Mark Dunn's book, “Ella Minnow Pea,” explores what happens when individual letters begin to be expunged from the language. It’s a technical tour de force since the author labors under the same restrictions as his characters.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
Audio
There's a nagging question at major sporting events: Are the athletes cheating? Steroids, human growth hormones and blood doping techniques are extending the outer limits of performance, and athletes can use them if they want -- unless they're professionals or Olympic athletes. But is doping really a problem? Australian philosopher and bioethicist Julian Savulescu has a simple litmus test: What contribution is coming from the technology and what is coming from the athlete?
Nicholson Baker talks about his new novel, "House of Holes: A Book of Raunch," which is set in a sexual theme park.
Nicholson Baker's "House of Holes" page on Simon and Schuster's website
Julia Alvarez tells Anne Strainchamps that she raises coffee on a small farm in the Dominican Republic and explains how it influences her writing.
Musician and author Rae Spoon grew up as a girl. About ten years ago Rae came out as a transman. Then, a couple of years ago, they decided to retire... from gender.
You can also check out "Gender Failure" by Rae and Ivan E. Coyote.
When Stephen Wolfram was 17, he dropped out of college. By the time he was 21, he had a Ph.D. in physics and was one of the first recipients of a MacArthur Genius Award. Today, he is the CEO of Wolfram Research and owner of one of the largest individual datasets in the world.
Robert Leleux talks about growing up gay, in Texas, with his plastic surgery junkie and drama queen of a mother, whom he adores and who is accompanying him on his book tour.
Katha Pollitt is a celebrated feminist writer and columnist for The Nation magazine. Her new book is "Learning to Drive."
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