LA Review of Books on KCRW

LA Review of Books on KCRW

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Conversations on the written word from the Los Angeles Review of Books and KCRW.

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Reza Aslan's "Zealot" tops bestseller lists from Amazon to the New York Times. Also this week, new books by Aimee Bender, Niccolò Ammaniti, and Javier Marías.

Mike Davis, in "City of Quartz," famously said that L.A. is made up of equal parts sunshine and noir. Here are three recent books squarely in the diverse tradition.

Three new books on power and excess read like novels, full of larger than life characters, regular plot twists, conspiracies and connivances, reversals and revelations.

Percival Everett, Marisa Silver, and Alex Espinoza all write about Los Angeles and all have deep ties to Southern California.

Tom Lutz discusses two nonfiction books on tears and a collection of stories by one of our best known slacker authors.

Two important authors kick off book tours here this week, legendary fiction writer Jamaica Kincaid and nonfiction provocateur David Shields.

We've had William Frey, Mike Daisy, and John D'Agata, now it's Dave Eggers's turn.

Three new books, one an oral history of one of the most horrific events of the 1970's, and two novels -- one from England and one from Los Angeles.

More from KCRW

Fred Luskin, director of the Stanford University Forgiveness Project, reflects on the nature of forgiveness and the value of letting go of grievances.

from Life Examined

This spring, the first residents will move into Cotino, a Disney-themed planned community. The entertainment giant is eyeing more real estate investment.

from KCRW Features

This week, Michael Sandel , professor of political philosophy at Harvard University and author of “ The Tyranny of Merit: What’s Become of the Common Good?

from Life Examined

The Latest

What’s the relationship between art and democracy? After his firing from the Kennedy Center, poet Marc Bamuthi Joseph has some thoughts.

Fired from Trump’s Kennedy Center, poet says art and democracy are linked

What’s the relationship between art and democracy? After his firing from the Kennedy Center, poet Marc Bamuthi Joseph has some thoughts.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

At Kingdom Dim Sum in East Hollywood, chefs Man Mo and Tony He are best friends. Mo’s son founded the restaurant to give his retirement-age dad something to do.

At Kingdom Dim Sum, best friends do the cooking

At Kingdom Dim Sum in East Hollywood, chefs Man Mo and Tony He are best friends. Mo’s son founded the restaurant to give his retirement-age dad something to do.

from KCRW Features

The Titanic hit an iceberg and sank more than 100 years ago, but the disaster has captured the imagination of Generation Alpha.

The Titanic continues to fascinate new generations of kids

The Titanic hit an iceberg and sank more than 100 years ago, but the disaster has captured the imagination of Generation Alpha.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Netflix’s “Adolescence” explores the issue of growing up online and what social media pressures can do to lonely, angry young men. It also looks at generational male violence.

LA psychiatrist on Netflix’s ‘Adolescence’ and challenges facing teen boys

Netflix’s “Adolescence” explores the issue of growing up online and what social media pressures can do to lonely, angry young men. It also looks at generational male violence.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

In the 1970s and 80s, Jeff Bridges recorded songs with his childhood buddies in his West LA neighborhood. Now those songs are in the new album “Slow Magic, 1977-1978.”

Actor Jeff Bridges releases new collection of old songs

In the 1970s and 80s, Jeff Bridges recorded songs with his childhood buddies in his West LA neighborhood. Now those songs are in the new album “Slow Magic, 1977-1978.”

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Takotsubo Syndrome provides strong evidence for the link between mind and heart

The Dangers of a Broken Heart

Takotsubo Syndrome provides strong evidence for the link between mind and heart

from Second Opinion

Adam Scott talks “Severance” season 2, Pablo Larrain tells us about loving opera and telling the story of Maria Callas, and Tiffany Haddish has The Treat.

Adam Scott, Pablo Larrain and Tiffany Haddish on The Treat

Adam Scott talks “Severance” season 2, Pablo Larrain tells us about loving opera and telling the story of Maria Callas, and Tiffany Haddish has The Treat.

from The Treatment

Actor Michael Shannon talks moving production mid-film (and other adventures!) while making his directorial debut “Eric LaRue.”

‘Eric LaRue’ filmmaker Michael Shannon on directing his first (and maybe last) movie

Actor Michael Shannon talks moving production mid-film (and other adventures!) while making his directorial debut “Eric LaRue.”

from The Business