Reader's Corner

"No One’s Coming" by Kevin Hazzard

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000

An interview with Kevin Hazzard, author of No One’s Coming. The book is a real-life thriller about the most daring rescue in air-medical history.

“The Age of Extraction” by Tim Wu

Sat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000

An interview with Tim Wu, author of the new book, The Age of Extraction. The book explores the rise of tech platforms and details the risks and rewards of working within such systems.

“Mother Daughter Traitor Spy” by Susan Elia MacNeal

Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000

An interview with Susan Elia MacNeal, author of the novel, Mother Daughter Traitor Spy. The book is inspired by a real-life mother and daughter to go undercover after stumbling upon a Nazi cell in Los Angeles during the early days of World War II. Note: This is an encore edition of Reader’s Corner. The episode originally aired in May 2023.

“The Gales of November” by John U. Bacon (Part II)

Sat, 16 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000

An interview with John U. Bacon, author of The Gales of November. The book gives the authoritative account of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, a disaster shrouded in mystery for the last half-century. Note: This is the second of a two-part interview.

"The Gales of November” by John U. Bacon (Part I)

Sat, 09 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000

An interview with John U. Bacon, author of The Gales of November. The book gives the authoritative account of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, a disaster shrouded in mystery for the last half-century. Note: This is the first of a two-part interview.

"Our Dear Friends in Moscow” by Andrei Soldatov

Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000

An interview with Andrei Soldatov, co-author of the book, Our Dear Friends in Moscow. The book tells the story of how the hopes of a generation of optimistic Russians in the 1990’s was replaced by autocracy, fear, and betrayal.

"38 Londres Street” by Philippe Sands

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000

An interview with Philippe Sands, author of 38 Londres Street. The book traces two of the 20th century’s most infamous war criminals, testing the limits of immunity and impunity after Nuremberg.

"When McKinsey Comes to Town” by Walt Bogdanich

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000

An interview with Walt Bogdanich, co-author of the new book, When McKinsey Comes to Town. The book offers a portrait of a company whose work has often made the world more unequal, more corrupt, and more dangerous.

“The War Below” by Ernest Scheyder

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000

An interview with Ernest Scheyder, author of The War Below. The book offers an illuminating look at the stakes in the new fight surrounding the extraction of lithium and copper to power digital and energy technologies.

“Kings and Pawns” by Howard Bryant

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000

An interview with Howard Bryant, author of the new book, Kings and Pawns. The book offers an untold story of sports and fame, Black America and the promise of integration through the Cold War lens of two transformative events.

“Everybody Loses” by Danny Funt

Sat, 28 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0000

An interview with Danny Funt, author of Everybody Loses. The book is a stunning exposé on the massive and perilous world of American sports gambling.

“Metamorphosis” by Oren Harman

Sat, 21 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0000

An interview with Oren Harman, author of the new book, Metamorphosis. The book is a modern classic of natural history, offering an inspiring look at why so many of Earth’s creatures undergo transformations.

"Starry and Restless" by Julia Cooke

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0000

An interview with Julia Cooke, author of the new book, Starry and Restless. The book shares the gripping story of three women reporters and the way they altered the landscape of journalism and the world itself.

“Wild Horse Country” by David Philipps

Sat, 07 Mar 2026 01:00:00 -0000

An interview with David Philipps about his book, Wild Horse Country.

“The Blue Horse” by Bruce Borgos

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 01:00:00 -0000

An interview with Bruce Borgos, author of the new book, The Blue Horse. In the book, a controversial wild horse round-up in the high desert of Nevada results in two murders and a fresh mystery for Sheriff Porter Beck.

“Epic Disruptions” by Scott D. Anthony

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 01:00:00 -0000

An interview with Scott D. Anthony, author of Epic Disruptions. The book offers both innovators and curious listeners alike a fascinating exploration of how radical change reshapes industries and shifts power dynamics.

"A Day in the Life of Abed Salama” by Nathan Thrall

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 01:00:00 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of Reader’s Corner. The episode originally aired in April 2024.

An interview with Nathan Thrall, author of the new book, A Day in the Life of Abed Salama. The book tells the story of a deadly accident outside Jerusalem that unravels a tangle of lives, loves, and histories over the course of a single day.

“Everybody Loses” by Danny Funt

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 01:00:00 -0000

An interview with Danny Funt, author of Everybody Loses. The book is a stunning exposé on the massive and perilous world of American sports gambling.

“Dirtbag Billionaire” by David Gelles

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 01:00:00 -0000

An interview with David Gelles, author of Dirtbag Billionaire. The book reveals how Patagonia became a global leader via its unorthodox and socially-responsible business practices and how other companies are adopting its principles.

“Fair Doses” by Dr. Seth Berkley

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 01:00:00 -0000

An interview with Dr. Seth Berkley, author of Fair Doses. The book gives the history of how vaccines became the world's most powerful health intervention, and the story of the race to deliver COVID-19 vaccines globally.

“Fighting the Night” by Paul Hendrickson

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 01:00:00 -0000

An interview with Paul Hendrickson, author of the book, Fighting the Night. The book is a moving story of his father’s wartime service as a night fighter pilot, and the prices he and his fellow soldiers paid for their selfless acts of service.

“The Predicament” by William Boyd

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 01:00:00 -0000

An interview with William Boyd, author of the thrilling new novel, The Predicament. The book is Boyd’s second installment in the bestselling espionage trilogy starring Gabriel Dax.

“So Far Gone” by Jess Walter

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 01:00:00 -0000

An interview with Jess Walter, author of the new novel, So Far Gone. The book follows a man reemerging from seclusion only to find himself thrust into small-town intrigue, against the backdrop of a fractured nation.

“Mr. Dickens and His Carol” by Samantha Silva

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 01:00:00 -0000

An interview with Samantha Silva about her novel, “Mr. Dickens and His Carol.” The book re-imagines the twists and turns that led Charles Dickens to write what has been described as “the second most famous Christmas story.”

“Scrim” by Kaye Courington

Sat, 20 Dec 2025 01:00:00 -0000

An interview with Kaye Courington, author of Scrim: A New Orleans Story of Resilience and Rescue. The illustrated book tells the true story of a scrappy terrier-mix rescue who defied the odds and became an instant hero.

“The Mission” by Tim Weiner

Sat, 13 Dec 2025 01:00:00 -0000

An interview with Tim Weiner, acclaimed journalist and author of the new book, The Mission. The book is comprehensive look at the CIA in the 21st century, based on interviews with six former CIA directors and scores of spies and station chiefs.

“The Folly of Realism” by Alexander Vindman

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 01:00:00 -0000

An interview with Alexander Vindman, author of The Folly of Realism. The book offers a chilling analysis of how Western indecision made possible the return of brutal Russian expansionism with terrifying consequences.

“A Certain Amount of Madness” by Amber Murrey

Sat, 29 Nov 2025 01:00:00 -0000

An interview with Amber Murrey, author of A Certain Amount of Madness. Published on the 30th anniversary of his assassination, the book illustrates how Thomas Sankara’s legacy continues to provide lessons and hope for decolonisation struggles today.

“Preparing for War” by Bradley Onishi (Part II)

Sat, 22 Nov 2025 01:00:00 -0000

An interview with Bradley Onishi, author of Preparing for War. The book is an engrossing account of the years-long campaign of White Christian nationalism that led to the insurrection of January 6.

Note: This is the second half of a two-part interview. This is also an encore edition of Reader’s Corner - the episode originally aired in March 2023.

“Preparing for War” by Bradley Onishi (Part I)

Sat, 15 Nov 2025 01:00:00 -0000

An interview with Bradley Onishi, author of Preparing for War. The book is an engrossing account of the years-long campaign of White Christian nationalism that led to the insurrection of January 6.

Note: This is the first half of a two-part interview.

"Daughters of the Bamboo Grove” by Barbara Demick

Sat, 08 Nov 2025 01:00:00 -0000

An interview with Barbara Demick, author of the new book, Daughters of the Bamboo Grove. The book tells the heartbreaking story of twin sisters torn apart by China’s one-child policy and the rise of international adoption.

"We the People" by Jill Lepore

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0000

An interview with Jill Lepore, celebrated historian and author of We the People. The book offers a totally new look at the history of the U.S. Constitution, by amendment and interpretation.

"Medicine River" by Mary Annette Pember

Sat, 25 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0000

An interview with Mary Annette Pember, author of Medicine River. The book is a wide-ranging and deeply personal account of Native American boarding schools in the United States, taking a hard look at their intent and legacy of abuse.

"Afterlives" by Abdulrazak Gurnah

Sat, 18 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0000

Bob Kustra interviews Abdulrazak Gurnah, Nobel Prize winner and author of the novel, Afterlives. The book is a multi-generational saga of displacement, love and loss, set against the brutal colonization of east Africa.

Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The episode originally aired in February 2023.

"Looking at Women Looking at War" by Victoria Amelina

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0000

An interview with Joanna Kakissis, joining the program to talk about the late Ukrainian writer Victoria Amelina, and her book, Looking at Women Looking at War.

"Twist" by Colum McCann

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -0000

An interview with Colum McCann about his latest novel, Twist. A book of rupture and relationships in the digital age, the story dives into the hidden world at the bottom of the ocean.

"The Ride" by Kostya Kennedy

Sat, 27 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0000

An interview with Kostya Kennedy, author of The Ride. The book offers a fresh perspective of Paul Revere’s historic ride, with new research into little-known aspects of the story many Americans have heard since childhood.

"Sleeping Bear" by Connor Sullivan

Sat, 20 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0000

An interview with Connor Sullivan, author of the new novel, Sleeping Bear. In the book, a former Army veteran seeking solitude in the Alaskan wilderness finds herself a pawn in a deadly game with Russia.

"Spitfires" by Becky Aikman

Sat, 13 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0000

An interview with Becky Aikman, author of the new book, Spitfires. The book unveils the daring true story of the American women who piloted World War II planes through the treacherous skies of Britain.

"The Ransomware Hunting Team" by Daniel Golden

Sat, 06 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0000

An interview with Daniel Golden, author of The Ransomware Hunting Team. The book is a real-life technological thriller about a band of eccentric misfits taking on the biggest cybersecurity threats of our time.

Note: this is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The episode originally aired in February 2023.

"The Oligarch's Daughter" by Joseph Finder

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0000

An interview with Joseph Finder, author of the new novel, The Oligarch’s Daughter. The book is a thrilling story of dizzying spycraft following an everyman on the run for his life.

"A City on Mars" by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith

Sat, 23 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0000

An interview with Zach Weinersmith, co-author of the new book, A City on Mars. The book is a funny and deeply-researched off-world investigation into the question of space settlement.

"Africa is Not a Country" by Dipo Faloyin (Part II)

Sat, 16 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0000

An interview with Dipo Faloyin, debut author of Africa is Not a Country: Notes on a Bright Continent. In the book, Faloyin explores the youth-led cultural and political movements that are defining and reimagining Africa on their own terms. This is the second of a two-part interview.

"The Doorman" by Chris Pavone

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0000

An interview with Chris Pavone, author of the thrilling novel, The Doorman. The book follows a blue collar doorman for a glitzy apartment building in a combustible story of class, privilege, sex, and murder.

"Paris Undercover" by Matthew Goodman

Sat, 02 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0000

An interview with Matthew Goodman, author of Paris Undercover. The book tells the gripping story of two women in Nazi-occupied Paris who create a daring escape line that rescues dozens of Allied servicemen.

"Africa is Not a Country" by Dipo Faloyin (Part I)

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0000

"Kingmaker" by Sonia Purnell

Sat, 19 Jul 2025 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Sonia Purnell, author of Kingmaker. In the book, Purnell tells the secret history of Winston Churchill’s daughter-in-law, Pamela Churchill Harriman, whose image as a vapid socialite masked her powerful influence on the world stage for five decades.

"The Achilles Trap" by Steve Coll

Sat, 12 Jul 2025 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Steve Coll, author of the new book, The Achilles Trap: Saddam Hussein, the CIA, and the Origins of America’s Invasion of Iraq.The book offers the definitive story of the decades-long relationship between the United States and Saddam Hussein, and an investigation into one of the costliest geopolitical conflicts of our time.

"From Warsaw With Love" By John Pomfret

Sat, 05 Jul 2025 00:30:00 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The episode originally aired in January 2023.

In 1990, as the United States cobbles together a coalition to undo Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait, six US officers are trapped in Iraq with intelligence that could ruin Operation Desert Storm, if it falls into the wrong hands. Desperate, the CIA asks Poland - a longtime Cold War foe, famed for its excellent spies - for help.

In his latest book, From Warsaw With Love: Polish Spies, the CIA, and the Forging of an Unlikely Alliance, John Pomfret offers a gripping account of the beginning of the intelligence cooperation between Poland and the United States. Pomfret uncovers new details about the CIA’s black site program that held suspected terrorists in Poland after 9/11, as well as the role of Polish spies in the hunt for Osama bin Laden.

John Pomfret is a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, served as a correspondent for the Washington Post for two decades, covering wars, revolutions, and China. His previous book, The Beautiful Country and the Middle Kingdom, won the Arthur Ross Book Award from the Council on Foreign Relations.

"The Troublemaker" by Mark L. Clifford

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Mark L. Clifford, author of The Troublemaker. The book is a comprehensive biography of billionaire businessman Jimmy Lai, a leading Hong Kong democracy activist who became China’s most famous political prisoner.

"Inside the President's Team" by Bob Barrett

Sat, 21 Jun 2025 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Nils Barrett, joining Reader's Corner to talk about his late father’s memoir, Inside the President's Team. The book offers an up-close view of the Ford presidency by one of his closest and most-trusted advisors.

"The Umbrella Maker's Son" by Tod Lending

Sat, 14 Jun 2025 00:30:00 -0000

Bob Kustra interviews Tod Lending, author of the novel, The Umbrella Maker’s Son. The book is a coming-of-age tale following a 17-year-old Polish Jew as he fights for his life and experiences his first love, set during WWII.

"Amphibious Soul" by Craig Foster

Sat, 07 Jun 2025 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Craig Foster, author of Amphibious Soul. The book is a lyrical memoir drawing from the author’s decades of daily ocean dives, wisdom from Indigenous teachers, and cutting-edge science.

"Mindmasters" by Sandra Matz

Sat, 31 May 2025 03:53:25 -0000

An interview with Sandra Matz, author of the new book, Mindmasters. The book is an exploration of how algorithms penetrate and influence the most intimate aspects of our psychology.

"The Myth of American Idealism" by Nathan J. Robinson and Noam Chomsky

Sat, 24 May 2025 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Nathan J. Robinson, co-author of the new book, The Myth of American Idealism. The book is an indictment of both American foreign policy and the political influence that supports it.

"Prisoners Of The Castle" By Ben Macintyre

Fri, 16 May 2025 21:04:14 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The episode originally aired in November 2022. An interview with Ben Macintyre, author of the new book, Prisoners of the Castle: An Epic Story of Survival and Escape from Colditz, the Nazis’ Fortress Prison. In the book, Macintyre looks at one of history’s most notorious prisons, and the remarkable cast of POWs who tried relentlessly to escape their captors.

"Grizzly Confidential" by Kevin Grange

Sat, 10 May 2025 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Kevin Grange, author of Grizzly Confidential. Part science, part travelogue, the book is a both a gripping account of the famous North American species and a passionate plea for bear conservation.

"Ungoverning" by Nancy L. Rosenblum and Russell Muirhead

Sat, 03 May 2025 01:56:46 -0000

An interview with Russell Muirhead, co-author of the new book, Ungoverning: The Attack on the Administrative State and the Politics of Chaos. The book details how a concentrated attack on political institutions threatens to disable the essential workings of government.

"Nelson Rockefeller's Dilemma" by Marsha E. Barrett

Sat, 26 Apr 2025 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Marsha E. Barrett, author of Nelson Rockefeller's Dilemma. The book is a compelling political history of the influential career of the four-time New York State governor and US vice president.

"On the Hippie Trail" by Rick Steves

Sat, 19 Apr 2025 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with legendary travel writer Rick Steves about his new book, On the Hippie Trail. The book offers a glimpse into the memories and misadventures of his formative 1978 trek from Istanbul to Kathmandu.

"Better Living Through Birding" by Christian Cooper

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Christian Cooper, author of the book, Better Living Through Birding. Part memoir, part travelogue, the book explores how birding helped Cooper during the most difficult parts of his life, and how we can all benefit from looking up more.

