ADAM: TONIGHT ON GREATER BOSTON, PROPOSAL TO MAKE FEARS AFFORDABLE FOR EVERYONE.

BOB SEAY BREAKS IT ALL DOWN AND ASK YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE T. THEN BEST-SELLING AUTHOR CELESTE NG JOINS ME ON HER WORK IN THE NEW COLLABORATIVE NOVEL 14 DAYS COWRITTEN BY MARGARET ATWOOD, JOHN GRISHAM, AND MORE THAN 30 OTHER AUTHORS.

CLIMATE DISASTERS HAVE INSPIRED CLIMATE LITERATURE AND HARVARD IS ONE OF SEVERAL UNIVERSITIES TEACHING A COURSE ON IT.

IS IT WORTH THE COST OF TUITION?

WELL, YET AGAIN PARTS OF THE RED LINE ARE SHUT DOWN THIS WEEK.

PARTS OF THE GREEN AND ORANGE LINES WILL BE OUT OF COMMISSION THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

PHILIP ENG SAYS THE SHUTDOWNS ARE ALLOWING FOR REPAIRS BUT THEY ARE STILL A MAJOR SOURCE OF FRUSTRATION FOR RIDERS WHO HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT’S GOING ON.

GBH TRANSPORTATION REPORTER BOB SEAY JOINS ME NOW TO ANSWER SOME OF THOSE.

WE WILL GET TO THE SHUTDOWNS BUT BEFORE YOU AND I -- RIGHT BEFORE YOU AND I STARTED HAVING THIS CONVERSATION, YOU SHARED WITH ME THERE IS SOME BIG NEWS OUT OF BOSTON WHERE THE MAYOR HAS ANNOUNCED AN EXTENSION OF THE FREE BUS PROGRAM.

HOW BIG A DEAL IS THIS?

BOB: I THINK IT IS A BIG DEAL BECAUSE WHEN SHE FIRST STARTED THIS, TWO YEARS AGO, I THINK SHE WAS HOPING THAT EVENTUALLY THERE WOULD BE SUCH SUPPORT AT THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROGRAM THAT SOMEHOW THE STATE OR THE NBTA MIGHT PICK UP THE COST.

SHE WAITED UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE AND TODAY ANNOUNCED THE CITY WILL PICK UP THE COST WHICH IS ABOUT $8 MILLION FOR TWO YEARS.

AND IT WILL PAY THE NBTA FOR BUS SERVICE ON ROUTES 23, 28, AND 29.

ADAM: WHERE DID THOSE ROUTES GO?

BOB: DORCHESTER, ROXBURY, THE PART OF THE CITY WHERE THERE ARE A LOT OF LOWER INCOME PEOPLE WHO DEPEND ON THE BUS TO GET TO WORK.

ADAM: THIS IS BEING FUNDED WITH FEDERAL FUNDS, RIGHT?

BOB: THE ARPA FUNDS.

AMERICA RESCUE PLAN FUNDS.

SHE ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT’S GOING TO PAY FOR IT.

SO THIS IS A GREAT STEP FORWARD.

OF COURSE MAYOR WU IS REALLY BIG ON NOT HAVING FARES AT ALL AND THAT MAY BE UNREALISTIC BUT SHE HAS BEEN VERY STRATEGIC IN TARGETING THE ROUTES THAT REALLY HAVE RIDERS WHO NEED THE HELP.

ADAM: IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE AFTER THIS LATEST ACCESSION PLAYS OUT IF SOMEBODY ELSE IS CONVINCED TO FUND IT OR IT GOES AWAY.

THERE IS A PUSH BY THE T TO EXPAND NOT FREE FARES, BUT REDUCED FARE PROGRAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES.

WHY IS THIS SOMETHING THE T IS LOOKING AT?

BOB: THEY HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS FOR 10 YEARS.

THIS HAS BEEN THOUGHT ABOUT, PLAN, HOPED FOR.

ADVOCATES HAVE PUSHED FOR IT AND WE ARE AT THE POINT NOW WHERE GOVERNOR HALEY’S SUPPORT AND THE NBTA IS BEHIND THIS PROGRAM WHICH WILL GIVE RIDERS A DISCOUNT IF THEY QUALIFY.

ADAM: IF YOU ARE AN INDIVIDUAL MAKING UP TO $30,000 YOU GET A HALF-PRICE DISCOUNT.

IF YOU ARE A FAMILY OF FOUR MAKING UP TO ABOUT 60, SAME DEAL.

