Henry Petroski
The next time your imperfect car breaks down perfectly, remember, someone designed it that way. Our man in N.H. talks to author and former engineer Henry Petroski about the effects of design in our lives.
Profiles
A collection of 211 issues
Jonathan Lethem
The dead may know Brooklyn, but it's the living who make it. Author Jonathan Lethem talks about his new book, how to handle savage reviews, and the process of remembering his hometown from far away.
Peter Carey
To win the Booker Prize twice certainly requires talent, but to celebrate only one of the winnings suggests a particular madness. A conversation with author Peter Carey about his new book, private schools in New York, and the terrors found in boredom.
Dale Peck
Being the most hated man in literature isn't easy, but it helps to have a backbone of lauded novels behind you, plus an actual hatchet for publicity stunts.
Anne Garrels
For many, Anne Garrels's voice became the most trustworthy stream of information broadcast from Iraq. A frank discussion with the author and NPR Iraq correspondent, one of only 16 non-embedded journalists to remain in Baghdad for Operation Shock and Awe.
Charles Baxter
The author covers topics such as his new book, Saul and Patsy, Chekhov's medical career, politics, Minnesota, and what it's like to have your work made into film.
Julie Orringer
American literature may over-adore the short story, but that doesn't mean some great stories aren't being written. A conversation with writer Julie Orringer about New Orleans, snarkism, and the relative ease of brain surgery.
Malcolm Gladwell
Author of The Tipping Point and a connoisseur of RonCo products, Malcolm Gladwell talks about his writing habits, the war effort, and the glory of being confused for Tommy Lee.
Gail Caldwell
A critic's life can be a happy one, with the right frame of mind. A conversation with Pulitzer-prize winner Gail Caldwell about a life well read, 19th-century novels, and the changing of hearts.
Clueless in Academe: An Interview with Gerald Graff
Professors complain that each year’s batch of students are more clueless than the last, but could they be the ones in the dark? Our writer interviews author and academic Gerald Graff on who’s to blame for the failures in our classrooms.