books


Nick Laird Goes for Poetry

Acclaimed poet Nick Laird has a new collection, "Go Giants," from which he shares two selections.


Simon Doonan Offers Etiquette Asylum

Simon Doonan is an author, style maven, and society fixture - and, as Creative Ambassador at Large for Barneys New York, he's qualified to offer diplomatic solutions to etiquette issues.


The Past, Present, and Future of Politeness with the Posts

Lizzie Post and Daniel Post-Senning are always on the cutting-edge of etiquette. While issues of "biotech-tiquette" might still be a few years away from the mainstream, they are also up to answer modern-day questions, from online dating to old-fashioned wedding invitations.


Writer Mary Roach Sheds Light on the Hidden World of Digestion

Writer Mary Roach has made an art of science evangelism: her books “Bonk” (about sex) and “Stiff” (cadavers) both became bestsellers. Mary’s latest effort is “Gulp: Adventures of the Alimentary Canal,” which shines a light on the dark spaces where we process food. Mary schools Brendan in several of its fascinating factoids…including saliva-salves, blushing stomachs, […]


Choire Sicha Has Awl the Answers

Choire Sicha, co-founder and co-editor of culture and current events website The Awl, has just published his debut book, "Very Recent History: An Entirely Factual Account of a Year (Circa AD 2009) in a Large City." His book focuses on navigating a difficult and strange time - so we asked him to help our listeners navigate their own difficult and strange etiquette situations.


David Gilbert and a Fateful Email

David Gilbert's new novel "& Sons" is already being lauded as a contender for one of the best books of 2013. Here, Gilbert reads a short excerpt, adapted from this poignant story.


Chuck Klosterman, Evil Mastermind

Essayist, critic, novelist and New York Times "Ethicist" Chuck Klosterman posits a theory about bad guys that holds up for most villains of history and fiction - with at least one major exception.


Writer Ashley Cardiff Meets the Prince of her Nightmares

Ashley Cardiff is managing editor of The Gloss - a culture website for women. Her new memoir "Night Terrors: Sex, Dating, Puberty and Other Alarming Things" deals with her sexual coming-of-age, in hilarious -- and sometimes cringe-worthy -- detail. Today we overhear her tell a tale about her not-so-fantasy Prince.