"What the Chicken Knows" by Sy Montgomery

Sat, 05 Apr 2025 01:39:12 -0000

An interview with Sy Montgomery, author of What the Chicken Knows. Part science writing, part personal narrative, the book explores the surprising traits and unique personalities of the world’s most recognizable bird.

"Code Name Puritan" by Greg Barnhisel

Sat, 29 Mar 2025 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Greg Barnhisel, author of Code Name Puritan. The book is a fascinating biography of Norman Holmes Pearson, an unassuming literary scholar and part-time spy who transformed postwar American culture.

"Russia and Ukraine" by Maria Popova and Oxana Shevel

Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Maria Popova, co-author of the new book, Russia and Ukraine: Entangled Histories, Diverging States. The book examines how the fall of the Soviet Union started an identity and regime divergence between Russia and Ukraine, and set both countries on an inevitable collision course.

"This America Of Ours" By Nate Schweber

Sat, 15 Mar 2025 00:30:00 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The episode originally aired in November 2022.An interview with Nate Schweber, author of the new book, This America of Ours: Bernard & Avis DeVoto and the Forgotten Fight to Save the Wild. In the book, Schweber tells the story of the extraordinary couple who rescued national parks from McCarthyism, and inspired a future of conservation.

"Midnight Black" by Mark Greaney

Sat, 08 Mar 2025 03:24:57 -0000

An interview with Mark Greaney, author of the new thriller, Midnight Black. The book is a taut new addition to Greaney’s bestselling Gray Man series.

"Where Tyranny Begins" by David Rohde

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 01:30:00 -0000

An interview with David Rohde, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Where Tyranny Begins. In the book, Rohde details how Donald Trump used threats, co-option, and conspiracy theories to bend DOJ and FBI officials to his will.

"How to Raise a Citizen" by Lindsey Cormack

Sat, 22 Feb 2025 01:30:00 -0000

An interview with Lindsey Cormack, author of the new book, How to Raise a Citizen. The book is a practical guide to nurturing the next generation of responsible, informed citizens.

"Holding Fire" by Bryce Andrews

Sat, 15 Feb 2025 01:30:00 -0000

An interview with Bryce Andrews, author of the new book, Holding Fire. The book is a memoir of inheritance, history, and one gun’s role in the violence that shaped the American West.

"Two Nights In Lisbon" By Chris Pavone

Sat, 08 Feb 2025 01:30:14 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The episode originally aired in October 2022. An interview with Chris Pavone, author of the thrilling novel, Two Nights in Lisbon. The book is story of a woman under pressure, and what she will resort to when everything is on the line.

"The Expat" by Hansen Shi

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 01:30:00 -0000

An interview with Hansen Shi, author of the thrilling new novel, The Expat. The book follows a young businessman who travels to China for a job offer, only to find himself thrust into a world of corporate espionage.

"Challenger" by Adam Higginbotham

Sat, 25 Jan 2025 01:30:00 -0000

An interview with Adam Higginbotham, author of Challenger. The book is a thrilling minute-by-minute account of the 1986 Challenger shuttle disaster, based on new archival research.

"Last Summer On State Street" By Toya Wolfe

Sat, 18 Jan 2025 01:30:00 -0000

Producer's Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The episode originally aired in October 2022. An interview with Toya Wolfe, debut author of the novel, Last Summer on State Street. The book is a striking coming-of-age debut about friendship, community, and resilience, set in the housing projects of Chicago.

"How Tyrants Fall" by Marcel Dirsus

Sat, 11 Jan 2025 04:23:39 -0000

An interview with Marcel Dirsus, author of How Tyrants Fall. The book is a deeply-researched examination of how dictators are overthrown, and what happens to nations in the aftermath.

"Talk Radio's America" by Brian Rosenwald

Sat, 04 Jan 2025 08:43:18 -0000

An interview with Brian Rosenwald, author of the book, Talk Radio's America. The book takes a close look at the infotainment format pioneered by Rush Limbaugh on AM radio, and the effect it had on the Republican party.

"Trigger Points" By Mark Follman

Sat, 28 Dec 2024 01:30:00 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The episode originally aired in September 2022. An interview with Mark Follman, author of Trigger Points: Inside the Mission to Stop Mass Shootings in America. The book casts new light on the behind-the-scenes work being done to predict and prevent mass shootings.

"Assassins Anonymous" by Rob Hart

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 01:30:00 -0000

An interview with Rob Hart, author of the new novel, Assassins Anonymous. The book is a thrilling story of suspense, murder, and redemption, as a reformed hitman tries to stay on the straight and narrow while running for his life.

"Stolen Pride" by Arlie Russell Hochschild

Sat, 14 Dec 2024 01:30:00 -0000

An interview with Arlie Russell Hochschild, author of Stolen Pride. Set in Appalachia, the book takes a hard look at the “pride paradox” that has given the Right Wing’s appeals such resonance.

"A Conspiratorial Life" By Edward H. Miller

Sat, 07 Dec 2024 02:10:04 -0000

Note: This is an encore presentation of Reader's Corner. The episode originally aired in September 2022.An interview with Edward H. Miller, author of A Conspiratorial Life: Robert Welch, the John Birch Society, and the Revolution of American Conservatism. In the book, Miller argues that Welch’s paranoid right-wing nativism, dismissed by thinkers like William F. Buckley, gradually moved from the fringe into mainstream conservatism.

"Unjust Debts" By Melissa B. Jacoby

Sat, 30 Nov 2024 01:48:05 -0000

An interview with Melissa B. Jacoby, author of the new book, Unjust Debts. The book offers an incisive look at the hidden role of bankruptcy in perpetuating inequality in America.

"Table For Two" By Amor Towles

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 07:18:51 -0000

An interview with Amor Towles, bestselling author of the new book, Table for Two. The book is a collection of short fiction based in New York, along with a novella set in the Golden Age of Hollywood.

"The Man Who Broke Capitalism" By David Gelles

Sat, 16 Nov 2024 03:05:34 -0000

Note: This is an encore episode of Reader's Corner. The episode originally aired in June 2022. An interview with David Gelles, author of The Man Who Broke Capitalism: How Jack Welch Gutted the Heartland and Crushed the Soul of Corporate America―and How to Undo His Legacy. In the book, Gelles profiles the man who ushered in a new, cutthroat era of American capitalism that continues to this day

"On Freedom" By Timothy Snyder

Sat, 09 Nov 2024 01:33:00 -0000

An interview with Timothy Snyder, author of the new book, On Freedom. The book is an exploration of the American ideal of freedom—what it is, how it’s been misunderstood, and why it may be our only chance for survival.

"To Run The World" By Sergey Radchenko

Sat, 02 Nov 2024 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Sergey Radchenko, author of the new book, To Run the World. The book offers a detailed portrait of Russian leadership during the Cold War, helming a sprawling nation with irreconcilable ambitions as a self-proclaimed superpower and the leader of global revolution.

"I Will Show You How It Was" By Illia Ponomarenko

Sat, 26 Oct 2024 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Illia Ponomarenko, author of the new book, I Will Show You How It Was. The book is powerful and personal chronicle of the war in Ukraine from the front lines.

"A World on the Wing" By Scott Weidensaul

Sat, 19 Oct 2024 00:30:47 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The episode originally aired in August 2022. An interview with Scott Weidensaul, author of A World on the Wing: The Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds. The book is exhilarating exploration of the science and wonder of global bird migration.

"Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here" By Jonathan Blitzer

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Jonathan Blitzer, author of Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here. The book is a vivid portrait of the people whose lives ebb and flow across the U.S. border, and how the immigration crisis shapes American politics and culture.

"The Sentinel State" By Minxin Pei

Sat, 05 Oct 2024 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Minxin Pei, author of The Sentinel State. The book argues that the endurance of dictatorship in China owes less to advanced technology than it does to the human resources of the Leninist surveillance state.

"The Thousand Crimes Of Ming Tsu" By Tom Lin

Sat, 28 Sep 2024 00:30:09 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The episode originally aired in August 2022. An interview with Tom Lin, author of the novel, The Thousand Crimes of Ming Tsu. A twist on the classic western, it’s a story of one man's quest for redemption in the face of a distinctly American brutality.

"Fighting The Night" By Paul Hendrickson

Sat, 21 Sep 2024 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Paul Hendrickson, author of the new book, Fighting the Night. The book is a moving story of his father’s wartime service as a night fighter pilot, and the prices he and his fellow soldiers paid for their selfless acts of service.

"Ian Fleming: The Complete Man" By Nicholas Shakespeare

Sat, 14 Sep 2024 01:57:46 -0000

An interview with Nicholas Shakespeare, author of the new book, Ian Fleming: The Complete Man. The book offers an eye-opening portrait of the mysterious and fascinating man behind James Bond, and his enduring impact.

"The Rise And Fall Of The Neoliberal Order" By Gary Gerstle

Sat, 07 Sep 2024 00:30:00 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The episode originally aired in July 2022.An interview with Gary Gerstle, author of The Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order: America and the World in the Free Market Era. The book illuminates how the ideology of neoliberalism became so infused in the daily life of an era.

"Ascent To Power" By David L. Roll

Sat, 31 Aug 2024 00:33:09 -0000

An interview with David L. Roll, author of the new book, Ascent to Power. The book focuses on the fascinating story behind the most consequential presidential transition in US history, from Roosevelt to Truman.

"Phantom Orbit" By David Ignatius

Sat, 24 Aug 2024 01:22:57 -0000

An interview with David Ignatius, author of the new novel, Phantom Orbit. The book is a thrilling story of espionage against the backdrop of our nation’s renewed interest in space exploration amid geopolitical tumult.

"Davos Man" By Peter S. Goodman

Sat, 17 Aug 2024 00:30:00 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The episode originally aired in July 2022. An interview with Peter S. Goodman, author of Davos Man: How the Billionaires Devoured the World. The book is must read for anyone concerned about economic justice and the sanctity of representative government.

"Differ We Must" By Steve Inskeep

Sat, 10 Aug 2024 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Steve Inskeep, author of the new book, Differ We Must. The book is a compelling portrait of Abraham Lincoln’s political acumen in a country divided – and lessons for our own disorderly present.

"Hedged" By Margot Susca

Sun, 04 Aug 2024 21:46:57 -0000

An interview with Margot Susca, author of Hedged. The book reveals a newspaper industry rocked by an obsession with profit and beholden to private fund interests.

"Seek And Hide" By Amy Gajda

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Amy Gajda, author of Seek and Hide: The Tangled History of the Right to Privacy. The book is an important primer for today’s privacy wars - the surprising history of the right to privacy, and its battle against the public’s right to know.

"The Demon Of Unrest" By Erik Larson

Sat, 20 Jul 2024 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Erik Larson, author of the new book, The Demon of Unrest. The book examines the pivotal five months between the election of Abraham Lincoln and the start of the Civil War.

"I Will Show You How It Was" By Illia Ponomarenko

Sat, 13 Jul 2024 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Illia Ponomarenko, author of the new book, I Will Show You How It Was. The book is powerful and personal chronicle of the war in Ukraine from the front lines.

"The Meat Paradox" By Rob Percival

Sat, 06 Jul 2024 00:30:58 -0000

An interview with Rob Percival, author of The Meat Paradox: Eating, Empathy, and the Future of Meat. The book offers a vital and nuanced investigation into the current debate around meat.

"Coming To Terms With John F. Kennedy" By Stephen F. Knott

Sat, 29 Jun 2024 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Stephen F. Knott, author of Coming to Terms with John F. Kennedy. The book offers a broad view of the young President, and shows how politicians on both sides of the aisle distorted JFK's record for their own purposes.

"The Year Of The Locust" By Terry Hayes

Sat, 22 Jun 2024 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Terry Hayes, acclaimed author of the new book, The Year of the Locust. A thriller set in the borderlands of the Middle East, the novel follows a CIA spy as his plans to extract a source are complicated by a powerful adversary.

"The Revenge of Power" By Moisés Naím

Sat, 15 Jun 2024 00:30:58 -0000

An interview with Moisés Naím, author of The Revenge of Power: How Autocrats Are Reinventing Politics for the 21st Century. The book examines the future of freedom and how to contain and defeat the autocrats popping up around the world.

"The End Of Reality" By Jonathan Taplin

Sat, 08 Jun 2024 04:12:51 -0000

An interview with Jonathan Taplin, author of The End of Reality. The book is a scathing critique of the worldview being sold by four American billionaires.

"Three-Inch Teeth" By C.J. Box

Sat, 01 Jun 2024 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with writer C.J. Box, joining us to talk about his new novel, Three-Inch Teeth. In the book, game warden Joe Pickett contends with a vicious grizzly bear and an ex-convict out for revenge.

"Sunny Days" By David Kamp

Sat, 25 May 2024 00:33:21 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The episode originally aired in October 2020.

"Fire Weather" By John Vaillant

Sat, 18 May 2024 02:51:22 -0000

An interview with John Vaillant, author of Fire Weather. The book offers a terrifying account of a colossal wildfire and an exploration of the rapidly changing relationship between fire and humankind.

"How To Sell A Poison" By Elena Conis

Sat, 11 May 2024 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Elena Conis, author of How to Sell a Poison. The book tells the tangled story of DDT, a corporate-backed poison that decimated wildlife and left behind toxic bodies.

"Once There Were Wolves" By Charlotte McConaghy

Sat, 04 May 2024 00:30:38 -0000

An interview with Charlotte McConaghy about her new novel, Once There Were Wolves. The book is about the looming threat of environmental collapse and the bold and flawed humans working to avert it.

"A Day In The Life Of Abed Salama" By Nathan Thrall

Sat, 27 Apr 2024 01:39:07 -0000

An interview with Nathan Thrall, author of the new book, A Day in the Life of Abed Salama. The book tells the story of a deadly accident outside Jerusalem that unravels a tangle of lives, loves, and histories over the course of a single day.

"Tired Of Winning" By Jonathan Karl

Sat, 20 Apr 2024 05:12:35 -0000

An interview with Jonathan Karl, author of Tired of Winning. The book explores how Donald Trump remade the Republican Party in his own image, baggage and all.

"Camera Man" By Dana Stevens

Sat, 13 Apr 2024 00:30:16 -0000

An interview with Dana Stevens, author of Camera Man: Buster Keaton, The Dawn of Cinema and the Invention of the Twentieth Century. In the book, Stevens places acclaimed filmmaker Buster Keaton’s unique creative genius in the context of his time.

"Tyranny of the Minority" By Steven Levitsky (Part II)

Sat, 06 Apr 2024 00:30:13 -0000

An interview with Steven Levitsky, co-author of Tyranny of the Minority. The book offers important context for our volatile times and a framework for how to protect our democracy from an authoritarian backlash.

"Tyranny of the Minority" By Steven Levitsky (Part I)

Sat, 30 Mar 2024 02:37:29 -0000

"The Violin Conspiracy" By Brendan Slocumb

Sat, 23 Mar 2024 00:30:42 -0000

An interview with Brendan Slocumb, author of the novel, The Violin Conspiracy. Part literary thriller and part mystery, the book is a gripping coming-of-age story about the love of music and a young man’s resilience.

"The Big Fail" By Joe Nocera

Sat, 16 Mar 2024 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Joe Nocera, co-author of The Big Fail. Co-written by Bethany MacLean, the book offers new answers for why and how America become the world leader in COVID deaths.

"White House Wild Child" By Shelley Fraser Mickle

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 23:30:00 -0000

An interview with Shelley Fraser Mickle, author of the new book, White House Wild Child. The book is a fascinating biography of outspoken first-daughter Alice Roosevelt, sometimes dubbed the Jackie O of the early 20th century.

"How Ike Led" By Susan Eisenhower

Sat, 02 Mar 2024 01:30:35 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The episode first aired in January 2021.

"Plunder" By Brendan Ballou

Sat, 24 Feb 2024 04:36:58 -0000

An interview with Brendan Ballou, author of the new book, Plunder. The book offers a powerful expose on the private equity industry – what it is, how it harms businesses and jobs, how the government helps, and how it can be reined in.

"Navalny: Putin's Nemesis, Russia's Future?" By Morvan Lallouet, Ben Noble, And Jan Matti Dollbaum

Sat, 17 Feb 2024 01:30:00 -0000

An interview with Morvan Lallouet, co-author of Navalny: Putin’s Nemesis, Russia’s Future? The book offers a close look at Alexei Navalny, from his pioneering anti-corruption investigations to his leadership of a political movement.

"The Identity Trap" By Yascha Mounk

Sat, 10 Feb 2024 03:03:55 -0000

An interview with Yascha Mounk, author of the new book, The Identity Trap. The book provides a comprehensive account of the origins, consequences, and limitations of so-called “wokeness.”

