Gaby Wood is the author of “Edison’s Eve: A Magical History of the Quest for Mechanical Life.” She talks about the many experiments with automata and early mechanical beings.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
Audio
Jim Fleming sits down with Nicholson Baker to discuss "House of Holes: A Book of Raunch". This is a raw and unedited interview.
Gersh Kuntzman tells Jim Fleming the Romans invented both the comb-over and painted-on hair and that toupees are much better than they used to be.
Historian Guy Beiner is interested in how folk memory of events differs from the historical record.
Desperate times may call for desperate measures. But do we really want to put space mirrors into clouds to deflect the sun's rays? Economist Clive Hamilton outlines the promise and perils of geoengineering.
Philosopher Harry Frankfurt tells Steve Paulson why "b.s." is a more insidious problem than outright falsehood.
Satirist George Saunders has been a Guggenheim Fellow and received a MacArthur Foundation "genius grant." For his essay on the dumbing down on American media, he created "Megaphone Guy."
Holly Black is a best-selling author of contemporary fantasy novels for teens and children. Her work includes "The Spiderwick Chronicles." Black tells Anne Strainchamps that girl nerds and geeks definitely exist.
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