Fresh Air
Book Recommendations

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
The NEW Comedy Bible: The Ultimate Guide to Writing and Performing Stand-Up Comedy Cover

Judy Carter

The NEW Comedy Bible

The Ultimate Guide to Writing and Performing Stand-Up Comedy

Taylor recalled that they used Judy Carter's book, referring to it as the standup comedy book or the Standup Comedy Bible, as a guide for her early comedy writing.

"

I think we worked off of Judy Carter's book. I think it's called like the standup comedy book or the standup comedy Bible.

— Episode: Taylor Tomlinson Is Ready To Joke About...

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Episode: Taylor Tomlinson Is Ready To Joke About Her Bipola...

Taylor recalled that they used Judy Carter's book, referring to it as the standup comedy book or the Standup Comedy Bible, as a guide for her early comedy writing.

"

I think we worked off of Judy Carter's book. I think it's called like the standup comedy book or the standup comedy Bible.

Colored Television (A GMA Book Club Pick): A Novel Cover

Danzy Senna

Colored Television (A GMA Book Club Pick)

A Novel

The upcoming guest Danzie Senna's new novel was announced, titled Colored Television, addressing themes of biracial identity and race.

"

What it means to be biracial the meaning of race itself and how that keeps changing is the theme of the novels and the memoir by tomorrow's guest Danzie Senna.

— Episode: Film Icons: Spike Lee / Samuel L. Jackso...

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Episode: Film Icons: Spike Lee / Samuel L. Jackson

The upcoming guest Danzie Senna's new novel was announced, titled Colored Television, addressing themes of biracial identity and race.

"

What it means to be biracial the meaning of race itself and how that keeps changing is the theme of the novels and the memoir by tomorrow's guest Danzie Senna.

Her new novel is called Colored Television.

Once Upon a Time in Italy: The Westerns of Sergio Leone Cover

Christopher Frayling

Once Upon a Time in Italy

The Westerns of Sergio Leone

The book was mentioned as the work Christopher Frayling had written about Sergio Leone's westerns.

"

At the time Freiling had written the book Once Upon a Time in Italy, The Westerns of Sergio Leone.

— Episode: Film Icons: Clint Eastwood / Eli Wallach...

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Episode: Film Icons: Clint Eastwood / Eli Wallach & More

The book was mentioned as the work Christopher Frayling had written about Sergio Leone's westerns.

"

At the time Freiling had written the book Once Upon a Time in Italy, The Westerns of Sergio Leone.

What's It All About Cover

Michael Caine

What's It All About

The autobiography was noted as having been published before a 1992 interview, detailing Caine's early life, upbringing in a charity ward, and his rise to stardom.

"

I spoke with him in 1992 after the publication of his autobiography, What's It All About?

— Episode: Film Icons: Michael Caine / Robert Duval...

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Episode: Film Icons: Michael Caine / Robert Duvall

The autobiography was noted as having been published before a 1992 interview, detailing Caine's early life, upbringing in a charity ward, and his rise to stardom.

"

I spoke with him in 1992 after the publication of his autobiography, What's It All About?

He wrote about his birth in the charity ward of a hospital, coming of age in a working class neighborhood and his rise as a movie star.

Acting In Film Cover

Michael Caine

Acting In Film

Caine mentioned discovering this book as a young lad, implying it offered practical guidance on film acting techniques.

"

When I was a young lad I found a book, How to Teach Yourself Film Acting.

— Episode: Film Icons: Michael Caine / Robert Duval...

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Episode: Film Icons: Michael Caine / Robert Duvall

Caine mentioned discovering this book as a young lad, implying it offered practical guidance on film acting techniques.

"

When I was a young lad I found a book, How to Teach Yourself Film Acting.

John Lewis: A Life Cover

David Greenberg

John Lewis

A Life

Kazan broke his silence by publishing his autobiography, and later praised it as a landmark book that future readers would need to read about American culture.

"

for many years Kazan refused to publicly address the subject, but he broke his silence in his autobiography, Elia Kazan, A Life.

— Episode: Film Icons: Elia Kazan / Eva Marie Saint

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Episode: Film Icons: Elia Kazan / Eva Marie Saint

Kazan broke his silence by publishing his autobiography, and later praised it as a landmark book that future readers would need to read about American culture.