"Flying Blind" By Peter Robison (Part II)

Sat, 03 Feb 2024 01:30:00 -0000

An interview with Peter Robison, author of Flying Blind: The 737 Tragedy and the Fall of Boeing. The book explores how an industry titan became consumed with the bottom line, leading to a tragedy that endangered countless lives. Note: This is the second of a two-part interview.

"Flying Blind" By Peter Robison (Part I)

Sat, 27 Jan 2024 01:30:44 -0000

"Moscow X" By David McCloskey

Sat, 20 Jan 2024 04:27:30 -0000

An interview with David McCloskey author of the new thriller, Moscow X. The book centers on a daring CIA operation, which targets Putin’s private banker.

"Techlash" By Tom Wheeler

Sat, 13 Jan 2024 03:44:49 -0000

An interview with Tom Wheeler, former FCC chairman and author of the new book, Techlash. With the experiences of the late 19th century’s industrial Gilded Age as a backdrop, Wheeler makes the case for a new vision of digital governance.

"The Exponential Age" By Azeem Azhar

Sat, 06 Jan 2024 01:30:00 -0000

An interview with Azeem Azhar, author of The Exponential Age: How Accelerating Technology is Transforming Business, Politics, and Society. The book explores the widening gap between rapidly-expanding technology and our ability to deal with its effects.

"Mansfield And Dirksen" By Marc C. Johnson

Sat, 30 Dec 2023 01:30:00 -0000

An interview with Marc C. Johnson, author of Mansfield and Dirksen: Bipartisan Giants of the Senate. The book highlights two Senate leaders whose commitment to bipartisanship lead to the passage of groundbreaking legislation, even in tumultuous times.

"The Lumumba Plot" By Stuart A. Reid (Part II)

Sat, 23 Dec 2023 02:31:41 -0000

An interview with Stuart A. Reid, author of The Lumumba Plot. The book is a thrilling Cold War account of the U.S.-sanctioned plot to assassinate the democratically elected leader of the newly independent Congo.

"The Lumumba Plot" By Stuart A. Reid (Part I)

Sat, 16 Dec 2023 01:30:00 -0000

"Clark and Division" By Naomi Hirahara

Sat, 09 Dec 2023 01:30:00 -0000

An interview with Naomi Hirahara, author of the new novel, Clark and Division. Part crime novel, part poignant historical fiction, the book was recently listed as a New York Times Best Mystery Novel of 2021.

"The Age of Insurrection" By David Neiwert

Sat, 02 Dec 2023 03:04:41 -0000

An interview with David Neiwert, author of The Age of Insurrection. In the book, Neiwert charts the rise of the far right’s threats against American democracy.

"Passport Stamps" By Sean D. Carberry

Sat, 25 Nov 2023 01:30:00 -0000

An interview with Sean D. Carberry, author of the new book, Passport Stamps: Searching the World for a War to Call Home. The book is a darkly comic and emotionally-fraught tale of a former NPR journalist who seeks solace in the world’s most dangerous places.

"The Secret Gate" By Mitchell Zuckoff

Sat, 11 Nov 2023 01:30:00 -0000

An interview with Mitchell Zuckoff, author of The Secret Gate: A True Story of Courage and Sacrifice During the Collapse of Afghanistan. The book covers the true story of an incredible rescue in the frenzied final hours of the U.S. evacuation of Afghanistan.

"How Antitrust Failed Workers" By Eric A. Posner

Sat, 04 Nov 2023 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Eric A. Posner, author of How Antitrust Law Failed Workers. The book is a powerful examination of the causes of inequality and wage stagnation in America.

"Pushed Out" By Ryanne Pilgeram (Part I)

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 01:00:00 -0000

Note: This is part I of a two-part interview, which originally aired in March 2022. An interview with Ryanne Pilgeram, author of Pushed Out: Contested Development and Rural Gentrification in the US West. In the book, a small town weighs the economic compromises of growth in the Rocky Mountain West.

"A Forest Journey" By John Perlin

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 06:23:14 -0000

An interview with John Perlin, author of A Forest Journey. Now with a brand new edition, Perlin's book offers a contemporary view of the effects of wood, as used for building and fuel, and of deforestation on the development of civilization.

"Remarkably Bright Creatures" By Shelby Van Pelt

Sat, 07 Oct 2023 01:09:48 -0000

An interview with Shelby Van Pelt, author of the novel Remarkably Bright Creatures. The book is an exploration of friendship and hope that traces a widow's unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus.

"Futureproof" By Kevin Roose

Sat, 30 Sep 2023 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Kevin Roose, author of Futureproof: 9 Rules for Humans in the Age of Automation. The book shares the secrets of people and organizations that have survived technological change, and explains how we can protect our own futures.

"The Last Honest Man" By James Risen

Sat, 23 Sep 2023 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with James Risen, author of The Last Honest Man. The book examines the fight for democracy by Senator Frank Church, a man at the epicenter of numerous investigations into the abuses of power within American government.

"The Elephant Of Belfast" By S. Kirk Walsh

Sat, 16 Sep 2023 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with S. Kirk Walsh author of the bestselling novel, The Elephant of Belfast. Inspire by true events, the book is a moving account of a young zookeeper and the elephant she's compelled to protect during the German blitz of Belfast during WWII.

"America Second" By Isaac Stone Fish

Sat, 02 Sep 2023 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Isaac Stone Fish, author of America Second. The book is an exposé of America’s political and business ties to China, often with profound and hidden costs to U.S. interests.with Isaac Stone Fish, author of America Second. The book is an exposé of America’s political and business ties to China, often with profound and hidden costs to U.S. interests.

"The Digital Republic" By Jamie Susskind

Sat, 26 Aug 2023 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Jamie Susskind, author of The Digital Republic. The book is a definitive guide to the great political question of our time: how can freedom and democracy survive in a world of powerful digital technologies?

"Red London" By Alma Katsu

Sat, 05 Aug 2023 02:16:45 -0000

An interview with Alma Katsu, author of the new thriller, Red London. The book is a race-against-the-clock story, told by a writer with 35 years of expertise in national security.

"The Lincoln Miracle" By Edward Achorn

Sat, 22 Jul 2023 05:48:39 -0000

An interview with Edward Achorn, author of The Lincoln Miracle: Inside the Republican Convention That Changed History. In the book, Achorn offers a behind-the-scenes look at Abraham Lincoln’s history-changing nomination to lead the Republican Party in the 1860 presidential election.

"The Rise Of Digital Repression" By Steven Feldstein

Sat, 15 Jul 2023 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Steven Feldstein, author of The Rise of Digital Repression: How Technology is Reshaping Power, Politics, and Resistance. The book offers a compelling record of how anti-democratic leaders harness powerful technology to advance their political objectives.

"Master Slave Husband Wife" By Ilyon Woo

Sat, 08 Jul 2023 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Ilyon Woo, author of Master Slave Husband Wife. The book tells the remarkable true story of Ellen and William Craft, who escaped slavery with Ellen passing as a wealthy, disabled White man and William posing as “his” slave.

"How Beautiful We Were" By Imbolo Mbue

Sat, 01 Jul 2023 00:30:00 -0000

Imbolo Mbue's novel, How Beautiful We Were, follows a fearless young woman from a small African village as she starts a revolution against an American oil company.

"Dust Child" By Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

Sat, 24 Jun 2023 00:35:17 -0000

An interview with Nguyen Phan Que Mai, author of the new novel, Dust Child. The book is a saga about two Vietnamese sisters and two American men, whose lives intersect in surprising ways, set during and after the war in Vietnam.

"The Triumph Of Doubt" By David Michaels

Sat, 10 Jun 2023 01:30:58 -0000

An interview with David Michaels, author of The Triumph of Doubt. In the book, Michaels details how corrupt science becomes public policy, through the aid of dark money, and where it's happening today.

"Call Me Elizabeth Lark" By Melissa Colasanti

Sat, 03 Jun 2023 00:30:47 -0000

An interview with Melissa Colasanti, author of the new novel, Call Me Elizabeth Lark. A psychological thriller, the book follows the mysterious reappearance of a woman’s daughter after 20 years.

"Justice For Animals" By Martha C. Nussbaum

Sat, 27 May 2023 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Martha C. Nussbaum, author of Justice for Animals. The book offers a revolutionary new theory and call to action on animal rights, ethics, and law.

"Mother Daughter Traitor Spy" By Susan Elia MacNeal

Sat, 20 May 2023 02:38:18 -0000

An interview with Susan Elia MacNeal, author of the novel, Mother Daughter Traitor Spy. The book is inspired by a real-life mother and daughter, who go undercover after stumbling upon a Nazi cell in Los Angeles during the early days of World War II.

"Uncounted" By Gilda R. Daniels

Sat, 13 May 2023 00:30:47 -0000

An interview with Gilda R. Daniels, author of Uncounted: The Crisis of Voter Suppression in America. The book warns about a premeditated strategy of restrictive laws and deceptive practices that is eroding the very basis of American democracy.

"Evolution Gone Wrong" By Alex Bezzerides

Sat, 06 May 2023 00:36:15 -0000

An interview with Alex Bezzerides, author of Evolution Gone Wrong. The book is a fresh and funny examination of the curious ways human beings have beaten the odds as a species.

"When McKinsey Comes To Town" By Walt Bogdanich

Sat, 29 Apr 2023 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Walt Bogdanich, co-author of the new book, When McKinsey Comes to Town. The book offers a portrait of a company whose work has often made the world more unequal, more corrupt, and more dangerous.

"The Petroleum Papers" By Geoff Dembicki

Sat, 15 Apr 2023 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Geoff Dembicki, author of The Petroleum Papers. The book provides a step-by-step account of how we reached this precipice of climate disaster, and the politicians and companies who helped get us here.

"American Schism" By Seth David Radwell

Sat, 08 Apr 2023 00:30:00 -0000

An interview with Seth David Radwell, author of American Schism. The book is an enlightened exploration of our history to unite a deeply-divided America.

"Kill Switch" By Adam Jentleson

Sat, 01 Apr 2023 00:30:04 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The episode originally aired in July 2021.In his book, Kill Switch: The Rise of the Modern Senate and the Crippling of American Democracy, Senate insider Adam Jentleson contends that far from reflecting the Framers’ vision, the Senate has been transformed over the decades by a tenacious minority of white conservatives.

"Preparing For War" By Bradley Onishi (Part II)

Sat, 25 Mar 2023 02:20:44 -0000

Note: This is the second half of a two-part interview. An interview with Bradley Onishi, author of Preparing for War. The book is an engrossing account of the years-long campaign of White Christian nationalism that led to the insurrection of January 6.

"Preparing For War" By Bradley Onishi (Part I)

Sun, 19 Mar 2023 20:57:54 -0000

Note: This is the first of a two-part interview. An interview with Bradley Onishi, author of Preparing for War. The book is an engrossing account of the years-long campaign of White Christian nationalism that led to the insurrection of January 6.

"The Globalization Myth" By Shannon K. O'Neil

Sat, 11 Mar 2023 16:24:17 -0000

An interview with Shannon K. O’Neil, author of The Globalization Myth: Why Regions Matter. The book offers a case for why regionalization, not globalization, has been the biggest economic trend of the past forty years.

"The World Turned Upside Down" By Clyde Prestowitz

Sat, 04 Mar 2023 01:30:00 -0000

The World Turned Upside Down: America, China, and the Struggle for Global Leadership, by Clyde Prestowitz, identifies the challenges China’s growing power poses and how it must be confronted.

"Afterlives" By Abdulrazak Gurnah

Sat, 25 Feb 2023 07:51:29 -0000

Bob Kustra interviews Abdulrazak Gurnah, Nobel Prize winner and author of the novel, Afterlives. The book is a multi-generational saga of displacement, love and loss, set against the brutal colonization of east Africa.

"Sleeping Bear" By Connor Sullivan

Sat, 18 Feb 2023 01:30:00 -0000

An interview with Connor Sullivan, author of the new novel, Sleeping Bear. In the book, a former Army veteran seeking solitude in the Alaskan wilderness finds herself a pawn in a deadly game with Russia.

"The Ransomware Hunting Team" By Daniel Golden

Sat, 04 Feb 2023 01:30:00 -0000

An interview with Daniel Golden, author of The Ransomware Hunting Team. The book is a real-life technological thriller about a band of eccentric misfits taking on the biggest cybersecurity threats of our time.

"Spymaster's Prism" By Jack Devine

Sat, 28 Jan 2023 01:30:30 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The show originally aired in June 2021. In Jack Devine's newest book, Spymaster’s Prism: The Fight Against Russian Aggression, the legendary CIA spymaster illustrates how Russia’s intelligence activities have continued uninterrupted throughout modern history.

"Africa Is Not A Country" By Dipo Faloyin (Part II)

Sat, 21 Jan 2023 01:30:00 -0000

An interview with Dipo Faloyin, debut author of Africa is Not a Country: Notes on a Bright Continent. In the book, Faloyin explores the youth-led cultural and political movements that are defining and reimagining Africa on their own terms.Program note: This is the second half of a two-part interview.

"Africa Is Not A Country" By Dipo Faloyin

Sat, 14 Jan 2023 19:11:53 -0000

"From Warsaw With Love" By John Pomfret

Sat, 07 Jan 2023 02:26:18 -0000

An interview with John Pomfret, author of From Warsaw With Love. The book tells the epic story of how Polish intelligence officers forged an alliance with the CIA in the twilight of the Cold War.

"Proof Of Life" By Daniel Levin

Fri, 30 Dec 2022 17:29:59 -0000

In his latest book, Proof of Life, Daniel Levin dives deep into a shadowy world where few have access—an underground industry of war where everything is for sale, including arms, drugs, and even people.

"Mr. Dickens And His Carol" By Samantha Silva

Sat, 24 Dec 2022 01:30:00 -0000

This is an encore program which originally aired in December of 2017.

"Nomad Century" By Gaia Vince

Sat, 17 Dec 2022 01:30:00 -0000

An interview with Gaia Vince, author of Nomad Century: How Climate Migration Will Reshape Our World. The book investigates a coming environmental migration, the seismic consequence of our climate crisis that will force us to change where, and how, we live.

"The New Map" By Daniel Yergin

Sat, 10 Dec 2022 01:30:00 -0000

An interview with Daniel Yergin, author of The New Map: Energy, Climate and the Clash of Nations. The book offers a fresh look at how energy revolutions, climate battles, and geopolitics are mapping our future.

"Made In China" By Amelia Pang

Sat, 03 Dec 2022 01:30:37 -0000

An interview with Amelia Pang, author of Made in China: A Prisoner, an SOS Letter, and the Hidden Cost of America's Cheap Goods. The book explores ethical consumption and how a cheap price tag typically hides a higher human cost.

"Why The New Deal Matters" By Eric Rauchway

Sat, 26 Nov 2022 02:12:00 -0000

An interview with Eric Rauchway, author of Why the New Deal Matters. The book offers a look at how the New Deal fundamentally changed American life, and why it remains relevant today.

"When Time Stopped" By Ariana Neumann

Sat, 24 Sep 2022 00:30:19 -0000

In her bestselling memoir, When Time Stopped: A Memoir of My Father’s War and What Remains, Ariana Neumann offers a moving story of personal discovery and a portrait of living, dying, and surviving in war-torn Berlin. (Program note: This is part one of a two-part interview.)

"A Children's Bible," By Lydia Millet

Sat, 10 Sep 2022 00:30:58 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The episode originally aired in April 2021.

"The Mountains Sing" By Nguyen Phan Que Mai

Sat, 27 Aug 2022 01:09:00 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The episode originally aired in March 2021.

"Robert E. Lee & Me" By Ty Seidule

Sat, 20 Aug 2022 20:53:15 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The episode originally aired May 2021.Ty Seidule's book, Robert E Lee and Me: A Southerner’s Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause, offers a personal challenge to the myths and lies of the Confederate legacy, and explores why some of this country’s oldest wounds have never healed.

"Tuesday Night Massacre" By Marc C. Johnson

Sat, 30 Jul 2022 00:30:37 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The episode first aired in March 2021.

"Beaten Down, Worked Up" By Steven Greenhouse

Sat, 16 Jul 2022 00:33:05 -0000

This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The episode originally in March 2021.

"This Land Is Our Land: An Immigrant's Manifesto" By Suketu Mehta

Sat, 02 Jul 2022 00:30:00 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. This episode originally aired in February 2021.