BOB: IT IS NOT JUST THE T. IT IS ALSO THE BUSES, COMMUTER RAIL, WHICH IS A HUGE CHANGE, BECAUSE COMMUTER RAIL EVEN THOUGH WE ALL TRADITIONALLY THINK OF IT SERVING WEALTHIER SUBURBAN COMMUTERS, IT ACTUALLY IS A TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT LINK FOR GATEWAY CITIES.

THERE ARE LOWER INCOME WORKING PEOPLE.

AND THEY CAN HAVE TO SPEND $300 TO $400 A MONTH.

I USED TO TAKE IT TO WORK BEFORE I REALIZED I COULD NOT MAKE IT WORK WITH WORK.

IT IS A LOT OF MONEY.

ADD PARKING ON TO THAT.

ADAM: THIS HAS ONLY BEEN FLOATED.

WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THE PLANS TO EXPAND REDUCED FARES BECOME REALITY?

BOB: IT IS TO THE POINT NOW WHERE THEY ARE HAVING PUBLIC HEARINGS AS WE SPEAK.

AT THE MARCH MBTA BOARD MEETING THERE WILL BE VOTING ON AND I PREDICT THEY WILL APPROVE IT.

IT WILL BEGIN TO ROLL OUT IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER.

THIS IS MOVING ALONG PRETTY QUICKLY.

ADAM: THERE ARE A BUNCH OF SHUTDOWNS AS I MENTIONED AT THE OUTSET.

A BUNCH OF SHUTDOWNS CURRENTLY GOING ON.

WE WENT DOWNTOWN AND HEARD FROM ONE WOMAN, MARY FROM DORCHESTER, WHO WAS HOPING YOU CAN SHED SOME LIGHT ON WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH THE RED LINE IN PARTICULAR.

LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT MARY’S QUESTION AND CONCERN.

MARY: MY QUESTION WOULD BE HOW ARE THE IMPROVEMENTS ON THE RED LINE GOING?

I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RIDE ON SOME OF THE NEW TRAINS WHICH HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL, BUT THERE STILL SEEMS TO BE SOME DELAYS THAT AFFECT MY COMMUTING TO WORK.

BOB: GOOD NEWS, THE RED LINE SHUTDOWNS ARE UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW.

AND WE HAD SOME LAST YEAR IN THE FALL.

SOUTH OF PARK STREET TOWARD BRAINTREE.

NOW WE ARE NORTH OF PARK STREET.

SO WHAT IS HAPPENING IS, WHAT I CALL THE GREAT RECONSTRUCTION OF THE T IS TAKING PLACE IN SEGMENTS AND PIECES.

PEOPLE WILL SEE PARTS OF SOME LINES SHUT DOWN PART OF THE TIME AND OTHERS WILL BE OPENED UP.

EVENTUALLY THE AIM IS TO REMOVE ALL THE SLOW ZONES.

THE RECENT GREEN LINE SHUT DOWN WHICH LASTED ACTUALLY A PRETTY LONG TIME RESULTED IN 16 SPEED RESTRICTIONS BEING LIFTED.

THE GOAL WITH THE LATEST RED LINE SHUT DOWN IS 53 SPEED RESTRICTIONS.

ADAM: THAT IS A LOT.

SO IT IS THE RED LINE UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW WITH THE ORANGE LINE SHUTDOWNS AND GREEN LINE SHUTDOWNS TO COME.

YOUR PHRASE THE GREAT RECONSTRUCTION OF THE T, IT IS COMPELLING BUT IT ALSO MAKES ME WONDER, BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN -- WE’VE HAD SO MANY SHUTDOWNS FOR SO LONG.

AT WHAT POINT MIGHT THE GREAT RECONSTRUCTION OF THE TV WRAPPED UP?

BOB: THE END OF THIS YEAR.

PLEDGED TO ELIMINATE ALL SPEED RESTRICTIONS BY THE END OF 2024.

I HAD MISSED THAT.

SEE IF HE COMES THROUGH.

ADAM: A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL BE VERY HAPPY IF THAT HAPPENS.

I WANT TO CLOSE BY ASKING ABOUT A MORE DOWNBEAT TOPIC I THINK.

THE T IS MOUNTING A PUSH TO GET PEOPLE TO HELP THEM KEEP TRACK OF ASSAULTS ON BUS DRIVERS.

WE HAVE A LITTLE SNIPPET FROM INSTAGRAM THAT SHOWS HOW THIS CAMPAIGN IS WORKING AND WHAT THIS CAMPAIGN IS PREDICATED ON.

LET’S TAKE A LOOK.

