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.

Buy on Amazon
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.

Buy on Amazon
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.

Buy on Amazon
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.

Buy on Amazon
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?

Buy on Amazon
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.'

Buy on Amazon
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.

Buy on Amazon
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.

Buy on Amazon
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.

Buy on Amazon
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

Black Skin, White Masks Cover

Frantz Fanon

Black Skin, White Masks

The book was referenced as the source of inspiration when Joy described the literal experience of coding with a white mask.

"

And as I was having that experience of coding in the white mask, I really thought about the book Black Skin White Mask, which is talking about the ways in which people change themselves to fit a domin...

— Episode: Unmasking AI's Racism And Sexism

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Unmasking AI's Racism And Sexism

The book was referenced as the source of inspiration when Joy described the literal experience of coding with a white mask.

"

And as I was having that experience of coding in the white mask, I really thought about the book Black Skin White Mask, which is talking about the ways in which people change themselves to fit a dominant group.

First Lady from Plains Cover

Rosalynn Carter

First Lady from Plains

The memoir was mentioned while discussing Terry Gross's 1984 interview with former First Lady Rosalynn Carter.

"

Terry Gross interviewed Carter in 1984 about her memoir, First Lady from Plains.

— Episode: Unmasking AI's Racism And Sexism

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Episode: Unmasking AI's Racism And Sexism

The memoir was mentioned while discussing Terry Gross's 1984 interview with former First Lady Rosalynn Carter.

"

Terry Gross interviewed Carter in 1984 about her memoir, First Lady from Plains.

UFO Cow Abduction: Beam Up Your Bovine (With Light and Sound!) (RP Minis) Cover

Matt Smiriglio

UFO Cow Abduction

Beam Up Your Bovine (With Light and Sound!) (RP Minis)

The book was presented as a comprehensive history of UFO sightings from the 1940s onward, detailing government investigations, military secrets, scientific searches for extraterrestrial intelligence, and the rise of conspiracy theories.

"

His new book, which begins in the 1940s, is about the history of reported UFO sightings, how the government investigates those sightings, what the military knows and what it keeps secret, and how UFO...

— Episode: UFOs: Conspiracy Theories, Secrets & Mys...

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Episode: UFOs: Conspiracy Theories, Secrets & Mysteries

The book was presented as a comprehensive history of UFO sightings from the 1940s onward, detailing government investigations, military secrets, scientific searches for extraterrestrial intelligence, and the rise of conspiracy theories.

"

His new book, which begins in the 1940s, is about the history of reported UFO sightings, how the government investigates those sightings, what the military knows and what it keeps secret, and how UFO conspiracy theories start and spread.

The title of his book is UFO, the inside story of the U.S. government's search for alien life here and out there.

If you're just joining us, my guest is Garrett Graff and his new book is called UFO, the inside story of the U.S. government's search for alien life here and out there.

Garrett Graff's new book is called UFO, the inside story of the U.S. government's search for alien life here and out there.

We'll talk about the new book, UFO, the inside story of the U.S. government's search for alien life here and out there, after a short break.

Watergate: A New History Cover

Garrett M. Graff

Watergate

A New History

Graff's earlier work, Watergate, was noted as a Pulitzer Prizefinalist history of the scandal.

"

Graff is the author of previous books about the history of the FBI, the Cold War plans to protect government leaders in case the U.S. is attacked with a nuclear weapon, and an oral history of 911. His...

— Episode: UFOs: Conspiracy Theories, Secrets & Mys...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: UFOs: Conspiracy Theories, Secrets & Mysteries

Graff's earlier work, Watergate, was noted as a Pulitzer Prizefinalist history of the scandal.

"

Graff is the author of previous books about the history of the FBI, the Cold War plans to protect government leaders in case the U.S. is attacked with a nuclear weapon, and an oral history of 911. His book Watergate was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in history.

Behold a Pale Horse Cover

Milton William Cooper

Behold a Pale Horse

The book was described as a terrible work of conspiracy lore that reprinted the Protocols of the Elders of Zion and contributed to extremist narratives.

"

One of the original founders of these UFO conspiracies in the 1980s is this figure named Bill Cooper, who writes this book Beyond the Pale Horse, just a terrible book of conspiracies. I mean, a big ch...