"Evil Geniuses: The Unmaking Of America" By Kurt Andersen

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 21:56:00 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The episode originally aired in February 2021.

"Putin's People" By Catherine Belton

Sat, 04 Jun 2022 01:05:58 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The original episode premiered in August 2020.

"Hatchet Man" By Elie Honig

Sat, 07 May 2022 01:30:00 -0000

An interview with Elie Honig, author of Hatchet Man: How Bill Barr Broke the Prosecutor's Code and Corrupted the Justice Department. In the book, Honig makes the case that Barr trampled the two core virtues that have long defined the department and its mission: credibility and independence.

"Eat The Buddha" By Barbara Demick

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 20:03:41 -0000

Note: This is an encore episode of Reader's Corner. The original episode first aired in January 2021.

"A Pilgrimage To Eternity" By Timothy Egan

Sat, 02 Apr 2022 00:22:23 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The episode originally aired in December 2020.

"Pushed Out" By Ryanne Pilgeram (Part II)

Sat, 26 Mar 2022 00:49:00 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The episode originally aired in March 2022. This is part II of a two-part interview. An interview with Ryanne Pilgeram, author of Pushed Out: Contested Development and Rural Gentrification in the US West. In the book, a small town weighs the economic compromises of growth in the Rocky Mountain West.

"Ill Winds" By Larry Diamond

Sat, 12 Mar 2022 00:46:15 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The original aired in November 2020.

"Life Undercover" By Amaryllis Fox

Sat, 12 Feb 2022 01:17:21 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The original episode aired in October 2020.

"Invisible Child" By Andrea Elliott

Sat, 29 Jan 2022 02:25:00 -0000

An interview with Andrea Elliott, author of Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival, and Hope in an American City. A stunning debut, the book covers eight formative years in the life of an intelligent and imaginative young girl in a Brooklyn homeless shelter as she balances poverty, family, and opportunity.

"Supreme Inequality" By Adam Cohen

Fri, 21 Jan 2022 21:06:42 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The episode originally aired in September 2020.

"In Deep" By David Rohde

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:56:11 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of our program. The original aired in September 2020.

"A Most Beautiful Thing" By Arshay Cooper

Fri, 24 Dec 2021 21:00:00 -0000

Growing up on Chicago’s Westside in the 90’s, Arshay Cooper knows the harder side of life. Street corners full of gangs, hallways of his apartment complex haunted by drug addicts, his mother a recovering addict. Arshay spent his school days in the home-ec kitchen dreaming of becoming a chef. And then one day he notices a boat in the school lunchroom, and a poster that reads “Join the Crew Team.”

"Cover Your Tracks" By Daco Auffenorde

Sat, 18 Dec 2021 01:58:00 -0000

An interview with Daco Auffenorde, author of the thrilling novel, Cover Your Tracks. The book is a chilling story of love and hate, the devastating power of nature, and the will to survive.

"Up All Night" By Lisa Napoli

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 02:39:32 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of our program. The original aired in August 2020.

"Dirty Work" By Eyal Press (Part II)

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 02:55:00 -0000

Note: This is the second half of a two-part interview. This is also an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The episode originally aired in December 2021. An interview with Eyal Press, author of Dirty Work: Essential Jobs and the Hidden Toll of Inequality in America. The book offers a groundbreaking and urgent report from the front lines of "dirty work" – the work that society considers essential but morally compromised.

"Dirty Work" By Eyal Press (Part I)

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 01:52:21 -0000

An interview with Eyal Press, author of Dirty Work: Essential Jobs and the Hidden Toll of Inequality in America. The book offers a groundbreaking and urgent report from the front lines of "dirty work" – the work that society considers essential but morally compromised.

"Overground Railroad" By Candacy Taylor

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 15:12:23 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of our program. The original premiered in August 2020.

"The Shape Of The Ruins" By Juan Gabriel Vasquez

Sat, 23 Oct 2021 01:36:51 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of our program. The original episode premiered in July 2020.

"Beijing Payback" By Daniel Nieh

Sat, 09 Oct 2021 01:11:35 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of our program. The original episode aired in June 2020.

"The Daughters of Kobani" by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

Sat, 02 Oct 2021 01:34:00 -0000

An interview with Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, author of The Daughters of Kobani: A Story of Rebellion, Courage, and Justice. The book uncovers a group of women intent on not only defeating the Islamic State but also changing women’s lives in their corner of the Middle East and beyond.

"World Without Mind" By Franklin Foer

Sat, 25 Sep 2021 01:15:56 -0000

In his new book, World Without Mind, Franklin Foer argues that today’s monopolists are seeking access to every facet of our identities, and influence over every corner of our decision-making.

"Murder At The Mission" By Blaine Harden

Sat, 11 Sep 2021 01:33:00 -0000

An interview with Blaine Harden, author of Murder at the Mission: A Frontier Killing, its Legacy of Lies, and the Taking of the American West. The book examines the cost of American expansionism, and the problems that arise when history is only told by the victors.

"The Guarded Gate" By Daniel Okrent

Fri, 03 Sep 2021 21:12:00 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of our program. The original episode aired in July 2020.

American Foreign Policy And "The Hell Of Good Intentions" With Stephen M. Walt

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 21:00:00 -0000

In 1992, the United States stood at the pinnacle of world power and Americans were confident that a new era of peace and prosperity was at hand. 25 years later, those hopes have been dashed. Relations with Russia and China have soured, the European Union is wobbling, nationalism and populism are on the rise, and the United States is stuck in costly and seemingly endless wars that have squandered trillions of dollars and undermined its influence around the world. And it’s only getting worse.

"Tightrope: Americans Reaching For Hope" By Nicholas Kristof And Sheryl WuDunn

Sat, 14 Aug 2021 01:20:19 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The original episode first aired in May 2020.

"The Ratline" By Philippe Sands

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 14:21:25 -0000

Note: This is an encore episode of Reader's Corner. The episode originally aired in August 2021. In his latest book, The Ratline: The Exalted Life and Mysterious Death of a Nazi Fugitive, Philippe Sands offers a tale of Nazi lives, mass murder, love, cold war espionage, and a mysterious death in the Vatican.

"The Splendid And The Vile" By Erik Larson

Sat, 31 Jul 2021 01:40:08 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of our program that first aired in April 2020.

"A Long Petal Of The Sea" By Isabel Allende

Sat, 17 Jul 2021 00:00:00 -0000

Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The episode originally aired June 2020.

"Unrigged: How Americans Are Battling Back To Save Democracy" By David Daley

Sat, 03 Jul 2021 00:49:00 -0000

Note: This is an encore episode that originally aired in July 2020.

"The Idaho Traveler" By Alan Minskoff

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 16:41:16 -0000

The Idaho Traveler explores the often ignored treasures of small-town Idaho, from historic buildings and sites to the mom-and-pop restaurants that offer the best pie and breakfast in the Gem State. Interviews with long-time residents and newcomers alike illustrate this paean to Idaho and capture the essence of what defines Idaho's unique character.

"Love and Fury" By Samantha Silva

Sat, 22 May 2021 00:41:55 -0000

An interview with Samantha Silva about her latest book, Love and Fury, a moving account of Mary Wollstonecraft, mother to writer Mary Shelley and arguably the world’s first feminist.

"When Montezuma Met Cortés" By Matthew Restall

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 22:32:00 -0000

This interview was originally broadcast in May, 2020.

"Into The Jungle" By Erica Ferencik

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 21:00:00 -0000

This is an encore presentation.

"Putin's World" By Angela Stent

Sat, 27 Feb 2021 01:08:00 -0000

This interview was originally broadcast in September, 2019.

"American Spy" By Lauren Wilkinson

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 21:49:02 -0000

This is an encore presentation.

"A Covert Action" By Seth G. Jones

Fri, 29 Jan 2021 21:26:13 -0000

This is an encore presentation, originally broadcast in November, 2019.

"Country Music" By Dayton Duncan

Sat, 09 Jan 2021 00:38:35 -0000

This is an encore presentation.

"Country Music" By Dayton Duncan

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 23:00:09 -0000

This is an encore presentation.

"Never Trump" By Robert Saldin And Steven Teles

Sat, 12 Dec 2020 05:07:41 -0000

In Never Trump authors Robert Saldin and Steven Teles, took a deep-dive into the Never Trump movement, explaining the reasons for the widespread and unprecedented intra-party opposition to Trump, why it took the form it did, and its long-term consequences. Importantly, Never Trump anticipates the impact of the Never Trump network on the future of the Republican and Democratic parties, conservatism, and American politics.

"Say Nothing" By Patrick Radden Keefe

Fri, 04 Dec 2020 22:00:00 -0000

This is an encore presentation.

"The Fifth Domain" By Robert K. Knake

Fri, 27 Nov 2020 23:30:00 -0000

This is an encore presentation.

"The Storm On Our Shores" By Mark Obmascik

Fri, 27 Nov 2020 23:15:48 -0000

This is an encore presentation.

"From Cold War To Hot Peace" By Michael McFaul

Fri, 16 Oct 2020 22:26:44 -0000

This is an encore presentation.

"The Third Revolution: Xi Jinping And The New Chinese State" By Elizabeth Economy

Fri, 25 Sep 2020 22:00:00 -0000

This is an encore presentation.

"Lake Success" By Gary Shteyngart

Fri, 04 Sep 2020 20:27:10 -0000

This is an encore presentation.

"Washington Black" By Esi Edugyan

Fri, 14 Aug 2020 20:30:00 -0000

Esi Edugyan is the author of the book, Washington Black. The novel won the prestigious Giller Prize and was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. The paperback edition of the book is out now.

"The Lost Girls Of Paris" By Pam Jenoff

Fri, 03 Jul 2020 21:00:00 -0000

This is an encore presentation.

The Fire Is Upon Us By Nicholas Buccola

Fri, 12 Jun 2020 20:22:51 -0000

This is an encore presentation.

"The Cactus League" By Emily Nemens

Sat, 06 Jun 2020 03:58:55 -0000

Emily Nemen’s The Cactus League, as the title tells us, is set in the Arizona desert, around Scottsdale, during spring training for major league baseball. The novel is narrated by a sportscaster and while nominally the story of Jason Goodyear, the star outfielder for the fictional Los Angeles Lions, Goodyear’s story is interspersed with the stories of other richly drawn characters -- the batting coach, aging sports agent, the players, owners, ballpark staff and the hangers on.

"Imperiled Ocean" By Laura Trethewey

Sat, 30 May 2020 06:11:58 -0000

Imperiled Ocean is an exploration of the earth's last wild frontier, filled with high-stakes stories that explore a vast territory undergoing tremendous change. Journalist Laura Trethewey set out in 2015 on 'an extended listening tour' to hear some of these stories. She learned that for reasons of money… migrants die, cruise ships steer around the law, and plastic is made, sold and discarded faster than it can be collected and disposed of.

"Political Hell-Raiser" By Marc Johnson

Fri, 22 May 2020 23:00:00 -0000

This is an encore presentation.

"The Spy And The Traitor" By Ben McIntyre

Fri, 08 May 2020 19:30:00 -0000

This is an encore presentation

"Dying Of Whiteness" By Jonathan M. Metzl

Fri, 17 Apr 2020 18:38:02 -0000

This is an encore presentation.

"Of Orcas And Men" By David Neiwert

Fri, 27 Mar 2020 23:00:00 -0000

This is an encore presentation.

"Rising Out Of Hatred" By Eli Saslow

Sat, 14 Mar 2020 15:00:00 -0000

This is an encore presentation.

"Trump And His Generals" By Peter Bergen

Fri, 06 Mar 2020 21:00:00 -0000

Trump and His Generals is Peter Bergen's riveting account of what happened when the unstoppable force of President Trump met the immovable object of America's national security establishment--the CIA, the State Department, and, above all, the Pentagon. If there is a real "deep state" in DC, it is the national security community, with its deep-rooted culture and hierarchy.

"The Flight Attendant" By Chris Bohjalian

Fri, 21 Feb 2020 19:54:57 -0000

This is an encore presentation.

Rachel Louise Snyder Explores Roots Of Domestic Violence And Femicide

Fri, 07 Feb 2020 21:28:48 -0000

In America, domestic violence accounts for 15 percent of all violent crime, and yet it remains locked in silence, even as its tendrils reach unseen into so many of our most pressing national issues, from our economy to our education system, from mass shootings to mass incarceration to the #MeToo movement.

Deborah Campbell On Iraqi Refugees And Experiencing "A Disappearance In Damascus"

Fri, 31 Jan 2020 22:34:03 -0000

This interview was originally broadcast in April, 2019.

James A. McLaughlin Shares His Debut Novel "Bearskin"

Mon, 27 Jan 2020 18:30:53 -0000

A literary thriller, Bearskin is set in the wilds of the Appalachian Mountains. Rice Moore is the caretaker of this nature preserve, a man running from a sordid past, only to face a fresh crime perpetrated in his new stomping grounds: black market bear poaching. With his past transgression gaining on him, Moore goes deep into the woods in his attempt to stop the killings.

Making The Move From Urban To Rural With Christopher Ingraham

Fri, 13 Dec 2019 20:09:47 -0000

Like so many young American couples, Chris Ingraham and his wife Briana were having a difficult time making ends meet as they tried to raise their twin boys in the East Coast suburbs. One day, Chris – in his role as a “data guy” reporter at the Washington Post – stumbled on a study that would change his life. It was a ranking of America’s 3,000+ counties from ugliest to most scenic. He quickly scrolled to the bottom of the list and gleefully wrote the words “The absolute worst place to live in America is (drumroll please) … Red Lake County, Minn.”

Virginia Hall, Spying During WWII And 'A Woman Of No Importance'

Fri, 29 Nov 2019 23:51:50 -0000

In 1942, the Gestapo sent out an urgent transmission: "She is the most dangerous of all Allied spies. We must find and destroy her." Their target was Virginia Hall, a Baltimore socialite who talked her way into Special Operations Executive, the spy organization dubbed Winston Churchill's "Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare."

In "White Darkness" We Learn About Henry Worsley's Chilling Excursions To Antarctica

Fri, 15 Nov 2019 22:40:23 -0000

This encore interview was originally broadcast in June, 2019.

CJ Chivers' Details Modern Combat And America's Longest Wars In "The Fighters"

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 20:33:02 -0000

This interview was originally broadcast in August, 2019.

Michele Gelfand On How Tight And Loose Cultures Adhere (Or Don't) To Norms

Fri, 18 Oct 2019 23:55:03 -0000

This interview originally aired in February, 2019.

Investigating The Forgotten War's Greatest Battle With Hampton Sides

Sat, 21 Sep 2019 17:02:15 -0000

This encore interview originally aired in February, 2019.

In "Saudi America" Bethany McClean Shares The Truth About Fracking And How It's Changing The World

Fri, 30 Aug 2019 22:30:00 -0000

This encore program originally aired in January, 2019.

Brendan Koerner, "The Skies Belong To Us" And The Golden Age Of Hijacking

Fri, 16 Aug 2019 21:00:00 -0000

This encore interview was first broadcast in January, 2019.

Listen To Daniel Mason Discuss His Novel "The Winter Soldier"

Fri, 02 Aug 2019 23:23:39 -0000

Daniel Mason's novel, The Winter Soldier, follows Lucius Krzelewski, a 22-year-old medical student living in Vienna when World War I breaks out. Eager to do his part and allured by the vision of the noble, battlefield medic, Lucius enlists. But when he arrives on the front line, the reality of his situation comes into focus: the other doctors have fled, only a strange and secretive nurse remains, and Lucius has never even held a scalpel. A story of war and family, love and history, The Winter Soldier is a gripping novel equally stocked with mystery, excitement, and a brutal history.

John Wray's "Godsend" Is A Coming-Of-Age Novel About A Girl Joining The Taliban

Fri, 19 Jul 2019 15:34:25 -0000

This encore interview originally aired in January, 2019.

Lindsey Hilsum Writes About The Life Of The War Correspondent Marie Colvin

Fri, 12 Jul 2019 22:46:10 -0000

Marie Colvin was one of the foremost war reporters of her generation, risking her life covering conflicts in Chechnya, East Timor, Kosovo, and the Middle East. Killed in an artillery attack in Syria in 2012, Colvin left behind a profound record of the victims of wars that she covered, and a reputation as an unflinching and nonconformist reporter.

Real Life Influences Fiction In Emily Ruskovich's "Idaho"

Fri, 05 Jul 2019 23:17:56 -0000

This encore interview was originally broadcast in October, 2017.

