Over the last year or so, Russell Brand has increasingly used his celebrity status to advocate for changing our political systems. His new, best-selling book puts these ideas on paper, drawing on political theorists and his own personal experiences to reimagine society itself.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
Audio
Jonathan Lethem talks to Steve Paulson about "The Exegesis of Philip K. Dick." The book is based on thousands of pages of notes and journal entries that the legendary science-fiction writer, Dick, kept after a series of visionary experiences.
Maryanne Wolf thinks the dyslexia brain ought to be considered a gift that characterized some of history's leading figures.
Kevin Smokler tells Steve Paulson that the Internet is changing the world of letters but he thinks it’s progress. Smokler sees a welcome democratization of literature.
One of the most amazing things about National Parks is what you can hear. Or as acoustic ecologist Gordon Hempton would put it, NOT hear. He's is the founder of the organization One Square Inch of Silence. The once square inch is an actual place located in the Hoh Rain Forest at Olympic National Park. The exact location is marked by a small red-colored stone placed on top of a moss-covered log. And after you hear (or don't hear) this piece you will want to go. So, here's a map.
Jane Scott, recently retired as the rock critic of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, talks about meeting Jimi Hendrix and Paul McCartney, and not meeting Elvis.
The French have a curatorial attitude toward their language, but in fact they add new words all the time.
Michael Dirda won the Pulitzer Prize for his literary criticism in the Washington Post Book World. Among his collections of essays is Classics for Pleasure.
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