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Author Interviews

Interpreting The Constitution In The Digital Era

Technology

Interpreting The Constitution In The Digital Era

Fresh Air

Technologies like GPS and social media are posing new challenges to interpreting the Constitution's guarantees of privacy and free speech. Law professor and journalist Jeffrey Rosen says we're now in an era the Founding Fathers could never have imagined, in which private companies are determining the rules for what can be shared.

Interpreting The Constitution In The Digital Era

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Kids' Book Club Takes 'Tollbooth' To Lands Beyond

NPR's Backseat Book Club

Kids' Book Club Takes 'Tollbooth' To Lands Beyond

The pun-filled Phantom Tollbooth turns 50 this year. Author Norton Juster takes questions from young readers about the story of Milo, a bored little boy who finds adventure in a very strange land full of riddles and wordplay.

Kids' Book Club Takes 'Tollbooth' To Lands Beyond

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'Physics Of The Future': How We'll Live In 2100?

The Week's Best Stories From NPR Books

'Physics Of The Future': How We'll Live In 2100?

Fresh Air

Theoretical physicist Michio Kaku describes some of the inventions he thinks will appear in the coming century — including Internet-ready contact lenses, space elevators and driverless cars — in his book Physics of the Future.

'Physics Of The Future': How We'll Live In 2100?

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Judy Blume: Often Banned, But Widely Beloved
Sigrid Estrada/

Opinion

The Week's Best Stories From NPR Books

Judy Blume: Often Banned, But Widely Beloved

The author has been channeling the anxieties, dreams and secret thoughts of young readers for more than four decades. With her candid treatment of topics like bullying and puberty, she has won legions of fans around the world — but she's also drawn the ire of critics who want her frank books banned.

Judy Blume: Often Banned, But Widely Beloved

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'Micro' Picks Up Where Michael Crichton Left Off

In the new scientific thriller novel Micro, the author weaves a story of nano-technology, corporate greed and murder. Best-selling sci-fi author Michael Crichton started the book, but died in 2008 before it was finished. Audie Cornish talks to writer Richard Preston, who completed the novel after Crichton's death.

'Micro' Picks Up Where Michael Crichton Left Off

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Chicks With Guns

'Chicks With Guns': A Picture Of Gun-Toting Women

More than 15 million women in the U.S. are gun owners, and 78 of them are in a new photo book. Photographer Lindsay McCrum says guns play a big part in some women's lives, but for very different reasons.

'Chicks With Guns': A Picture Of Gun-Toting Women

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After NBA And Jazz, Wayman Tisdale's Story Cut Short

Wayman Tisdale was that rare human being: a great athlete who had a great second act. The former pro basketball player became a jazz bassist, yet his life ended in tragedy at the age of 44. Host Scott Simon Speaks with Brian Schodorf about his new documentary The Wayman Tisdale Story.

After NBA And Jazz, Wayman Tisdale's Story Cut Short

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'Unconquered' Explores An Isolated Amazon Tribe

The rain forest around the Amazon River is home to some of the only surviving societies of people untouched by modern civilization. Brent Stirton/Getty Images hide caption

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Brent Stirton/Getty Images

'Unconquered' Explores An Isolated Amazon Tribe

In his book The Unconquered, journalist Scott Wallace goes deep into the Amazon rain forest to learn about a group that has never come into contact with modern civilization.

'Unconquered' Explores An Isolated Amazon Tribe

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Media

Racist History Of American News Media?

The new book News for All the People traces how mainstream publishers and broadcasters perpetuated racism through their coverage, but also how journalists of color fought to develop a more democratic, alternative press. Guest host Tony Cox speaks with the authors about their work and where the internet stands in diversifying news.

Racist History Of American News Media?

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Jay-Z 'Decoded:' The Fresh Air Interview

Jay-Z Jay Mohegan via Random House/ hide caption

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Jay Mohegan via Random House/

Music Interviews

Jay-Z 'Decoded:' The Fresh Air Interview

Fresh Air

Jay-Z is one of the most successful hip-hop artists of all time. On Fresh Air, he discusses growing up in Brooklyn surrounded by drugs and violence, and the stories behind many of his famous songs.

Jay-Z 'Decoded:' The Fresh Air Interview

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Michele Bachmann

Bachmann's 'Conviction' To Fixing Government

After a meteoric rise, GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann is now polling in the single digits. But she's still plowing ahead with her campaign, and this week she came out with a memoir. The Minnesota congresswoman talks with co-host Steve Inskeep about Core of Conviction and aiming to win the nomination.

Bachmann's 'Conviction' To Fixing Government

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Hedy's Folly

Opinion

The Week's Best Stories From NPR Books

'Most Beautiful Woman' By Day, Inventor By Night

One of the biggest actresses of MGM's Golden Age, also lived a quiet life as an inventor. During World War II, Hedy Lamarr invented a form of wireless communication that led to Bluetooth, GPS and more.

'Most Beautiful Woman' By Day, Inventor By Night

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Amazing Adventures of Phoenix Jones

The Week's Best Stories From NPR Books

The Real Mr. Incredible: Self-Styled 'Superheroes'

In The Amazing Adventures of Phoenix Jones, Jon Ronson explores the subculture of ordinary individuals who adopt superhero identities (and costumes) to patrol the streets.

The Real Mr. Incredible: Self-Styled 'Superheroes'

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The New New Rules

Bill Maher Lays Down The (Mostly Silly) Law

Comedian Bill Maher's new book contains heartfelt essays about the condition of our country. There are also some rules — for things like typography, warning signs and lamp cords.

Bill Maher Lays Down The (Mostly Silly) Law

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And So It Goes

The Week's Best Stories From NPR Books

Kurt Vonnegut Was Not A Happy Man. 'So It Goes.'

Kurt Vonnegut liked to present himself as the American Mark Twain, but the real man underneath that image was considerably more complicated and damaged.

Kurt Vonnegut Was Not A Happy Man. 'So It Goes.'

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