Stacy Schiff's new book "Cleopatra: a life" describes the Egyptian queen as a shrewd political strategist and a brilliant leader.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
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There was a time when others bagged your groceries, planned your trips and pumped your gas, but now they're just another part of our daily routines. Craig Lambert says these are a few examples of the "shadow work" we've unwittingly taken on in service of companies and other organizations. He warns that it's chipping away at our leisure time, and turning us all into middle class serfs.
Innovative dancer and choreographer Sally Gross is now in her late 70s. And though she was one of the dancers who revolted against the Martha Graham school of modern dance she says her most impressive feat was overthrowing something far greater: her own body.
Piers Vitebsky is an anthropologist who studies the Eveny or Reindeer People of Siberia. They depend on the reindeer for their survival. They keep herds of them for meat - but their connection goes even deeper. Vitebsky says that they also have personal, consecrated reindeer animal doubles, which they believe will die for them.
Thomas Chatterton Williams is a young writer who grew up listening to hip hop, but lost touch with the culture upon entering college.
David Gessner discovered the American West as a young man, and the huge mountains and wide open spaces changed his life. He recently took a road trip through the West, following in the footsteps of two literary heroes, Edward Abbey and Wallace Stegner. Gessner says their books help us see the West in all its complexity.
Wesley Stace has a new novel, "Charles Jessold, Considered as a Murderer."
The whole town of Massillon, Ohio, is obsessed with their high school football team, the Tigers. Former player Kenneth Carlson was so crazy for the team, and curious about his town's obsession, he made a documentary about it. He tells Anne Strainchamps about his film, his team and his town.
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