Podcast Episodes

Shigehiro Oishi says a ‘psychologically rich life’ is important to consider in his new book

For many people, a good life is a stable life — a life that’s predictable and filled with purpose. For others, happiness the point. They embrace mome…

1 year, 5 months ago

Talking Volumes: Peter Geye on ‘A Lesser Light’

“A Lesser Light” is Minnesota writer Peter Geye’s sixth novel, and he says he couldn’t have written it earlier in life.

The story revolves around a c…

1 year, 5 months ago

What our 'good boys' can teach us about living a good life

We could learn a lot from the good boys (and girls) in our life.

That’s the main thesis of philosopher Mark Rowlands new book, “The Word of Dog.”

He …

1 year, 5 months ago

‘Fewer Rules, Better People: The Case for Discretion’

Rules are good. Discretion is better.

So argues philosophy professor Barry Lam in his new book, “Fewer Rules, Better People.” While Lam acknowledges …

1 year, 6 months ago

Derek Thompson and Ezra Klein’s new book looks at ‘failed liberal policies‘

“The story of America in the 21st century is the story of chosen scarcities.”

So begins “Abundance,” the new book by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson th…

1 year, 6 months ago

Eric Puchner’s new novel circles around a love triangle that spans a lifetime

Can one decision be the fulcrum of a life?

Or is destiny really millions of tiny choices swirled with events out of our control?

That’s one of the man…

1 year, 6 months ago

Chris Bohjalian's new novel about the Civil War sees the humanity in our enemies

For more than 20 years, author Chris Bohjalian carried the seed of a Civil War story in his imagination. It was inspired by the true story of a South…

1 year, 6 months ago

When the world is underwater, what will we save? A new dystopian novel explores the answer

When superstorm Sandy wreaked havoc on Eiren Caffall’s childhood home of New York City, her first thought was: What about the museums?

That distressi…

1 year, 7 months ago

This author witnessed South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation hearings. Years later, she wrote about it

Lauren Francis-Sharma was a young law student interning in Johannesburg in 1996 when she was given the opportunity to observe portions of the Truth a…

1 year, 7 months ago

'The Trouble of Color: An American Family Memoir'

When historian Martha Jones began excavating the history of her own family, she found a remarkable story of what she calls the trouble with color.

Bu…

1 year, 7 months ago