>> I HAVE BEEN WITH THE T FOR 19 YEARS.

A FEW YEARS BACK I WAS ON THE 16 ROUTE AND SOMEBODY SPAT ON ME.

AS A BUS OPERATOR YOU TRY TO DO THE BEST YOU CAN.

YOU TRY TO DE-ESCALATE.

BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE BEST OUT OF IT.

IT CAN BE CHALLENGING.

ADAM: HOW BIG A PROBLEM IS THIS?

I ASSUME IT IS BIG SINCE THE T IS MOUNTING A PR CAMPAIGN.

WHAT THEY WANT TO DO IS GET PEOPLE TO USE AN APP.

THE MBTA SEE SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING APP, TO FILL IN DETAILS IF THEY SEE SOMETHING GOING ON.

BOB: IT IS A NATIONAL ISSUE.

THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION IS REQUIRING A LOT OF TRANSIT AGENCIES TO START DOCUMENTING ASSAULTS, HOW THEY ARE DEALING WITH THEM.

BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THERE MAY BE RELATIVELY FEW PHYSICAL ASSAULTS , THERE’S A LOT OF VERBAL ASSAULTS DRIVERS HAVE TO PUT UP WITH.

MOST OF THESE HAPPEN WHEN PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO PAY THEIR FARES OR NOT PAY THEIR FARES.

THE IDEA OF HAVING AFFAIR-FREE BUS -- HAVING A FARE-FREE BUS ELIMINATES CONFLICT BUT ALSO IMAGINE YOU ARE DRIVING A BUS WHICH IS DIFFICULT AND YOU HAVE SOMEBODY HASSLING YOU AND YOU ARE TRYING TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

IT IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE.

SO IT’S A REALLY IMPORTANT CAMPAIGN.

THE NUMBER OF ASSAULTS HAVE BEEN STEADILY DROPPING A BIT, BUT IT IS STILL SOMETHING THAT THE T ONCE THE PUBLIC TO GET INVOLVED WITH.

THEY WANT TO ENGAGE THE RIDERSHIP TO REPORT WHAT THEY SEEK.

ADAM: YOU TOLD ME ASSAULTS HAD PEAKED 2021.

BOB: I THINK IT WAS FALL OF 2022.

IT WAS REALLY A PEAK AND THEN IT DROPPED DOWN.

I DO NOT KNOW WHY.

ADAM: YOU AND I CHATTED ON THE PHONE, YOU MENTIONED THIS WAS AFTER COVID.

I SEE IT AS SOMEONE WHO FOR BETTER OR WORSE HAS TO DRIVE INTO WORK, PEOPLE HAVE DECIDED TO JUST IGNORE TRAFFIC SIGNALS, RED LIGHTS ARE OPTIONAL, THEY ARE LIKE A STOP SIGN.

SO MAYBE, THROWING THIS OUT, IT WAS POINTING AT THE EXTENT TO WHICH PEOPLE BECAME D SOCIALIZED DURING COVID.

BOB: THERE IS AN INCREASE IN RUDE BEHAVIOR, PUT IT THAT WAY.

ADAM: I CANNOT IMAGINE TRYING TO NAVIGATE A BUS THROUGH DENSE, BOSTON-AREA TRAFFIC.

UNDER THE BEST OF CIRCUMSTANCES.

AND IF YOU WERE DOING IT DEALING WITH ABUSE OR BEING FEARFUL YOU MIGHT BE EITHER JUST GIVING A HARD TIME VERBALLY OR ASSAULTED PHYSICALLY, IT WOULD BE TERRIBLE.

BOB: ALSO THE T HAS TRIED TO HIRE MORE BUS DRIVERS.

THE MORE WORD SPREADS IT IS DANGEROUS, THAT IS A DISINCENTIVE.

THEY ARE TRYING TO, AS ARE OTHER TRANSIT AGENCIES, MOUNT AN AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGN TO TARGET PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE ABUSIVE TO DRIVERS.

ADAM: I HOPE IT WORKS OUT AND I HOPE THOSE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO DROP.

THAT IS COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY.

BOB SEAY, THANK YOU FOR TALKING TO US.

BOB: THANK YOU.

ADAM: IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR BOB ON ANYTHING TRANSPORTATION RELATED, SEND THEM OUR WAY AT WGBH.ORG OR SEND THEM TO BOB ON X OR ON THE CON THE COMMENTS BELOW IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE WATCHING ON YOUTUBE -- IN THE COMMENTS BELOW IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE WATCHING ON YOUTUBE.

