Alan Dale says laughing at slapstick is - at its heart - an expression of our sympathy with TV and film characters who get hurt. He says it's also relief that, for once, it's not us in pain.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
Audio
Paul Collins researched forgotten stars for his book “Banvard’s Folly: Thirteen Tales of Renowned Obscurity, Famous Anonymity and Rotten Luck.”
Michael Perry is proud to be a Wisconsin writer. He writes with humor and grace about his life there in the books, "Population: 485," and "Truck: A Love Story." So, what's life like, as a writer from the Midwest?
Jon Katz’ latest book is “The New Work of Dogs.” Katz says that Americans are forgetting their pets’ true natures and shouldn’t expect them to be children with fur.
Writer and writing coach Natalie Goldberg tells Anne Strainchamps how two of the most important men in her life - her father and her Zen master – failed her.
Anne Strainchamps talks with Kevin Brockmeier about his novel which concerns the dead who have not yet passed from living memory.
Piers Steel describes himself as a semi-reformed procrastinator. He is an authority on the science of motivation and teaches at the University of Calgary.
Cognitive researcher Douglas Hofstadter explains how gendered words and phrases — like using "guys" to refer to mixed company — can oftentimes reinforce sexist attitudes.
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