Emily Ruskovich On Crafting Her Breakout Novel "Idaho"

Fri, 28 Jun 2019 22:00:00 -0000

This encore conversation first was broadcast in October, 2017.

Bryce Andrews Details Changing Habitats And "The Life And Death Of A Grizzly Bear"

Mon, 10 Jun 2019 19:36:22 -0000

The grizzly bear is one of North America’s few remaining large predators. With a diminished range, grizzlies are again spreading across the West. But in the valleys where once they were king, grizzlies are finding the landscape they’d known for eons utterly changed by this millennia’s most dominant animal: humans.

How California's History Might Inform America's Future

Fri, 24 May 2019 23:51:50 -0000

This interview originally aired in November, 2018.

Meghan L. O'Sullivan On Energy Independence, Global Politics And America

Fri, 03 May 2019 22:47:49 -0000

This Reader's Corner interview was originally broadcast in November, 2018.

Co-Authors Levitsky & Ziblatt Assess The Stability Of Democracies

Fri, 12 Apr 2019 21:31:21 -0000

America’s constitutional system of checks and balances has endured for more than two centuries. This is due, in part, to two unwritten political norms: respectful tolerance between opposing political parties, and a measure of restraint by the administration in power. Yet at contentious times in our history, those guardrails of democracy have been put to the test.

Daniel Tudor Peels Back The Curtains On Contemporary North Korea

Sat, 30 Mar 2019 15:22:33 -0000

For decades, North Korea has operated as a prime example of a “hermit kingdom” – a nation ruled by a despotic family regime, where propaganda and historical, political, and economic theatre are a daily ritual for the country’s 25 million citizens.

Randall Fuller On How Darwin's Theory Of Evolution Made Waves In 1860's U.S.

Fri, 22 Mar 2019 21:00:00 -0000

This encore interview originally aired in October, 2018.

Jonathan Evison's "Lawn Boy" Is A Coming-Of-Age Story About Class Distinctions

Fri, 15 Mar 2019 22:57:09 -0000

Jonathan Evison is a writer whose work frequently appears on the New York Times bestseller list.

Peter Brannen On "The Ends Of The World" And Earth's Past Mass Extinctions

Fri, 08 Mar 2019 17:40:59 -0000

This encore Reader's Corner interview first aired in September, 2018.

Master Writer Rick Bass Dines With His Idols In "The Traveling Feast"

Sat, 02 Mar 2019 04:48:50 -0000

What if you could take a road trip and visit all your heroes, door-to-door? What if you could share a meal? And what if you could do it right in their own homes? Our guest today embarked on just such a pilgrimage.

David Goldfield's Latest Book Details When Government Was Good

Fri, 08 Feb 2019 22:30:09 -0000

This interview was first broadcast in August, 2018.

Discussing The Human Need To Help With Nicholas Kristof

Sat, 19 Jan 2019 03:13:00 -0000

This encore program originally aired in September, 2018.

The Incredible Power Of "The Four" Tech Giants With Scott Galloway

Fri, 07 Dec 2018 21:23:47 -0000

This encore interview originally aired in July, 2018.

The Fight To Vote In The U.S. With Scholar Michael Waldman

Fri, 09 Nov 2018 22:00:00 -0000

This encore program was originally broadcast in November, 2016.

Chronicling Erdogan's Rise As "The New Sultan" Of Turkey

Thu, 01 Nov 2018 04:39:12 -0000

This encore Reader's Corner interview originally broadcast in June, 2018.

Interview With Basball Legend Jim Abbott About His Book "Imperfect"

Fri, 26 Oct 2018 23:30:00 -0000

This interview originally aired in August, 2010.

Stephanie Coontz Warns Of Getting Caught In The Nostalgia Trap

Fri, 12 Oct 2018 21:00:00 -0000

This encore program originally aired in June, 2018.

Juxtaposing U.S. And Chinese Schools With Lenora Chu

Fri, 14 Sep 2018 21:00:00 -0000

The state of public education is a constant concern these days -- for families, for legislators, for teachers and experts. Many are questioning methods embraced by American school systems as we see other countries besting us, particularly in math and science.

Lisa Servon Elucidates Modern Consumer Finance In "The Unbanking Of America"

Fri, 31 Aug 2018 19:52:39 -0000

When it comes to getting cash to make ends meet, many Americans don’t take their business to the local bank. Instead, they rely on alternative financial systems such as check cashing stores and payday lenders. Despite high interest rates and sometimes exorbitant fees, these services fill a vital need for those living paycheck to paycheck, and who, for a variety of reasons, distrust banks.

Tara Westover Discusses Her Bestselling Memoir "Educated"

Fri, 17 Aug 2018 21:00:00 -0000

Tara Westover grew up in far southeastern Idaho in a landscape familiar to many in the Gem State, a valley dominated by ranches and ringed by mountains. Her daily life, though, was anything but normal.

Nancy Koehn's 'Forged In Crisis' Shares Insight To Five Historical Leaders

Fri, 10 Aug 2018 21:00:00 -0000

This encore interview with Nancy Koehn was originally broadcast in March, 2018.

Part 2 With Scott Eyman About The Biography "Hank & Jim"

Fri, 03 Aug 2018 23:20:43 -0000

Today we’re continuing our conversation with Scott Eyman about his book Hank & Jim. The book chronicles the long friendship between two Hollywood icons, Henry Fonda and Jimmy Stewart. Unlike many friendships, theirs wasn’t based on shared beliefs about things like religion or politics. In fact, Stewart was a church-going Republican married to the same woman for 45 years. Fonda was a liberal Democrat and a non-believer who was married five times. Despite these and other differences, Fonda and Stewart found solace in each other’s company. They understood each other on a cellular level and around each other, they could have fun and relax.

Scott Eyman Talks Fonda, Stewart And The 50-Year Friendship Of "Hank & Jim"

Fri, 27 Jul 2018 22:00:00 -0000

Henry Fonda and Jimmy Stewart are beloved icons of Hollywood’s Golden Age, with careers that spanned decades and movies that still hold up today. They also were best friends who enjoyed spending time together, away from the glitter of their very public lives. With each other, they were simply Hank and Jim, two guys who flew kites, built model airplanes, played elaborate practical jokes on occasion, and didn’t find it necessary to talk about making movies, women, or the world war they both served in.

William Drozdiak Examines Brexit, Europe's Crises And The Fate Of The West

Fri, 20 Jul 2018 22:00:00 -0000

This encore interview was first broadcast in February, 2018

Go "Into the Silence" With Award-Winning Author Wade Davis

Fri, 06 Jul 2018 18:30:00 -0000

Today’s mountaineers tackle the world’s tallest peaks with the latest in technical gear – from down suits to nylon ropes and even cell phones. It is a far cry from the 1920s, when the first mountaineers to attempt Mount Everest climbed in hobnail boots, hauled canvas tents and were literally facing the unknown.

Eliza Griswold's "The Tenth Parallel" Surveys Collisions Between Christianity And Islam

Fri, 22 Jun 2018 22:00:00 -0000

A daily battle is raging along the 10th Parallel – the line of latitude 700 miles north of the equator in Africa and Southeast Asia where Islam and Christianity intersect. In this critical geographical band, religious ideologies clash, often erupting into deadly violence as more than half the world’s Muslims and 60 percent of the world’s Christians compete for the souls of the region’s burgeoning population.

Blaire Briody's "The New Wild West" Investigates Rural North Dakota Amid The Oil Boom

Fri, 15 Jun 2018 22:30:16 -0000

The descriptive phrase, “The Wild West,” brings to mind images of gunslingers, dusty miners and pioneering families eager to forge a fresh start in an inhospitable place. But in a new book, journalist Blaire Briody takes us on a tour of America’s contemporary Wild West: the badlands of North Dakota, under which reside an estimated 4.3 billion gallons of recoverable oil, making it the largest oil reserve in the lower 48 states.

Amy Goldstein Reveals A Community Reeling From A Manufacturing Plant Closure In "Janesville"

Sat, 09 Jun 2018 00:15:26 -0000

This encore program originally was broadcast in March, 2018.

Gregory Berns Researches Neuroscience And "What It's Like To Be A Dog"

Fri, 25 May 2018 23:00:00 -0000

This interview was originally broadcast in January, 2018.

Exploring The Novel "A Gentleman in Moscow" With Author Amor Towles

Sun, 13 May 2018 04:13:12 -0000

Russia is certainly in the headlines these days – but for the next 30 minutes, we’re setting aside talk of election meddling and diplomats to discuss a work of fiction. The novel, and it’s a bestseller, is A Gentleman in Moscow, and it’s written by today’s guest, Amor Towles.

Kurt Andersen Says Americans Are Living In A 'Fantasyland'

Sat, 05 May 2018 00:00:00 -0000

This interview was originally broadcast in January, 2018.

Scott Anderson On How History Has Fractured The Arab World

Fri, 20 Apr 2018 21:00:00 -0000

This encore Reader's Corner interview was originally broadcast in September, 2017.

Insight To The Monarchy And Prince Charles From Sally Bedell Smith

Fri, 13 Apr 2018 23:52:11 -0000

Our country was founded on the very idea that a free people should not be ruled by kings and queens. That said, there is an undeniable and lasting allure associated with monarchies. And that’s particularly true when it comes to Great Britain.

Author Tom Nichols On Cognitive Dissonance And "The Death of Expertise"

Fri, 06 Apr 2018 22:00:00 -0000

This is an encore program, originally broadcast in July, 2017.

"The History, Myth, And Future Of The Mustang" With Author David Philipps

Fri, 30 Mar 2018 22:28:20 -0000

From the moment we first laid eyes on them, Americans have been captivated by mustangs — with their strength, their determination and their wild nature. They have been featured in countless Western paperbacks, movies and songs through the years, and we’ve named war planes and muscle cars after them.

Longmire Mystery Series Author Craig Johnson And 'The Western Star'

Fri, 23 Mar 2018 23:00:00 -0000

Sheriff Walt Longmire, his sidekick Henry Standing Bear and the wide open spaces of Absaroka County are the fictional creations of author Craig Johnson – but they also have found their way into popular culture. In addition to the bestselling series of novels, there is a real-life Longmire Days festival that each summer draws thousands of fans to Buffalo, Wyoming; a website where you can purchase Longmire-for-Sheriff bumper stickers and other memorabilia; and a hit Netflix original series starring Robert Taylor as the beloved sheriff.

In "The Perfect Horse" Elizabeth Letts Tells A Surprising WWII Story

Fri, 09 Mar 2018 22:56:53 -0000

During the final days of World War II, a group of American soldiers encountered a German spy carrying nothing but photos of beautiful white horses. The story behind those photos was even more surprising. Nearby, on a farm behind enemy lines, the Nazis had stockpiled some of the world’s most valuable horses as part of an ambitious breeding program to develop the perfect war horse. But with the Russian army fast approaching from the east and the Third Reich on the verge of defeat, these precious animals were now in great danger. The German spy had an audacious request: Would the Americans step forward to save them?

Diplomat-Novelist Matthew Palmer Discusses His International Thriller "Enemy Of The Good"

Fri, 23 Feb 2018 22:00:00 -0000

This encore program was originally aired in December of 2017.

Robert Merry Contends President McKinley Shaped 20th Century America

Sat, 17 Feb 2018 00:38:05 -0000

The turn of the 20th century was a momentous time in U.S. history. After defeating imperial Spain in a brief but consequential war, America had expanded its global reach, with a footprint that stretched from Cuba and Guam to the Philippines. The country was developing and harnessing new technology like no other nation, its economic and diplomatic power was soaring, and it had nudged Europe and Japan toward a collective policy with China that favored U.S. interests.

Debut Novel "Spoils" From Brian Van Reet Explores Facets Of Modern War

Sat, 10 Feb 2018 00:00:00 -0000

This program was first broadcast in November, 2017

"Dark Money" By Jane Mayer Investigates The Rise Of The Radical Right

Fri, 26 Jan 2018 22:00:00 -0000

This episode of Reader's Corner was originally broadcast in June of 2017.

"High Noon" And The Hollywood Blacklist With Author Glenn Frankel

Fri, 12 Jan 2018 22:00:00 -0000

This encore program was originally broadcast in September, 2017.

Lyanda Lynn Haupt, author of "Mozart's Starling"

Fri, 29 Dec 2017 22:00:00 -0000

This is an encore of the program which was originally broadcast in August of 2017.

Edward Alden On The Global Economy Leaving America Behind

Fri, 08 Dec 2017 20:00:00 -0000

This interview was originally broadcast in June, 2017.

Greg Mitchell On "The Tunnels" Under The Berlin Wall

Thu, 23 Nov 2017 18:00:00 -0000

In 1961, the world watched as tensions flared and the Berlin Wall went up, trapping East Germans inside a Communist regime. What was less well known was what was happening under that wall. Away from the glare of television cameras and public demonstrations, defectors and West Germans engaged in clandestine efforts to build tunnels and help East Germans escape.

Noah Isenberg Shares His Book About 'Casablanca'

Fri, 03 Nov 2017 21:00:00 -0000

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the release of Casablanca, perhaps the most beloved of all Hollywood films. Somehow, this love story set in war time seems as relevant today as when it first lit up the silver screen back in 1942. People who’ve never even seen the movie still recognize its famous lines, and references to Casablanca abound in novels, plays, musicals, and other productions.

With "To End All Wars," Adam Hochschild Provides A Chilling Exposé Of WWI

Fri, 27 Oct 2017 21:00:00 -0000

The war that became known as World War I began over 100 years ago and ushered in a new type of warfare – one built underground, in trenches, instead of above ground, on horses. In his book, To End All Wars, Adam Hochschild brings the war to life in a stark and dramatic new way.

Marc Levinson On Why The Mid-20th Century Was "An Extraordinary Time" For America's Economy

Fri, 20 Oct 2017 20:00:00 -0000

This interview was originally broadcast in May, 2017.

Author Saladin Ambar Malcolm X And Racial Politics In A Global Era

Fri, 29 Sep 2017 22:45:00 -0000

Fifty years after he was assassinated at age 39, Malcolm X remains a controversial and somewhat mysterious figure. During his short but eventful life, he was a minister with the Nation of Islam who went on to found his own mosque, a fiery militant who advocated “any means necessary” to attain racial justice, and a brilliant, charismatic speaker whose legacy is still being determined.

"Are We Smart Enough To Know How Smart Animals Are?" With Frans de Waal

Fri, 15 Sep 2017 21:30:00 -0000

This episode originally was broadcast in March, 2017.

An Interview From Our Archives With Cecil Andrus

Sat, 02 Sep 2017 00:00:00 -0000

Today we’re featuring a special edition of our show as we remember and honor the remarkable life and legacy of Cecil D. Andrus, who died last week, just one day before his 86th birthday. Governor Andrus was the only Idahoan elected four times as the state’s governor, and he also served as Secretary of the Interior under President Jimmy Carter. He was a lifelong Democrat, but he knew how to work with colleagues of various persuasions to address issues that truly mattered to Idahoans, and to the nation.

Beth Macy Tells Of Two Brothers, A Kidnapping, And A Mother's Quest In "Truevine"

Sat, 19 Aug 2017 00:30:00 -0000

At the turn of the 20th century, the most popular entertainment acts in the country were found under the Big Top. The circus offered daring acts of bravery, wild animals, comic antics and the collection of human oddities known as the Freak Show.

John Dvorak, author of "Mask of the Sun"

Sat, 12 Aug 2017 00:33:25 -0000

With the 2017 total solar eclipse less than two weeks away, excitement is reaching a fever pitch in Idaho and other places across the country where this stunning celestial event will be visible.

Award-winning Writer Shawn Vestal On His Debut Novel "Daredevils"

Fri, 21 Jul 2017 23:05:00 -0000

This interview was originally broadcast in March, 2017

Why General MacArthur And President Truman Clashed In The Early 1950's

Fri, 07 Jul 2017 21:00:00 -0000

This program was originally broadcast in March, 2017.

A Fascinating Look Into "Stalin's Last American Spy" With Author Kati Marton

Sat, 24 Jun 2017 00:30:00 -0000

What does it take for someone with seemingly every advantage in life to turn on their friends, their family and their country, all in the name of a cause? Today’s guest, Kati Marton, explores that question in her new book, True Believer: Stalin’s Last American Spy.

Navigating "The Road To Character" With NY Times Columnist David Brooks

Sat, 10 Jun 2017 00:00:00 -0000

Every once in a while, you come across individuals who make you feel better just for having encountered them. As today’s guest, David Brooks, puts it, “They seem deeply good. They listen well. They make you feel funny and valued. They are not thinking about what wonderful work they are doing. They are not thinking about themselves at all.”