YOU MAY HAVE READ BOOKS BY DAVE EGGERS OR RL STINE, BUT YOU CAN NOW READ BOOKS BY THEM AND MORE THAN 30 OTHERS.

IT IS CALLED 14 DAYS, A COLLABORATIVE NOVEL, AND ALL PROCEEDS WILL GO TO THE AUTHORS GUILD FOUNDATION.

I’M JOINED NOW BY ONE OF THE AUTHORS AND A MEMBER OF THE GUILD, CAMBRIDGE’S FOURTEEN DAY -- CAMBRIDGE’S CELESTE NG.

SO CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE CONCEIT OF THE NEW BOOK?

WHAT IS A COLLABORATIVE NOVEL?

CELESTE: THIS IS A NEW THING WE ARE TRYING.

THE IDEA CAME DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC.

THE STORY IS ABOUT A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING TOGETHER IN AN APARTMENT BUILDING IN NEW YORK WHEN COVID HITS, LOCKDOWN BEGINS, AND TO GET SPACE FROM THEIR APARTMENTS, A LITTLE TIME FROM THEIR FAMILIES, THEY GO UPSTAIRS ONTO THE ROOF AS PEOPLE OFTEN DO IN THE CITY.

THEY START TALKING AND TELLING STORIES AND GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER.

THAT IS THE PREMISE OF THE BOOK.

ADAM: THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT CAPABLE OF GETTING OUT OF THE CITY.

NOBODY -- EVERYBODY WHO HAS BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT HAS LEFT AND THEY ARE STUCK.

CELESTE: EXACTLY.

ADAM: WHEN I STARTED READING IT, THE FIRST THING IT REMINDED ME OF WAS THE CANTERBURY TALES, THE WAY YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN PROXIMITY GOING THROUGH A COMMUNAL EXPERIENCE, BUT TELLING STORIES THAT POINT HAD DIFFERENT PARTS OF THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCE WIRE TO THIS EVENT -- PRIOR TO THIS EVENT.

IS THAT A FAIR COMPARISON?

CELESTE: THAT IS WHAT I THOUGHT OF WHEN THEY PITCHED THE IDEA TO ME.

A BUNCH OF STRANGERS ARE THROWN TOGETHER AND ARE NOW TRYING TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER.

THE STORIES THEY TELL ARE ALWAYS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THEMSELVES AS WELL AS THE SITUATIONS THEY ARE IN.

ADAM: YOU WRITE IN THIS BOOK ABOUT A CHARACTER REFERRED TO AS THE THERAPIST.

THE THERAPIST SPINS HER STORY PRETTY EARLY IN THE BOOK.

DID YOU CREATE THAT CHARACTER?

OR DID THE PEOPLE WHO ORGANIZE THIS EFFORT HAVE AN ARRAY OF POSSIBLE CHARACTERS FOR AUTHORS TO WRITE ABOUT?

AND DID YOU PICK THE THERAPIST?

CELESTE: THEY WERE SUPPORTIVE, THEY SAID IF YOU WANT IDEAS WE ARE HAPPY TO BRAINSTORM, BUT THE THERAPIST WAS A CHARACTER I HAD HAD KNOCKING AROUND IN MY HEAD FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

SHE HAD THIS STORY AND THIS VOICE AND IN PARTICULAR HER GRANDMOTHER HAS THIS VOICE.

I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THEM.

THEY DID NOT FIT INTO ANY OF THE PROJECTS I WAS WORKING ON, SO WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY CAME UP TO GIVE THEM A SPACE I WENT, THIS MIGHT BE PERFECT.

THE IDEA WAS WE WERE ALL SUPPOSED TO CONTRIBUTE STORIES LIKE WE MIGHT TELL AT A PARTY.

EVERYBODY HAS THAT STORY THEY LIKE TO TELL ABOUT THEIR UNCLE OR THE TIME THEY WENT TO THIS CONCERT OR WHATEVER HAPPENED.

THAT WAS THE KIND OF STORY I HAD AND I AM SO GLAD THEY FOUND A WAY TO WORK IT IN.

ADAM: I DO NOT WANT TO GIVE AWAY TOO MUCH BUT I’M HOPING I CAN GET YOU TO READ A LITTLE BIT FROM THE SECTION INVOLVING THE THERAPIST.

I SHOULD MENTION BY WAY OF A PREFACE, AND I DON’T KNOW WHAT PAGE -- GIVE PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND, THE THERAPIST DESCRIBES A SCHEME HER GRANDMOTHER HAS WHICH SHE PICKED UP FROM A FRIEND OF HERS WHO SHE PLAYS BINGO WITH FOR PLACING EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE CURSES ON PEOPLE.

