KBAQ Book of the Month
December 2009 KBAQ Book of the Month: The Symphony-A Listener's Guide by Michael Steinberg
The Symphony-A Listener's Guide, by Michael Steinberg
A great holiday gift for the serious classical music aficionado!
Full story
NPR Book Reviews
-
Where's The Beef? One Man's Search For 'Steak'
Mark Schatzker, a lifelong steak lover, was disappointed in the steaks he was eating. So Schatzker set off on a quest to find the very best piece of beef in the world -- a quest that took him from feedlots in Texas, to French cave paintings of prehistoric cattle, to the Argentine pampas.
-
Tony Blair On War, Globalization And 'My Political Life'
The former prime minister of the United Kingdom's memoir, <em>My Life: A Political Journey,</em> is on sale in the U.S. Blair spoke to Steve Inskeep about Iraq, globalization and his political career.
-
Paperback Nonfiction Bestsellers For Sept. 2
Now in its 219th year, the newest <em>Old Farmer's Almanac</em> makes its debut with weather predictions, gardening advice and mouthwatering recipes for Dutch ovens.
-
Ricks' Picks: Best Books About War In Iraq
For more than seven years, Americans learned about the war from news reports. But between headlines, many also turned to books to understand the strategy and the lessons of the conflict. As "Operation New Dawn" begins, Thomas Ricks picks the best and the worst books about the Iraq war.
-
Three Books For The Self-Help Skeptic
Plenty of folks are wary when it comes to self-help, but if <em>you're</em> not going to help yourself, then who will? Writer Lisa Unger says: Silence your inner snark and read these three books -- they will clear your mind and change your life.
-
Meghan McCain: Palin Brought Drama To Campaign
John McCain's daughter says in a new book that Sarah Palin brought drama, stress and uncertainty to her father's failed bid for the presidency in 2008. But Meghan McCain doesn't blame the vice presidential nominee for the loss.
-
To Speak, Perchance To 'Dream In Chinese'
From when <em>not</em> to say thank you, to an embarrassing run-in at a Shanghai Taco Bell, Deborah Fallows recounts her tumultuous journey through the Chinese language in her new book, <em>Dreaming in Chinese: Mandarin Lessons in Life, Love, and Language.</em>
-
Paretsky's PI Uncovers Murder In Chicago
Sara Paretsky's latest novel, <em>Body Work,</em> takes her heroine into the world of cutting-edge performance art, PTSD and the mob. It's the 14th installment of Paretsky's V.I. Warshawski crime thriller series, which she started writing more than 20 years ago.
-
Excerpt: "The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival"
An excerpt from "The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival"
-
Whatever The Weather, 'Turbulence' Shines
Sometimes, lightning does strike twice: The latest novel by Giles Foden -- author of <em>The Last King of Scotland</em> -- is an absorbing, elegant and thoughtful read. <em>Turbulence</em>, which dramatizes the Allied effort to use meteorology for military gain during World War II, follows a young meteorologist who must convince a brilliant pacifist to contribute to the war effort.
-
These Roller Skating Women Get 'Down And Derby'
Alex Cohen may be a public radio reporter by day, but by night she goes by her roller derby name -- Axles of Evil. Cohen has joined forces with fellow L.A. Derby Doll Jennifer "Kasey Bomber" Barbee to write <em>Down and Derby,</em> an insider's guide to a rough-and-tumble sport.
-
Feminist 'Franzenfreude' Over Raves For 'Freedom'
Jonathan Franzen's new novel, <em>Freedom,</em> doesn't come out until Tuesday but <em>The New York Times</em> has already declared it a "masterpiece" and <em>Time</em> magazine has dubbed Franzen a "Great American Novelist." The book has gotten so much attention in the media that it's led to accusations of both gender and genre bias among the literary elite.
-
Three Books For Surviving Graduate School
The last thing a grad student needs is another reading list, but don't worry -- this one will help. Author Adam Ruben recommends three titles that will help you get through the languorous slog of post-baccalaureate education.
-
Archaeology: Not As Dry And Dusty As You Think
Real archaeologists are nothing like Indiana Jones, but that doesn't mean their world isn't dramatic and dangerous. Author Craig Childs sheds a light on pot hunters and relic diggers in his new book, <em>Finders Keepers: A Tale of Archaeological Plunder and Obsession</em>.
-
Americans Pay The Price Of Getting Things 'Cheap'
In the days since the Industrial Revolution, Americans have put a premium on convenience and low prices. But this obsession with low prices has its consequences. At times, durability, craftsmanship and even social responsibility are sacrificed. Host Liane Hansen talks with Ellen Ruppel Shell, author of the book, <em>Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture</em>.
