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

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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

SAFE: The Minimum Standard for Intimacy Cover

Scott Austin Martin

SAFE

The Minimum Standard for Intimacy

Daly's memoir recounted his experiences fostering two brothers, the challenges of the system, and the emotional stakes of family reunification.

"

His new book is called SAFE a memoir of fatherhood, foster care and the risks we take for family.

— Episode: Best Of: The Life Of A Nun / A Foster Pa...

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Episode: Best Of: The Life Of A Nun / A Foster Parent On Lo...

Daly's memoir recounted his experiences fostering two brothers, the challenges of the system, and the emotional stakes of family reunification.

"

His new book is called SAFE a memoir of fatherhood, foster care and the risks we take for family.

Mark Daly's new memoir is called SAFE.

Your Table Is Ready: Tales of a New York City Maître D' Cover

Michael Cecchi-Azzolina

Your Table Is Ready

Tales of a New York City Maître D'

It was a memoir that recounted his decades working in highend New York City restaurants, exposing the behindthescenes world of coveted tables, staff dynamics, and the adrenalinefueled atmosphere of the 1980s90s.

"

He's written about his experiences in his memoir, Your Table Is Ready, Tales of a New York City Made or D, now out in paperback.

— Episode: A Maître D' Dishes On The Restaurant Ind...

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Episode: A Maître D' Dishes On The Restaurant Industry

It was a memoir that recounted his decades working in highend New York City restaurants, exposing the behindthescenes world of coveted tables, staff dynamics, and the adrenalinefueled atmosphere of the 1980s90s.

"

He's written about his experiences in his memoir, Your Table Is Ready, Tales of a New York City Made or D, now out in paperback.

Former Mator D Michael Chekey Azalina spoke to Dave Davies in 2022 his memoir Your Table Is Ready is now out in paper bank.

His memoir Your Table Is Ready is now out in paper bank coming up we remember former editor William Whitworth.

Evangelical Christendom; Volume X Cover

Anonymous

Evangelical Christendom; Volume X

It was a new book that blended memoir and reporting to examine how evangelical Christians shape American political life.

"

Her new book The X-Vangelicals is part memoir, part reporting.

— Episode: A Maître D' Dishes On The Restaurant Ind...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: A Maître D' Dishes On The Restaurant Industry

It was a new book that blended memoir and reporting to examine how evangelical Christians shape American political life.

"

Her new book The X-Vangelicals is part memoir, part reporting.

How to Win an Information War: The Propagandist Who Outwitted Hitler Cover

Peter Pomerantsev

How to Win an Information War

The Propagandist Who Outwitted Hitler

The book examined the tactics of Sefton Delmer and modern propaganda, linking historical WWII campaigns to today's information battles.

"

His new book How to Win an Information War is about the man he describes as the forgotten genius of propaganda, Sefton Delmer.

— Episode: What Makes Propaganda Effective?

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Episode: What Makes Propaganda Effective?

The book examined the tactics of Sefton Delmer and modern propaganda, linking historical WWII campaigns to today's information battles.

"

His new book How to Win an Information War is about the man he describes as the forgotten genius of propaganda, Sefton Delmer.

my guest is Peter Pomeransev, author of the new book, How to Win an Information War, the propagandist who outwitted Hitler.

my guest is Peter Pomeransev, his new book is called How to Win an Information War, The Propagandist Who Outwitted Hitler.

His new book goes a little deeper into the past. It's called How to Win an Information War, the Propagandist who outwitted Hitler.

Peter Palmer, I'm on set as the author of the new book How to Win an Information War, The Propagandist Who Outwitted Hitler.

Help Wanted: A Novel Cover

Adelle Waldman

Help Wanted

A Novel

Maureen Corrigan reviewed the novel, describing it as a workplace ensemble set in a bigbox store in the Catskills, noting its mixedbag nature and the psychological acuity that carries over from Waldman's debut.

"

Coming up Marine Corrigan reviews Help Wanted the new novel from Adele Waldman set in a big box store in the Catskill region of New York.

— Episode: Eugene Levy Is A 'Reluctant Traveler'

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Eugene Levy Is A 'Reluctant Traveler'

Maureen Corrigan reviewed the novel, describing it as a workplace ensemble set in a bigbox store in the Catskills, noting its mixedbag nature and the psychological acuity that carries over from Waldman's debut.

"

Coming up Marine Corrigan reviews Help Wanted the new novel from Adele Waldman set in a big box store in the Catskill region of New York.

Waldman's long awaited second novel Help Wanted is set in another world entirely a big box store in a depressed town in the Catskill region of New York state our book critic Maureen Corrigan has a review.

There's a moment towards the end of Adele Waldman's new novel Help Wanted were a smart but insecure young woman named Nicole who's a worker in a big box store approaches her manager to ask him what he thinks about her ambition to go to college.

Help Wanted itself is a mixed bag as you perhaps heard in that passage I just quoted its graced with the psychological acuity that distinguished its predecessor but because Help Wanted is a group portrait it tends to visit rather than settle in with its working class characters.