BEFORE YOU READ THE PORTION WHERE THE THERAPIST PUTS A CURSE ON HER EX, WHAT IS THE SCHEME THE GRANDMOTHER TEACHES?

CELESTE: THE SCHEME IS YOU WRITE THE PERSON’S NAME, FULL NAME, ON A SLIP OF PAPER, YOU ROLL IT UP, YOU FREEZE IT IN AN ACE CUBE, PUTTING IN THE BACK OF THE FREEZER, AND LEAVE IT THERE.

THIS WAS AN ANECDOTE I HAD HEARD PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT ON TWITTER.

I HAD NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THAT BUT IMMEDIATELY MY IMAGINATION GOT FIRED UP AND STARTED THINKING, WHO MIGHT DO THIS?

THIS IS SOMETHING THE GRANDMOTHER LEARNS FROM A FRIEND OF HERS.

IT IS NOT A TRADITION, IT IS MAYBE A BORROWED TRADITION.

THE GRANDMOTHER IN THIS STORY USES THIS TO HELP HER GRANDDAUGHTERS IN CERTAIN WAYS.

ADAM: COULD YOU READ THE PARAGRAPHS WHERE THE THERAPIST SAYS IT IS NO GOOD ARGUING WITH MY GRANDMOTHER SO I DECIDED TO GIVE IT A SHOT AND HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED?

CELESTE: SURE.

I DID NOT FEEL I HAD ANYTHING TO LOSE, AND ANYWAY, ARGUING WAS USUALLY A LOSING BATTLE, SO I RECITED ALEX’S FULL NAME, FIRST, MIDDLE, LAST, DOWN TO THE THIRD, AND SHE WROTE IT ON A PIECE OF PAPER AND TOLD ME SHE WOULD POP IT INTO THE ICE CUBE TRAY AS SOON AS WE HUNG UP.

WHAT YOU KNOW IT, A MONTH LATER I HEARD FROM THE GRAPEVINE MY EX FRIEND CHEATED ON ALEX WITH HIS SISTER AND NOW THEY WERE A SERIOUS THING AND A WEEK OR SO AFTER I SAW PICTURES OF HER THREE CARAT ENGAGEMENT RING ON FACEBOOK AREA -- ON FACEBOOK.

ADAM: THAT IS NOT THE SHOCKING THING.

IT IS NOT THAT THE CURSE WORKS.

YOU WILL HAVE TO PICK UP THE BOOK AND READ TO LEARN MORE.

WERE YOU AWARE WHAT YOUR FELLOW COLLABORATIVE AUTHORS WOULD ARE CREATING AS YOU WORK ON YOUR SECTION?

-- AUTHORS WERE CREATING AS YOU WORKED ON YOUR SECTION?

CELESTE: NO, THAT WAS THE FUN OF THE PROJECT.

I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU HAVE EVER PLAYED THAT GAME OR SOMEBODY DRAWS ON A PIECE OF PAPER AND THEY FOLDED OVER AND SOMEBODY ELSE DRAWS ANOTHER PIECE AND THEN THEY UNFOLDED.

THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

WE EACH SENT OUR STORIES IN AND SAW HOW DOUG PRESTON WOVE THEM INTO ONE NARRATIVE.

ADAM: THE EDITOR, DID HE HAVE TO DO A LOT OF WORK TO WEAVE THEM INTO ONE NARRATIVE?

DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH WAS REQUIRED?

CELESTE: I WOULD GUESS IT WAS A LOT.

HE DID A GREAT JOB MAKING THESE CHARACTERS FROM ALL THESE DISPARATE PIECES THAT MANY DIFFERENT WRITERS PUT TOGETHER.

FOR ME AS A READER IT COMES OUT FAIRLY SEAMLESSLY.

THERE IS ONE NARRATOR WHO IS THE SUPER OF THE BUILDING AND SHE HOLDS IT TOGETHER.

SINCE EVERY CHARACTER HAS THEIR OWN VOICE, EACH PERSON’S STORY GETS TO SHINE.

ADAM: I AM NOT DONE WITH THE BOOK.

CELESTE: WE WILL NOT HAVE ANY SPOILERS.

ADAM: IT JUST CAME OUT TODAY.

I HAD AN ADVANCE COPY.

IT REALLY DOES SEEM TO BE COHESIVE.

IT DOES NOT FEEL LIKE A DISJOINTED CREATION.

