Fresh Air
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Fresh Air

Fresh Air from WHYY, the Peabody Award-winning weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues, is one of public radio's most popular programs. Hosted by Terry Gross and Tonya Mosley, the show features intimate conversations with today's biggest luminaries. Subscribe to Fresh Air Plus! You'll enjoy...

Episodes 879
Books 1,286

Recently mentioned

Latest Recommendations

The Alchemist - Gift Edition cover

The Alchemist - Gift Edition

Paulo Coelho

Mentioned 3 months ago

Malala Yousafzai

Malala mentioned reading The Alchemist as one of the few books she had access to as a teenager, expressing pride in having read it.

I read The Alchemist, and like one or two other books like that, and I was so proud of myself.

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I Wasn't Supposed to Be Here: Finding My Voice, Finding My People, Finding My Way cover

I Wasn't Supposed to Be Here

Jonathan Conyers

Mentioned 3 months ago

Malala Yousafzai

The memoir was highlighted as the source that revealed how the bullet altered Malala's life and continued her journey, and it was repeatedly referenced as her recent book throughout the interview.

It's when I read her recent memoir, Finding My Way, that I learned how the bullet changed the course of her life, thrusting her into a new culture and changing her in ways that didn't quite fit her public image as an inspirational hero.

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Defiance: A Memoir of Awakening, Rebellion, and Survival in Syria cover

Defiance

Loubna Mrie

Mentioned 5 months ago

A daughter's rebellion against a regime and her father

This memoir detailed the author's awakening, rebellion against the Syrian regime, and her survival in the country. The interviewer found the toxic family dynamics within the book to be familiar, while also noting how thoroughly the author documented the country falling apart.

Lubna Murai's new book is called Defiance, a memoir of awakening, rebellion, and survival in Syria.

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Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth cover

Here We Are

Oliver Jeffers

Mentioned 5 months ago

A daughter's rebellion against a regime and her father

This was mentioned as the migrant memoir written by the guest interviewer, Aarti Shahani, which was about fighting ICE to protect her father.

You may have also heard her interviews on her podcast, Art of Power, or read her migrant memoir, which is about fighting ice to protect her father. It's called Here We Are.

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The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together cover

The Sum of Us

Heather McGhee

Mentioned 5 months ago

Best Of: Mixed Marriage Project / How Racism Costs Everyone

Heather McGhee's book examines why many Americans believe progress for one group signifies loss for another, tracing how the country has chosen to destroy public goods rather than share them. The author argued that racism hurts everyone, including white Americans, by costing the country significant GDP, and presented the book as both a diagnosis and a way out.

Her book, 'The Sum of Us,' examines a question at the heart of American life: Why do so many Americans believe that progress for one group means loss for another?

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Torn Apart: How the Child Welfare System Destroys Black Families--and How Abolition Can Build a Safer World cover

Torn Apart

Dorothy Roberts

Mentioned 5 months ago

Best Of: Mixed Marriage Project / How Racism Costs Everyone

This was one of Dorothy Roberts' landmark books that helped reshape how the policing of reproduction, parenting, and race in America was understood.

Her landmark books, Killing the Black Body and Torn Apart, helped reshape how we understand the policing of reproduction, parenting, and race in America.

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The Mixed Marriage Project: A Memoir of Love, Race, and Family cover

The Mixed Marriage Project

Dorothy Roberts

Mentioned 5 months ago

Best Of: Mixed Marriage Project / How Racism Costs Everyone

This is Dorothy Roberts' memoir which she wrote after discovering boxes of her late father's research interviews with interracial couples dating back to the 1930s. The discovery challenged her lifelong assumption that her father's research was inspired by his marriage to her Black Jamaican mother. She realized her father's interest in interracial marriage predated his relationship with her mother, leading her to write a book exploring her family and identity instead of just finishing his sociological work.

The memoir is called 'The Mixed Marriage Project.'

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Black Power: The politics of liberation in America, cover

Black Power

Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Ture)

Mentioned 5 months ago

Best Of: Mixed Marriage Project / How Racism Costs Everyone

Dorothy Roberts read this book in the seventh grade, which caused her to begin developing a different perspective than her father regarding structural racism and the power of interracial love to transcend it.

And I do believe that beginning at that young age, I recognized the power of structural racism and could not accept his view that interracial love by itself would be strong enough to transcend it or overcome it or dismantle it. And so from that time on, we began to have debates about it.

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Wuthering Heights cover

Wuthering Heights

Emily Brontë

Mentioned 5 months ago

‘Sinners’ Songwriter Raphael Saadiq

The novel was highlighted as a classic that has been adapted many times for the screen, with the latest film version starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi.

