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Author Interviews NPR interviews with top authors and the NPR Book Tour, a weekly feature and podcast where leading authors read and discuss their writing. Subscribe to the RSS feed.

Author Interviews

Sports

'How Football Explains America'

ESPN football reporter Sal Paolantonio has a new book out, purporting to examine "How Football Explains America." As he tells host Liane Hansen, the way the rules are constructed lends the sport a uniquely American mythos.

'How Football Explains America'

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Books

Tap Dancing: A Love Story Reprised

"Shoot Me While I'm Happy" is an account of falling in love with tap dancing written by Jane Goldberg, who studied and performed alongside some of the greatest tap dancers of the past 50 years.

Tap Dancing: A Love Story Reprised

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Sports

Frank Gifford's 'Glory Game'

On Dec. 28, 1958, the New York Giants and the Baltimore Colts played a game that turned pro football into America's sport, and even a metaphor for the country. Frank Gifford was a Giants running back in that game, and he's looked up all his old teammates on both sides of the line to write a new book.

Frank Gifford's 'Glory Game'

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Jon Scieszka, A Seriously Funny 'Knucklehead'

Children's author Jon Scieszka has written two dozen fantastical books, including The Stinky Cheese Man and the Time Warp Trio series, but his most recent work is an autobiography geared toward children.

Jon Scieszka, A Seriously Funny 'Knucklehead'

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A Thanksgiving Tradition With Bailey White

For the past 17 years, Bailey White has shared her stories with All Things Considered on Thanksgiving Day. The former first grade teacher and avid gardener from southern Georgia continues the annual tradition by weaving a tale about a small town character and his dog. These stories have been collected in a book titled Nothing With Strings.

A Thanksgiving Tradition With Bailey White

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Author's First Thanksgiving Dinner Not Memorable

Author Joseph O'Neill was born in Ireland and raised in the Netherlands. As part of the series about becoming an American, O'Neill tells Steve Inskeep that his Thanksgivings have been anything but typical American Thanksgivings. In fact, he can't even remember his first Thanksgiving in the United States.

Author's First Thanksgiving Dinner Not Memorable

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Author Junot Diaz Shares Thanksgiving Memories

Writer Junot Diaz was born in the Dominican Republic, spent his early childhood there, then his family immigrated to the United States. He spoke to Steve Inskeep as part of the Thanksgiving series on immigration and identity. Diaz remembers some of his early Thanksgiving celebrations when he was a kid.

Author Junot Diaz Shares Thanksgiving Memories

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Joseph O'Neill, The New Immigrant Experience

Author Joseph O'Neill says the meaning of nationality and nationhood have changed dramatically in the past two decades. He should know: Raised in Holland, the half-Irish, half-Turkish author of Netherland now lives with his family in New York City.

Joseph O'Neill, The New Immigrant Experience

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Pop Culture

'Twilight' Brings Vampires Back To Life

Teens stood in line for hours on Thursday to catch the midnight opening of Twilight, the much-anticipated movie based on Stephenie Meyer's popular book series. Vampires are everywhere these days — dominating best-seller lists, movies and TV.

'Twilight' Brings Vampires Back To Life

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Spirit Of The Season

Thanksgiving Travelers Brave Holiday 'Traffic'

When you hit the road this Thanksgiving, take a look at the driver who honks at you: Tom Vanderbilt, author of Traffic, has a theory that men honk more than women, and expensive cars honk more at less expensive cars.

Thanksgiving Travelers Brave Holiday 'Traffic'

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Jhumpa Lahiri's Struggle To Feel American

Nationality, tradition and belonging: The themes of Jhumpa Lahiri's fiction spring from the complexities of the author's own life. Born to Indian parents in London and raised in Rhode Island, Lahiri says she's struggled for four decades to feel like she belongs in America.

Jhumpa Lahiri's Struggle To Feel American

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Opinion

Financial Turmoil Grips World Markets

'Liar's Poker' Author Sees Upside To Market Crash

Michael Lewis, author of a new book called Panic: The Story of Modern Financial Insanity, contends the current Wall Street slump will have some healthy long-term effects, including more moderate financial risk-taking and more proportionate rewards for CEOs.

'Liar's Poker' Author Sees Upside To Market Crash

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