Charles Fountain On Why The 1919 World Series Scandal Was The Birth Of Modern Baseball

Fri, 26 May 2017 23:30:00 -0000

This program was originally broadcast in May of 2016

Why Americans May Not Want Another Great President, With Aaron David Miller

Fri, 05 May 2017 23:00:00 -0000

Washington, Lincoln and FDR are revered as leaders who helped shape the course of history. They are often referred to as “great” presidents. But is it possible to have a great president today? And is greatness a quality that Americans even want in their chief executive?

Author J.D. Vance On "Hillbilly Elegy" And A Culture In Crisis

Fri, 21 Apr 2017 23:00:00 -0000

Following one of the most divisive and contentious elections in history, it is easy to say that we are a nation in cultural crisis. But what does that actually mean? In the Rust Belt, as well as in rural Appalachia, it means factories closing and good jobs shipped overseas in less than a generation. It means an uptick in drug abuse and violence in the home, an erosion of the education system and trust in our government, and the disintegration of children’s dreams for a better future than that of their parents.

Mary Ellen Hannibal, author of "Citizen Scientist"

Fri, 14 Apr 2017 23:10:56 -0000

In our complex and data driven world, scientists are facing a major challenge to understand and document plant and animal species that may be in the process of disappearing. Climate change, habitat fragmentation, pollution and population growth are among the threats that are pushing some species toward extinction. The good news – and we need some good news these days – is that overwhelmed researchers are getting an assist from a growing number of enthusiastic volunteers. Known as citizen scientists, these volunteers are using their eyes, ears, and observations about the natural world to help scientists find answers to critical questions.

How Winston Churchill Became "Hero Of The Empire"

Fri, 07 Apr 2017 23:00:00 -0000

This program was originally broadcast in December, 2016.

Dr. Leonard Sax On What He Sees As "The Collapse Of Parenting"

Fri, 24 Mar 2017 21:00:00 -0000

As anyone with children, or grandchildren, knows, parenting isn’t easy. Children and adolescents are growing up in a complex and connected world where smartphones, video games, organized activities and friends vie for their attention. At the same time, parents aren’t exactly always sure what their job description should be – or how to best nurture their child.

"The Revised Fundamentals Of Caregiving" Author Jonathan Evison Will Visit 2017 Storyfort

Fri, 10 Mar 2017 23:00:00 -0000

This is an encore of this interview which was first aired in March of 2015.

Author Sy Montgomery On Octopuses And Animal Consciousness

Sat, 25 Feb 2017 01:30:00 -0000

What’s it like to be an octopus? Is it anything like being a human? Is it even possible to know?

How Voters And Historians View Presidential Greatness With Robert W. Merry

Fri, 17 Feb 2017 23:00:00 -0000

Two hundred and twenty-eight years ago this April, George Washington took the oath of office as the first president of the United States. Since then, 44 Americans have taken that solemn vow, most recently Donald Trump. History has yet to judge our most recent presidents. But as we look farther into the past, which presidents have stood the test of time and are revered today? And which ones are now viewed as less successful leaders, or even as failures?

Author Peter Bergen On Domestic Terrorism In The "United States Of Jihad"

Fri, 10 Feb 2017 23:00:00 -0000

Domestic terrorism has taken many forms since the horrific events of September 11th. From these disparate acts, a sinister pattern of domestic terrorism has emerged as American Muslim men and women are radicalized from afar by extremist groups like ISIS.

How ISIS Came To Be A Worldwide Threat With Author Joby Warrick

Sat, 21 Jan 2017 00:00:00 -0000

These days, the terrorist organization known as ISIS has much of the world on high alert. How this happened is the subject of a book by today’s guest, Washington Post reporter Joby Warrick.

Matthew Palmer And His Book "The Wolf Of Sarajevo"

Fri, 30 Dec 2016 23:00:00 -0000

Novelists do their best to take you inside the worlds they create for their narratives and characters. Matthew Palmer, has lived inside his novels as a 25-year veteran of the U.S. Foreign Service.

Lynn Sherr Tells The Story Of The First American Woman In Space, Sally Ride

Fri, 23 Dec 2016 22:45:00 -0000

When Sally Ride flew into orbit aboard the space shuttle Challenger in 1983, she made history. As the first American woman in space, Ride helped change perceptions about what women could accomplish and inspired a new generation of girls to literally reach for the stars. But Ride was more than an icon for the U.S. space program – she also was a complex, private woman with singular talents and skills, who continued to contribute to science and education until her death from pancreatic cancer in 2012.

A True Story Of Cold War Espionage With Author David E. Hoffman

Fri, 16 Dec 2016 21:00:00 -0000

At the height of the Cold War, a seemingly unassuming Soviet electronics engineer reached out to several Americans he encountered in Moscow and offered his services. While he was initially ignored, the engineer, Adolf Tolkachev was eventually accepted by the CIA’s Moscow station as a volunteer spy for the United States. Over a number of years, and under the nose of the ever-watchful KGB, Tolkachev passed on highly classified information about Soviet military technology to U.S. intelligence operatives. The documents he shared were of immense strategic value at a time when tensions between the two superpowers were at their peak.

Interview With Jim Rasenberger About His Book "The Brilliant Disaster"

Fri, 09 Dec 2016 21:38:47 -0000

The recent death of Fidel Castro has once again placed Cuba in the spotlight as the world remembers the fiery dictator who sparred with 11 US Presidents, and questions are what lies next for his country.

Historian John Bieter On The People, Land And Myths Of The Owyhee Canyonlands

Fri, 25 Nov 2016 22:45:00 -0000

Owyhee County is Idaho’s second largest county and yet one of its least populated. Despite its emptiness, Owyhee County has a rich history, one that has been thoroughly explored and documented by today’s guest, John Bieter.

Author Tim Egan On The Life Of "Immortal Irishman," Thomas Meagher

Fri, 11 Nov 2016 23:30:00 -0000

In the 1840s, a million Irish citizens died of starvation during what became known as the “Great Hunger.” Taking up the desperate cause of his countrymen was a spirited and wealthy young orator named Thomas Francis Meagher.

Maureen Corrigan On The Significance Of "The Great Gatsby"

Fri, 28 Oct 2016 00:00:00 -0000

Many of us remember reading The Great Gatsby in our high school English class – and not exactly loving it. What was it about this slim novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald that was supposedly so great, we wondered. And more to the point, why had it remained popular while other worthy books had slowly faded away?

Author Martin Ford Discusses Technology Undermining Human Labor

Fri, 14 Oct 2016 22:00:00 -0000

Imagine a world where you are driven to work by a driverless car, your morning news is written by a computer, and your lunch is prepared by a robot. In such a world, it would not be a stretch to wonder if humans were about to become obsolete. We’ve already seen this scenario play out in movies and popular novels. But according to today’s guest, there are reasons to worry about how new technologies are reshaping the real world right now.

Recounting The 1915 Sinking Of The SS Eastland With Author Michael McCarthy

Fri, 30 Sep 2016 23:10:00 -0000

On a summer morning in July 1915, thousands of poor factory workers lined the Chicago docks, waiting to board ships for the much anticipated annual picnic hosted by Western Electric Company. But as 2,500 passengers flooded aboard the first ship, the SS Eastland, disaster struck. The huge liner flipped onto its side, drowning more than 800 people in the filthy Chicago River, including 22 whole families.

"Inside Baseball's Endless Season" with sportswriter Barry Svrluga

Fri, 16 Sep 2016 22:00:00 -0000

Hot dogs and popcorn under the sweltering summer sun at the local ball park is an image embedded into American culture. But for the players jogging into the dugout, sweat dripping from their caps, baseball is more than just America’s pastime, it’s their career. And it’s a career unlike any other. With 162 regular season games in 182 days, major league baseball places unique demands on the players, their families, and those who work in a variety of roles to support the team.

Part 2 With "American Amnesia" Author, And Political Scientist Jacob Hacker

Fri, 09 Sep 2016 23:01:40 -0000

Today we’re continuing our timely conversation with author Jacob S. Hacker about the changing dynamics between the public and private sectors in driving economic growth, and how those changes are impacting our politics, culture and prosperity.

Jacob Hacker On "American Amnesia" And The Importance Of Government In The Economy

Sat, 03 Sep 2016 00:00:00 -0000

For much of the 20th century, private and public enterprises worked as both partners and adversaries to drive economic growth in our country. But in recent years, the balance within this so-called “mixed economy” has shifted away from public investment and regulation. Today, the term “Big Government” is widely considered a pejorative – despite the role public institutions have historically played in laying the foundation for social development and prosperity.

Marine Biologist Terrie Williams And The Inspiring "Odyssey Of KP2"

Fri, 26 Aug 2016 21:45:53 -0000

Terrie Williams is the author of The Odyssey of KP2: An Orphan Seal, a Marine Biologist, and the Fight to Save a Species. The book, which was Boise State’s Campus Read in the 2014/2015 academic year, tells the story of a monk seal pup who was abandoned on a sandy Hawaiian beach in 2008, and who went on to capture the hearts of locals and tourists alike. When local fishermen objected to the seal’s presence on the beach, officials made an unprecedented decision to move him across the ocean to the lab of Ms. Williams, a marine biologist at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Author Robert Putnam On The Divergent Opportunities For America's Children

Fri, 12 Aug 2016 22:30:00 -0000

The belief that with hard work, prosperity and success are open to everyone, is at the heart of our national identity. Yet, according to today’s guest, Robert Putnam, the gap between those who have the chance to forge a better future, and those who are being left behind, is getting wider. As a result “our kids,” America’s poorest among them, are experiencing a transformation of American society that comes at a cost to every one of us.

The Tale Of A Japanese-American Family Caught Between Two Worlds With Pamela Rotner Sakamoto

Sat, 30 Jul 2016 01:00:00 -0000

It’s been more than 70 years since the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, ushering in the end of World War II. Yet true stories such as the one from today’s guest, Pamela Rotner Sakamoto, remind us how much history still has to teach us, and why personal accounts remain so powerful.

Best-Selling Author Erik Larson On The Sinking Of The Lusitania In 1915

Tue, 12 Jul 2016 23:10:00 -0000

On May 1st, 1915, crowds lined New York’s harbor to bid farewell to nearly 2,000 family, friends and crew aboard the world’s fastest civilian liner — the Lusitania. The luxurious British ship was bound for Liverpool, England, more than 3,000 miles away. World War I was entering its 10th month, but civilian ships and their passengers were widely considered off-limits from enemy assault. Although the great liner would pass through waters patrolled by German U-boats off the coast of Britain, few worried about the dangers.

Pamela Newkirk Tells Of The Shameful Treatment Of Ota Benga In The Early 20th Century

Fri, 01 Jul 2016 19:04:24 -0000

In 1906, an African native known as Ota Benga was displayed in a cage in the monkey house at the Bronx Zoo. Thousands came to view the sensational exhibit. They shouted, pointed fingers, and laughed at the man, who stood 4 feet 11 inches in height and weighed 103 pounds. A sign outside the cage described him as an African Pygmy from the Congo Free State, and announced that he would be exhibited each afternoon during September. An orangutan shared the space with Benga, at times perching on his shoulder. The cage was littered with bones to suggest cannibalism, even though Benga was not a cannibal.

Jonathan Katz And Jason Herbeck Survived The 2010 Haiti Earthquake And Now Talk About Its Aftermath

Fri, 24 Jun 2016 21:18:24 -0000

Jonathan Katz talks more about his award-winning book, The Big Truck That Went By: How the World Came to Save Haiti and Left Behind a Disaster. Mr Katz was the only full time U.S. news reporter in Haiti when the quake struck. His on-the-ground reporting for the Associated Press helped inform the world about the scope of the disaster, and he stayed in Haiti in the months that followed to document how and why well-meaning world relief efforts fell short.

Why Relief Efforts After The 2010 Haiti Earthquake Created Disaster With Author Jonathan Katz

Fri, 17 Jun 2016 23:30:00 -0000

On a hot January afternoon in 2010, reporter Jonathan M. Katz heard a loud rumbling outside his home in the hills above Port-au-Prince, Haiti. At first, he thought it was a water truck. Then the bed began to vibrate, bottles shimmied on a nearby table, and the floor started to move. The roar increased as the deadliest earthquake in the history of the Western Hemisphere unleashed its full force. Mr. Katz survived. Thousands upon thousands of others were not so lucky.

Author Clive Thompson On How Technology Can Benefit Intelligence

Fri, 10 Jun 2016 23:00:00 -0000

Every new technology has its critics. Whether it’s a fancy new digital gadget with a seemingly endless number of functions, or an addictive new app for your Smart Phone, the latest and greatest inventions can sometimes give us reason to pause.

All About The Life, Presidency, And Assassination Of James A. Garfield With Author Candice Millard

Sat, 28 May 2016 00:00:00 -0000

A shot fired in the lobby of a Washington, D.C. , train station in 1881 would eventually claim the life of the United States’ 20th president — James A. Garfield. According to author Candice Millard, the assassination also shook the very core of the nation.

James Barrat Explores The Potential Pitfalls Of Artificial Intelligence

Sat, 14 May 2016 00:00:00 -0000

Until now, human intelligence has had no rival. But as Artificial Intelligence continues to advance, we should ask ourselves: Can we coexist with computers whose intelligence dwarfs our own?

A.J. Baime On American Industry And "The Arsenal Of Democracy" of WWII

Fri, 29 Apr 2016 23:30:00 -0000

When Germany invaded its European neighbors in 1940, the United States was a long ways from being prepared. The country’s military resources had been all but drained by the Great Depression. The U.S. army was smaller than that of Belgium’s, a nation that could fit inside Maryland. Military war games were being carried out with broomsticks and eggs in place of guns and grenades, and in at least one instance, a U.S. general was forced to order tank replacement parts from a Sears and Roebuck catalog because the military couldn’t provide the items itself.

How Grocer A&P Changed Retail With Author Marc Levinson

Fri, 15 Apr 2016 22:00:00 -0000

Grocery shopping is on almost everyone’s weekly list. For many households, that means driving to the supermarket, or an even larger discount mega-store, and loading our carts to the brim with our favorite brands. But grocery shopping wasn’t always this way. A century ago, small mom-and-pop grocers dotted street corners, staffed by storekeepers who packaged bulk items for customers they knew by name. Today, the retail landscape continues to change, as more of us go online for a variety of purchases.

Julia Angwin Uncovers A World Of Relentless Surveillance

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 22:30:00 -0000

It’s a scenario familiar to many of us: We go online and search for a product we’re interested in purchasing. Moments later, we click on our favorite news site, only to be bombarded with ads, including some for the product we were just viewing. So how did this happen? And what else might we unwittingly be sharing about our behavior, activities and tastes?

"Satchel: The Life And Times Of An American Legend" With Author Larry Tye

Fri, 18 Mar 2016 21:48:28 -0000

Baseball legends hold a special place in our country’s collective heart. Dizzy Dean, Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron are still household names generations after their feats on the baseball diamond made them famous.

In Memoriam: Oscar Award-Winning Actor George Kennedy

Fri, 04 Mar 2016 19:44:07 -0000

This week we are mourning the loss of one of Hollywood’s most beloved actors – George Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy gained world-wide fame for his Oscar-winning role as Dragline in Cool Hand Luke in 1967. Over the course of his long career, he appeared in more than 200 films, including The Dirty Dozen , the Airport series, The Eiger Sanction, Death on the Nile, and as Captain Ed Hocken in the Naked Gun series of the 1980s.

Stephan Talty And The Fascinating Story Of WWII Double "Agent Garbo"

Fri, 26 Feb 2016 23:33:41 -0000

Few would put the name Juan Pujol alongside Eisenhower, Churchill and Roosevelt – the Allied giants of World War II. Yet, this underachieving chicken farmer from Barcelona could very well be the pivotal figure in one of the 20th century’s most important events: the Allied landings in Normandy during the summer of 1944.

Chad Harbach On His Bestselling Novel, "The Art Of Fielding"

Sat, 13 Feb 2016 01:00:00 -0000

Baseball has inspired many works of fiction – including Chad Harbach’s bestselling novel, The Art of Fielding. But while the action is centered around a college team and its star shortstop, Henry Scrimshander, this is much more than a baseball book. The fallacy of perfection, the inevitability of change and the power of friendship are just a few of the multi-layered themes explored in the novel, which is now out in paperback.

