Author Interviews : NPR https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1033 NPR interviews with top authors and the NPR Book Tour, a weekly feature and podcast where leading authors read and discuss their writing. Subscribe to the RSS feed. en Copyright 2021 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Tue, 20 Apr 2021 11:55:11 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 Author Interviews https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1033 After Growing Up In A Cult, Lauren Hough Freed Herself By Writing The Truth Hough was 15 when her family left the Children of God cult. Afterward, she struggled to face the trauma of her past. Her new collection of personal essays is <em>Leaving Isn't the Hardest Thing.</em> Tue, 20 Apr 2021 11:55:11 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/04/20/989032183/after-growing-up-in-a-cult-lauren-hough-freed-herself-by-writing-the-truth https://www.npr.org/2021/04/20/989032183/after-growing-up-in-a-cult-lauren-hough-freed-herself-by-writing-the-truth

Hough was 15 when her family left the Children of God cult. Afterward, she struggled to face the trauma of her past. Her new collection of personal essays is Leaving Isn't the Hardest Thing.

(Image credit: Karl Poss IV/Knopf Doubleday)

]]> Terry Gross 'Open Water' Explores Blackness and the Vulnerability of Falling In Love Caleb Azumah Nelson's <em>Open Water</em> is built on a familiar premise: two young people meet and fall in love. Nelson's debut novel is brimming with references to Black art, music, poetry and photography. Mon, 19 Apr 2021 16:12:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/04/19/988837596/open-water-explores-blackness-and-the-vulnerability-of-falling-in-love https://www.npr.org/2021/04/19/988837596/open-water-explores-blackness-and-the-vulnerability-of-falling-in-love Caleb Azumah Nelson's Open Water is built on a familiar premise: two young people meet and fall in love. Nelson's debut novel is brimming with references to Black art, music, poetry and photography.

]]> Ari Shapiro Author's Advice To Millennials: Manage Your Money And Stop Pleasing Others Julie Lythcott-Haims's new book, <em>Your Turn: How to Be an Adult,</em> is a handbook on adulthood. Her 2017 memoir,<em> Real American</em>, is the story of her coming to terms with her racial identity. Mon, 19 Apr 2021 13:37:52 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/04/19/988722760/authors-advice-to-millennials-manage-your-money-and-stop-pleasing-others https://www.npr.org/2021/04/19/988722760/authors-advice-to-millennials-manage-your-money-and-stop-pleasing-others Julie Lythcott-Haims's new book, Your Turn: How to Be an Adult, is a handbook on adulthood. Her 2017 memoir, Real American, is the story of her coming to terms with her racial identity.

]]> Dave Davies Journalist Rose Eveleth Imagines Future Worlds In New Book Noel King speaks with Rose Eveleth about her illustrated book: Flash Forward. Mon, 19 Apr 2021 05:05:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/04/19/988659275/journalist-rose-eveleth-imagines-future-worlds-in-new-book https://www.npr.org/2021/04/19/988659275/journalist-rose-eveleth-imagines-future-worlds-in-new-book Noel King speaks with Rose Eveleth about her illustrated book: Flash Forward.

]]> Lauren Hough On Growing Up In A Cult, New Memoir Lauren Hough tells NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro about her memoir <em>Leaving Isn't the Hardest Thing. </em>Hough spent part of her childhood in a cult, which affected her later life. Sun, 18 Apr 2021 07:56:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/04/18/988483556/lauren-hough-on-growing-up-in-a-cult-new-memoir https://www.npr.org/2021/04/18/988483556/lauren-hough-on-growing-up-in-a-cult-new-memoir Lauren Hough tells NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro about her memoir Leaving Isn't the Hardest Thing. Hough spent part of her childhood in a cult, which affected her later life.

]]> Quiet No More: Sen. Hirono's Immigrant Journey Fuels Her Fire In Congress Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii — one of the most outspoken Democrats in Congress — wasn't always so vociferous. She says her story, detailed in a new memoir, has driven her to "stand up to bullies." Sun, 18 Apr 2021 04:19:34 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/04/18/988182842/quiet-no-more-sen-hironos-immigrant-journey-fuels-her-fire-in-congress https://www.npr.org/2021/04/18/988182842/quiet-no-more-sen-hironos-immigrant-journey-fuels-her-fire-in-congress

Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii — one of the most outspoken Democrats in Congress — wasn't always so vociferous. She says her story, detailed in a new memoir, has driven her to "stand up to bullies."

(Image credit: Samuel Corum/AFP via Getty Images)

]]> Michel Martin Sen. Mazie Hirono Talks New Memoir NPR's Michel Martin speaks with U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, Democrat from Hawaii, about her book, <em>Heart of Fire: An Immigrant Daughter's Story</em>. Sat, 17 Apr 2021 17:30:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/04/17/988416385/sen-mazie-hirono-talks-new-memoir https://www.npr.org/2021/04/17/988416385/sen-mazie-hirono-talks-new-memoir NPR's Michel Martin speaks with U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, Democrat from Hawaii, about her book, Heart of Fire: An Immigrant Daughter's Story.