Emily Bronte's 1847 novel, Wuthering Heights, has been adapted for the screen numerous times. The latest version stars Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as Bronte's ill-fated lovers, Catherine and Heathcliff, and opens in theaters this week.

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American Struggle: Democracy, Dissent, and the Pursuit of a More Perfect Union: An Anthology cover

American Struggle

Jon Meacham

Mentioned 5 months ago

‘Sinners’ Songwriter Raphael Saadiq

The book was noted as a new collection of important speeches, letters, and other texts spanning from colonial times to today.

His new book, American Struggle, is a collection of important speeches, letters, and other texts from colonial times to today.

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Fatal Invention: How Science, Politics, and Big Business Re-create Race in the Twenty-First Century cover

Fatal Invention

Dorothy Roberts

Mentioned 5 months ago

Love, Race & the ‘Mixed Marriage Project’

The host referenced it as Roberts's 2011 book that argues race is a political construct.

You know, your 2011 book, Fatal Invention, I want to talk about it just for a moment in the context of this work, because you argued that race is a political category, something Europeans invented to oppress other groups.

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Fear and Fury: The Reagan Eighties, the Bernie Goetz Shootings, and the Rebirth of White Rage cover

Fear and Fury

Heather Ann Thompson

Mentioned 5 months ago

Best Of: Fighting for free press in Russia / ‘Fear and Fury’

This book revisited the 1984 New York City subway shooting involving Bernhard Goetz and four Black teenagers. The historian argued the case marked a political turning point where white racial fear was sanctioned by law and leveraged by elites. The book explored fear as a powerful force in American life, capable of shaping policy and excusing violence.

We are watching someone tell us exactly who they are, exactly what they did, and it will not matter. Up will become down, down will become up. And that also felt very, very familiar to where we are today.

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Most Recommended

The Inheritance of Loss Cover

Kiran Desai

The Inheritance of Loss

The 2006 novel was referenced as a Booker Prizewinning work by Kiran Desai, noted for having earned both the Booker Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award.

"

the 2006 novel by Kiran Desai The Inheritance of Loss won both the Booker Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award her new novel The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny has just bee...

— Episode: Al Pacino & Sidney Lumet: 'Dog Day After...

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Episode: Al Pacino & Sidney Lumet: 'Dog Day Afternoon' At 5...

The 2006 novel was referenced as a Booker Prizewinning work by Kiran Desai, noted for having earned both the Booker Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award.

"

the 2006 novel by Kiran Desai The Inheritance of Loss won both the Booker Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award her new novel The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny has just been shortlisted for the Booker Prize.

The Fix: A Novel Cover

Mia Sheridan

The Fix

A Novel

The host noted this forthcoming title would address how to save America from mobstyle governmental corruption.

"

In 2017, she was among the U.S. attorneys forced to resign under the Trump administration. Today, she's a professor at the University of Michigan Law School and author of Attack from Within, How Disin...

— Episode: Implications Of The DOJ Targeting The Pr...

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Episode: Implications Of The DOJ Targeting The President’s...

The host noted this forthcoming title would address how to save America from mobstyle governmental corruption.

"

In 2017, she was among the U.S. attorneys forced to resign under the Trump administration. Today, she's a professor at the University of Michigan Law School and author of Attack from Within, How Disinformation is Sabotaging America, and the forthcoming book, The Fix, Saving America from the Corruption of Mob-Style Government.

Eat Pray Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia Cover

Elizabeth Gilbert

Eat Pray Love

One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia

The memoir was referenced as the work that made Gilbert famous for its narrative of personal reinvention and massive cultural impact.

"

Elizabeth Gilbert, the bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love, talks about her new memoir, All the Way to the River.

— Episode: Best Of: Samin Nosrat / Elizabeth Gilber...

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Episode: Best Of: Samin Nosrat / Elizabeth Gilbert

The memoir was referenced as the work that made Gilbert famous for its narrative of personal reinvention and massive cultural impact.

"

Elizabeth Gilbert, the bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love, talks about her new memoir, All the Way to the River.

Her 2006 memoir, Eat, Pray, Love, made her famous for a particular kind of longing for reinvention, turning a year of postdivorce travel into a cultural phenomenon with millions of readers, a spinoff industry, and a film starring Julia Roberts.

Eat Pray Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia Cover

Elizabeth Gilbert

Eat Pray Love

One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia

It was described as the 2006 memoir that made Gilbert famous by turning a postdivorce year of travel into a cultural phenomenon.