Stephanie Witt Talks Urbanization and Cultural Conflict In The Great Basin

Sat, 06 Feb 2016 01:00:00 -0000

With 70 percent of its land owned by the federal government, the Great Basin is known as America’s last frontier. It’s home to ghost towns, endless sagebrush and secretive government test sites. Paradoxically, the Great Basin also is the fastest growing urban region in the United States, thanks to the cities of Boise, Salt Lake City, Reno and Las Vegas that perch on its rim.

How Early Pioneers Of Flight Got Their Wings With "Birdmen" Author Lawrence Goldstone

Sat, 30 Jan 2016 01:00:00 -0000

On May 30th, 1912, Wilbur Wright died peacefully in his own bed in the family home in Dayton, Ohio. He was 45 years old. The cause of death was typhoid, which he may have contracted from eating tainted clam broth in a Boston restaurant. But Orville Wright and members of the Wright family believed Wilbur’s death was attributable to the stress he experienced fighting their archenemy and main competitor, Glenn Curtiss. In Orville Wright’s mind, Curtiss had killed his older brother.

Author Mary Pilon Shares The Fascinating History Of "Monopoly"

Sat, 16 Jan 2016 00:00:00 -0000

Those of us who grew up playing the board game “Monopoly” likely remember the thrill of landing on an up-for-grabs Boardwalk or Park Place, and buying the pricey properties with our stash of brightly colored fake money. We might also recall the feeling of trepidation when we landed on those same properties after they had been purchased and improved by someone else, knowing we would have to pay an exorbitant rental fee before we could once again pass “Go” and collect our much-needed $200. But while Monopoly is embedded in our culture, it’s likely that few, if any of us, have given much thought over the years to how this iconic board game came into being.

Leon Panetta On His Life As A Public Servant And Finding Osama Bin Laden

Sat, 09 Jan 2016 00:55:00 -0000

Leon Panetta’s long service to our country is surely unique in the number of incredibly high level and tough assignments he has held and held to acclaim. A lawyer, he has directed the U.S. office for Civil Rights. He represented his Central California district in Congress for 16 years, rising to the chairmanship of the Budget Committee. He headed the Office of Management and Budget early in Bill Clinton’s presidency, serving later as his Chief of Staff. President Obama brought him back to government first as the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and later as Secretary of Defense. Secretary Panetta obviously never feared a challenge.

Rod Gramer's "The Good Assassin" Tackles Issues Of A Rising Surveillance State

Fri, 01 Jan 2016 22:00:00 -0000

“Three shots. That’s all it takes to change the course of American history.”

Author Peter Carlson Writes A Book On A Civil War Odyssey

Fri, 25 Dec 2015 22:00:00 -0000

History books are full of stories about the dangers and deprivations endured by soldiers who fought in the Civil War. What may be less well known are the challenges faced by journalists of the day who risked everything to get to the front lines of battle.

Beth Macy Chronicles The Bassett Furniture Company Amid Globalization In 'Factory Man'

Fri, 11 Dec 2015 23:30:00 -0000

For nearly a century, The Bassett Furniture Company was the center of life in the town of Bassett, Virginia, just as its wealthy namesake family was the foundation of the town’s prosperity. But that all changed in the 1980s, when cheaper Chinese products began flooding the American furniture market. The imports threatened the Bassett family legacy, as well as the livelihoods of hundreds of Virginians.

An Exploratory Trip To The Arctic in 1879 As Described By Author Hampton Sides

Sat, 28 Nov 2015 00:00:00 -0000

This interview was originally broadcast in July, 2015

Pulitzer Prize-Winner Matt Richtel Investigates Texting And Driving

Sat, 07 Nov 2015 00:30:00 -0000

This is an encore interview with Matt Richtel. It was originally broadcast in November, 2014.

What Really Brought Down The Berlin Wall With Author Mary Elise Sarotte

Sat, 31 Oct 2015 00:00:00 -0000

In 1987, President Ronald Reagan challenged the Soviet Union’s Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down this wall.” Two years later, the Berlin Wall was inexplicably opened, allowing East Germans free access to the West for the first time since 1961.

Conversation With Dr. Martin Blaser On The Overuse Of Antibiotics

Sat, 24 Oct 2015 00:00:00 -0000

This program was originally broadcast in April of 2015.

Part 2 Of An Interview With Daniel James Brown About "The Boys In The Boat"

Sat, 10 Oct 2015 00:00:00 -0000

This interview was originally broadcast in December, 2013:

An Epic Quest For Rowing Gold At The 1936 Berlin Olympics

Sat, 03 Oct 2015 00:00:00 -0000

This interview for Reader's Corner was originally broadcast in December of 2013:

The Downside Of Computer Automation With Author Nicholas Carr

Sat, 19 Sep 2015 01:00:00 -0000

This interview was originally broadcast in February of 2015

The True Story Behind Boris Pasternak's 'Dr. Zhivago'

Fri, 04 Sep 2015 23:00:00 -0000

This program was originally broadcast in April, 2015

Part Two Of An Archive Interview With Samuel Pisar

Fri, 21 Aug 2015 23:00:00 -0000

This interview was originally broadcast in November, 2005.

Listening Back To An Interview With Holocaust Survivor Samuel Pisar

Fri, 14 Aug 2015 23:00:00 -0000

In 2005, Reader's Corner had the privilege of welcoming author Samuel Pisar to the program. He was one of the youngest survivors of the Holocaust, an adviser to President John F. Kennedy, a friend and admirer of Idaho Senator Frank Church and a world renowned international lawyer. Over the course of an hour – twice as long as the interview was scheduled to last – Dr. Pisar shared stories from his extraordinary life, including how he survived the Nazi death camps and finally managed to escape.

Jacob Soll On Financial Accountability And The Rise And Fall Of Nations

Thu, 30 Jul 2015 22:00:00 -0000

This Reader's Corner interview was originally broadcast in February, 2015

Author Dan Hurley On 'The New Science of Building Brain Power'

Fri, 17 Jul 2015 21:00:00 -0000

This interview was first broadcast in January of 2015.

Elizabeth Kolbert And Her Pulitzer Prize-Winning Book "The Sixth Extinction"

Fri, 10 Jul 2015 23:30:00 -0000

For as long as humans have walked the Earth, we’ve been making changes to it – oftentimes with little or no comprehension about the far-reaching consequences of our actions. But in her book, The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History, Elizabeth Kolbert opens our eyes to the powerful and possibly catastrophic mass extinction unfolding right in front of us.

The History Of The Battle At Bunker Hill With Author Nathaniel Philbrick

Fri, 03 Jul 2015 23:45:00 -0000

This interview was originally broadcast in September of 2013.

Author Thomas Dyja On How Chicago Built The American Dream

Sat, 20 Jun 2015 00:45:59 -0000

This interview was first broadcast in December of 2014.

Remembering D-Day With Author And Historian John C. McManus

Fri, 05 Jun 2015 22:00:00 -0000

This is an encore interview and was first broadcast in June, 2014.

Author Jan Jarboe Russell Talks WWII Family Internment And Prisoner Exchange

Sat, 30 May 2015 00:00:00 -0000

The story told by Jan Jarboe Russell in her book, “The Train to Crystal City,” will have a familiar ring to those who know about the World War II internment camp at Minidoka, Idaho.

Author Paul Tough Challenges The Way We Measure Success In Children

Sat, 16 May 2015 00:00:00 -0000

This interview was broadcast first in January of 2013.

Author Robert K. Fitts On American Baseball's 1934 Tour Of Japan

Fri, 01 May 2015 23:30:00 -0000

This Reader's Corner interview was originally broadcast in September of 2013.

Author Douglas Brinkley On Teddy Roosevelt's Crusade For America's Wilderness

Fri, 24 Apr 2015 23:30:00 -0000

This is an encore interview and was originally broadcast in October 2014.

Former China Correspondent Adam Brookes Pens Debut Novel, 'Night Heron'

Sat, 11 Apr 2015 01:00:00 -0000

This interview was originally broadcast in November of 2014.

Pulitzer Prize Winner Dan Fagin And The Story Of 'Toms River'

Fri, 27 Mar 2015 23:30:00 -0000

This interview with Dan Fagin was originally broadcast in September of 2014.

Author Julia Sweig On Her Book 'Cuba: What Everyone Needs to Know'

Sat, 21 Mar 2015 00:00:00 -0000

Cuba is a mere 90 miles from the United States, a puddle-jump flight or a long swim across the straits of Florida. Yet, for more than a half-century, that distance at times has loomed much greater, as U.S.-Cuba tensions played out across the world stage and here at home. That situation is changing – and dramatically so.

Author Peter Stark On John Jacob Astor's Lost Pacific Empire

Sat, 14 Mar 2015 00:00:00 -0000

This interview was originally broadcast in September, 2014

Part 2: An Interview With Terrie Williams, Upcoming Speaker At Boise State

Fri, 27 Feb 2015 22:00:00 -0000

This interview was originally broadcast in May, 2013.

Marine Biologist Terrie Williams On Endangered Monk Seals And 'The Odyssey Of KP2'

Sat, 21 Feb 2015 00:00:00 -0000

This Reader's Corner interview was originally broadcast in April 2013.

Author Christine Bader On Corporate Idealism

Fri, 30 Jan 2015 22:00:00 -0000

This interview was originally broadcast in August of 2014.

Terrorism Expert Aaron Zelin Weighs In On ISIS, Global Jihad

Sat, 24 Jan 2015 01:00:00 -0000

The recent terrorist attacks in Paris, France that claimed 17 lives sent shock waves around the world and heightened concerns about growing tensions between Islamic extremists and the West.

Author Gary Bass Examines Cold War Foreign Policy In Asia

Sat, 17 Jan 2015 00:00:00 -0000

This interview was originally broadcast in May of 2014.

"38 Nooses" Part 2, With Scott W. Berg

Sat, 03 Jan 2015 00:45:00 -0000

This is an encore broadcast of part 2 of the interview with Scott W. Berg, it was originally aired in October of 2013.

Interview With '38 Nooses' Author Scott W. Berg

Sat, 27 Dec 2014 00:45:00 -0000

This interview was originally broadcast in October of 2013.

Pulitzer Prize Winner Isabel Wilkerson On 'America's Great Migration'

Sat, 20 Dec 2014 01:00:00 -0000

This interview with Isabel Wilkerson was originally broadcast in October of 2014.

An Interview With 'All The Light We Cannot See' Author Anthony Doerr

Sat, 06 Dec 2014 00:00:00 -0000

This interview was originally broadcast in May, 2014.

Former Congressman Mickey Edwards On The Downside Of Partisan Politics

Sat, 29 Nov 2014 00:40:00 -0000

This Reader's Corner interview was originally broadcast in May, 2014

Author Adam Makos Tells An Incredible Story Of Chivalry In The Skies Of WWII

Sat, 08 Nov 2014 00:00:00 -0000

In honor of Veteran's Day, we're broadcasting this interview with Adam Makos. The program was originally broadcast in March, 2014.

The Genius Of Dogs With Author Dr. Brian Hare

Sat, 25 Oct 2014 00:00:00 -0000

This Reader's Corner interview was originally broadcast in April, 2014.

A Year On The Ragged Edge Of The West With Author Bryce Andrews

Wed, 08 Oct 2014 00:00:00 -0000

This Reader's Corner interview initially was broadcast in January, 2014.

Interview With "In The Garden Of Beasts" Author Erik Larson

Fri, 19 Sep 2014 23:00:00 -0000

This Reader's Corner interview originally was broadcast in July of 2013

The Business Success Of LEGO With Author David Robertson

Fri, 05 Sep 2014 22:00:00 -0000

This is an encore broadcast of the interview with David Robertson. The conversation was originally broadcast in January of 2014.

Imagining A Post-Antibiotic Future With Maryn McKenna

Sat, 30 Aug 2014 00:00:00 -0000

Antibiotics are ubiquitous in modern human life. Along with their well-known medical applications, they also are routinely used in agriculture, including our increasingly industrial production of meat.

Understanding Russia's Modern History With Author Daniel Treisman

Sat, 23 Aug 2014 00:00:00 -0000

Generations of western leaders have puzzled over how to manage their nation’s relationship with Russia – and headlines in recent months, especially from Ukraine, have only deepened this long-standing challenge.

Author Christian Caryl On 1979 And The Birth Of The 21st Century

Fri, 15 Aug 2014 22:06:53 -0000

This Reader's Corner interview was first broadcast in January, 2014

Talking About Commitment With Idaho Author Heidi Reeder

Sat, 02 Aug 2014 00:00:00 -0000

Businesses seeking to increase productivity, athletes striving to improve their performance, and couples intent on strengthening their relationship share this in common: To get what they’re after, they’ll need more than motivation. They’ll need commitment.

The Legacy Of Photographer Edward Curtis With Author Timothy Egan

Sat, 12 Jul 2014 00:00:00 -0000

It took Edward Curtis just a few years after arriving in the small town of Seattle in 1887 to establish a reputation as one of its finest portrait photographers. Uneducated and self-taught, he quickly became one of the most respected lensmen in America and was summoned to capture images of President Theodore Roosevelt and even the president’s daughter’s wedding.

A Conversation With 'The Last Great Senate' Author Ira Shapiro

Fri, 04 Jul 2014 23:00:00 -0000

Ask just about anyone their opinion about politics and the federal government and two words you are likely to hear in response are: dysfunction and gridlock.

Part 2: Idaho Author Anthony Doerr On Promoting 'All The Light We Cannot See'

Fri, 27 Jun 2014 23:38:32 -0000

In May, Anthony Doerr visited Reader's Corner to talk about his new novel, "All the Light We Cannot See." Ten years in the writing, the book tells the stories of a blind French girl and a German boy during World War II and how their lives eventually intertwine.

Football And Concussions: An Interview With 'League Of Denial' Author Steve Fainaru

Fri, 20 Jun 2014 21:00:00 -0000

"This program is an encore and was originally broadcast in November of 2013"

Author Justin Vaughn On The Heroic Expectations Of The American President

Sat, 14 Jun 2014 00:00:00 -0000

The office of the President of the United States is among the most highly visible institutions anywhere in the world. The person who occupies the office is subject to intense scrutiny – and while some of that is negative, the president oftentimes also serves as a symbol of the hopes, dreams and aspirations of a diverse American citizenry.

'The Vatican Diaries' Author John Thavis Offers An Insider's Look At The Catholic Church

Fri, 16 May 2014 22:29:07 -0000

For John Thavis, the timing couldn’t have been better. His book, “The Vatican Diaries: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Power, Personalities and Politics at the Heart of the Catholic Church,” was released in February 2013, just as Pope Benedict XVI announced he would be the first pope in 600 years to resign.

Journalist Amanda Ripley On The Current State Of Education

Fri, 25 Apr 2014 23:00:00 -0000

Preparing students to excel in a fast-changing world is a concern for many nations. Some countries, including our own, have implemented a variety of education reforms over recent decades, only to see piddling results. Others, including Finland, South Korea and Poland, have realized major gains.

History And Relevance Of Earth Day With Author Adam Rome

Sat, 19 Apr 2014 00:00:00 -0000

Earth Day 2014 is Tuesday, and celebrations are planned across our nation and around the world, including here at Boise State. Forty-four years after it was first launched, this annual event continues to evolve, attract new participants and raise awareness about environmental issues. What many may not realize is that Earth Day also played a major role in the birth of the modern environmental movement.

An Interview With "Frozen In Time" Author Mitchell Zuckoff

Fri, 11 Apr 2014 20:27:56 -0000

In November of 1942, a U.S. cargo plane on a routine flight crashed into the Greenland ice cap, setting in motion an extraordinary chain of events. Four days after the crash, a B-17 searching for the missing cargo plane also went down in a blinding storm. All nine crewmembers survived the crash, and an amphibious Grumman Duck was sent on a daring rescue mission to bring them home. After picking up one member of the B-17 crew, the rescuers of this third flight flew into a severe storm and vanished.

Author Ian Buruma On 1945 And The World After WWII

Sat, 08 Mar 2014 01:00:00 -0000

Stories about the heroics of World War II are deeply embedded in our popular culture. But the Hollywood storyline seldom reflects on the struggles of those left to survive amid the ruins of what was likely the most destructive war in human history.

An Historic And Lonely Crusade For Wildlife With Stefan Bechtel

Sat, 01 Mar 2014 01:00:00 -0000

In 1886, William Temple Hornaday set out for the untamed West to collect American bison specimens for the U.S. National Museum. Just a few years earlier the bison herds of North America had been estimated in the millions.