The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P.: A Novel Cover

Adelle Waldman

The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P.

A Novel

The critic referenced Waldman's debut novel, praising its witty and shrewd depiction of literary hipsters in Brooklyn and noting its earlier acclaim.

"

In her 2013 debut novel The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. Adele Waldman wrote about love and narcissism among literary hipsters in Brooklyn.

— Episode: Eugene Levy Is A 'Reluctant Traveler'

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Eugene Levy Is A 'Reluctant Traveler'

The critic referenced Waldman's debut novel, praising its witty and shrewd depiction of literary hipsters in Brooklyn and noting its earlier acclaim.

"

In her 2013 debut novel The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. Adele Waldman wrote about love and narcissism among literary hipsters in Brooklyn.

Waldman's debut novel the love affairs of Nathaniel P about a young literary hipster living where else in Brooklyn was lauded for its wit and shrewdness.

Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth, and Faith in the New China: Chasing Fortune, Truth, and Faith in the New China Cover

Evan Osnos

Age of Ambition

Chasing Fortune, Truth, and Faith in the New China

Osnos examined how religious belief and secular ideology intersect in modern Chinese society.

"

He's written three books Age of Ambition chasing fortune truth and faith in the new China ...

— Episode: Best Of: Biden's Last Campaign / Trans W...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Best Of: Biden's Last Campaign / Trans Writer Lucy...

Osnos examined how religious belief and secular ideology intersect in modern Chinese society.

"

He's written three books Age of Ambition chasing fortune truth and faith in the new China ...

Wildland: The Making of America's Fury Cover

Evan Osnos

Wildland

The Making of America's Fury

His most recent book traced the environmental and political forces shaping America's wildlands.

"

He's written three books age of ambition chasing fortune truth and faith in the new China ... and his most recent book wild land the making of America's fury.

— Episode: Best Of: Biden's Last Campaign / Trans W...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Best Of: Biden's Last Campaign / Trans Writer Lucy...

His most recent book traced the environmental and political forces shaping America's wildlands.

"

He's written three books age of ambition chasing fortune truth and faith in the new China ... and his most recent book wild land the making of America's fury.

Grief Is for People Cover

Sloane Crosley

Grief Is for People

Crosley's memoir offered an idiosyncratic elegy to a mentor and explored loss with sharp social observation.

"

her latest book Grief Is for People

— Episode: Best Of: Biden's Last Campaign / Trans W...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Best Of: Biden's Last Campaign / Trans Writer Lucy...

Crosley's memoir offered an idiosyncratic elegy to a mentor and explored loss with sharp social observation.

"

her latest book Grief Is for People

I said that Grief Is for People takes the form of a traditional elegy but there's nothing traditional about Crosley's voice; her arresting observations on being engulfed by grief.

Evidence (University Casebook Series) Cover

George Fisher

Evidence (University Casebook Series)

The collection presented rarely seen New York police department photographs from the early 1900s.

"

Evidence a collection of rarely seen New York police department Evidence photographs taken in the nineteen hundreds

— Episode: Best Of: Biden's Last Campaign / Trans W...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Best Of: Biden's Last Campaign / Trans Writer Lucy...

The collection presented rarely seen New York police department photographs from the early 1900s.

"

Evidence a collection of rarely seen New York police department Evidence photographs taken in the nineteen hundreds

Rick Steves Paris (Rick Steves Travel Guide) Cover

Rick Steves

Rick Steves Paris (Rick Steves Travel Guide)

The book offered a visual and textual exploration of the French capital's history and architecture.

"

Paris a look at the French capitals under belly sought recently retired from bar college

— Episode: Best Of: Biden's Last Campaign / Trans W...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Best Of: Biden's Last Campaign / Trans Writer Lucy...

The book offered a visual and textual exploration of the French capital's history and architecture.

"

Paris a look at the French capitals under belly sought recently retired from bar college

Low Life: Lures and Snares of Old New York Cover

Luc Sante

Low Life

Lures and Snares of Old New York

The work examined the gritty underbelly of old New York through its subcultures and street life.

"

including Low Life lures and snares of old New York

— Episode: Best Of: Biden's Last Campaign / Trans W...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Best Of: Biden's Last Campaign / Trans Writer Lucy...

The work examined the gritty underbelly of old New York through its subcultures and street life.

"

including Low Life lures and snares of old New York

Waiting for the Monsoon Cover

Rod Nordland

Waiting for the Monsoon

Nordland described his new memoir, which recounts his experiences as a war correspondent and as a braincancer patient, and how those extremes shaped his relationships.

"

In his new memoir, Waiting for the Monsoon, he writes about his life as a war correspondent and as a cancer patient and how both extremes affected his relationships and family life.

— Episode: A War Reporter Reckons With A Deadly Can...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: A War Reporter Reckons With A Deadly Cancer Diagno...

Nordland described his new memoir, which recounts his experiences as a war correspondent and as a braincancer patient, and how those extremes shaped his relationships.

"

In his new memoir, Waiting for the Monsoon, he writes about his life as a war correspondent and as a cancer patient and how both extremes affected his relationships and family life.

