books


Photo: Paul Jasmin

Ego, Earth, and Anjelica Huston

Actor Anjelica Huston discusses her new memoir, "Watch Me," which focuses on her personal life and Hollywood career, and she reveals her two tips for overcoming airline anxiety.


Emily Spivack – ‘Card Lions’

Emily Spivack, artist, author, and editor of "Worn Stories" - a book about clothes - tells us a cheetah-print joke.


Dan Pashman Shares: Stacked Pork, Soaked Pork, and Sharing

Dan Pashman is the host and creator of WNYC's podcast The Sporkful, and author of the new textbook-style tome "Eat More Better: How to Make Every Bite More Delicious." It's designed to help readers get maximum pleasure from food. As this week's etiquette expert, he answers listeners' questions about, for instance, a vegan who takes no pleasure from vegetables.


Simon Rich on Spoiled Brats and Anxious Hamsters

Humorist Simon Rich has written stories, novels, and some of the funniest stuff in The New Yorker and on Saturday Night Live. He reads an excerpt from his new collection, "Spoiled Brats."


Jason Schwartzman Is More Likable Than He Thinks

Jason Schwartzman, known for his more lovable roles in projects like "Rushmore" and "Bored to Death," tackles the Philip Roth-inspired 'angry literary man' archetype in his newest film, "Listen Up Philip."


Bob Odenkirk Introduces His Abdominals

Actor, writer, and comedy-creator Bob Odenkirk is known for his work on the groundbreaking series "Breaking Bad" and "Mr Show." This week, he releases a collection of humor writing entitled "A Load of Hooey." In this excerpt, he explains the secret to a ripped six-pack: unending anxiety.


The Eerie End of Edgar Allan Poe’s Own Story

This week back in 1849, the great gothic horror writer Edgar Allan Poe headed off on his last business trip. What happened after that remains a mystery... except for the fact that he died. Concoct your own theories after sipping an appropriately dark cocktail from Baltimore's Poe-themed bar.


How Tennessee Williams Brought Poetry to Broadway

From early struggles to revolutionary success, to a hazy decline due to bad timing and self-destructive choices, Tennessee Williams' life reads a bit like those of his characters. Critic and author John Lahr captures that story in an authoritative new biography of one of the 20th century's most significant playwright... including his first significant flop.