Viewpoints Radio
Award-winning reporting on current issues featuring America's leading experts.
Coloring books aimed at children, adults and even seniors have been all the rage in recent years and are still trending in 2020. But what's so special about these patterns and designs that draw people in? We delve into the process of putting together these collections and why the creative outlet has become a mainstay for so many looking to switch off and …
We explore Ian Reid’s horror novel, “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” that tops our list of scariest books of all time. It’s a quick read with a twisting plot that keeps you hooked all the way through.
Author Dave Eggers has been a cult hero since his 2000 memoir A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius took readers on a wild and enthralling ride. Now, almost two decades later, he’s still producing novels that push the boundaries of dialogue and prose.
The Harry Potter series is one of the most beloved stories of all time, unlocking a world of wizarding magic, adventure and intrigue to millions of young readers. We discuss how its unconventional storyline and character development can shift thinking and teach real life lessons to young and old readers alike.
While many schools have put in place comprehensive anti-bullying campaigns, we still seldom focus on ensuring that the child bullies get the help they need. We routinely punish troubled kids with harsh detentions, suspensions and from there it escalates onward. Because of this, many bullies seem to never get the proper support and get stuck in a perpetual …
The new series stands apart from other superhero shows while also staying true to the original “Watchmen” graphic novel written by Alan Moore. We discuss the first season that’s now streaming on HBO.
What would it be like to feel crippled by identity theft for most of your young adult life? Axton Betz-Hamilton shares her surprising identity theft story and how she’s now helping others in a similar boat.
These days physical books have a lot of competition. From TV to smartphone use, it can be hard to switch it all off and dive into a new book. That’s why it’s so important to start a routine of reading and storytime from the get-go with your child. We discuss how children’s books have changed over the years and how to go about finding the best books for each …
Stephen King’s latest novel, The Institute, sees the famed storyteller excelling at something he has done better than other writers for decades: telling a story from the perspective of a child.
Noah Hawley is the man behind the TV shows “Fargo” and “Legion.” He also writes novels and his latest, “Before the Fall,” is a mystery thriller that has been winning awards and demands to be read.
It's back-to-school season, and while schools have put in place comprehensive anti-bullying campaigns, we seldom focus on making sure child bullies themselves get the help they need to deal with the problems that are causing them to act out in the first place. We still punish troubled kids with detentions, suspensions and from there it escalates onward. Many …
We review the new science fiction book, “Recursion” written by American author Blake Crouch who’s widely known for the “Wayward Pines” trilogy.
Author Jared Yates Sexton shares memories from his own turbulent childhood and accounts as a journalist and connects it to the larger discussion around the phenomenon of toxic masculinity in the U.S. What exactly is toxic masculinity and how is it affecting men and youth?
It happens to everyone. Despite your perseverance, you just can’t get into the book you’re reading. Do you push yourself to keep on going or give up and raise a white flag?
In today’s fast-paced world, it can be tough to start anew or slow down and reexamine what you’re working towards. We speak with journalist and author David Epstein who argues that switching focuses and developing a wide range of skillsets ultimately leads to greater success.
Phoebe Waller Bridge has produced and starred in several hits ranging from “Killing Eve” to “Solo: A Star Wars Story”. Now, she’s working on the script for the fourth James Bond movie and has created a new season of the show “Fleabag”. We discuss her success in Hollywood and the allure of shorter TV shows.
Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist Mark Obmascik shares the incredible story of two men fighting for opposing sides and tangled in the complexities of World War II in his book The Storm on Our Shores: One Island, Two Soldiers, and the Forgotten Battle of World War II.
For decades, science fiction was a genre written almost exclusively by white males. Now, the genre is flourishing with diverse voices, thanks in part to the trailblazing writer Octavia E. Butler. Historian Gerry Canavan discusses the obstacles Butler faced and her legacy on one of the most popular genres in American literature.
The sci-fi adventure movie, Annihilation, is based on a book but the adaptation is looser than what we typically expect. How director Alex Garland created something new.
You see authors thank their editors all the time in the acknowledgements section of a book. But exactly what does an editor do? We talk to an editor himself who explains to us what an editor does to get the book from a manuscript to the finished copy on store shelves.
For a few decades now, teens have flocked to YA novels like The Hunger Games or The Fault in Our Stars. Why are they so popular? We talk to two novelists who say young adult fiction can help teens consider big issues and life and ‘practice’ their responses to real-world problems like violence and drugs.
The Harry Potter series is full of creatures and storylines that parallel real-life adversities like depression, PTSD and grief in a heightened reality. Dr. Janina Scarlet says these stories are so powerful that she uses them to help people cope in real-life therapy sessions.
We grow up hearing nursery rhymes and fairy tales that deal with good and evil. All of us fondly remember the cartoons of our youth and the stories we grew up with. We talk to Soman Chainani about authoring a new entry into the catalogue of mythology and his attempt to course-correct the lessons more modern stories have been teaching our children.
Audiobooks used to be big, cumbersome collections of tapes. Now, they’re simply files on our phones, and their portability and convenience make them a great option for commute-time listening.
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