Since 2019, he's had the most lethal form of brain cancer, glioblastoma. His new memoir is called Waiting for the Monsoon.

Grief Is for People Cover

Sloane Crosley

Grief Is for People

Corrigan reviewed Crossley's idiosyncratic memoir of loss, describing it as an elegy to a friend and a vivid account of grieving.

"

Her latest book, Grief Is for People, is an idiosyncratic memoir of loss.

— Episode: A War Reporter Reckons With A Deadly Can...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: A War Reporter Reckons With A Deadly Cancer Diagno...

Corrigan reviewed Crossley's idiosyncratic memoir of loss, describing it as an elegy to a friend and a vivid account of grieving.

"

Her latest book, Grief Is for People, is an idiosyncratic memoir of loss.

The subject of SloanCrosley's book is as traditional as it gets. It's an elegy to her friend, former boss, and mentor, Russell Perot.

The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully Cover

Frank Ostaseski

The Five Invitations

Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully

Nordland and his partner recommended this Buddhistinspired book for anyone facing serious illness, noting it changed their lives.

"

There are books that we've read that we both found very moving, books on dying and death and on facing death, especially a book called The Five Invitations by an American Buddhist mon...

— Episode: A War Reporter Reckons With A Deadly Can...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: A War Reporter Reckons With A Deadly Cancer Diagno...

Nordland and his partner recommended this Buddhistinspired book for anyone facing serious illness, noting it changed their lives.

"

There are books that we've read that we both found very moving, books on dying and death and on facing death, especially a book called The Five Invitations by an American Buddhist monk Frank Ostelleschi.

Cult Classic: A Novel Cover

Sloane Crosley

Cult Classic

A Novel

Crossley's earlier novel was mentioned while listing her body of work.

"

Sloane Crossley is celebrated for her novels, Cult Classic and The Clasp, and her three essay collections, all distinguished by sharp social observations and wit.

— Episode: A War Reporter Reckons With A Deadly Can...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: A War Reporter Reckons With A Deadly Cancer Diagno...

Crossley's earlier novel was mentioned while listing her body of work.

"

Sloane Crossley is celebrated for her novels, Cult Classic and The Clasp, and her three essay collections, all distinguished by sharp social observations and wit.

The Clasp: A Novel Cover

Sloane Crosley

The Clasp

A Novel

Crossley's second novel was listed together with Cult Classic as part of her published works.

"

Sloane Crossley is celebrated for her novels, Cult Classic and The Clasp, and her three essay collections, all distinguished by sharp social observations and wit.

— Episode: A War Reporter Reckons With A Deadly Can...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: A War Reporter Reckons With A Deadly Cancer Diagno...

Crossley's second novel was listed together with Cult Classic as part of her published works.

"

Sloane Crossley is celebrated for her novels, Cult Classic and The Clasp, and her three essay collections, all distinguished by sharp social observations and wit.

Preparing for War: The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism--and What Comes Next Cover

Bradley Onishi

Preparing for War

The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism--and What Comes Next

The host introduced Bradley Onishi as the author of Preparing for War, noting that the book examines the extremist history of white Christian nationalism and looks ahead to what comes next.

"

He's the author of the book, Preparing for War,

— Episode: The Impact Of Christian Nationalism On A...

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Episode: The Impact Of Christian Nationalism On American De...

The host introduced Bradley Onishi as the author of Preparing for War, noting that the book examines the extremist history of white Christian nationalism and looks ahead to what comes next.

"

He's the author of the book, Preparing for War,

my guest is Brad Onishi, author of the book, Preparing for War, The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism and What Comes Next.

Bradley Onishi is the author of the book Preparing for War

We Loved It All: A Memory of Life Cover

Lydia Millet

We Loved It All

A Memory of Life

The sponsor message described the book as exploring the pain and joy of being alive and said it was now available wherever books are sold.

"

We Loved It All explores the pain and joy of being alive at a moment when the richness of the planet's life is deeply threatened, now available wherever books are sold.

— Episode: 'Dune' Director Denis Villeneuve

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 'Dune' Director Denis Villeneuve

The sponsor message described the book as exploring the pain and joy of being alive and said it was now available wherever books are sold.

"

We Loved It All explores the pain and joy of being alive at a moment when the richness of the planet's life is deeply threatened, now available wherever books are sold.

Preparing for War: The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism--and What Comes Next Cover

Bradley Onishi

Preparing for War

The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism--and What Comes Next

The host announced that Brad Onishi, author of Preparing for War, would discuss the extremist history of white Christian nationalism and its future.

"

My guest will be Brad Onishi, author of Preparing for War, the extremist history of white Christian nationalism and what comes next.

— Episode: 'Dune' Director Denis Villeneuve

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 'Dune' Director Denis Villeneuve

The host announced that Brad Onishi, author of Preparing for War, would discuss the extremist history of white Christian nationalism and its future.

"

My guest will be Brad Onishi, author of Preparing for War, the extremist history of white Christian nationalism and what comes next.

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