I’M WONDERING IF YOU AND MAY BE ANY OF YOUR FELLOW CO-AUTHORS WHO YOU HAVE COMPARED NOTES WITH THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A CELL TO GET PEOPLE TO PICK UP A BOOK WHICH STARTS BY BRINGING US BACK TO A PERIOD WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO FORGET ABOUT.

CELESTE: YES, IT IS TRICKY.

RIGHT NOW THERE ARE A LOT OF BOOKS COMING OUT THAT ARE DIRECTLY TALKING ABOUT COVID.

MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM HAS A NEW NOVEL OUT AND IT TAKES PLACE DURING COVID.

AND PADGETT, A VERY SUCCESSFUL WRITER, HER MOST RECENT NOVEL ALSO TAKES PLACE DURING COVID.

THEY TOUCH ON COVID SOMEWHAT LIGHTLY IN SOME PLACES AND MORE CONCERTED LEE IN OTHERS BUT I AM HOPING WE ARE STARTING TO BE AT A TIME WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO START PROCESSING WHAT HAPPENED.

AS A SOCIETY WE HAVE NOT DEALT WITH WHAT HAPPENED.

WE HAVE NOT LOOKED AT OUR GRIEF, WE HAVE NOT TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN MAKE OF THAT EXPERIENCE THAT WE WENT THROUGH THAT WE ARE STILL GOING THROUGH.

I AM HOPEFUL PEOPLE ARE READY TO PICK THIS UP.

IT IS A BOOK THAT TAKES PLACE DURING COVID BUT IT IS ALSO LARGELY ABOUT THE NEED TO FIND CONNECTION EVEN AT THE TIMES WHERE THE WORLD, IT FEELS LIKE, IS TRYING TO KEEP YOU AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE.

ADAM: THAT BRINGS US TO THE NEXT QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU WHICH TO ME IS A HUGE QUESTION.

COVID TOOK A HORRIFIC HUMAN TOLL.

BUT YOUR BOOK, THIS BOOK YOU HAVE WRITTEN WITH YOUR CO-AUTHORS, IT IS A REMINDER THAT THAT TIME ALSO OPENED UP A SENSE OF POSSIBILITY THAT WE HAD NOT NECESSARILY KNOWN BEFORE COVID HAPPENED.

I’M WONDERING IF YOU PERSONALLY, AS SOMEONE ENGAGED IN THIS PROJECT, HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT COVID AND WHAT IT MEANS -- DO YOU THINK THAT WE AS A SOCIETY HAVE RETAINED THAT SENSE OF ALTERED POSSIBILITIES AS THE PANDEMIC HAS RECEDED?

OR HAVE WE FORGOTTEN?

CELESTE: I WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE WE HAVE BUILD ON TO THAT -- WE HAVE HELD ONTO THAT.

I’D LIKE TO BELIEVE THE SPIRIT IN WHICH PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO BE KINDER TO EACH OTHER, WHEN WE WERE BEING EXTRA KIND TO DELIVERY WORKERS AND MAIL CARRIERS, RECOGNIZING HUGE SACRIFICES THAT FIRST RESPONDERS MAKE, THAT TEACHERS WERE MAKING TO TRY TO TEACH ONLINE, I WOULD LIKE US TO HOLD ONTO THAT.

I DO NOT KNOW IF WE ARE.

I THINK THE WORLD WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW HAS A LOT OF BIG PROBLEMS AND A LOT OF THINGS THAT PULL OUR ATTENTION AWAY FROM EACH OTHER AND A LOT OF REASONS FOR PEOPLE TO BE AFRAID.

MAYBE THIS BOOK AND THE OTHERS THAT ARE COMING OUT CAN BE PART OF REMINDING US THAT WHEN PEOPLE ARE TOGETHER, WHEN THERE IS A HUMAN CONNECTION, MANY MORE THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.

ADAM: IT IS A GOOD REMINDER.

WHEN I THINK BACK ON THAT TIME, AS HORRIBLE AS IT WAS, WHAT I THINK ABOUT PRIMARILY IS HOW CLOSE IT MADE MY FAMILY.

I WOULD NOT SAY MY FAMILY IS NOT CLOSE NOW, BUT THERE WAS A REAL INTENSITY, A WONDERFUL INTENSITY ON THAT LEVEL, WHICH I MISSED AND I WOULD LIKE TO REMEMBER IS OUT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY.

YOU HAVE OBVIOUSLY BEEN WRITING AND BEING READ AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL FOR A WHILE NOW.

IS THERE ANYONE YOU COLLABORATED WITH ON THIS PROJECT THAT YOU JUST PERSONALLY GOT A HUGE KICK OUT OF BEING INVOLVED WITH?

