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'Wonder Drug' traces the dark history of thalidomide and the birth defects it caused
In the 1960s, FDA inspector Frances Kelsey was assigned her first drug to review: thalidomide. Her thorough investigation led her to discover that th…
3 years, 3 months ago
Adrienne Brodeur's novel 'Little Monsters' uncovers family secrets in Cape Cod
Little Monsters is the story of two adult siblings, Ken and Abby Gardner, who were raised by their widowed father in Cape Cod. As their dad's 70th bi…
3 years, 3 months ago
Fae Myenne Ng's memoir examines the Chinese Exclusion Act's impact on families
Orphan Bachelors, the title of Fae Myenne Ng's new memoir, is a reference to the many "grandpas" she had while growing up in San Francisco's Chinato…
3 years, 3 months ago
Two novels explore the complexities of parent-child relationships
Today's episode is all about parents, their adult children, and the frustration and forgiveness that can come to a head in those relationships. First…
3 years, 3 months ago
'Jeopardy!' host Ken Jennings pens a travel guide to the afterlife
Ken Jennings is well-known for winning – and hosting – Jeopardy! Now, he's got a new book out full of pop culture knowledge and research: 100 Places …
3 years, 3 months ago
Kenny Smith's memoir 'Talk of Champions' looks back at a career shaped by the NBA
Kenny "The Jet" Smith's life has largely revolved around basketball in one way or another. The basketball commentator, Inside the NBA host and two-ti…
3 years, 3 months ago
J. Ryan Stradal's new novel pays homage to the supper clubs of the upper Midwest
J. Ryan Stradal knows about supper club culture in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the rest of the northern midwest – he grew up in a town where those dini…
3 years, 3 months ago
Frances Haugen's memoir looks back on why she blew the whistle on Facebook
Frances Haugen came forward as the Facebook whistleblower in 2021, shortly after she exposed more than 20,000 documents proving that the company's al…
3 years, 3 months ago
'The Postcard' and 'Good Night, Irene' detail how WWII impacted two families
Today's episode features two novels intertwining family and wartime history. First, Anne Berest speaks with NPR's Scott Simon about The Postcard, bas…
3 years, 3 months ago
In her memoir 'Wannabe,' Aisha Harris examines how '90s pop culture shaped her
As an NPR critic, Pop Culture Happy Hour host Aisha Harris helps make sense of how movies, music and TV inform our everyday lives. In her new book of…
3 years, 3 months ago