"

for many years Kazan refused to publicly address the subject, but he broke his silence in his autobiography, Elia Kazan, A Life.

I'm very proud of this book it's called A Life.

I think it's a marvelous book and I think in time when anybody wants to look back 50s and 60s and 70s in American public culture they will have to read this book and I think it's a landmark kind of book so I'm proud I did it.

The Last Tycoon Cover

F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Last Tycoon

Kazan's directing repertoire was noted to include the film version of Fitzgerald's novel The Last Tycoon.

"

He directed Marlon Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire and On the Waterfront, and directed East of Eden, Splendor in the Grass, Baby Doll, A Face in the Crowd, and The Last Tycoon.

— Episode: Film Icons: Elia Kazan / Eva Marie Saint

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Episode: Film Icons: Elia Kazan / Eva Marie Saint

Kazan's directing repertoire was noted to include the film version of Fitzgerald's novel The Last Tycoon.

"

He directed Marlon Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire and On the Waterfront, and directed East of Eden, Splendor in the Grass, Baby Doll, A Face in the Crowd, and The Last Tycoon.

Paradise Bronx: The Life and Times of New York's Greatest Borough Cover

Ian Frazier

Paradise Bronx

The Life and Times of New York's Greatest Borough

The book offered a sweeping, 500pluspage history of the Bronx, blending vivid storytelling with deep research on the borough's evolution.

"

Those walks spurred Frazier's fascination with the burrow's rough and resilient history, captured in his new book Paradise Bronx.

— Episode: How Donald Trump Changed Federal Law Enf...

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Episode: How Donald Trump Changed Federal Law Enforcement

The book offered a sweeping, 500pluspage history of the Bronx, blending vivid storytelling with deep research on the borough's evolution.

"

Those walks spurred Frazier's fascination with the burrow's rough and resilient history, captured in his new book Paradise Bronx.

But read the opening chapter of Ian Frazier's new book Paradise Bronx, and I think it's a good bet that like a car stuck on the Major Deegan Expressway, you'll stay put for hours, except voluntarily.

Frazier's signature voice, droll, ruminative, generous, draws readers in.

The Stadium: An American History of Politics, Protest, and Play Cover

Frank Andre Guridy

The Stadium

An American History of Politics, Protest, and Play

The book examined how stadiums functioned as American public squares, tracing their political, protest, and cultural roles through a deeply researched historical lens.

"

And as my guest today writes in his new book, they're also venues where people go to wrestle with defining the soul of America. Frank Garitti's new book, The Stadium, An American Hist...

— Episode: How Stadiums Became The American Public...

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Episode: How Stadiums Became The American Public Square

The book examined how stadiums functioned as American public squares, tracing their political, protest, and cultural roles through a deeply researched historical lens.

"

And as my guest today writes in his new book, they're also venues where people go to wrestle with defining the soul of America. Frank Garitti's new book, The Stadium, An American History of Politics, Protest and Play is a deeply researched look at the role of stadiums in the United States.

The Sports Revolution: How Texas Changed the Culture of American Athletics (The Texas Bookshelf) Cover

Frank Andre Guridy

The Sports Revolution

How Texas Changed the Culture of American Athletics (The Texas Bookshelf)

The book explored how Texas transformed American athletics in the 1960s and 1970s amid civilrights and feminist movements.

"

His previous book, The Sports Revolution, How Texas Changed the Culture of American Athletics is about The Sports Revolution of the 60s and 70s when civil rights and...

— Episode: How Stadiums Became The American Public...

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Episode: How Stadiums Became The American Public Square

The book explored how Texas transformed American athletics in the 1960s and 1970s amid civilrights and feminist movements.

"

His previous book, The Sports Revolution, How Texas Changed the Culture of American Athletics is about The Sports Revolution of the 60s and 70s when civil rights and feminist movements were reshaping the nation.

Where Tyranny Begins: The Justice Department, the FBI, and the War on Democracy Cover

David Rohde

Where Tyranny Begins

The Justice Department, the FBI, and the War on Democracy

The book argued that Donald Trump's use of conspiracy theories and intimidation since 2016 marked the start of a new wave of authoritarianism.