— Episode: UFOs: Conspiracy Theories, Secrets & Mys...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: UFOs: Conspiracy Theories, Secrets & Mysteries

The book was described as a terrible work of conspiracy lore that reprinted the Protocols of the Elders of Zion and contributed to extremist narratives.

"

One of the original founders of these UFO conspiracies in the 1980s is this figure named Bill Cooper, who writes this book Beyond the Pale Horse, just a terrible book of conspiracies. I mean, a big chunk of the book is just reprinting the protocols of the elders of Zion.

Leslie F*cking Jones Cover

Leslie Jones

Leslie F*cking Jones

The memoir detailed her longtime struggles, odd jobs, and personal stories she had never shared before, offering an intimate look at her life and rise to fame.

"

In her new memoir, simply titled Leslie F.N. Jones, I can't say the actual word on the radio. For years, she worked odd jobs... In the book, Jones also shares details of her life that she's never spok...

— Episode: Comic Leslie Jones

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Comic Leslie Jones

The memoir detailed her longtime struggles, odd jobs, and personal stories she had never shared before, offering an intimate look at her life and rise to fame.

"

In her new memoir, simply titled Leslie F.N. Jones, I can't say the actual word on the radio. For years, she worked odd jobs... In the book, Jones also shares details of her life that she's never spoken about before.

She's written a new memoir titled Leslie F.N. Jones.

Thank you for this book.

UFO Cow Abduction: Beam Up Your Bovine (With Light and Sound!) (RP Minis) Cover

Matt Smiriglio

UFO Cow Abduction

Beam Up Your Bovine (With Light and Sound!) (RP Minis)

The book examined reported UFO sightings, the investigation process, and the military's secretive handling of the phenomenon.

"

We talk with journalist Garrett Graff about his new book UFO. It's about reported sightings, how they're investigated, and what the military keeps secret and why.

— Episode: Comic Leslie Jones

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Comic Leslie Jones

The book examined reported UFO sightings, the investigation process, and the military's secretive handling of the phenomenon.

"

We talk with journalist Garrett Graff about his new book UFO. It's about reported sightings, how they're investigated, and what the military keeps secret and why.

Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive Cover

Stephanie Land

Maid

Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive

It was described as a 2019 memoir about her experience as a single mother living in poverty, which became a New York Times bestseller, was named one of President Obama's best books of 2019, and was later adapted into a Netflix series.

"

In the new book class, writer Stephanie Lan picks up where her 2019 book, Maid, left off.

— Episode: 'Maid' Author Stephanie Land On 'Class'

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 'Maid' Author Stephanie Land On 'Class'

It was described as a 2019 memoir about her experience as a single mother living in poverty, which became a New York Times bestseller, was named one of President Obama's best books of 2019, and was later adapted into a Netflix series.

"

In the new book class, writer Stephanie Lan picks up where her 2019 book, Maid, left off.

Her first book, Maid, Hard Work, Low Pay, and A Mother's Will to Survive, was picked as one of former President Obama's best books of 2019 and made the New York Times Bestseller list.

Class: A Guide Through the American Status System Cover

Paul Fussell

Class

A Guide Through the American Status System

It was presented as her new memoir about motherhood, hunger, and higher education--a sequel to her debut and a continuation of her story of juggling college, childcare, and work.

"

In the new book Class, writer Stephanie Lan picks up where her 2019 book, Maid, left off.

— Episode: 'Maid' Author Stephanie Land On 'Class'

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 'Maid' Author Stephanie Land On 'Class'

It was presented as her new memoir about motherhood, hunger, and higher education--a sequel to her debut and a continuation of her story of juggling college, childcare, and work.

"

In the new book Class, writer Stephanie Lan picks up where her 2019 book, Maid, left off.

her new book Class a memoir of motherhood hunger and higher education which is a sequel to her bestselling debut book Made hard work low pay and a mother's will to survive.

Writer Stephanie Land her new book is Class a memoir of motherhood hunger and higher education.

Elvis and Me Cover

Priscilla Beaulieu Presley

Elvis and Me

The memoir was identified as the source material from which SofiaCoppola adapted her film Priscilla.

"

Coppola adapted the story from Priscilla Presley's 1985 memoir, Elvis and Me.

— Episode: Best Of: What's Next For Fox News? / Sof...

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Episode: Best Of: What's Next For Fox News? / Sofia Coppola

The memoir was identified as the source material from which SofiaCoppola adapted her film Priscilla.

