Years ago, writer Pico Iyer lost everything in a wildfire. This is what he learned After a 1990 wildfire destroyed his home and possessions, Iyer started over. The loss led him to a Benedictine monastery, where he found comfort and compassion in solitude. His new memoir is Aflame. Terry Gross
In 'Unassimilable,' a call to reexamine value of merging with white American culture NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Bianca Mabute-Louie about her book Unassimilable – which argues the case against assimilation for the Asian Diaspora and re-imagines where to find community in the U.S. Ailsa Chang
The new book 'The Secret History of the Rape Kit' tells an overlooked origin story NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Pagan Kennedy about her new book The Secret History of the Rape Kit: A True Crime Story, which explains the origin of the rape kit and the woman behind it. Ailsa Chang
Grady Hendrix on his horror novel 'Witchcraft for Wayward Girls' NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks with Grady Hendrix about his latest horror novel, "Witchcraft for Wayward Girls," in which the witches are not the worst evil-doers, the humans are. Ayesha Rascoe
Emma Knight's debut novel takes on motherhood, female friendship and first love NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Emma Knight about debut novel, The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus, which takes on the subjects of motherhood, female friendship and first love. Lauren Hodges
Retired federal judge recounts the 'Grand Bargain' that saved Detroit NPR's Scott Detrow speaks with retired U.S. District Chief Judge Gerald Rosen about his book Grand Bargain: The Inside Story of Detroit's Dramatic Journey from Bankruptcy to Rebirth. Tinbete Ermyas
Night owl or early bird? Here's how your inner clock impacts your health In order to better understand her circadian rhythm, science journalist Lynne Peeples conducted an experiment in which lived for 10 days in a bunker, with no exposure to sunlight or clocks. Tonya Mosley
Retired federal judge recounts the 'Grand Bargain' that saved Detroit NPR's Scott Detrow speaks with former U.S. District Chief Judge Gerald Rosen about his book Grand Bargain: The Inside Story of Detroit's Dramatic Journey from Bankruptcy to Rebirth. Scott Detrow
This children's picture book highlights wordless acts of love NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with with Jocelyn Chung, who wrote a children's book called When Love Is More Than Words, about all of the unique ways her family members show their love for her. Ailsa Chang
Undone by the loss of his brother Eddie, Alex Van Halen looks back in a new memoir Though Alex had been the guitarist in the family, when they formed Van Halen, it quickly became clear who would play: "[Ed] made that instrument sing." Originally broadcast Oct. 29, 2024. Tonya Mosley