"

Rhoad's new book is Where Tyranny Begins.

— Episode: How Stadiums Became The American Public...

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Episode: How Stadiums Became The American Public Square

The book argued that Donald Trump's use of conspiracy theories and intimidation since 2016 marked the start of a new wave of authoritarianism.

"

Rhoad's new book is Where Tyranny Begins.

A Wilder Shore: The Romantic Odyssey of Fanny and Robert Louis Stevenson Cover

Camille Peri

A Wilder Shore

The Romantic Odyssey of Fanny and Robert Louis Stevenson

Maureen Corrigan reviewed the biography, praising its vivid portrayal of Fanny Stevenson and its ability to restore her to full personhood.

"

Camille Perri's lively and substantive dual biography of the Stevenson's called A Wilder Shore whisks those obscuring thoughts off Fanny and restores her to full personhood.

— Episode: Actor Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor On The Compl...

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Episode: Actor Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor On The Complexity & He...

Maureen Corrigan reviewed the biography, praising its vivid portrayal of Fanny Stevenson and its ability to restore her to full personhood.

"

Camille Perri's lively and substantive dual biography of the Stevenson's called A Wilder Shore whisks those obscuring thoughts off Fanny and restores her to full personhood.

Perri opens A Wilder Shore with a scene that could have been written by Louis but instead was lived by Fanny.

After reading A Wilder Shore I'm inspired to reread Robert Louis Stevenson's three great works of fiction, Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

The Stadium: An American History of Politics, Protest, and Play Cover

Frank Andre Guridy

The Stadium

An American History of Politics, Protest, and Play

The upcoming book was mentioned as a new work covering the American history of politics, protest, and the role of stadiums as public squares.

"

author and scholar Frank Garitti joins us to talk about his new book The Stadium, an American history of politics, protest, and play, where he chronicles how stadiums are our nation's...

— Episode: Actor Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor On The Compl...

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Episode: Actor Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor On The Complexity & He...

The upcoming book was mentioned as a new work covering the American history of politics, protest, and the role of stadiums as public squares.

"

author and scholar Frank Garitti joins us to talk about his new book The Stadium, an American history of politics, protest, and play, where he chronicles how stadiums are our nation's public squares and how they are our community.

Gray Matters: A Biography of Brain Surgery Cover

Theodore H. Schwartz

Gray Matters

A Biography of Brain Surgery

The book was introduced as a new biography of brain surgery that explores the past, present and future of the field.

"

author of the new book Gray Matters, A Biography of Brain Surgery.

— Episode: Best Of: Black Doctors Consortium Founde...

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Episode: Best Of: Black Doctors Consortium Founder / The Li...

The book was introduced as a new biography of brain surgery that explores the past, present and future of the field.

"

author of the new book Gray Matters, A Biography of Brain Surgery.

In his new book, Gray Matters, a biography of brain surgery, he writes about the past, present and future of brain surgery.

He's the author of the new book ... Biography of Brain Surgery.

Joe Biden: The Life, the Run, and What Matters Now Cover

Evan Osnos

Joe Biden

The Life, the Run, and What Matters Now

Evan Osnos was noted as the author of this biography, which was published in 2020.

"

He's also authored three books, including Joe Biden, A Life, the Run, and What Matters Now, published in 2020.

— Episode: On The Road With Harris/Walz

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Episode: On The Road With Harris/Walz

Evan Osnos was noted as the author of this biography, which was published in 2020.

"

He's also authored three books, including Joe Biden, A Life, the Run, and What Matters Now, published in 2020.

Bad Monkey Cover

Carl Hiaasen

Bad Monkey

The novel was identified as the source material for the Apple TV+ series, praised for its Floridasetting mystery tone.

"

It's called Bad Monkey, and it's based on the novel by Carl Hyacin.

— Episode: On The Road With Harris/Walz

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Episode: On The Road With Harris/Walz

The novel was identified as the source material for the Apple TV+ series, praised for its Floridasetting mystery tone.

"

It's called Bad Monkey, and it's based on the novel by Carl Hyacin.

Bad Monkey, both the book and the new Apple TV+ series serves up generous helpings of it all, like a heaping bowl of conch chowder.