CELESTE: THERE ARE SO MANY WRITERS HERE I ADMIRE.

I WAS READING RL STINE WHEN I WAS A KID.

I HAVE FRIENDS WHOSE PIECES ARE HERE AND I LOVE SEEING EVERYTHING THEY DO.

MIRA JACOB, TONY ORANGE.

I WILL SAY THAT TO GET THE INITIAL EMAIL FROM MARGARET ATWOOD, TO SAY WE ARE THINKING OF PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE PART OF IT?

I WAS SORT OF IN AWE.

SHE IS A LITERARY HERO OF MINE AND SO MANY OTHERS.

IT WAS A THRILL TO FEEL LIKE WE WERE WORKING ON SOMETHING TOGETHER.

ADAM: THAT IS A BIG EMAILED TO GET.

BRIEFLY, WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE AUTHORS GUILD?

CELESTE: THE AUTHORS GUILD IS SUPPORTING AUTHORS, WORKING TO FIGHT AGAINST BOOK FANS, TO SUPPORT THE FREEDOM TO READ WHICH IS HUGELY UNDERSOLD EVEN HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS.

THERE ARE PRESSURES ON TEACHERS AND LIBRARIES.

THEY ARE WORKING TO PROTECT AUTHORS RIGHTS AS WE SEE HOW AI IS MOVING INTO THE WORLD OF PUBLISHING, TO MAKE SURE AUTHORS WORKS ARE NOT JUST ESSENTIALLY PIRATED AND FED INTO AI DATABASES AND USED WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT.

THEY ARE DOING A LOT OF WORK TO MAKE SURE VOICES GET HEARD AND THAT HUMAN STORIES ARE PROTECTED.

ADAM: THANK YOU FOR TALKING ABOUT THIS REALLY FASCINATING PROJECT.

CELESTE: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

ADAM: THE BOOK AGAIN IS FOURTEEN DAYS AND IT IS AVAILABLE NOW.

NATURAL DISASTERS ARE FUELING A GROWING INTEREST IN LITERATURE ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE.

HARVARD UNIVERSITY IS ONE OF A GROWING NUMBER OF SCHOOLS OFFERING CLASSES ABOUT THAT.

ARE THEY WORTH THE COURSE OF -- THE COST OF TUITION?

KIRK CARAPEZZA WENT TO HARVARD TO FIND OUT.

>> EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS ARE CONTRIBUTING TO A RISE IN CLIMATE ANXIETY.

>> IS THERE GOING TO BE A WILDFIRE THREATENING MY HOME AND FAMILY?

ADMIX ME THINK ABOUT MY HOME AND MY FAMILY -- AND MAKES ME THINK ABOUT MY FUTURE.

>> HEADING BACK TO SCHOOL, AND THAT IS HARVARD UNIVERSITY, WHERE STUDENTS ARE TAKING A NEW COURSE THIS YEAR CALLED CLIMATE CHANGE LITERATURE.

>> WHEN STUDENTS TALK ABOUT BOOKS THEY ARE READING OR QUESTIONS THEY ARE GRAPPLING WITH, A LOT OF THESE QUESTIONS, IDEAS, HAVE TO DO WITH CLIMATE CHANGE.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE EXCITING TO HAVE A COURSE THAT FOCUSED JUST ON THE NOVELS AND THE POEMS AND THE ESSAYS THAT ARE REALLY TACKLING THE SUBJECT HEAD ON.

>> FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE MY AGE IT FEELS INESCAPABLE THAT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THESE QUESTIONS.

I THOUGHT A CLIMATE CHANGE LITERATURE CLASS WOULD HELP ME UNDERSTAND BETTER HOW WE ARE CHANGING THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> THERE IS THIS UNDERCURRENT ABOUT ANXIETY ABOUT ACTIONS YOU TAKE, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN IN BROADER CONTEXT?

IT IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE THINKING ABOUT IT MEANS THERE IS A LEVEL OF PRIVILEGE THAT I HAVE THAT IT IS NOT COMING UP FOR ME EVERY DAY.

KIRK: ACCORDING TO RESEARCHERS AT YALE, 30% OF AMERICANS ARE VERY WORRIED ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND 13% THINK IT IS TOO LATE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

WITH UNIVERSITIES TRYING TO ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AROUND CLIMATE CHANGE, COURSES LIKE THIS ARE POPPING UP ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SKEPTICISM ABOUT THE VALUE OF A COLLEGE DEGREE GROWS.