"

Her 2006 memoir, Eat, Pray, Love, made her famous for a particular kind of longing for reinvention, turning a year of postdivorce travel into a cultural phenomenon with millions of readers, a spinoff...

— Episode: Elizabeth Gilbert On Love, Loss, And Lib...

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Episode: Elizabeth Gilbert On Love, Loss, And Liberation

It was described as the 2006 memoir that made Gilbert famous by turning a postdivorce year of travel into a cultural phenomenon.

"

Her 2006 memoir, Eat, Pray, Love, made her famous for a particular kind of longing for reinvention, turning a year of postdivorce travel into a cultural phenomenon with millions of readers, a spinoff industry, and a film starring Julia Roberts.

When I think about my first husband after having read that book as close to nothing as was humanly possible for me to put in there you don't know his name you don't know about what our arguments were about you don't know what our issues were in our marriage you don't know what his work was you don't know like as much as I could shield him from that story I did.

All the President's Men Cover

Carl Bernstein

All the President's Men

The hosts noted that Redford purchased the film rights to the thenunpublished book All the President's Men, written by Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, and later referenced the 1976 film adaptation starring Redford as Woodward.

"

and buying the film rights to an asyet unpublished book, All the President's Men, by Washington Post Watergate reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein.

— Episode: Robert Redford, Over The Years

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Episode: Robert Redford, Over The Years

The hosts noted that Redford purchased the film rights to the thenunpublished book All the President's Men, written by Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, and later referenced the 1976 film adaptation starring Redford as Woodward.

"

and buying the film rights to an asyet unpublished book, All the President's Men, by Washington Post Watergate reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein.

The 1976 film starred Redford as Bob Woodward and Dustin Hoffman as Carl Bernstein, and the movie drew its drama by watching newspaper reporters go about their everyday work, chasing down leads, making phone calls, writing stories.

Eat Pray Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia Cover

Elizabeth Gilbert

Eat Pray Love

One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia

The episode announced that author Elizabeth Gilbert, known for the bestseller Eat, Pray, Love, would appear on the show to discuss her upcoming nonfiction work.

"

Elizabeth Gilbert, the bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love, talks about her first nonfiction book in a decade, All the Way to the River.

— Episode: Robert Redford, Over The Years

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Episode: Robert Redford, Over The Years

The episode announced that author Elizabeth Gilbert, known for the bestseller Eat, Pray, Love, would appear on the show to discuss her upcoming nonfiction work.

"

Elizabeth Gilbert, the bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love, talks about her first nonfiction book in a decade, All the Way to the River.

The Talented Mr Ripley (Vintage Quarterbound Classics) Cover

Patricia Highsmith

The Talented Mr Ripley (Vintage Quarterbound Classics)

The novel was referenced when the host listed Jude Law's past roles and later when Law said he had turned down the part because he feared it would typecast him.

"

From Dickie Greenleaf and the talented Mr. Ripley, to Closer, Cold Mountain, and the Sherlock Holmes films.

— Episode: Jude Law

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Episode: Jude Law

The novel was referenced when the host listed Jude Law's past roles and later when Law said he had turned down the part because he feared it would typecast him.

"

From Dickie Greenleaf and the talented Mr. Ripley, to Closer, Cold Mountain, and the Sherlock Holmes films.

I actually turned down the role in the talents of Mr. Ripley because my concern was he was the good looking guy and I was worried that that would limit my career.

A Thousand Ways to Die: The True Cost of Violence on Black Life in America Cover

Trymaine Lee

A Thousand Ways to Die

The True Cost of Violence on Black Life in America

The memoir was described as part history, part reporting and part personal, offering a plea to see the humanity of those lost to gun violence and urging the country to care.

"

His new memoir, A Thousand Ways to Die, is part history, part reporting, and part personal turning point.

— Episode: The Cost Of Gun Violence On Black Life

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Episode: The Cost Of Gun Violence On Black Life

The memoir was described as part history, part reporting and part personal, offering a plea to see the humanity of those lost to gun violence and urging the country to care.

"

His new memoir, A Thousand Ways to Die, is part history, part reporting, and part personal turning point.

Our guest today is Pulitzer Prizewinning journalist Tremaine Lee, and we're talking about his new book, A Thousand Ways to Die.

We're talking about his new book, A Thousand Ways to Die, which examines the human cost of gun violence.

Tremaine Lee's new book is A Thousand Ways to Die, The True Cost of Violence on Black Life in America.

I want black people in particular to walk away from this book knowing that ain't nothing wrong with you... and I want white people and I want general readers to understand that there are systems that collude against our livelihoods.

