for office and live through all the dramatic ups and downs. Listen Loading… 2:12 Download Playlist
After A Flurry Of Literary Awards, A Book On The 'Wonder' Of Words October 19, 2014 It's literary awards season. The Nobel, the National Book Awards shortlists, and the Man Booker Prize were all recently announced. Author Jason Sheehan recommends some reading on all this reading. Listen Loading… 2:36 Download Playlist
Oscar Pistorius' Sentencing And The Classic True Crime Novel October 17, 2014 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.
For This Baseball Season, Roger Angell Has Just The 'Ticket' October 10, 2014 The American League Championship Series begins tonight. Writer Kate Tuttle says Roger Angell's 1988 collection of essays, Season Ticket, is the perfect accompaniment to the postseason. Listen Loading… 2:27 Download Playlist
Behind The Sunglasses: The Lives Of Secret Service Agents October 3, 2014 This week, following a series of security lapses, the Secret Service director resigned. For a look at the agency beyond the scandal, author Ben Dolnick recommends the novel Big If by Mark Costello. Listen Loading… 3:02 Download Playlist
As The Ebola Outbreak Worsens, A Book About Compassion September 26, 2014 This week, the CDC predicted there could be tens of thousands of Ebola cases if the disease is not controlled soon. Author Alaya Dawn Johnson turns to a favorite novel for wisdom amid this epidemic. Listen Loading… 2:08 Download Playlist
Book Reviews For The Autumnal Equinox, A Poem As Chilling As The Fall Weather September 19, 2014 Tuesday is the first day of fall. This time of year reminds critic Abigail Deutsch of Stephen Dobyns' "How to Like It" — a poem about a man who ponders his lost summers and fleeting dreams. Listen Loading… 2:23 Download Playlist
Amid NFL Scandals, A Novel About America's Love Of The Sport September 19, 2014 It's the start of the season, and the NFL is already beset by scandal. Writer Mark Chiusano recommends a novel about football's place in American culture, Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk.
As Independence Vote Approaches, A Spirited Novel About The Scottish Experience September 12, 2014 Next week the people of Scotland vote on whether to become independent from the U.K. Author Marie Mutsuki Mockett recommends a book that illuminates the Scottish psyche, Iain Banks' The Crow Road. Listen Loading… 2:14 Download Playlist
A Foreshadowing Of Violence In A 1937 Middle East Travelogue September 5, 2014 The Middle East, as portrayed in Robert Byron's The Road To Oxiana, is worlds away from the one we know. But author J.M. Ledgard says this flawed but fascinating book helps explain the region today.
The Considered Bite: Low-Carb Diets And Our Relationship With Food September 5, 2014 According to a new study, cutting back on carbs can lead to weight loss. Dana Goodyear and Jason Sheehan explore how to eat enjoyably, by recommending Tartine Bread and The Gastronomical Me. Listen Loading… 2:10 Download Playlist
In An Earthquake, History Fuels One Writer's Anxiety August 29, 2014 An earthquake in Napa Valley this week brought back old fears for author Gustavo Arellano. In his anxiety he's revisiting the book A Crack in the Edge of the World. Listen Loading… 2:04 Download Playlist
As Summer Winds Down, Wistful Dreams Of A 'Lost Estate' August 22, 2014 The scent of fresh pencils is in the air, and homework assignments are around the corner. In honor of back-to-school season, author Alexander Aciman recommends The Lost Estate by Henri Alain-Fournier. Listen Loading… 2:02 Download Playlist
'This Fight Begins In The Heart': Reading James Baldwin As Ferguson Seethes August 19, 2014 Protests in Ferguson, Mo., continue in response to the shooting of an unarmed black teenager by police on Aug. 9. The incident reminds author Laila Lalami of James Baldwin's Notes of a Native Son. Listen Loading… 2:14 Download Playlist
Albert Camus And The Search For Meaning In The Midst Of Ebola August 2, 2014 An outbreak of Ebola has hit Western Africa, killing hundreds. Writer Michael Schaub recommends The Plague by Albert Camus, a novel he hasn't been able to stop thinking about since the outbreak began. Listen Loading… 2:12 Download Playlist
Fiction Explores The Push And Pull Of Arab-Israeli Identity July 25, 2014 Sayed Kashua is an Arab who writes novels in Hebrew and a sitcom in Arabic. A contradiction? Maybe. But his newest book is a good look at an often-overlooked segment of the Israeli population. Listen Loading… 2:35 Download Playlist