Terry Gross

Science writer James Gleick ("GLICK"). His new book "Faster: The Acceleration of Just About Everything" (Pantheon) is about the accelerating pace of modern life. He writes about how technology has created the feeling that life moves too fast, but that we have become "addicted" to the pace and might as well learn to enjoy it.

Writer Philippe Wamba ("Phil-EEP WAM-bah"). He is the son of an African father and a African-American mother. His new book looks at the affinity between African-Americans and Africans, the things that divide them, and they myths they each hold about the other. It's called "Kinship: A Family's Journey in Africa and America" (Dutton). Wamba has lived in both countries. His father, Prof. Ernest Wamba dia Wamba, is currently leader of the rebel faction in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Composer and jazz pianist Uri Caine (ER-ee CANE). He's fronted and/or played with a number of groups. On his first two CDS as he a leader, "Sphere Music" and "Toys" he played homage to jazz pianists Thelonious Monk and Herbie Hancock. He's worked in groups led by Don Byron, Dave Douglas, Buddy DeFranco, Clark Terry and others. His latest release is "The Sidewalks of New York" which plays homage to turn of the century New York city and the songwriters of tin pan alley. (Winter & Winter label).