May 30 ‘The Fifth Season’ is June’s pick for the PBS NewsHour-New York Times book club By Elizabeth Flock In N.K. Jemisin's Hugo Award-winning fantasy novel "The Fifth Season," the world is menaced by environmental catastrophe, and its inhabitants struggle to survive. Continue reading
May 23 Looking for a good book? Here are 8 By Elizabeth Flock If you're longing to be transported, here are some recommendations from "Now Read This" book club members. Continue reading
May 10 ‘Don’t write—just type,’ and more advice from author Daniel Mendelsohn By Elizabeth Flock "If you think of writing as a job, as just getting the stuff out there, you’ll do a lot better than if you keep waiting for the angel of inspiration to visit," says Mendelsohn. Continue reading
Mar 19 Watch 7:32 Former deputy secretary of state on ‘a deep hole’ for American diplomacy William Burns, former deputy secretary of state and ambassador to Russia, may have spent more time with Vladimir Putin than other American diplomat. In his book, “The Back Channel,” Burns discusses how a “sense of grievance” underlies Putin's interactions with… Continue watching
Feb 08 When you turn 29, ‘metamorphosis is not optional,’ this poet says By Lora Strum For poet Hala Alyan, year 29 was an "emotional border" comprised of necessary endings and new beginnings. Continue reading
Jan 03 Read an excerpt from ‘Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism’ By Gretchen Frazee "When women enjoy their own sources of income, and the state guarantees social security in old age, illness, and disability, women have no economic reason to stay in abusive, unfulfilling, or otherwise unhealthy relationships," writes Kristen Ghodsee. Continue reading
Jan 01 Watch 5:13 Why ‘The Reckoning’ is a first for best-selling author John Grisham By Jeffrey Brown Best-selling author John Grisham became a lawyer, got bored and turned his courtroom experience into legal thrillers instead. His latest, "The Reckoning," tells of the murder of a Mississippi preacher by a returning World War II hero, who confesses to… Continue watching
Nov 28 Watch 5:56 ‘A Separation’ author Katie Kitamura answers your questions By Jeffrey Brown Katie Kitamura, author of our November pick for the NewsHour-New York Times book club Now Read This, joins Jeffrey Brown to answer reader questions on “A Separation,” plus Jeff announces December’s book. Continue watching
Nov 22 Watch 6:34 Why the rise of American Judaism offers a ‘great political story’ On our Bookshelf tonight, the dramatic struggles to turn an ancient faith into an American religion. Judy Woodruff speaks with longtime journalist Steven Weisman, author of “The Chosen Wars,” about why he decided to examine the evolution of Judaism in… Continue watching
Nov 21 Watch 7:12 How the Kellogg brothers transformed breakfast and pioneered ‘wellness’ The Kellogg brothers transformed the American breakfast. They promoted revolutionary ideas we now consider central to wellness, and celebrities flocked to their famous sanitarium and spa in Battle Creek, Michigan. But their commercial success came at a heavy personal cost. Continue watching