Book Book Book Book
Commentary Commentary RSS Reviews Podcasts_Audio Podcasts RSS Blog Links Archives Indexes
06-23-11: Three Books With Alan Cheuse



The Astral by Kate Christensen, Miss New India by Bharati Mukherjee and Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson

Three books — and only one really "summerish" title among them. Readers already know where I stand on 'Robopocalypse,' but I was fascinated to hear Alan Cheuse's take on the book. It had really never occurred to me, but then, I go back a long way with Wilson. I go back a long way with Kate Christensen as well, and damn it, wished she could have made it out here to talk about her latest, 'The Astral.' Let's just say she's back in 'The Epicure's Lament'-ish territory. And thanks to Mr. Cheuse's direction, I had my first experience reading Bharati Mukherjee. "May I help you?"

Smart remarks aside, these are three grand books good for all seasons. I took us through them alphabetically by the author's last name. Christensen is one of my favorite writers, and one of the best writers to take on a man's voice you can find. She really knows her rather contentious, unlikeable fellows, and Harry Quirk is a hoot. I managed not to mention that the photo I took of Kate when we spoke about 'The Epicure's Lament' at KUSP was used as the photo for the Italian translation of the novel.

Mukherjee's novel led us to the work of Susanna Moore, and then back to Mukherjee and her nuanced, careful portrait of what a 10,000 year-old civilization looks like in the 21st century. She has a great take on the India, and this novel is a smart, fast journey through a very alien world.

And finally, Alan and I had rather different takes on 'Robopocalypse,' and this is why I enjoy discussing books with this gentleman as much as I do. When we differ in opinion, you get a truly wide-screen review of the book. You can hear our conversation by following this link to the MP3 audio file.




06-22-11: A 2011 Interview with John A. Farrell


"I call it loving revisionism...because I still haven't lost my very high regard for him."

—John A. Farrell

It's probably lucky for John A. Farrell that he wasn't gallivanting about the country to promote his new book, 'Clarence Darrow: Attorney for the Damned.' I can imagine that he'd have to set up some sort of portable database, so that he could deal with interviewers who hung on every detail, the sort who take hundreds of notes. It's a five hundred-plus page book. I could probably use up six stacks of stickies.

Fortunately for both of us, I was able to read the book for pure pleasure, and then, make exactly the use of my phone interview setup that I intended to so long ago when I bought it. I'm happy to find it still works well, especially when it gives me a chance to talk to a talented writer about a fascinating project.

Writers and readers seem to love books saving books from their childhood. I've got my 'Winnie the Pooh,' and Farrell told me about his childhood keepsake as well, which is perfectly in keeping with his latest work. We talked about the new papers that made his book possible and about his work as a writer and biographer — and a fan, as it were, of Darrow.

The process of putting together such a densely imagined and written book from such a huge variety of sources is precisely what fascinates me. Yes, this is an incredibly researched biography, but ultimately, it is also the work of a writer's imagination. You can hear the man behind the book by following this link to the MP3 audio file.




06-20-11: A 2011 Interview with Brooke Gladstone

Click image for audio link.
"I offer a view of where we may be going ... and it's fraught ... it's dangerous ... and it's thrilling."

—Brooke Gladstone

Brooke Gladstone in person is every bit as energetic and charming as she is on her radio show, NPR's "On the Media." If anything, she seemingly edits her enthusiasm a bit for NPR, because when we spoke at KQED studios, she was just extra charming. Of course, the fact that she puts Mr. Spock as one of the icons of her life (between Woodstock and the Marx Brothers) was a pretty strong indicator that I wasn't reading my own interest in the science fiction genre into her book. And as we spoke it became clear that she is indeed, a very well read student of science fiction.

Now, that said, I did try to keep the conversation within the confines of her wonderful book. That's not hard, because the book covers most of human history, most of human thought and most of civilization (in a pulse-pounding 170-page read), so there's a lot that's on-topic. But I will say this; as you hear this interview, it should be clear to listeners that observing communication has made Gladstone a superb communicator.

I tend not to write down any specific questions for the writers I interview, which does, on not-so-rare occasions, leave me afterwards thinking, "Why didn't I ask...?" This time around, I did manage to ask Gladstone about the genesis of this particular book, and what she told me was particularly interesting. 'The Influencing Machine' started out as a science fiction graphic novel about a reporter in the year 2042 for DC Comics. Once she told me that, we started talking about the science fiction genre, her favorite and I found myself on the spot.

