Novelist Richard Powers bookmarks "Objects and Empathy" by Arthur Saltzman.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
Audio
Erica Rowell has worked in the movie industry and as a journalist. She's the author of "The Brothers Grim: The Films of Ethan and Joel Coen."
Mary Walsh has made a career out of comedy. Still, she's not quite sure she's funny.
Listen in as she talks about political humor, sketch comedy and why it might be easier for outsiders to find funny.
Looking for a clip of her in action? Here it is.
David Denby of The New Yorker tells Steve Paulson that Pauline Kael was the most remarkable person he’s ever known.
Bryandt Urstadt tells Steve Paulson about the grim future the peak oilers are already getting ready for and thinks we should all buy gold.
Christopher Buckley talks with Steve Paulson about his novel "Boomsday," which posits a piece of runaway legislation providing tax incentives for Boomers who choose to commit suicide...sort of an updated "Modest Proposal."
Coleman Barks has made it his life's work to translate the poetry of 13th century mystic and poet Rumi.
Anne here. My conversation with Turkish writer Elif Şafak back in April still sticks with me as the year comes to a close. In many parts of the world, 2016 was the year of the populist leader—especially in Turkey, where Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched a crackdown on free speech and all forms of opposition. 120 journalists have been jailed, more than 2,000 academics have been dismissed from universities, and more than 100,000 public workers have been fired. How did Turkey—once a model of new democratic nations—become such a different place? Not only did Şafak see this coming, she warned that the West should not consider itself immune.
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