>> PROGRAMS IN ENVIRONMENTAL HUMANITIES ARE POPPING UP ACROSS THE U.S. AND CANADA.

THESE COURSES AND PROGRAMS ARE INCREASINGLY MORE COMMON MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS.

THIS IS ONE OF THE MAIN GROWTH AREAS RIGHT NOW IN THE HUMANITIES.

>> WHAT MAKES A GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL HUMANITIES COURSE?

>> IT CENTERS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CRUCIALLY, SOLUTIONS.

>> TO BE A MACRINA WE ARE NOT JUST RECOGNIZING IT BUT TALKING ABOUT SOLUTIONS -- TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE ARE NOT JUST RECOGNIZING IT BUT TALKING ABOUT SOLUTIONS GIVES ME HOPE THAT PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO FIGHT FOR A BETTER FUTURE.

BEING IN THAT COMMUNITY MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME.

KIRK: SOME QUESTION WHETHER STUDENTS ARE LEARNING THE HARD SKILL TO LAND A JOB WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT BACKGROUND IN SCIENCE.

>> I THINK IT IS FABULOUS THAT PEOPLE ARE WAKING UP TO THE CONCERNS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.

THERE’S GOING TO BE A LOT OF CAREERS BUILT ON THIS.

BUT MOST OF THOSE ARE GOING TO REQUIRE MORE THAN HAVING READ SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

IT IS GOING TO REQUIRE SCIENCE BACKGROUNDS.

IT’S GOING TO REQUIRE UNDERSTANDING HOW TO USE WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED TO MAKE AN IMPACT.

>> SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SEEK OUT IS A BALANCE BETWEEN MY STEM COURSES AND HUMANITIES COURSES BECAUSE CLIMATE CHANGE IS SO NUANCED.

>> MY WORD IS PRALAYAKAM, AND IT MEANS THE DESTRUCTION OF SELF AT THE HANDS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND NATURAL DISASTER.

>> IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO NAME SOMETHING THAT IS HAPPENING.

BEING ABLE TO BE PRECISE ABOUT LANGUAGE AND BEING PRECISE ABOUT THOSE TERMS IS GOING TO HELP US ACHIEVE EFFICIENT SOLUTIONS.

>> THIS IS PREPARING ME FOR LIFE BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO ENCOUNTER CLIMATE DISASTER AND ALL THE ENGINEERS AND SCIENTISTS THAT ARE TELLING US THIS, BUT WE CANNOT RESPOND TO DISASTER WITH NUMBERS.

WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER, HOW TO RESPOND IN A WAY THAT WOULD BE PRODUCTIVE.

THE SCIENCE IS NOT DOING THAT FOR US.

>> IF YOU LOOK AT HISTORY AND WHAT HAS SPARKED CHANGE, IT IS ART, IT IS LEADERS.

PEOPLE MOVED BY IDEAS GENERATE THE MASS INVOLVEMENT AND INTEREST IN A REALLY IMPORTANT SOCIAL MOVEMENT.

WITHOUT IT, IT WOULD STAY AND SEALER BUT TO HAVE A BETTER WORLD FOR EVERYONE, YOU NEED EVERYONE’S VOICE, EVERYONE’S INTEREST.

>> WE DO NOT WANT TO OFFER ANY SORT OF HOLLOW OPTIMISM OR NAÏVE SENSE OF HOPE.

STUDENTS THESE DAYS ARE TOO SMART FOR THAT.

HAVING A DISCUSSION BASED CLASS WHERE THEY ARE ABLE TO REALLY GRAPPLE WITH SOME OF THEIR INTENSE FEARS OR THEIR QUESTIONS TOGETHER, I WOULD NOT SAY IT PROVIDES HOPE.

I WOULD SAY IT DOES PROVIDE SOLIDARITY OR A SENSE OF CONNECTION THAT MAKES THEM FEEL LESS ALONE.

>> MY WORD IS CATASTROHOOD, A COMMUNITY THAT FORMS IN THE WAKE OF DISASTER.

A PARTICULARLY TIGHTKNIT BOND.

>> WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THIS CLASS AS A CATASTROHOOD?

>> IT IS A CERTAIN KIND, FOR SURE.

>> MASSPORT IS LOOKING FOR A NEW CEO.

AND THE OWNER OF BAKED BY MELISSA JOINED ME ON HER NEW SEAPORT POP-UP, HER NEW COOKBOOK, AND WHAT SHE HAS IN STORE FOR VALENTINE’S DAY.

THAT AND MORE TOMORROW.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND GOOD NIGHT.