NPR Books
Writing On The Sly, Nathaniel Rich's Secret Debut
It took over five years for Nathaniel Rich to finish his first novel — maybe because he was writing The Mayor's Tongue secretly, first as a college student, and then while writing film criticism during the day.
'Outliers' Puts Self-Made Success To The Test
Why do Asian kids outperform American kids in math? How did Bill Gates become a billionaire computer entrepreneur? Malcolm Gladwell takes on these questions and more in his book Outliers. He argues that the "self-made man" is a myth.
Annie Leibovitz: The View From Behind The Lens
Whoopi Goldberg in a milk bath? Meryl Streep in a white mime face? After training her lens on some of the most notable faces of our day, the photographer reveals the stories behind some of her famous portraits.
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Comic John Hodgman Shares 'More Information'
In More Information Than You Require, the follow-up to the best-selling The Areas of My Expertise, John Hodgman offers another compilation of false facts and trivia.
Fighting Illness From 'The Edge Of Medicine'
What if you could diagnose cancer just by smelling it? Dr. William Hanson explains the 'Diag-Nose' — an electronic nose that can do just that — plus other medical technologies that he says will change our lives.
How To Be Killer At Cocktail Parties
Awkward over hors d'oeuvres? A mess with martinis? Knowing what to say at a cocktail party can be overwhelming — but these three books will have you culturally informed in no time.
The 'Unholy Business' Of Biblical Forgeries
In 2002, archaeologists claimed a box of ancient bones held the remains of Jesus' brother. Nina Burleigh discusses her book, Unholy Business: The True Tale of Faith, Greed and Forgery in the Holy Land, which explores how forgers create fake artifacts to "prove" Biblical stories to be true.
Edelman Issues Challenge On Commitment To Kids
For decades, Marian Wright Edelman has been a proud bullhorn on behalf of disadvantaged children. In a wide-ranging conversation with Farai Chideya, Edelman reveals whether she'd accept a post in an Obama administration and speaks about her new book, The Sea Is So Wide and My Boat Is So Small.
Author Urges Investing In Obesity And Nice Legs
Hedge fund manager James Altucher says that the way to make money with minimal stress is to invest in lasting demographic trends like identity theft, chocolate and women's legs. He discusses his new book, The Forever Portfolio, and offers his top 10 stock picks.