All I Did Was Ask: Conversations with Writers, Actors, Musicians, and Artists Cover

Terry Gross

All I Did Was Ask

Conversations with Writers, Actors, Musicians, and Artists

The conversation highlighted that in the prologue of her book she reflected on the challenges and worth of autobiographical interviews, reaffirming her belief in the interview as a clarifying art form.

"

In the prologue of your book, All I Did Was Ask, you write that on your bad days, you wonder whether, quote, the autobiographical interview offers much more than the potential for gos...

— Episode: Terry Gross On 50 Years Of Fresh Air (Ta...

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Episode: Terry Gross On 50 Years Of Fresh Air (Talk Easy wi...

The conversation highlighted that in the prologue of her book she reflected on the challenges and worth of autobiographical interviews, reaffirming her belief in the interview as a clarifying art form.

"

In the prologue of your book, All I Did Was Ask, you write that on your bad days, you wonder whether, quote, the autobiographical interview offers much more than the potential for gossip or voyeurism.

I still believe in it. I think a lot of what art is about is finding your life reflected back at you with words or stories that you wouldn't have thought of yourself.

Minor Characters Cover

Joyce (Kerouac, Jack) Johnson

Minor Characters

The interview referenced Johnson's memoir "Minor Characters," mentioning her past as Kerouac's girlfriend and later editor.

"

In her memoir, it was called Minor Characters.

— Episode: Terry Gross On 50 Years Of Fresh Air (Ta...

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Episode: Terry Gross On 50 Years Of Fresh Air (Talk Easy wi...

The interview referenced Johnson's memoir "Minor Characters," mentioning her past as Kerouac's girlfriend and later editor.

"

In her memoir, it was called Minor Characters.

Monica's Story Cover

Andrew Morton

Monica's Story

Sam introduced Lewinsky's new memoir, noting its title and framing the upcoming discussion about her relationship with President Clinton.

"

Monica Lewinsky is my guest. And as you know, she has a new book called Monica's Story. Let's talk a little bit about what you believe the relationship with President Clinton was abou...

— Episode: Terry Gross On 50 Years Of Fresh Air (Ta...

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Episode: Terry Gross On 50 Years Of Fresh Air (Talk Easy wi...

Sam introduced Lewinsky's new memoir, noting its title and framing the upcoming discussion about her relationship with President Clinton.

"

Monica Lewinsky is my guest. And as you know, she has a new book called Monica's Story. Let's talk a little bit about what you believe the relationship with President Clinton was about.

A Thousand Ways to Die: The True Cost of Violence on Black Life in America Cover

Trymaine Lee

A Thousand Ways to Die

The True Cost of Violence on Black Life in America

The host noted that Pulitzer Prizewinning journalist Tremaine Lee had authored a new book titled A Thousand Ways to Die, which examined the devastating toll of gun violence in America.

"

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Tremaine Lee explores the devastating toll of gun violence in America in his new book, A Thousand Ways to Die.

— Episode: Inside Netflix's 'Adolescence'

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Episode: Inside Netflix's 'Adolescence'

The host noted that Pulitzer Prizewinning journalist Tremaine Lee had authored a new book titled A Thousand Ways to Die, which examined the devastating toll of gun violence in America.

"

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Tremaine Lee explores the devastating toll of gun violence in America in his new book, A Thousand Ways to Die.

I Am Not Your Enemy: A Memoir Cover

Reality Winner

I Am Not Your Enemy

A Memoir

The memoir was highlighted as Reality Winner's new book that recounts her experiences leaking classified information and her subsequent imprisonment.

"

Now she's telling her story in a memoir titled, I Am Not Your Enemy.

— Episode: NSA Whistleblower Reality Winner

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Episode: NSA Whistleblower Reality Winner

The memoir was highlighted as Reality Winner's new book that recounts her experiences leaking classified information and her subsequent imprisonment.

"

Now she's telling her story in a memoir titled, I Am Not Your Enemy.

my new memoir is called I Am Not Your Enemy

Reality Winner's new memoir is called I Am Not Your Enemy.

A Real Right to Vote: How a Constitutional Amendment Can Safeguard American Democracy Cover

Richard L. Hasen

A Real Right to Vote

How a Constitutional Amendment Can Safeguard American Democracy

The host noted that this was the scholar's most recent work on election law and that it had been published the previous year.

"

He's also the author of numerous books on election law and democracy, including his most recent, A Real Right to Vote, How a Constitutional Amendment Can Safeguard American Democracy.

— Episode: The Future Of Free And Fair Elections

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Episode: The Future Of Free And Fair Elections

The host noted that this was the scholar's most recent work on election law and that it had been published the previous year.

