Books

Hungarian Susan Polgar earned chess’ highest honor at age 15.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

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

Hèléne Jawhara Piñer unravels the thread connecting the Spanish Inquisition to modern Jewish food practices.

A medieval scholar considers the transformative potential of flour

Hèléne Jawhara Piñer unravels the thread connecting the Spanish Inquisition to modern Jewish food practices.

from Good Food

Great British Bake Off alum Giuseppe Dell'Anno celebrates a sweet Easter with Italian desserts.

For Giuseppe Dell'Anno, Easter desserts smell like spring blossoms

Great British Bake Off alum Giuseppe Dell'Anno celebrates a sweet Easter with Italian desserts.

from Good Food

Jeff Chu abandoned his career as a journalist to work the land and attend seminary, tilling up life lessons as well as a sense of calm.

Jeff Chu meditates on life's biggest questions while working the soil

Jeff Chu abandoned his career as a journalist to work the land and attend seminary, tilling up life lessons as well as a sense of calm.

from Good Food

In a new memoir, Joan Nathan reflects on her life through the lens of food.

Joan Nathan tracks American culture and food writing in the 1970s

In a new memoir, Joan Nathan reflects on her life through the lens of food.

from Good Food

“The Great Gatsby” was published 100 years ago today. Its enduring message about the empty and corrupting power of wealth may be even more relevant now.

‘The Great Gatsby’ at 100: How Fitzgerald’s ‘careless people’ resonate today

“The Great Gatsby” was published 100 years ago today. Its enduring message about the empty and corrupting power of wealth may be even more relevant now.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Relationship coach Jillian Turecki reflects on the essentials for maintaining a long term relationship and some hard truths about love.

Jillian Turecki; ‘when it comes to love, it begins with you.’

Relationship coach Jillian Turecki reflects on the essentials for maintaining a long term relationship and some hard truths about love.

from Life Examined

Carol Leifer passes along decades worth of wisdom gleaned from stand-up comedy in her new book “How to Write a Funny Speech…”

Comedian Carol Leifer wants you to shine in your next speech

Carol Leifer passes along decades worth of wisdom gleaned from stand-up comedy in her new book “How to Write a Funny Speech…”

from The Treatment

Jeremy Salamon reconnects with his Hungarian Jewish heritage and the charming childhood created by his grandmother.

Jeremy Salamon updates paprikash and other Hungarian dishes in a colorful cookbook

Jeremy Salamon reconnects with his Hungarian Jewish heritage and the charming childhood created by his grandmother.

from Good Food

Relying on leeks, potatoes, and a Pompeiian baking technique, Irina Georgescu finds culinary inspiration east of the Danube in Romania, Serbia and Bulgaria.

Uncovering culinary traditions along the banks of the Danube River

Relying on leeks, potatoes, and a Pompeiian baking technique, Irina Georgescu finds culinary inspiration east of the Danube in Romania, Serbia and Bulgaria.

from Good Food

Curtis Chin and Rachel Phan discover that being a restaurant kid has its highs and lows.

Two tales of Chinese 'restaurant kids,' from takeout boxes to feeling boxed in

Curtis Chin and Rachel Phan discover that being a restaurant kid has its highs and lows.

from Good Food

Johnny Carson was seemingly a friend to millions as the host of "The Tonight Show" for three decades.

Encore: Johnny Carson wasn’t the same on-air and in private, says new book

Johnny Carson was seemingly a friend to millions as the host of "The Tonight Show" for three decades.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

We chat with author China Miéville about his renowned steampunk novel, “Perdido Street Station,” on the heels of its 25th anniversary limited edition reprint.

Writer China Miéville talks 25 years of ‘Perdido Street Station’

We chat with author China Miéville about his renowned steampunk novel, “Perdido Street Station,” on the heels of its 25th anniversary limited edition reprint.

from The Treatment

Inspired by childhood visits to Ghana, Eric Adjepong debuts his first collection of recipes.

For Eric Adjepong, sharing recipes from Ghana connects his cultural identity to his culinary journey

Inspired by childhood visits to Ghana, Eric Adjepong debuts his first collection of recipes.

from Good Food

Evan Rail plays detective, looking back on an absinthe enthusiast who became a con artist.

How did an absinthe conman get away with a massive fraud?

Evan Rail plays detective, looking back on an absinthe enthusiast who became a con artist.

from Good Food

Jody Eddy spent two years visiting sacred spaces and meeting the people who cook in them.

Whether it's Tibetan Buddhist monks or Irish Catholic nuns, food at monasteries still matters

Jody Eddy spent two years visiting sacred spaces and meeting the people who cook in them.

from Good Food

A historian takes readers on a visual tour of buildings torn down from the 19th and 20th centuries in “ Los Angeles Before The Freeways: Images of an Era 1850-1950 .”

Tour architectural ruins of old LA: New photo book

A historian takes readers on a visual tour of buildings torn down from the 19th and 20th centuries in “ Los Angeles Before The Freeways: Images of an Era 1850-1950 .”

from KCRW Features

Harriet Tubman has come back to life and wants to make a hip-hop album. That’s the premise of Bob the Drag Queen’s debut novel.

‘America’s first Black superhero’ is revived to record hip-hop album: New novel

Harriet Tubman has come back to life and wants to make a hip-hop album. That’s the premise of Bob the Drag Queen’s debut novel.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Teen therapist Lisa Damour unravels the complexities of the adolescent mind and offers tips for raising well-adjusted teenagers.

Psychologist Lisa Damour on unlocking the teen brain

Teen therapist Lisa Damour unravels the complexities of the adolescent mind and offers tips for raising well-adjusted teenagers.

from Life Examined