I did ask Gladstone, who is so embedded and interested in the future if there was an electronic version of the book. Alas, we are not that far into the future yet, but here's a snippet to tantalize you:

The Influencing Machine: Brooke Gladstone on the Media from WW Norton on Vimeo.

Listeners who want to take a quick trip to the future of their reading experience — because after hearing her talk, you'll definitely want to read the book — need only follow this link to the MP3 audio file of our conversation.



New to the Agony Column

09-05-15: Commentary : Susan Casey Listens to 'Voices in the Ocean' : Science, Empathy and Self

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Susan Casey : "...the reporting for this book was emotionally difficult at times..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 213: Susan Casey : Voices in the Ocean: A Journey into the Wild and Haunting World of Dolphins

08-24-15: Commentary : Felicia Day Knows 'You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost)' : Transformative Technology

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Felicia Day : "I think you have to be attention curators for audience in every way."

08-22-15: Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 212: Felicia Day : You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost)

08-21-15: Agony Column Podcast News Report : Senator Claire McCaskill is 'Plenty Ladylike' : Internalizing Determination to Overcome Sexism [Incudes Time to Read EP 211: Claire McCaskill, Plenty Ladylike, plus A 2015 Interview with Senator Claire McCaskill]

Agony Column Podcast News Report : Emily Schultz Unleashes 'The Blondes' : A Cure by Color [Incudes Time to Read EP 210: Emily Schultz, The Blondes, plus A 2015 Interview with Emily Schultz]

08-10-15:Agony Column Podcast News Report : In Memory of Alan Cheuse : Thank you Alan, and Your Family, for Everything

07-11-15: Commentary : Robert Repino Morphs 'Mort(e)' : Housecat to Harbinger of the Apocalypse

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Robert Repino : "...an even bigger threat. which is us, the humans..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 208: Robert Repino : Mort(e)

07-05-15: Commentary : Dr. Michael Gazzaniga Tells Tales from Both Sides of the Brain : A Life in Neuroscience Reveals the Life of Science

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Michael Gazzaniga : "We made the first observation and BAM there was the disconnection effect..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 208: Michael Gazzaniga : Tales from Both Sides of the Brain: A Life in Neuroscience

06-26-15: Commentary : Neal Stephenson Crafts an Eden for 'Seveneves' : Blow It Up and Start All Over Again

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Neal Stephenson : "...and know that you're never going to se a tree again..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 207: Neal Stephenson : Seveneves

06-03-15: Commentary : Dan Simmons Opens 'The Fifth Heart' : Having it Every Way

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Dan Simmons : "...yes, they really did bring those bombs..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 206: Dan Simmons : The Fifth Heart

05-23-15: Commentary : John Waters Gets 'Carsick' : Going His Way

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with John Waters : "...you change how you would be in real life...”

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 205: John Waters : Carsick

05-09-15: Commentary : Jeffrey A. Lieberman, MD and 'Shrinks' : A Most Fashionable Take on the Human Mind

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Jeffrey A. Lieberman, MD : "..its influence to be as hegemonic as it was..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 204: Jeffrey A. Lieberman, MD : Shrinks: The Untold Story of Psychiatry

04-29-15: Commentary : Barney Frank is 'Frank' : Interpersonally Ours

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Barney Frank : "...while you're trying to change it, don't ignore it..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 203: Barney Frank : Frank: A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage

04-21-15: Commentary : Kazuo Ishiguro Unearths 'The Buried Giant' : The Mist of Myth and Memory

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Kazuo Ishiguro : ".... by the time I was writing this novel, the lines between what was fantasy and what was real had blurred for me..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 202: Kazuo Ishiguro : The Buried Giant

04-17-15: Commentary : Erik Larson Follows a 'Dead Wake' : Countdown to Destiny

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Erik Larson : "...said to have been found in the arms of a dead German sailor..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 201: Erik Larson : Dead Wake

04-15-15: Commentary : Peter Bell Reflects 'A Certain Slant of Light' : Strange Stories of Modern Scholars

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2014 Interview with Peter Bell : "...I looked up some of the old books..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 200: Peter Bell : Strange Epiphanies and A Certain Slant of Light

03-14-15: Commentary : Marc Goodman Foresees 'Future Crimes' : Exponential Potential

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Marc Goodman : "...every physical object around us is being transformed, one way or another, into an information technology..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 199: Marc Goodman : Future Crimes: Everything Is Connected, Everyone Is Vulnerable and What We Can Do About It

Commentary & Podcast Archive
Archives Indexes How to use the Agony Column Contact Us About Us