Leon Russell performs during his joint concert with Elton John at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2010. (Chris Pizzello/AP)

Leon Russell, the musician's musician: New book takes an in-depth look at his life and career

Jerry Lee Lewis once ceded the piano bench to Russell saying, "he plays a lot better than I do!"

11:37 Mar 30, 2023

President Franklin D. Roosevelt presented Henry L. Stimson with his commission as secretary of war after the oath of office had been administered to the Republican in the president's office in Washington on July 10, 1940. The president is holding the commission in his hand. (George R. Skadding/AP)

'Uniting America' explores lessons from bipartisan alliance that shaped U.S. response to Hitler

As Adolf Hitler's Nazi armies threatened Europe, Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt urged divided Americans to mobilize to defend democracy and freedom.

09:34 Mar 29, 2023

"The Real Work" by Adam Gopnik cover. (Courtesy of W. W. Norton & Company)

In 'The Real Work,' New Yorker writer Adam Gopnik reflects on what it means to master something

Adam Gopnik attempts new skills including drawing, baking and boxing, and ponders what the experiences teach him.

11:03 Mar 16, 2023

Unrepentantly maple fudge. (Raymond Prado)

'My Vermont Table' cookbook celebrates recipes with local ingredients from all 6 seasons in state

It's mud season in Vermont — time to put on a pair of boots and head to a sugar house where the sap is boiling. Mud season, of course, is...

10:59 Mar 14, 2023

Debra Lee’s new memoir reflects on her life and time as CEO of Black Entertainment Television. (Anderson Hopkins)

Former BET CEO's memoir reflects on Aretha Franklin, Chris Brown and her own #MeToo moment

In Debra Lee's new memoir, she looks back at her life as well as her time at Black Entertainment Television.

09:28 Mar 7, 2023

"The Great Escape: A True Story of Forced Labor and Immigrant Dreams in America" cover. (Bill Wadman)

'The Great Escape' tells of human trafficking in post-Katrina Mississippi

The book tells the story of his efforts to help Indian workers who were lured to Mississippi to repair oil rigs post-Katrina and then essentially imprisoned by their employers.

10:58 Mar 6, 2023

"The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi" book cover. (Courtesy of Harper Voyager, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)

'The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi' explores motherhood, faith through pirate heist on the high seas

Author Shannon Chakraborty talks about motherhood and faith in her book.

05:43 Mar 2, 2023

"The Big Myth" book cover. (Courtesy of Bloomsbury Publishing)

'The Big Myth' explores the belief that free markets are a fundamental American right

Harvard professor and author Naomi Oreskes co-authored "The Big Myth" with Erik M. Conway.

10:57 Feb 28, 2023

"The Last Tale of the Flower Bride" cover. (William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)

‘The Last Tale of The Flower Bride’: Monstrous teen girls, a marriage of lies and fairy tale horror

Once upon a time, a man falls head over heels for a stunning but mysterious woman. She agrees to marry him on one condition, that he never ask her about...

08:47 Feb 28, 2023

"Holding Fire" by Byrce Andrews book cover. (Courtesy of Mariner Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)

Montana rancher reconsiders gun ownership in 'Holding Fire'

When Bryce Andrews inherited his grandfather's revolver, it seemed to fit in with his life there. But over the years, he grew to believe owning that gun wasn't good for...

09:36 Feb 27, 2023

The cover of "Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim." (Courtesy of Crown Books for Young Readers”

'Imposter Syndrome' explores navigating a culturally confused existence

"Imposter Syndrome and other confessions of Alejandra Kim" centers around a Korean-Argentine teenager from Queens, New York.

09:32 Feb 22, 2023

The Cover of "Looking for Hidden Folk" by author Nancy Marie Brown. (Courtesy)

'Hidden Folk' book explores whether belief in elves and mythical creatures can save the environment

"Looking for Hidden Folk: How Iceland's Elves Can Save the Earth" by author Nancy Marie Brown maintains that looking at myths and how various cultures think about the planet can...

09:37 Feb 2, 2023

"Waco Rising" book cover. (Courtesy of Holt/Metropolitan Books)

'Waco Rising' explores how the siege in Waco continues to reverberate 30 years later

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Waco, the shorthand for the fiery deadly stand-off between federal officials and members of the religious cult, the Branch Davidians.

10:59 Jan 31, 2023

"My Selma" book cover. (Courtesy of Macmillan)

'My Selma' tells kids what it was like to grow up Black in 1960's South

When Selma, Alabama, was recently torn apart by that tornado, it was hard not to think of another time when it was torn asunder by racism.

10:43 Jan 24, 2023

The cover of "Until Someone Listens." (Illustrations by Teresa Martínez/Roaring Brook Press)

In 'Until Someone Listens,' 13-year-old Estela Juarez speaks up for her mother, immigration issues

When Estela Juarez was 11, her video letter to then-President Donald Trump made headlines when it was shown at the 2020 Democratic National Convention. Estela wrote on behalf of her...