"

Coppola adapted the story from Priscilla Presley's 1985 memoir, Elvis and Me.

when I read Priscilla's book, I was really surprised that she was living in Graceland while she was in high school.

Elvis and Me Cover

Priscilla Beaulieu Presley

Elvis and Me

The memoir was cited as the source material Coppola adapted for her film Priscilla.

"

Coppola adapted the story from Priscilla Presley's 1985 memoir, Elvis and Me.

— Episode: Best Of: What's Next For Fox News? / Sof...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Best Of: What's Next For Fox News? / Sofia Coppola

The memoir was cited as the source material Coppola adapted for her film Priscilla.

"

Coppola adapted the story from Priscilla Presley's 1985 memoir, Elvis and Me.

I realized when I was reading her book how little we know about her.

Class: A Guide Through the American Status System Cover

Paul Fussell

Class

A Guide Through the American Status System

The host said the new book Class continued the story after Stephanie Land's bestseller Made.

"

On Monday's show, I talk with writer Stephanie Land about her new book Class, which picks up where her bestselling book Made left off.

— Episode: Filmmaker Albert Brooks

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Episode: Filmmaker Albert Brooks

The host said the new book Class continued the story after Stephanie Land's bestseller Made.

"

On Monday's show, I talk with writer Stephanie Land about her new book Class, which picks up where her bestselling book Made left off.

The Invisible Ache: Black Men Identifying Their Pain and Reclaiming Their Power Cover

Courtney B. Vance

The Invisible Ache

Black Men Identifying Their Pain and Reclaiming Their Power

The authors examined the unique trauma experienced by Black men and boys and argued that the book serves as a permission slip for them to speak about their pain. It was described as a new, urgent work that reframes the conversation around mental health.

"

In a new book, The Invisible Ache, Courtney B. Vance and psychologist Dr. Robin Smith explore the trauma unique to black men and boys and what they say is an urgent need to change the...

— Episode: The Mental Health Crisis Affecting Black...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: The Mental Health Crisis Affecting Black Men & Boy...

The authors examined the unique trauma experienced by Black men and boys and argued that the book serves as a permission slip for them to speak about their pain. It was described as a new, urgent work that reframes the conversation around mental health.

"

In a new book, The Invisible Ache, Courtney B. Vance and psychologist Dr. Robin Smith explore the trauma unique to black men and boys and what they say is an urgent need to change the conversation about mental health.

I was just so struck reading your book right from the very start.

Our guest today is awardwinning actor Courtney B. Vance and psychologist Dr. Robin Smith. They have a new book out titled The Invisible Ache Black Men Identifying Their Pain and Reclaiming Their Power.

thank you for this conversation thank you Tanya so much thank you for setting the table Courtney B. Vance and dr. Robin Smith coauthored the book The Invisible Ache black men identifying their pain and reclaiming their power

The Invisible Ache: Black Men Identifying Their Pain and Reclaiming Their Power Cover

Courtney B. Vance

The Invisible Ache

Black Men Identifying Their Pain and Reclaiming Their Power

The book explored trauma unique to Black men and boys, rising suicide rates, and the need to shift conversations about mental health.

"

Their new book, The Invisible Ache, explores the trauma unique to black men and boys, the recent increase in suicides, and the urgent need to change the conversation about mental heal...

— Episode: What's Changing At Fox News?

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: What's Changing At Fox News?

The book explored trauma unique to Black men and boys, rising suicide rates, and the need to shift conversations about mental health.

"

Their new book, The Invisible Ache, explores the trauma unique to black men and boys, the recent increase in suicides, and the urgent need to change the conversation about mental health.

So Late in the Day: Stories of Women and Men Cover

Claire Keegan

So Late in the Day

Stories of Women and Men

Maureen Corrigan reviewed the newly published short story collection, noting it contained three tales that examined troubled relationships between women and men and highlighted its reversechronological structure.

"

Our book critic Maureen Corrigan says the only flaw she sees with Keegan's work is that there isn't enough of it. Here's her review of So Late in the Day, a newly published collection...

— Episode: Life & Death In A Ukrainian War Zone

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Episode: Life & Death In A Ukrainian War Zone

Maureen Corrigan reviewed the newly published short story collection, noting it contained three tales that examined troubled relationships between women and men and highlighted its reversechronological structure.

