Tom Shippey, author of “Tolkien: Author of the Century,” talks with Steve Paulson about the great fantasy writer’s life, the origins of hobbits, and Tolkien’s motivation for writing fantasy.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
Audio
We meet the 4th graders of Mrs. Mincberg's class at Randall Elementary School in Madison, Wisconsin, as they begin the school day.
The Western. The 2nd Amendment. Guns are a part of our national DNA - like apple pie and baseball. Pamela Haag says not so fast. In her book "The Gunning of America," she argues that early gun barons --with iconic names like Colt and Remington -- created the American culture.
She told Charles Monroe-Kane to look no further than the Rifle King himself, the manufacturer of the Winchester Repeater Rifle, Oliver Winchester.
Ron Mallett has been fascinated with the idea of time travel since his dad's early death.
Sheenagh Pugh talked to Anne Strainchamps about sequels, but in her case the sequels are written by fans.
What's Nobel Prize-winning physicist Steven Weinberg's Dangerous Idea? How beauty leads to scientific discovery.
South African singer/songwriter Vusi Mahlasela talks with Steve Paulson about his experiences singing political music during the time of Apartheid.
Sven Birkerts tried to write a novel, but realized he had more success writing about fiction than writing fiction. He tells Steve Paulson how he became a literary critic.
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