09:35 Jan 23, 2023

"The Great Money Reset" by Jill Schlesinger cover. (Courtesy of St. Martin's Press)

Jill Schlesinger explores making a life change without breaking the bank in new book

During the pandemic a lot of people changed jobs or addresses, started a business or quit one.

09:33 Jan 23, 2023

Pico Iyer is the author of "The Half Known Life: In Search of Paradise." (Derek Shapton)

Travel writer Pico Iyer reflects on looking for paradise in troubled places

Iyer looks back on almost five decades of travel and what that time has taught him about the nature of paradise.

10:59 Jan 18, 2023

The cover of "The Oppermanns." (Courtesy)

'The Oppermanns' has lessons for today — almost a century later

Lion Feuchtwanger's 1933 novel tells the story of a wealthy Jewish family in Berlin, Germany. who fall victim to the rise of the Nazis. It was reissued in the fall.

09:36 Jan 10, 2023

The cover of "Song of Silver, Flame Like Night." (Courtesy)

'Song of Silver, Flame Like Night': New fantasy novel examines the cost of power and imperialism

The new Chinese history-inspired fantasy novel by Amélie Wen Zhao lands on bookshelves Tuesday.

05:49 Jan 3, 2023

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen delivers remarks during a press conference at the Treasury Department on July 28, 2022 in Washington, D.C. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

From Brooklyn upbringing to meticulous notetaking, 'Yellen' gives insight into treasury secretary

A new book looks at Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen — her upbringing, her economic thinking and her career.

11:04 Dec 27, 2022

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Book Excerpt

Leon Russell, the musician's musician: New book takes an in-depth look at his life and career

'Uniting America' explores lessons from bipartisan alliance that shaped U.S. response to Hitler

In 'The Real Work,' New Yorker writer Adam Gopnik reflects on what it means to master something

'My Vermont Table' cookbook celebrates recipes with local ingredients from all 6 seasons in state

Former BET CEO's memoir reflects on Aretha Franklin, Chris Brown and her own #MeToo moment

'The Great Escape' tells of human trafficking in post-Katrina Mississippi

'The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi' explores motherhood, faith through pirate heist on the high seas

'The Big Myth' explores the belief that free markets are a fundamental American right

‘The Last Tale of The Flower Bride’: Monstrous teen girls, a marriage of lies and fairy tale horror

Montana rancher reconsiders gun ownership in 'Holding Fire'

'Imposter Syndrome' explores navigating a culturally confused existence

'Hidden Folk' book explores whether belief in elves and mythical creatures can save the environment

'Waco Rising' explores how the siege in Waco continues to reverberate 30 years later

'My Selma' tells kids what it was like to grow up Black in 1960's South

In 'Until Someone Listens,' 13-year-old Estela Juarez speaks up for her mother, immigration issues

Jill Schlesinger explores making a life change without breaking the bank in new book

Travel writer Pico Iyer reflects on looking for paradise in troubled places

'The Oppermanns' has lessons for today — almost a century later

'Song of Silver, Flame Like Night': New fantasy novel examines the cost of power and imperialism

From Brooklyn upbringing to meticulous notetaking, 'Yellen' gives insight into treasury secretary

Sections

Radio

Podcasts

CitySpace

Support

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Book Excerpt

Leon Russell, the musician's musician: New book takes an in-depth look at his life and career

'Uniting America' explores lessons from bipartisan alliance that shaped U.S. response to Hitler

In 'The Real Work,' New Yorker writer Adam Gopnik reflects on what it means to master something

'My Vermont Table' cookbook celebrates recipes with local ingredients from all 6 seasons in state

Former BET CEO's memoir reflects on Aretha Franklin, Chris Brown and her own #MeToo moment

'The Great Escape' tells of human trafficking in post-Katrina Mississippi

'The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi' explores motherhood, faith through pirate heist on the high seas

'The Big Myth' explores the belief that free markets are a fundamental American right

‘The Last Tale of The Flower Bride’: Monstrous teen girls, a marriage of lies and fairy tale horror

Montana rancher reconsiders gun ownership in 'Holding Fire'

'Imposter Syndrome' explores navigating a culturally confused existence

'Hidden Folk' book explores whether belief in elves and mythical creatures can save the environment

'Waco Rising' explores how the siege in Waco continues to reverberate 30 years later

'My Selma' tells kids what it was like to grow up Black in 1960's South

In 'Until Someone Listens,' 13-year-old Estela Juarez speaks up for her mother, immigration issues

Jill Schlesinger explores making a life change without breaking the bank in new book

Travel writer Pico Iyer reflects on looking for paradise in troubled places

'The Oppermanns' has lessons for today — almost a century later

'Song of Silver, Flame Like Night': New fantasy novel examines the cost of power and imperialism

From Brooklyn upbringing to meticulous notetaking, 'Yellen' gives insight into treasury secretary