"

Our book critic Maureen Corrigan says the only flaw she sees with Keegan's work is that there isn't enough of it. Here's her review of So Late in the Day, a newly published collection of three of Keegan's short stories.

Claire Keegan's newly published short story collection, So Late in the Day, contains three tales that testify to the screwed up relations between women and men.

To give you a hint about Keegan's views on who's to blame for that situation, be aware that when the title story was published in France earlier this year, it was called Misogyny.

The three short stories in So Late in the Day appear in reverse chronological order, so that the last story, Antarctica, is the oldest, first published in 1999.

In contrast, the central story of this collection, called The Long and Painful Death, which was originally published in 2007, is a pensive masterpiece about male anger towards successful women and the female impulse to placate that anger.

Everything Nobody Writes About Cover

Her II

Everything Nobody Writes About

The host introduced Barbra Streisand's memoir, describing it as covering her upbringing, criticism from her mother, love life, and career.

"

Barbra Streisand and her new memoir, She Writes About Everything, from growing up with a mother who constantly criticized her, to her love life and her extensive career.

— Episode: Best Of: Barbra Streisand / Tariq Trotte...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Best Of: Barbra Streisand / Tariq Trotter (Black T...

The host introduced Barbra Streisand's memoir, describing it as covering her upbringing, criticism from her mother, love life, and career.

"

Barbra Streisand and her new memoir, She Writes About Everything, from growing up with a mother who constantly criticized her, to her love life and her extensive career.

Halcyon Years Cover

Alastair Reynolds

Halcyon Years

Ackerman's newest novel was mentioned as his latest fiction work following his memoir.

"

Elliott Ackerman is a former Marine ... his latest memoir is titled Places and Names and his latest novel is titled Halcyon.

— Episode: A Marine Reflects On War & Finding Purpo...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: A Marine Reflects On War & Finding Purpose / The B...

Ackerman's newest novel was mentioned as his latest fiction work following his memoir.

"

Elliott Ackerman is a former Marine ... his latest memoir is titled Places and Names and his latest novel is titled Halcyon.

Half American: The Epic Story of African Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad Cover

Matthew F. Delmont

Half American

The Epic Story of African Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad

Delmont's book about AfricanAmerican soldiers in WorldII was highlighted as an upcoming paperback released in January.

"

His book is titled Half American, the Epic Story of African Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad. It comes out in paperback in January.

— Episode: A Marine Reflects On War & Finding Purpo...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: A Marine Reflects On War & Finding Purpose / The B...

Delmont's book about AfricanAmerican soldiers in WorldII was highlighted as an upcoming paperback released in January.

"

His book is titled Half American, the Epic Story of African Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad. It comes out in paperback in January.

His new book is Half American, the epic story of AfricanAmericans fighting World WarII at home and abroad.

His book Half American will be published in paperback in January.

My Name Is Barbra Cover

Barbra Streisand

My Name Is Barbra

The memoir was highlighted as a new 900page release that marked Streisand's return to the program, and the host repeatedly noted its title and significance.

"

Barbara Streisand has a new memoir called My Name is Barbara. Her career got off to a rocketing start.

— Episode: Barbra Streisand

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Barbra Streisand

The memoir was highlighted as a new 900page release that marked Streisand's return to the program, and the host repeatedly noted its title and significance.

"

Barbara Streisand has a new memoir called My Name is Barbara. Her career got off to a rocketing start.

Congratulations on the book.

If you're just joining us, my guest is Barbara Streisand and she has a new memoir which is called My Name is Barbara.

She has a new memoir called My Name is Barbara.

Elvis and Me Cover

Priscilla Beaulieu Presley

Elvis and Me

Sofia Coppola noted that the film was adapted from Priscilla Presley's 1985 memoir and that reading the book gave her insight into Priscilla's teenage experience living at Graceland.

"

Coppola adapted the story from Priscilla Presley's 1985 memoir, Elvis and Me.

— Episode: Sofia Coppola On 'Priscilla'

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Sofia Coppola On 'Priscilla'

Sofia Coppola noted that the film was adapted from Priscilla Presley's 1985 memoir and that reading the book gave her insight into Priscilla's teenage experience living at Graceland.

"

Coppola adapted the story from Priscilla Presley's 1985 memoir, Elvis and Me.

So when I read Priscilla's book, I was really surprised that she was living in Graceland while she was in high school.

It's based on Priscilla Presley's 1985 memoir, Elvis and Me.

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