Nov 13 Watch 7:07 Why a library fire feels like an 'attack on humanity' By Jeffrey Brown In April 1986, fire raged through the Central Library in downtown Los Angeles, damaging or destroying more than a million books. Journalist and author Susan Orlean resurrects this nearly forgotten story in “The Library Book,” which also explores the emotional… Continue watching
Nov 12 Watch 5:40 New film 'Boy Erased' explores the 'self-hatred' dealt by gay conversion programs By Jeffrey Brown “Boy Erased,” a new film based on a memoir by Garrard Conley, tells the story of a young man who is forced by his parents to attend a gay conversion therapy program. Jeffrey Brown speaks to Conley about how his… Continue watching
Nov 12 Stan Lee, comic book revolutionary, dies at 95 By Lindsey Bahr, Associated Press Lee revived the industry in the 1960s by offering the costumes and action craved by younger readers while insisting on sophisticated plots, college-level dialogue, satire, science fiction, even philosophy. Continue reading
Nov 11 The medical story behind Thomas Eakins' gory masterpiece By Dr. Howard Markel It is difficult for the 21st century observer to imagine the shock and revulsion Thomas Eakins provoked with both "The Gross Clinic" in 1876. Continue reading
Nov 10 Watch 6:17 Inside Milan's Casa Verdi, where musicians retire in harmony By Christopher Livesay When Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi in the late 1800s built a neo-Gothic mansion in Milan, he envisioned a bustling sanctuary for professional musicians who were not earning livable incomes. Since then, Casa Verdi has hosted 1,500 residents and become an… Continue watching
Nov 08 Watch 3:49 Songwriter Gabriel Kahane on trains and 'radical empathy' Around the presidential election of 2016, songwriter Gabe Kahane decided to take a break from everyday life, escape technology and explore the country by rail. While traveling, he aspired to engage in conversation--but not argue--with strangers of all types of… Continue watching
Nov 08 Son of Beatles' producer dives into the messy 'White Album' By Mark Kennedy, Associated Press Giles Martin is the son of legendary Beatles producer George Martin, and he's lately been returning to the treasure trove of original recording sessions to remix key albums by John, Paul, George and Ringo. Continue reading
Nov 07 'Reading is part of my job,' and more writing advice from author Katie Kitamura By Elizabeth Flock Kitamura, author of the November book club pick "A Separation," says reading "should be taken as seriously as the act of writing itself."… Continue reading
Nov 05 America's poet laureate shares a poem for you to take to the polls By Jennifer Hijazi A new poetry collection invites readers to explore the diversity of American experiences in a different light. Continue reading
Nov 05 Watch 6:57 In 'These Truths,' historian Jill Lepore weaves in underappreciated political stories A new, single volume of history sets out to explore the experiment in government that is the United States. Jeffrey Brown sits down with award-winning Harvard historian Jill Lepore, author of “These Truths: A History of the United States,” to… Continue watching