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Author Interviews

'Mayor Of Mogadishu': Symbol Of Hope Or Divisive Figure?

Steve Inskeep talks to the BBC's Andrew Harding about his book: The Mayor of Mogadishu. It's a look at Somalia's modern history through the life story of one of its most controversial politicians.

'Mayor Of Mogadishu': Symbol Of Hope Or Divisive Figure?

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Julia Baird Paints A Stronger, More Likable 'Victoria The Queen'

NPR's Linda Wertheimer talks to Julia Baird about her new book "Victoria the Queen." Baird says that contrary to how she is usually remembered, Queen Victoria was a lively and dedicated ruler.

Julia Baird Paints A Stronger, More Likable 'Victoria The Queen'

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'Confessions Of A Cuban Boy' Author Taks Life As A Cuban Refugee

NPR's Scott Simon talks with Yale history professor Carlos Eire about living in the United States as a Cuban refugee. Eire is the author of "Waiting for Snow in Havana: Confessions of a Cuban Boy."

'Confessions Of A Cuban Boy' Author Taks Life As A Cuban Refugee

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The Favorite Drink Of Italian Grandpas Gets An American Revival

Bittersweet liqueurs including Cynar, Jagermeister, Chartreuse and Amaro Nonino have long been popular in Italy and other parts of Europe as a digestive aid. Now, they're becoming popular on U.S. cocktail menus. Kirk McKoy/LA Times via Getty Images hide caption

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Kirk McKoy/LA Times via Getty Images

The Salt

The Favorite Drink Of Italian Grandpas Gets An American Revival

Amaro is considered "grandpa's drink" and a digestive aid in its native Italy, but not stateside, where this centuries-old, bittersweet liqueur has become popular on cocktail menus.

The Favorite Drink Of Italian Grandpas Gets An American Revival

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Carrie Fisher Draws From Her Personal Journals In 'The Princess Diarist'

Carrie Fisher is very much an open book about the crazy ups and downs in her life. The actress best known as Princess Leia in the Star Wars films has a new book on her start in show business.

Carrie Fisher Draws From Her Personal Journals In 'The Princess Diarist'

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Trevor Noah Says He Grew Up 'In The Shadow Of A Giant' (His Mom)

Daily Show host Trevor Noah was born in South Africa and speaks six languages. Spiegel & Grau hide caption

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Spiegel & Grau

Trevor Noah Says He Grew Up 'In The Shadow Of A Giant' (His Mom)

Fresh Air

The Daily Show host revisits his childhood in apartheid-era South Africa in his new memoir, Born a Crime. Noah says writing the book helped him see that his mother was the real hero of his story.

Trevor Noah Says He Grew Up 'In The Shadow Of A Giant' (His Mom)

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Novelist Zadie Smith On Historical Nostalgia And The Nature Of Talent

Zadie Smith has written several novels, including On Beauty, which was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2005. Dominique Nabokov/Penguin Press hide caption

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Dominique Nabokov/Penguin Press

Novelist Zadie Smith On Historical Nostalgia And The Nature Of Talent

Fresh Air

Her new book, Swing Time, tells the story of two girls who dream of being dancers, but only one has the talent to do so. Smith says talent is the most unfair of gifts; you either have it or you don't.

Novelist Zadie Smith On Historical Nostalgia And The Nature Of Talent

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Zapruder's Book Examines Her Grandfather's Filming Of JFK Assassination

On a home movie, Abraham Zapruder captured the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963. David Greene talks to Alexandra Zapruder about her book: Twenty-Six Seconds.

Zapruder's Book Examines Her Grandfather's Filming Of JFK Assassination

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Sports

'Courage To Soar': Olympic Gymnast Simone Biles' Says It's Not Easy Being Gold

Simone Biles captured the world's attention at the Rio Olympics. NPR's Rachel Martin speaks with the gold-medalist about her new book "Courage to Soar."

'Courage To Soar': Olympic Gymnast Simone Biles' Says It's Not Easy Being Gold

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Moonglow

'Moonglow' Shines A Light On Hidden Family History

Michael Chabon's new novel is based on deathbed conversations with his own grandfather, as strong painkillers unlocked the stories of a long full life — stories Chabon says he'd never heard before.

'Moonglow' Shines A Light On Hidden Family History

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'Ray And Joan' Chronicles Complex Life Of Kroc's Philanthropic Wife

It's often quoted that Ray Kroc made a fortune and his wife spent it — on causes he may not have agreed with. Lisa Napoli talks to Scott Simon about the life and love affair in her new book.

'Ray And Joan' Chronicles Complex Life Of Kroc's Philanthropic Wife

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Colson Whitehead's 'Underground Railroad' Is A Literal Train To Freedom

Fresh Air

Whitehead was recently awarded the National Book Award for his novel about a young slave who has escaped a Georgia plantation and is heading north. Originally broadcast Aug. 8, 2016.

Colson Whitehead's 'Underground Railroad' Is A Literal Train To Freedom

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Nick Offerman Shares His Love Of Woodworking In 'Good Clean Fun'

Comedian and actor Nick Offerman became a star as the Libertarian Ron Swanson in the hit sitcom, Parks and Recreation. He's also pretty good in the woodshop. In fact, building things out of wood is a serious passion. And he's written about it in his latest book, Good Clean Fun.

