Accessibility links
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

World

Ancient Form Of Poetry Captures Afghan Women's Lives

From drone strikes to the songs of the ancient caravans, the type of poem called landay reflects Afghan life. NPR's Rachel Martin talks to Eliza Griswold, translator of Afghan women's landays.

Ancient Form Of Poetry Captures Afghan Women's Lives

Listen · 6:30
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/307340717/307340721" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Wise Words From Robin Roberts' Mom: 'Honey, Everybody's Got Something'

Wise Words From Robin Roberts' Mom: 'Honey, Everybody's Got Something'

In her new memoir, Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts describes her "somethings" — being diagnosed with breast cancer and a rare blood disorder.

Wise Words From Robin Roberts' Mom: 'Honey, Everybody's Got Something'

Listen · 6:26
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/306542402/307340691" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Seriously Not All Right

How An Army Officer And Diplomat Wrote His Way Through Trauma

After a decade of witnessing death and bloodshed in five different wars, Ron Capps developed post-traumatic stress disorder. His memoir, Seriously Not All Right, chronicles his battles.

How An Army Officer And Diplomat Wrote His Way Through Trauma

Listen · 7:24
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/306832193/307186264" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Six Amendments

Justice Stevens: Six Little Ways To Change The Constitution

In a new book, former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens says we should rewrite the Second Amendment, abolish the death penalty and restrict political campaign spending.

Justice Stevens: Six Little Ways To Change The Constitution

Listen · 7:38
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/306837618/307057701" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

A Fire Sparks Rivalry And Suspicion In 'The Art Of Secrets'

The Art of Secrets is the young-adult story of an investigation centered on a suspected hate crime in Chicago. NPR's Scott Simon speaks with the book's author, high school librarian James Klise.

A Fire Sparks Rivalry And Suspicion In 'The Art Of Secrets'

Listen · 5:59
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/307057746/307057747" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
The Good Inn

A Pixie Explores Vintage Porn In 'The Good Inn'

Black Francis, frontman of the Pixies, is trying his hand at literature. He's co-authored an illustrated novel based on the world's first pornographic film, a 1908 production called The Good Inn.

A Pixie Explores Vintage Porn In 'The Good Inn'

Listen · 4:41
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/306881951/307057654" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

For Concentration Camp Doctor, A Lifetime Of Eluding Justice

Aribert Heim was a Nazi concentration camp doctor, yet he evaded prosecution after the war, spending the final years of his life on the run. Nicholas Kulish, co-author of The Eternal Nazi, explains.

For Concentration Camp Doctor, A Lifetime Of Eluding Justice

Listen · 7:43
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/306877244/306877245" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
An Eater's-Eye View Of Literature's Most Iconic Meals

" 'Have some wine,' the March Hare said in an encouraging tone. Alice looked all round the table, but there was nothing on it but tea." (Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll) Dinah Fried/Courtesy of Harper Design hide caption

toggle caption
Dinah Fried/Courtesy of Harper Design

Pop Culture Happy Hour

An Eater's-Eye View Of Literature's Most Iconic Meals

With intricately composed photographs, designer Dinah Fried puts readers at the table for 50 of her favorite literary spreads. Her new book is called Fictitious Dishes.

An Eater's-Eye View Of Literature's Most Iconic Meals

Listen · 5:58
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/305895366/306542170" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Forcing the Spring

'Forcing The Spring' Tells One Chapter In Story Of Marriage Equality

Fresh Air

The strategy of going to the Supreme Court to challenge Proposition 8 was controversial within the gay-rights movement. Now, Jo Becker's new book is proving to be controversial as well.

'Forcing The Spring' Tells One Chapter In Story Of Marriage Equality

Listen · 45:03
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/305850912/305961406" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Army's Updated Rules On Hair Styles Tangle With Race

As some Army regulations on hair styles spark protest from African American women, David Greene talks to professor Lori Tharps, co-author of Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America.

Army's Updated Rules On Hair Styles Tangle With Race

Listen · 4:32
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/305477539/305477543" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Infinitesimal

The Week's Best Stories From NPR Books

Far From 'Infinitesimal': A Mathematical Paradox's Role In History

It seems like a simple question: How many parts can you divide a line into? The troublesome answer was square at the root of two of Europe's greatest social crises.

Far From 'Infinitesimal': A Mathematical Paradox's Role In History

Listen · 5:30
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/303716795/305339607" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
The Here and Now

Book News & Features

'Traveling Pants' Author Tries Traveling In Time

NPR's Petra Mayer profiles YA author Ann Brashares, whose new book The Here and Now follows a young girl and her community who've escaped a terrible future via time travel and landed in our present.

'Traveling Pants' Author Tries Traveling In Time

Listen · 4:13
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/301574757/305162828" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Exploring The Secret History Of The Cubicle

The new book, Cubed: A Secret History of the Workplace, is a look at how the white-collar world came to be the way it is, and what it might become. NPR's Rachel Martin speaks with author Nikil Saval.

Exploring The Secret History Of The Cubicle

Listen · 6:52
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/305162943/305162944" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

BBC Icon Finds Children's Adventure In An Element Hunter

Simon Mayo, a veteran broadcaster for the BBC, has written a series of children's books about a boy obsessed with the periodic table. He talks to NPR's Rachel Martin about the latest, Itch Rocks.

BBC Icon Finds Children's Adventure In An Element Hunter

Listen · 5:40
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/305162834/305162835" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Worst. Person. Ever.

The Week's Best Stories From NPR Books

Writing The Wicked Ways Of The 'Worst. Person. Ever.'

Raymond Gunt is profane, rude, heartless and truly the Worst. Person. Ever. Author Douglas Coupland says he's not exactly sure how the character, with no redeeming qualities, came into his mind.

Writing The Wicked Ways Of The 'Worst. Person. Ever.'

Listen · 5:18
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/300984754/304948115" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript