Dick Ringler taught "Beowulf" for decades at the University of Wisconsin, and has just put out a new translation from the old English.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
Audio
Anthony Shadid won two Pulitzer Prizes for his coverage of the war in Iraq. He knows the violence of war. As he told Steve Paulson, he also knows, that when the war ends, unintended consequences follow.
Long before the discovery of water on Mars or Matt Damon's star turn in The Martian, Robert Zubrin has been advocating for a human mission to mars. His book, The Case for Mars, made a splash when it was first published in 1996, and has continued to be influential in both scientific and science fiction circles. Zubrin calls Mars "the Rosetta Stone" for understanding life in the universe. But he's not just interested in science. He also thinks the sheer challenge would bring positive and uplifting change to all of humankind.
Over the last several years, new developments in personal health tracking products have multiplied exponentially. But human interest in measuring and tracking elements of our bodily needs stretches back hundreds of years. Professor Natasha Schüll discusses these current trends and their history, based on research she's done for a forthcoming book called "Keeping Track."
The concept of wellness needs to include emotional health and Dr. Weil's new book "Spontaneous Happiness" gives strategies to combat depression and increase contentment, resilience and serenity.
Benjamin Nugent is the author of "American Nerd: The Story of My People." He tells Jim Fleming there are two main categories of nerds and something about their history and the different nerdy subcultures.
Storyteller Carolyn McVickar Edwards has a lovely little collection called "In the Light on the Moon."
And what of those of us who have died, and come back to life?
Neurosurgeon Eben Alexander had a near death experience in 2008.
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