Nick Offerman Shares His Love Of Woodworking In 'Good Clean Fun'

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Bellevue Hospital Pioneered Care For Presidents And Paupers

In 1876, O.G. Mason, Bellevue's official photographer, took a carefully staged photograph of a blood transfusion in progress. Courtesy of the Lillian and Clarence de la Chapelle Medical Archives at NYU/Doubleday hide caption

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Courtesy of the Lillian and Clarence de la Chapelle Medical Archives at NYU/Doubleday

Shots - Health News

Bellevue Hospital Pioneered Care For Presidents And Paupers

The history of New York's Bellevue hospital is also the history of medicine in the United States. From the days before doctors believed in germs through AIDS, the hospital led the way in innovation.

Bellevue Hospital Pioneered Care For Presidents And Paupers

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To Make 'The Godfather' His Way, Francis Ford Coppola Waged A Studio Battle

Amerigo Bonasera (Salvatore Corsitto) kisses the hand of Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) in a scene from Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather. Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images hide caption

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Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images

Movie Interviews

To Make 'The Godfather' His Way, Francis Ford Coppola Waged A Studio Battle

Fresh Air

Coppola was 29 years old when he signed on to direct a film. "I was young and had no power," he says, "so [the studio] figured they could just boss me around." But the young director fought back.

To Make 'The Godfather' His Way, Francis Ford Coppola Waged A Studio Battle

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'My Year Of Guards And Guns': Megyn Kelly On Standing Up To Trump And Ailes

Megyn Kelly speaks onstage at Tina Brown's 7th Annual Women In The World Summit Opening Night on April 6, in New York City. Jemal Countess/Getty Images hide caption

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Jemal Countess/Getty Images

'My Year Of Guards And Guns': Megyn Kelly On Standing Up To Trump And Ailes

In her book Settle For More, the Fox anchor shares scary and empowering moments covering the 2016 campaign. But Kelly says she doesn't regret not going up against Roger Ailes earlier.

'My Year Of Guards And Guns': Megyn Kelly On Standing Up To Trump And Ailes

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Assassin's Steak Tartare: Popular Detective Series Gets Its Own Cookbook

Assassin's Steak Tartare, one of the recipes from Yashim Cooks Istanbul, inspired by the dishes cooked by the lead character in the popular Yashim detective series of books. Jason Goodwin hide caption

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Jason Goodwin

The Salt

Assassin's Steak Tartare: Popular Detective Series Gets Its Own Cookbook

The Yashim detective series features an intrepid sleuth chasing mysteries in 19th century Istanbul. He cooks while he puzzles over clues. Readers who clamored for the recipes have gotten their wish.

Assassin's Steak Tartare: Popular Detective Series Gets Its Own Cookbook

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Bernie Sanders Calls For 'Fundamental Reassessment' Of Democratic Party

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks to an overflow crowd through a megaphone after a campaign event May 27, 2015, at New England College in Concord, N.H. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption

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Win McNamee/Getty Images

Politics

Bernie Sanders Calls For 'Fundamental Reassessment' Of Democratic Party

NPR's Robert Siegel speaks with Sen. Bernie Sanders about his new book, Our Revolution, which outlines his programs to combat inequality, discrimination and lack of opportunity in the U.S.

Bernie Sanders Calls For 'Fundamental Reassessment' Of Democratic Party

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Anna Kendrick Says Acting Is 'The Way That I Learn About Other People'

Anna Kendrick began performing in community theater when she was 6; by 12 years old, she had made it to Broadway. Casey Curry/Casey Curry hide caption

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Casey Curry/Casey Curry

Anna Kendrick Says Acting Is 'The Way That I Learn About Other People'

Fresh Air

The Pitch Perfect star started acting when she was 6. Back then, she says, she likely just did it for the attention. "Then it sort of transformed into something that was really meaningful for me."

Anna Kendrick Says Acting Is 'The Way That I Learn About Other People'

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Post-Election, Conversations About Race 'Sparked A New Sense Of Urgency'

New York police officers block the street during a protest against U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in front of Trump Tower on Nov. 12, 2016 in New York. Americans spilled into the streets Saturday for a new day of protests against Trump, even as he appeared to back away from the fiery rhetoric that propelled him to the White House. Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images

Code Switch

Post-Election, Conversations About Race 'Sparked A New Sense Of Urgency'

Washington Post reporter Wesley Lowery talks about race in the Obama presidency and under President-elect Trump. Lowery was part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team for reporting about police shootings.

Post-Election, Conversations About Race 'Sparked A New Sense Of Urgency'

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Second-Generation Sportscaster Joe Buck: 'I Hear My Dad More In Me Now'

Longtime St. Louis Cardinals sportscaster Jack Buck, left, celebrates Father's Day with his son Joe Buck in 1995. Leon Algee/AP hide caption

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Leon Algee/AP

Second-Generation Sportscaster Joe Buck: 'I Hear My Dad More In Me Now'

"I will forever be known to some people as Jack Buck's son," the announcer says. "And thank God he and I were best friends or that would drive me nuts." His new book is called Lucky Bastard.

Second-Generation Sportscaster Joe Buck: 'I Hear My Dad More In Me Now'

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