]]> Jory Fleming Shares What It's Like Going Through Life With Autism In New Memoir NPR's Debbie Elliott speaks to Jory Fleming about his new book, <em>How to be Human — An Autistic Man's Guide to Life. </em>Fleming, who himself is autistic, co-wrote the book with Lyric Winik. Sat, 17 Apr 2021 07:59:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/04/17/988331494/jory-fleming-shares-what-its-like-going-through-life-with-autism-in-new-memoir https://www.npr.org/2021/04/17/988331494/jory-fleming-shares-what-its-like-going-through-life-with-autism-in-new-memoir NPR's Debbie Elliott speaks to Jory Fleming about his new book, How to be Human — An Autistic Man's Guide to Life. Fleming, who himself is autistic, co-wrote the book with Lyric Winik.

]]> Louise Erdrich On Her Personal Connection To Native Peoples' 'Fight For Survival' Erdrich's novel, <em>The Night Watchman</em>, is based on her grandfather's role in resisting a Congressional effort to withdraw federal recognition from her family's tribe. <em>Originally broadcast March 4, 2020.</em> Fri, 16 Apr 2021 13:28:44 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/04/16/988007844/louise-erdrich-on-her-personal-connection-to-native-peoples-fight-for-survival https://www.npr.org/2021/04/16/988007844/louise-erdrich-on-her-personal-connection-to-native-peoples-fight-for-survival Erdrich's novel, The Night Watchman, is based on her grandfather's role in resisting a Congressional effort to withdraw federal recognition from her family's tribe. Originally broadcast March 4, 2020.

]]> Dave Davies National Parks Should Be Controlled By Indigenous Tribes, One Writer Argues The National Parks Service has often been called "America's Best Idea." But David Treuer argues that, because that came at the cost of Native American homeland, they deserve to take control. Thu, 15 Apr 2021 16:10:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/04/15/987787685/national-parks-should-be-controlled-by-indigenous-tribes-one-writer-argues https://www.npr.org/2021/04/15/987787685/national-parks-should-be-controlled-by-indigenous-tribes-one-writer-argues The National Parks Service has often been called "America's Best Idea." But David Treuer argues that, because that came at the cost of Native American homeland, they deserve to take control.

]]> Ailsa Chang 'The Making Of Biblical Womanhood' Tackles Contradictions In Religious Practice Biblical womanhood is a pervasive concept among evangelicals. A new book by historian Beth Allison Barr argues those ideas may be more secular than scriptural. Thu, 15 Apr 2021 05:14:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/04/15/987552105/the-making-of-biblical-womanhood-tackles-contradictions-in-religious-practice https://www.npr.org/2021/04/15/987552105/the-making-of-biblical-womanhood-tackles-contradictions-in-religious-practice

Biblical womanhood is a pervasive concept among evangelicals. A new book by historian Beth Allison Barr argues those ideas may be more secular than scriptural.

(Image credit: Brazos Press)

]]> Rachel Martin How A Humble Bookseller Helped Give Rise To The Renaissance Mary Louise Kelly talks with author Ross King about his new book <em>The Bookseller of Florence,</em> inspired by the history of the "Street of Booksellers" found in Florence, Italy. Wed, 14 Apr 2021 16:13:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/04/14/987371985/how-a-humble-bookseller-helped-give-rise-to-the-renaissance https://www.npr.org/2021/04/14/987371985/how-a-humble-bookseller-helped-give-rise-to-the-renaissance Mary Louise Kelly talks with author Ross King about his new book The Bookseller of Florence, inspired by the history of the "Street of Booksellers" found in Florence, Italy.

]]> Mary Louise Kelly Journalist Investigates 'Crime Story' Of The Sackler Family And The Opioid Crisis <em>Empire of Pain </em>author Patrick Radden Keefe says the Sackler family has "thrown a lot of energy" into trying to thwart his reporting about the family's involvement in the opioid crisis. Wed, 14 Apr 2021 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/04/14/986736258/journalist-investigates-crime-story-of-the-sackler-family-and-the-opioid-crisis https://www.npr.org/2021/04/14/986736258/journalist-investigates-crime-story-of-the-sackler-family-and-the-opioid-crisis

Empire of Pain author Patrick Radden Keefe says the Sackler family has "thrown a lot of energy" into trying to thwart his reporting about the family's involvement in the opioid crisis.

(Image credit: Boston Globe/Getty Images)

]]> Terry Gross 'Empire Of Pain: The Secret History Of The Sackler Dynasty' Profiles Pharma Family NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with Patrick Radden Keefe about his book <em>Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty.</em> The book profiles the family that founded oxycontin maker Purdue Pharma. Tue, 13 Apr 2021 16:07:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/04/13/986929541/empire-of-pain-the-secret-history-of-the-sackler-dynasty-profiles-pharma-family https://www.npr.org/2021/04/13/986929541/empire-of-pain-the-secret-history-of-the-sackler-dynasty-profiles-pharma-family NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with Patrick Radden Keefe about his book Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty. The book profiles the family that founded oxycontin maker Purdue Pharma.

]]> Ailsa Chang Henry Louis Gates Jr. On 'The Black Church' And His Own Bargain With Jesus When he was 12, Gates made a bargain with Jesus in an attempt to save his mother's life. He talks about how that altered his own life, and his new book and PBS series, <em>The Black Church.</em> Tue, 13 Apr 2021 13:44:30 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/04/13/986731926/henry-louis-gates-jr-on-the-black-church-and-his-own-bargain-with-jesus https://www.npr.org/2021/04/13/986731926/henry-louis-gates-jr-on-the-black-church-and-his-own-bargain-with-jesus When he was 12, Gates made a bargain with Jesus in an attempt to save his mother's life. He talks about how that altered his own life, and his new book and PBS series, The Black Church.

]]> Terry Gross