Razor Girl: A novel Cover

Carl Hiaasen

Razor Girl

A novel

Hyacin's followup novel to Bad Monkey was cited as a sequel featuring the same detective, Andrew Yancey.

"

Hyacin wrote a sequel to Bad Monkey called Razor Girl featuring the same character of Andrew Yancey.

— Episode: On The Road With Harris/Walz

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Episode: On The Road With Harris/Walz

Hyacin's followup novel to Bad Monkey was cited as a sequel featuring the same detective, Andrew Yancey.

"

Hyacin wrote a sequel to Bad Monkey called Razor Girl featuring the same character of Andrew Yancey.

Foreign Agents: How American Lobbyists and Lawmakers Threaten Democracy Around the World Cover

Casey Michel

Foreign Agents

How American Lobbyists and Lawmakers Threaten Democracy Around the World

The conversation repeatedly highlighted that Casey Michelle's new book, Foreign Agents, examined how American lobbyists and lawmakers threaten democracy worldwide.

"

His new book is Foreign Agents, How American Lobbyists and Lawmakers Threaten Democracy Around the World.

— Episode: How American Lobbyists Threaten Democrac...

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Episode: How American Lobbyists Threaten Democracy

The conversation repeatedly highlighted that Casey Michelle's new book, Foreign Agents, examined how American lobbyists and lawmakers threaten democracy worldwide.

"

His new book is Foreign Agents, How American Lobbyists and Lawmakers Threaten Democracy Around the World.

His new book is Foreign Agents, How American Lobbyists and Lawmakers Threaten Democracy Around the World.

His new book is Foreign Agents, How American Lobbyists and Lawmakers Threaten Democracy Around the World.

Casey Michelle's new book is Foreign Agents, How American Lobbyists and Lawmakers Threaten Democracy Around the World.

White Robes and Broken Badges: Infiltrating the KKK and Exposing the Evil Among Us Cover

Joe Moore

White Robes and Broken Badges

Infiltrating the KKK and Exposing the Evil Among Us

The guest described his new book as a firsthand account of infiltrating the KKK and exposing whitesupremacist plots, noting it chronicled his experiences as an FBI informant.

"

In his new book, White Robes and Broken Badges, Moore gives a firsthand account of his experiences infiltrating the KKK's invisible empire and the rise in white supremacy ideology.

— Episode: An Informant Exposes The Inner Workings...

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Episode: An Informant Exposes The Inner Workings Of The Ku...

The guest described his new book as a firsthand account of infiltrating the KKK and exposing whitesupremacist plots, noting it chronicled his experiences as an FBI informant.

"

In his new book, White Robes and Broken Badges, Moore gives a firsthand account of his experiences infiltrating the KKK's invisible empire and the rise in white supremacy ideology.

Our guest today is Joe Moore, a former informant for the FBI; he's written a new book called White Robes and Broken Badges infiltrating the KKK and exposing the evil among us.

If you're just joining us, my guest is Joe Moore; he's written a book about infiltrating the KKK. His book is called White Robes and Broken Badges.

His book is called White Robes and Broken Badges infiltrating the KKK and exposing the evil among us.

Writer Joe Moore, his book is called White Robes and Broken Badges infiltrating the KKK.

Road to Surrender: Three Men and the Countdown to the End of World War II Cover

Evan Thomas

Road to Surrender

Three Men and the Countdown to the End of World War II

The book was highlighted as Evan Thomas's latest work, focusing on the decisions and personalities that shaped the final months of World WarII, and it was noted to be newly released in paperback.

"

The Road to Surrender, Three Men and the Countdown to the End of World War II, is now out in paperback.

— Episode: Revisiting The Final Months Of WWII

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Episode: Revisiting The Final Months Of WWII

The book was highlighted as Evan Thomas's latest work, focusing on the decisions and personalities that shaped the final months of World WarII, and it was noted to be newly released in paperback.

"

The Road to Surrender, Three Men and the Countdown to the End of World War II, is now out in paperback.

Writer Evan Thomas recorded last year, his book Road to Surrender, Three Men and the Countdown to the End of World War II is now out in paperback.

His book, Road to Surrender, Three Men and the Countdown to the End of World War II is now out in paperback.

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