The Symphony-A Listener's Guide, by Michael Steinberg
A great holiday gift for the serious classical music aficionado!
Full story
NPR Book Reviews
-
Where's The Beef? One Man's Search For 'Steak'
Mark Schatzker, a lifelong steak lover, was disappointed in the steaks he was eating. So Schatzker set off on a quest to find the very best piece of beef in the world -- a quest that took him from feedlots in Texas, to French cave paintings of prehistoric cattle, to the Argentine pampas. -
Tony Blair On War, Globalization And 'My Political Life'
The former prime minister of the United Kingdom's memoir, <em>My Life: A Political Journey,</em> is on sale in the U.S. Blair spoke to Steve Inskeep about Iraq, globalization and his political career. -
Paperback Nonfiction Bestsellers For Sept. 2
Now in its 219th year, the newest <em>Old Farmer's Almanac</em> makes its debut with weather predictions, gardening advice and mouthwatering recipes for Dutch ovens. -
Ricks' Picks: Best Books About War In Iraq
For more than seven years, Americans learned about the war from news reports. But between headlines, many also turned to books to understand the strategy and the lessons of the conflict. As "Operation New Dawn" begins, Thomas Ricks picks the best and the worst books about the Iraq war. -
Three Books For The Self-Help Skeptic
Plenty of folks are wary when it comes to self-help, but if <em>you're</em> not going to help yourself, then who will? Writer Lisa Unger says: Silence your inner snark and read these three books -- they will clear your mind and change your life. -
Meghan McCain: Palin Brought Drama To Campaign
John McCain's daughter says in a new book that Sarah Palin brought drama, stress and uncertainty to her father's failed bid for the presidency in 2008. But Meghan McCain doesn't blame the vice presidential nominee for the loss. -
To Speak, Perchance To 'Dream In Chinese'
From when <em>not</em> to say thank you, to an embarrassing run-in at a Shanghai Taco Bell, Deborah Fallows recounts her tumultuous journey through the Chinese language in her new book, <em>Dreaming in Chinese: Mandarin Lessons in Life, Love, and Language.</em> -
Paretsky's PI Uncovers Murder In Chicago
Sara Paretsky's latest novel, <em>Body Work,</em> takes her heroine into the world of cutting-edge performance art, PTSD and the mob. It's the 14th installment of Paretsky's V.I. Warshawski crime thriller series, which she started writing more than 20 years ago. -
Excerpt: "The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival"
An excerpt from "The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival" -
Whatever The Weather, 'Turbulence' Shines
Sometimes, lightning does strike twice: The latest novel by Giles Foden -- author of <em>The Last King of Scotland</em> -- is an absorbing, elegant and thoughtful read. <em>Turbulence</em>, which dramatizes the Allied effort to use meteorology for military gain during World War II, follows a young meteorologist who must convince a brilliant pacifist to contribute to the war effort. -
These Roller Skating Women Get 'Down And Derby'
Alex Cohen may be a public radio reporter by day, but by night she goes by her roller derby name -- Axles of Evil. Cohen has joined forces with fellow L.A. Derby Doll Jennifer "Kasey Bomber" Barbee to write <em>Down and Derby,</em> an insider's guide to a rough-and-tumble sport. -
Feminist 'Franzenfreude' Over Raves For 'Freedom'
Jonathan Franzen's new novel, <em>Freedom,</em> doesn't come out until Tuesday but <em>The New York Times</em> has already declared it a "masterpiece" and <em>Time</em> magazine has dubbed Franzen a "Great American Novelist." The book has gotten so much attention in the media that it's led to accusations of both gender and genre bias among the literary elite. -
Three Books For Surviving Graduate School
The last thing a grad student needs is another reading list, but don't worry -- this one will help. Author Adam Ruben recommends three titles that will help you get through the languorous slog of post-baccalaureate education. -
Archaeology: Not As Dry And Dusty As You Think
Real archaeologists are nothing like Indiana Jones, but that doesn't mean their world isn't dramatic and dangerous. Author Craig Childs sheds a light on pot hunters and relic diggers in his new book, <em>Finders Keepers: A Tale of Archaeological Plunder and Obsession</em>. -
Americans Pay The Price Of Getting Things 'Cheap'
In the days since the Industrial Revolution, Americans have put a premium on convenience and low prices. But this obsession with low prices has its consequences. At times, durability, craftsmanship and even social responsibility are sacrificed. Host Liane Hansen talks with Ellen Ruppel Shell, author of the book, <em>Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture</em>.
