Books : NPR

In Savings and Trust, historian Justene Hill Edwards tells the story of the Freedman's Bank. Created for formerly enslaved people following the Civil War, its collapse cost depositors millions.

https://www.npr.org/2024/11/07/g-s1-33275/how-the-freedman-bank-collapse-of-1874-connects-to-economic-disparities-we-see-today

With 23 short essays on creatures ranging from the wombat to the spider, Katherine Rundell's new book is essential reading for anyone whose wonder could use a jumpstart.

https://www.npr.org/2024/11/07/nx-s1-5178051/vanishing-treasures-review-katherine-rundell

Pacino says the initial script for the Godfather sequel was so bad he nearly passed on the project — until it was rewritten. The Oscar-winning actor looks back on his life in the memoir Sonny B...

https://www.npr.org/2024/11/04/g-s1-31996/al-pacino-says-he-almost-turned-down-the-godfather-part-ii

Since publishing Annihilation and the subsequent Southern Reach novels, VanderMeer has become a poster child for fiction confronting climate change. Now he’s back with a highly anticipated preq...

https://www.npr.org/2024/11/03/nx-s1-4916375/jeff-vandermeer-absolution-novel-climate-fiction

Though Alex had been the guitarist in the family, when they formed Van Halen, it quickly became clear who would play: " made that instrument sing." Alex's new memoir is Brothers.

https://www.npr.org/2024/10/29/nx-s1-5165381/eddie-alex-van-halen-brothers

DeMar DeRozan is a basketball player for the Sacramento Kings. He's a six time NBA All-Star and an Olympic gold medalist. DeRozan just released a memoir: Above the Noise: My Story of Chasing Calm...

https://www.npr.org/2024/10/29/1211165437/derozan-demar

Journalist Eliza Griswold says complaints about homophobia, white privilege and diversity are splintering progressive organizations — including one particular church. Her book is Circle of Hope...

https://www.npr.org/2024/10/28/nx-s1-5165379/circle-of-hope-culture-wars-eliza-griswold

"Leaders are not born," Granny says. "They're made through molding and modeling." That's why she and her granddaughter and putting on their hats and coats and walking to the polls.

https://www.npr.org/2024/10/25/nx-s1-4674060/the-walk-winsome-bingham-e-b-lewis

Ken Tucker reviews Robert Hilburn's biography of Newman, A Few Words in Defense of Our Country. Plus, we listen back to a 1998 archival interview with the Grammy Award-winning artist.

https://www.npr.org/2024/10/25/g-s1-29938/singer-songwriter-randy-newman-looks-back-on-his-decades-long-music-career

Nick Harkaway grew up hearing his dad read drafts of his George Smiley novels. He picks up le Carré's beloved spymaster character in the new novel, Karla's Choice.

https://www.npr.org/2024/10/23/nx-s1-5159882/john-le-carre-george-smiley-nick-harkaway-karlas-choice