A Look Inside This Year’s Biggest Books
With summer around the corner, many of us are looking for some fresh books to read on the beach or on the porch.
Literature and Writing Sub-categories:
- Poetry (5)
Jonathan Lethem on Literature and His Decades-long Career
Jonathan Lethem's latest book is an inside look at his thoughts on literature, he talks to us about what inspires him, and how he feels about tough critics.
Culture Crash: The Impact of “Hamilton: An American Musical”
We look at the musical people can’t stop talking about: Hamilton, the brainchild of Lin-Manuel Miranda, that has already won numerous awards.
The Trouble with Teaching Reading: Why so many children struggle with literacy
America is facing a literacy problem. We talk to several experts who suggest that we may simply be teaching the skill incorrectly.
What Goes Into a Spy Thriller Series
Author Mark Greaney talks about separating the true elements he learned from real US operatives from the fiction he imagines when writing.
The Craft and Responsibility of Writing Books for Young Readers
Two authors, one for children and one for young adults, discuss juggling their desire to entertain with the necessity of teaching young people about tough topics.
The Stories Behind Nursery Rhymes
We talk to a librarian and author about where nursery rhymes came from and how they were used before they ended up in Mother Goose books.
Unleashing Your Creativity (2017)
It’s a common goal to get back to the creative passions in the new year. Two experts give tips on how to over come obstacles and finish your masterpiece.
What We Love About Time Travel (Early 2017 version)
We talk to Dr. Travis Langley to uncover what lies underneath the fantasy we’ve all indulged from time to time: traveling backwards and forwards through time.
Teaching Kids to Read by Expanding Their World
Our guest offers suggestions to parents, educators and policymakers about how expanding our children’s knowledge base in school will help make them read better.
Emotional Agility
Developing “emotional agility” to deal with the thoughts, emotions and the stories we have in our lives.
Getting It Right: The art of writing historical fiction
Historical fiction is very popular these days, but why? And how do authors weave a fictional story around actual people, places and events? We talk to three best-selling authors of the genre about how they write their books and why.
The Political Classroom: Teaching Civics (2016)
Civics classes in many grade schools and high schools aren’t the same as they were 20 years ago. These days, kids are more likely to discuss and debate some of the most pressing issues of the day. We talk to two educators about how some schools are teaching students how to debate correctly, how discussion of hot topics can foster understanding of diverse …
Everyone’s a Critic! Why It’s Important That You Should Be
A. O. Scott, a movie critic for the New York Times, thinks we should all be critics of the films, fine art, literature & other pleasures we indulge in. He will talk about why it’s good to be a discerning viewer of the arts, how to be a better critic, how criticism makes us see things in a different light and how it helps us become better at choosing those …
Teens and Dystopian Literature
A great many books and films these days deal with a dark, forbidding world where young people are warring with the villainous adults to save civilization. Teens are drawn to these stories, but why? What is it about dystopian fiction that fascinates young people? We talk to two successful authors of these stories about how kids are working out some of the …
Drew Barrymore: A child actress talks about life, love and family (2016)
Everyone remembers little Gertie from the movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and the actress who played the part – Drew Barrymore. Now, as a 40-year-old mother of two, Barrymore talks about her growing up, the problems she had with her family, fending for herself at age 14, and what she’s learned on the way to becoming an accomplished actress and a mature and …
The American Revolution: When Did It Really Begin?
In school we learn that the American Revolution began with the battles of Lexington and Concord. But did it? We talk to a historian and author about the events that preceded those battles that effectively threw out British rule in Massachusetts and set the stage for the other colonies to revolt and fight for freedom from England.
Coloring Books For Adults: Nostalgia with Benefits (2015)
These days, adults are reliving that thrill in huge numbers, maybe even fighting their kids for that Burnt Sienna crayon! Adult coloring books are all the rage, and we talk to two of the most popular artists of these books about why and how they put them together, what the attraction is for adults and how it can benefit everyone to sit down, relax and color …
Jack London: Adventure Author and Social Activist (2015)
Author Jack London is known for his stories of adventure in the Klondike, the Yukon and other far-away places. Our guest, however, says these stories also reflect his desire to bring the plight of poor and exploited workers to the public’s attention. We’ll hear how London’s hardscrabble youth and physically demanding jobs informed his writing, and find out …
Teaching Kids to Read: It Starts Before They Even Begin to Speak! (2015)
Every parent wants their child to excel in school, and a big part of succeeding is learning to read well. Some parents try to teach their children to read when they’re toddlers, but is that too early? When should children be taught to read and how? Our two guests, one a professor specializing in early childhood, the other an author of children’s books, share …
Lists of Note (2015)
Everyone makes lists: shopping lists, to-do lists, Christmas lists, and many more. But what do your lists say about you? We talk to an author who looked at hundreds of lists compiled by the famous, the infamous and the unknown, and found out that they say a great deal about the times, our history and the list makers themselves.
The Story Behind the Crime Novel
Crime novels are among the most popular reading in the U.S., and nobody writes a more engaging, suspenseful and factually accurate story than award-winning and best-selling novelist Patricia Cornwell. Her Kay Scarpetta series is full of detailed forensic information, and we talked to her about how she gathers her facts and actually experiences some of the …
The Importance of Letter Writing (2015)
When was the last time you wrote or received a real, handwritten letter in the mail? It’s sad that there are young people today who will never experience the joy of getting or writing a personal letter during their lives. We talk to a writer and editor about the importance of letter writing, and what we can learn from reading letters from notables and …
A New Look at the Bill of Rights
When we learn about the Bill of Rights in school, we often look at it as ten separate amendments to our Constitution instead of as a single, well-structured work, like a poem or symphony. Our guest didn’t see this either, until he needed a document to type while practicing his word processing program. We’ll hear about his realization that the Bill of Rights …