Literacy Educator Jeffrey Wilhelm Says Let Kids Read What They Want

Sat, 22 Feb 2014 01:00:00 -0000

Research shows that kids who read well do better in school and have a distinct advantage in developing communication and logical thinking skills. Avid readers also tend to be more engaged in the world around them.

Remembering Bethine Church And Her Passion For People And Politics

Fri, 14 Feb 2014 19:26:00 -0000

Bethine Church was widow of Senator Frank Church and would have turned 91 on Feb. 19 2014, she died on Dec. 21, 2013 at her home in Boise. Bethine was one of Idaho’s sweethearts and a political powerhouse in her own right. Her contributions to Idaho and its institutions are numerous and include being the founder and chair of The Frank Church Institute at Boise State University.

Why American Kids Aren't The Smartest In The World With Author Amanda Ripley

Sat, 08 Feb 2014 01:00:00 -0000

Interview With 'How Algorithms Came To Rule Our World' Author Christopher Steiner

Fri, 24 Jan 2014 17:38:04 -0000

Each day, our lives are increasingly driven by the unseen force of data that is harnessed, organized and focused by complex sets of mathematical formulas known as algorithms. These Information Age tools play a huge role in everything from the safety and efficiency of our cars, to the kind of music we hear on the radio, to the split-second trading on Wall Street that drives our economy.

'Blackett's War' And Operational Research In WWII With Stephen Budiansky

Fri, 10 Jan 2014 15:38:37 -0000

During World War II, a small group of British and American scientists worked tirelessly to defeat the German U-boats that were wreaking havoc on allied commerce. Armed with a dogged determination and a fair amount of mathematics, physics and probability theory, they forged the new field of operational research and forever changed how wars were fought and won.

Author Explores WWII Story "Frozen in Time"

Fri, 22 Nov 2013 22:42:02 -0000

Vatican Expert Talks Change In Papacy

Fri, 08 Nov 2013 19:37:08 -0000

As the former Rome bureau chief for Catholic News Service, few understand the inner workings of the seat of Roman Catholicism better than John Thavis. His book reveals that Vatican City’s public image of power, hierarchical authority and reverence for the past often masks a disorganized, inept and uncertain organizational culture.

Interview With 'Nature Wars' Author Jim Sterba

Fri, 18 Oct 2013 19:14:58 -0000

We all know we’re in wild animal habitat when we enter the campground. Leave food unattended and you might find yourself in a battle with a bear. But what if the battleground was your own backyard?

Interview With Author And Journalist Peter Carlson

Fri, 11 Oct 2013 21:56:02 -0000

Interview With Astronomer Mike Brown

Sun, 06 Oct 2013 18:39:56 -0000

Many of us can probably recall maps of the solar system from our school days that showed nine planets, from Mercury to Pluto, orbiting around the sun. All that changed in 2006, when the International Astronomical Association voted to demote Pluto from a real planet to the newly coined category of “dwarf planet,” a move that stirred controversy around the world.

Interview With Chinese History Expert Jonathan Spence

Fri, 27 Sep 2013 20:17:26 -0000

China has long been described as “inscrutable” – a country that is both exotic and difficult to understand. Today, the world’s most populous nation is a major player on the international stage. Yet, at times, China’s actions continue to baffle outsiders unfamiliar with the country’s long and rich history and its impact on all aspects of Chinese life.

Interview With Nathanial Philbrick

Sat, 14 Sep 2013 00:00:00 -0000

National Book Award-winner and Author of "Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution"

Interview With Robert Fitts

Fri, 06 Sep 2013 23:03:49 -0000

Author of "Banzai Babe Ruth: Baseball, Espionage and Assassination During the 1934 Tour of Japan"

Interview With Stephan Talty

Fri, 30 Aug 2013 22:27:41 -0000

Author of "Agent Garbo: The Brilliant, Eccentric Secret Agent who Tricked Hitler and Saved D-Day"

Interview With Christopher Steiner

Fri, 23 Aug 2013 22:17:35 -0000

Author of "Automate This: How Algorithms Came to Rule Our World"

Interview With Eliza Griswold

Fri, 09 Aug 2013 23:19:58 -0000

Author of " The Tenth Parallel: Dispatches From the Fault Line Between Christianity and Islam"

Interview With Stephen Budiansky

Sat, 03 Aug 2013 00:00:00 -0000

Author of "Blackett's War: The Men Who Defeated the Nazi U-Boats and Brought Science to the Art of Warfare"

Interview With Jeffery Wasserstrom

Fri, 26 Jul 2013 20:45:05 -0000

Author of "China in the 21st Century"

Interview With Nancy Napier

Fri, 19 Jul 2013 19:59:13 -0000

Author of "Wise Beyond Your Field: How Creative Leaders Out Innovate to Out Perform"

Interview With Paul Tough

Fri, 12 Jul 2013 22:42:54 -0000

Author of "How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character"

Interview With Erik Larson

Wed, 03 Jul 2013 22:44:21 -0000

Author of "In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin"

Interview With Jim Sterba

Fri, 28 Jun 2013 23:06:56 -0000

Author of "Nature Wars"

Interview With Stefan Bechtel

Wed, 26 Jun 2013 16:14:21 -0000

Author of "Mr Hornaday's War: How a Peculiar Victorian Zookeeper Waged a Lonely Crusade for Wildlife that Changed the World."

Interview With Mary Ellen Hannibal

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0000

Author of "The Spine of the Continent: The Most Ambitious Wildlife Conservation Project Ever Undertaken"

Interview With Mike Brown

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0000

Astronomer and Author of "How I Killed Pluto and Why it Had it Coming"

Interview With Robert Morgan

Sat, 01 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0000

Author of "Lions of the West"

Interview With John Thavis

Sat, 25 May 2013 00:30:00 -0000

Author of "The Vatican Diaries: a Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Power, Personalities and Politics at the Heart of the Catholic Church"

Interview With Edward Ball

Sat, 18 May 2013 00:30:00 -0000

Author of "The Inventor and the Tycoon: A Gilded Age Murder and the Birth of Moving Pictures"

Interview With Jon Gertner

Fri, 10 May 2013 18:46:44 -0000

Author or "The Idea Factory: Bell Labs and the Great Age of American Innovation"

"The Odyssey of KP2" by Terrie Williams

Fri, 10 May 2013 18:39:57 -0000

A baby seal abandoned on a remote beach on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, is an unlikely champion for endangered marine mammals worldwide. But tiny KP2 quickly captured the hearts of admirers across the islands, and the world, with his love for all things human and his playful and inquisitive personality.

Interview With Larry Tye About His Book "Superman"

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 03:31:06 -0000

Author of "Superman, the High Flying History of America's Most Enduring Hero"

Interview With Melanie Kirkpatrick

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 23:02:51 -0000

Author of "Escape from North Korea: The Untold Story of Asia's Underground Railroad"

Interview With George Kennedy

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 16:41:58 -0000

Oscar-winning Actor and Author of "Trust Me: A Memoir"

Interview With Tracy Kidder

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0000

Author of "Strength in What Remains"

Interview With Stephan Talty

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 00:30:00 -0000

Author of "Agent Garbo: The Brilliant Eccentric Secret Agent Who Tricked Hitler and Saved D-Day"

Interview With Aaron L. Friedberg

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 21:41:26 -0000

Author of "A Contest for Supremacy: China, America, and the Struggle for Mastery in Asia"

Interview With Michael Grunwald

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 01:30:00 -0000

Author of "The NEW New Deal: The Hidden Story of Change in the Obama Era"

Interview With Jim Sterba

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 01:30:00 -0000

Author of "Nature Wars: The Incredible Story of How Wildlife Comebacks Turned Backyards into Battlegrounds"

Interview With Peter Bergen

Sat, 16 Feb 2013 00:01:59 -0000

Author of "Manhunt: From 9/11 to Abbottabad, The Ten-Year Search for Osama Bin Laden"

Interview With Robert Morgan

Sat, 09 Feb 2013 01:00:00 -0000

Author of "Lions of the West: Heroes and Villains of the Westward Expansion"

Interview With Jill Gill

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 17:45:10 -0000

Author of "Embattled Ecumenism: The National Council of Churches, the Vietnam War And the Trials of the Protestant Left"

Interview With Jeffery Wasserstrom About His Book "China In The 21st Century"

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 01:00:00 -0000

Author of "China in the 21st Century: What Everyone Needs to Know"

Interview With Jim Abbott

Sat, 19 Jan 2013 02:08:56 -0000

Author of "Imperfect: An Improbable Life"

Interview With Mary Ellen Hannibal About An Ambitious Project To Help Wildlife

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 15:27:12 -0000

Author of "The Spine of the Continent: The Most Ambitious Wildlife Conservation Project Ever Undertaken"

Interview With Paul Tough

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 22:18:46 -0000

Author of "How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character"

Interview With Alan Heathcock

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 22:21:45 -0000

Author of the short story collection "Volt"

Interview With Rajiv Chandrasekaran About His Book "Little America"

Sat, 17 Nov 2012 01:30:00 -0000

Author of "Little America: The War Within the War For Afghanistan"

Interview With HW Bill Brands About His Book "American Colossus"

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 01:30:00 -0000

Author of "American Colossus: The Triumph of Capitalism, 1865-1900"

Interview With James Dodson About His Book "American Triumvirate"

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 00:30:00 -0000

Author of "American Triumvirate: Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan and the Modern Age of Golf"

Interview With Susan Orlean

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 17:07:54 -0000

Author of "Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend"

Interview With Susan Orlean

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 16:24:32 -0000

Author of "Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend"

Interview With Gary Gallagher About His Book "The Union War"

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 20:01:17 -0000

Interview with Gary Gallagher as he discusses his book "The Union War".

Interview With Gary Gallagher

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 19:57:44 -0000

Author of "The Union War"

Interview With Peter Bergen About His Book "Manhunt"

Sat, 13 Oct 2012 00:27:14 -0000

Author of "Manhunt: From 9/11 to Abbottabad"

Interview With Sam Kean

Sat, 29 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0000

Author of "The Violinist's Thumb and Other Lost Tales of Love, War and Genius, as Written by Our Genetic Code"

Interview With George Kennedy Author of "Trust Me"

Sat, 15 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0000

Academy Award-winning author of "Trust Me: A Memoir" and resident of Eagle, ID

Interview With Michael Grabell About His Book "Money Well Spent?"

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 19:15:35 -0000

Author of "Money Well Spent? The Truth Behind the Trillion-Dollar Stimulus, the Biggest Economic Recovery Plan in History"

Interview With Bruce Riedel About His Book "Deadly Embrace"

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 17:36:09 -0000

Author of "Deadly Embrace: Pakistan, America and the Future of Global Jihad"

Interview With Jill Gill About Her Book "Embattled Ecumenism"

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 17:01:16 -0000

Professor of History at Boise State and Author of "Embattled Ecumenism: The National Council of Churches, the Vietnam War And the Trials of the Protestant Left"

Interview With Alan Heathcock About His Book "Volt"

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 22:57:06 -0000

VOLT, the title of Alan Heathcock’s acclaimed collection of linked short stories, is as electric as the name implies. Set in the fictional town of Krafton, a lonely and windswept hamlet that could be located just about anywhere, the eight stories in VOLT feature an unforgettable cast of characters who confront floods, violence, family strife, longing and loss.

Interview With Aaron Friedberg About His Book "A Contest of Supremacy"

Fri, 06 Jul 2012 23:30:00 -0000

Author of "A Contest for Supremacy: China, America, and the Struggle for Mastery in Asia"

Interview With Marc Lynch About His Book "The Arab Uprising"

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 23:30:30 -0000

Author of "The Arab Uprising: The Unfinished Revolutions of the New Middle East"

Interview With Jon Gertner About His Book "The Idea Factory"

Fri, 25 May 2012 23:33:33 -0000

Author of "The Idea Factory: Bell Labs and the Great Age of American Innovation"

Interview with Susan Orlean About Her Book "Rin Tin Tin"

Fri, 11 May 2012 23:40:00 -0000

Author of "Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend"

Interview with Richard Reeves About A Triumphant Military Operation

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0000

Author of "Daring Young Men: The Heroism and Triumph of The Berlin Airlift, June 1948-May 1949"

Interview with Pam Constable

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 23:30:16 -0000

Author of "Playing with Fire: Pakistan at War with Itself"

Interview with Parag Khanna On "How To Run The World"

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 23:35:00 -0000

Author of "How to Run the World: Charting a Course to the Next Renaissance"

Interview with Matthew Deren About West Central Idaho's Wilderness

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 20:17:22 -0000

Author of "A Forgotten Wilderness: Nature's Hidden Relationship in West Central Idaho"

Interview With Ron Powers About His Mark Twain Biography

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 23:30:00 -0000

Host, Bob Kustra and Author Ron Powers discuss the book "Mark Twain: A Life"

Interview with Don Carleton About "Conservations With Cronkite"

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 23:01:58 -0000

Co-author of "Conversations with Cronkite"

Interview with Mia Bay About Her Book "To Tell The Truth Freely"

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 23:00:33 -0000

Author of "To Tell the Truth Freely: The Life of Ida B. Wells"

Interview with Deborah Blum About "The Poisoner's Handbook"

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 21:35:52 -0000

Author of "The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York"

Interview With Neil Lanctot About His Book "Campy"

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:01:05 -0000

Author of "Campy: The Two Lives of Roy Campanella"

Interview With Tim Woodward About His Book "Destination Idaho"

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:49:20 -0000

Guest: Tim Woodward, longtime Idaho Statesman columnist and author of “Destination Idaho”

Interview with Donovan Hohn

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:35:59 -0000

Author of “Moby Duck: The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea and of the Beachcombers, Oceanographers, Environmentalists, and Fools, Including the Author,Who Went in Search of Them”

Interview with Joseph A. McCartin

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:58:27 -0000

Author of “Collision Course: Ronald Reagan, the Air Traffic Controllers and the Strike that Changed America”

Interview With Mark Adams About His Book "Turn Right At Macchu Piccu"

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:46:30 -0000

Author of “Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time”

Interview with Michael Mandelbaum

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:28:04 -0000

Co-author of "That Used to Be Us: How America Fell Behind in the World It Invented and How We Can Come Back."

Interview with Mitchell Zuckoff About His Book "Lost In Shangri-La"

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:41:41 -0000

Author of “Lost in Shangri-La: A True Story of Survival, Adventure and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II”

Charles C. Mann Uncovers The New World Columbus Created in His Book "1493"

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:35:53 -0000

Author of "1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created"

Interview With Raj Patel About His Book "Stuffed and Starved"

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:15:38 -0000

Author of "Stuffed and Starved: The Hidden Battle for the World Food System"

Interview with Matthew Algeo

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 20:35:33 -0000

Author of "The President is a Sick Man: Wherein the Supposedly Virtuous Grover Cleveland Survives a Secret Surgery at Sea and Vilifies the Courageous Newspaperman Who Dared Expose the Truth"

Interview With Tracy Kidder About His Book "The Strength In What Remains"

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 21:18:34 -0000

Author of "Strength in What Remains"

Jason Turbow On His Book "The Baseball Codes"

Fri, 27 May 2011 22:41:40 -0000

Jason Turbow is the author of "The Baseball Codes: Beanballs, Sign Stealing, and Bench-Clearing Brawls: The Unwritten Rules of America's Pastime"

Interview With Christopher McDougall About His Book "Born to Run"

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 18:06:32 -0000

Author of "Born to Run" part I

Interview with Scott Simon

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 18:14:46 -0000

Scott Simon is well known to public radio listeners as the host of NPR’s Weekend Edition. He also is the author of several well-received books, including, Baby We Were Meant For Each Other: In Praise of Adoption, published in 2010.

David Grann On His Bestseller "Lost City of Z"

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 18:40:44 -0000

In 1925, former spy and acclaimed British explorer Percy Harrison Fawcett walked into the Amazon rainforest in search of the fabled lost city of El Dorado — and disappeared. In the decades that followed, scores of adventurers tried, and failed, to retrace his steps. Many died. Others faced harrowing encounters with native tribes, poisoned arrows, cannibalism, dense rainforest, flesh-eating piranhas and massive pythons. None solved what had come to be known as the greatest exploration mystery of the twentieth century.

Interview With Bruce Barcott Author Of "The Last Fight Of The Scarlet Macaw"

Fri, 07 May 2010 18:15:29 -0000

Author of "The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw: One Woman's Fight to Save the World's Most Beautiful Bird"

Interview With Scott Yenor

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 21:35:57 -0000

Boise State political science professor, on the state of civic education.