"

He's also the author of numerous books on election law and democracy, including his most recent, A Real Right to Vote, How a Constitutional Amendment Can Safeguard American Democracy.

His book, A Real Right to Vote, How a Constitutional Amendment Can Safeguard American Democracy, was published last year.

The Dream Life of Astronauts: Stories Cover

Patrick Ryan

The Dream Life of Astronauts

Stories

The shortstory collection was mentioned as part of Ryan's previous publications, highlighting his earlier work from 2016.

"

Ryan's previous books include the standout 2016 shortstory collection The Dream Life of Astronauts as well as three YA novels.

— Episode: The Future Of Free And Fair Elections

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Episode: The Future Of Free And Fair Elections

The shortstory collection was mentioned as part of Ryan's previous publications, highlighting his earlier work from 2016.

"

Ryan's previous books include the standout 2016 shortstory collection The Dream Life of Astronauts as well as three YA novels.

My Life So Far Cover

Jane Fonda

My Life So Far

Jane Fonda mentioned that she was writing her memoir titled My Life So Far in the early 2000s while dealing with personal family matters.

"

when I was writing my memoir, My Life So Far, in the early 2000s

— Episode: Best Of : Jane Fonda / Spike Lee

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Episode: Best Of : Jane Fonda / Spike Lee

Jane Fonda mentioned that she was writing her memoir titled My Life So Far in the early 2000s while dealing with personal family matters.

"

when I was writing my memoir, My Life So Far, in the early 2000s

Caught Stealing (Leighton U Book 2) Cover

CE Ricci

Caught Stealing (Leighton U Book 2)

The novel was noted as the source material for the Darren Aronofsky film, indicating it existed as a published work.

"

It was adapted by Charlie Houston from his own novel.

— Episode: Noah Wyle, Star Of 'The Pitt'

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Episode: Noah Wyle, Star Of 'The Pitt'

The novel was noted as the source material for the Darren Aronofsky film, indicating it existed as a published work.

"

It was adapted by Charlie Houston from his own novel.

The Village of Ben Suc. Cover

Jonathan Schell

The Village of Ben Suc.

Jane Fonda said she was given Jonathan Schell's *The Village of Ben Sook*, and after finishing it she felt like a different person, which sparked her to become an activist and return to the United States.

"

And they gave me a book to read, Jonathan Schell's The Village of Ben Sook. And when I finished the book, I closed it. I was a different person. And that's when I became an activist. And I left France...

— Episode: Jane Fonda Is Not Backing Down

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Episode: Jane Fonda Is Not Backing Down

Jane Fonda said she was given Jonathan Schell's *The Village of Ben Sook*, and after finishing it she felt like a different person, which sparked her to become an activist and return to the United States.

"

And they gave me a book to read, Jonathan Schell's The Village of Ben Sook. And when I finished the book, I closed it. I was a different person. And that's when I became an activist. And I left France and moved back.

Dion: The Rock and Roll Philosopher Cover

Dion DiMucci

Dion

The Rock and Roll Philosopher

The host noted that Dion had just released a new book titled The Rock and Roll Philosopher, a collection of conversations with a friend.

"

He released the single New York Minute And had a new book Called The Rock and Roll Philosopher A collection of conversations With a friend

— Episode: Roots of Rock and R&B: Dion and Allen To...

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Episode: Roots of Rock and R&B: Dion and Allen Toussaint

The host noted that Dion had just released a new book titled The Rock and Roll Philosopher, a collection of conversations with a friend.

"

He released the single New York Minute And had a new book Called The Rock and Roll Philosopher A collection of conversations With a friend

Straight Life: The Story Of Art Pepper Cover

Art Pepper

Straight Life

The Story Of Art Pepper

The segment described Art Pepper's candid autobiography, Straight Life, which was referenced while discussing his life and music.

"

His candid autobiography Straight Life As Pepper tells it there He was an unloved kid Afraid of everything From closets to clouds Who then discovered Two things he loved Music early A...

— Episode: Roots of Rock and R&B: Dion and Allen To...

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Episode: Roots of Rock and R&B: Dion and Allen Toussaint

The segment described Art Pepper's candid autobiography, Straight Life, which was referenced while discussing his life and music.

"

His candid autobiography Straight Life As Pepper tells it there He was an unloved kid Afraid of everything From closets to clouds Who then discovered Two things he loved Music early And a few years later The addictive narcotic heroin In his book He makes the first time

Note: The book recommendations on this page are discovered automatically from podcast transcripts, and may be incorrect or incomplete.