Podcast Episodes
Back to Search
'Path Lit by Lightning' showcases Jim Thorpe's resilience until the end of his life
In the book Path Lit by Lightning, author David Maraniss does more than just write Jim Thorpe's life story. He delves into what caused misconceptions and false narratives about the great athlete, exa…
Published on 3 years, 3 months ago
'The Mamas' views parenting through the lenses of race, class, and gentrification
When it comes to raising children, says Helena Andrews-Dyer, there are complicated dynamics connected to race and class – which she writes about in her book The Mamas. In an interview with Rachel Mar…
Published on 3 years, 3 months ago
Magical realism and identity explored in Salman Rushdie's books
This episode features two different books by one author: Salman Rushdie. And while the two stories differ, recurrent themes of magical realism and the supernatural accompany them both. First, Rushdie…
Published on 3 years, 3 months ago
In 'Electable,' Ali Vitali explores the glass ceiling for women in politics
In Electable: Why America Hasn't Put a Woman in the White House... Yet, author Ali Vitali explores why the glass ceiling separating women from the highest office is still intact. Vitali and Juana Su…
Published on 3 years, 3 months ago
Emma Donoghue revisits isolation and faith (with many birds) in new book 'Haven'
Author Emma Donoghue "seem to enjoy the stimulus of going to an entirely new place." That's precisely what she does in her new book 'Haven'; it's about three Irish monks in the middle ages who choose…
Published on 3 years, 3 months ago
'The Stolen Year' details how politics and pandemic magnified inequality in education
Author Anya Kamenetzwas covering education for NPR when the pandemic started spreading in the U.S. She says she saw how political affiliation, divisions and distrust prevented leaders from putting ki…
Published on 3 years, 3 months ago
Abdulrazak Gurnah's 'Afterlives' highlights nuances of colonization in East Africa
In Abdulrazak Gurnah's Afterlives, the characters centered in the novel offer different perspectives of ordinary people under German colonization in East Africa. In an interview with NPR's Scott Simo…
Published on 3 years, 3 months ago
Paula Hawkins and Amanda Jayatissa highlight class inequality via mystery
The two books in this episode are thrillers that center class as the theme of the narrative. First up is A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins that the author says, in an interview with Mary Louise Ke…
Published on 3 years, 3 months ago
Sidik Fofana addresses how complicated gentrification is in debut story collection
Sidik Fofana's short story collection can be best described as "addressing the notion that gentrification is complicated." Those were Fofana's words to NPR's Daniel Estrin as they talked about his de…
Published on 3 years, 3 months ago
Ellen Jovin travels across the U.S. in search of grammar questions and answers
The author of Rebel With a Clause traveled to more than 40 states to document how grammar is used in relationships, work conversations and everyday life. In this episode, Ellen Jovin shares her disco…
Published on 3 years, 3 months ago