Lorraine Hansberry: Radiant, Radical — And More Than 'Raisin'
A new biography of the African-American playwright shows that she was so much more than her most famous work: A Raisin in the Sun.
Books
Muhammad Ali Biography Reveals A Flawed Rebel Who Loved Attention
"I don't think we do Ali any good by treating him as a saint," says biographer Jonathan Eig. "He was a human being, and he was deeply flawed." Originally broadcast Oct. 4, 2017.
New Biography More Fully Defines Playwright Lorraine Hansberry
Historian Imani Perry looks beyond Hansberry's artistic genius to her involvement in several movements — civil rights, LGBTQ rights, anti-colonialism — ahead of the popular curve.
Javier Cercas Uncovers The Truth Behind Spain's 'Impostor'
In his new book, The Impostor, Javier Cercas unravels the lies that created the life of Enric Marco — a man who for years portrayed himself as a Holocaust survivor and Spanish Civil War hero.
From 'Everything Under' To 'Overstory': The 2018 Man Booker Prize Shortlist
Just half a dozen authors remain in contention for the prestigious fiction award: Anna Burns, Esi Edugyan, Daisy Johnson, Rachel Kushner, Richard Powers and Robin Robertson.
Investigative Journalist Aims To Expose Ills Of Privately Run Prisons
American Prison is the remarkable story of a journalist who spent four months working as a corrections officer — and a horrifying exposé of how prisoners are treated by a profiting corporation.
Khaled Hosseini Says A Succinct 'Sea Prayer' For A Refugee's Journey
The novelist known for his epic works about Afghanistan turns his attention to the human impact of the Syrian refugee crisis in a slim, poetic, illustrated book.
Memoirist: Evangelical Purity Movement Sees Women's Bodies As A 'Threat'
In Pure, Linda Kay Klein reflects on the "deep, long-lasting shame" caused by churches that claim women and girls are responsible for the sexual desires of men.
This Rapper Tried To Use Neuroscience To Get Over Her Ex
Dessa is a singer and writer from Minneapolis who spent years trying to fall out of love and get over her ex. Nothing seemed to help — until she visited a research lab for a brain scan.
'These Truths' Looks At America Through The Promises Of Its Beginning
By engaging with our country's past — and present — in an intellectually honest way, Jill Lepore has created a book that truly does encapsulate the American story in all its pain and triumph.