Books & Literature

African-American poet Ntozake Shange tells Terry Gross about how Black liberation, women's movements and jazz have influenced her work. She has a new collection of poetry called Nappy Edges.

Author Jerzy Kozinski's new novel, Passion Play, is about polo and middle age. He talks about adopting the English language, sexuality in his fiction, and the state of the publishing industry.

Science fiction writer and magazine editor Ben Bova talks about the military influence in the development of space technologies, the present state of technological innovation, and what makes for a great science fiction story.

Anthropologist Dr. Ray Birdwhistell is the founder of the field of kinesics, the study and interpretation of body language and other nonverbal behavior. His books include "Introduction to Kinesics" and "Kinesics and Context." Dr. Birdwhistell is a professor of Communication at the Annenberg School of the University of Pennsylvania.

At 19, Jim McGowan was the victim of an assault which left him with paralyzed legs. He later worked as an R&B singer in the 1950s with the group the Four Fellows, whose song "Solider Boy" was a number one hit. He late became an academic and has written a book about an Underground Railroad figure in "The Life and Letters of Thomas Garnett," as well as a history of R&B. He is also an activist for disabled persons and was the photographer for the book "Wheelchair Champions."

NATALIE ALLON is a sociologist and professor at the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Sciences, who researches group interactions. Her latest book, "Urban Life Styles," discusses singles' bars, health spas, and group dieting.

Poet Rod Mckuen also has a career as a record producer who reissues classic recordings of popular music on the Stanyan Record Label.

Fresh Air broadcasts a lecture by Alan Dundes about how folklore has influenced our behaviors, social customs and popular culture.

Rita Mae Brown's novels are celebrated as landmark feminist and lesbian works of fiction.

Scholar Deirdre Bair explains how she came to write an the biography of novelist and playwright Samuel Beckett.

Terry Gross interviews author David Slavitt, who also writes "salacious" and popular novels under the name Henry Sutton. They also look at how movies have influenced his writing.

David Slavitt discusses his work under both his own name and that of Henry Sutton. He discusses the difference between the "two" novelists' audience and style. His new novel "Jo Stern" is about a woman novelist.

John Cage reads from his "Empty Words" works and discusses his effort to create a "non-syntactical language."

Fresh Air broadcasts a lecture by John Barth. Barth explains the craft of writing and reads from his new novel, Letters.

Fresh Air broadcasts a lecture featuring poet Dennis Brutus, who reads his works and explains his literary influences and the experience of being a writer in South Africa during apartheid.

John Dean, former White House Counsel for Richard Nixon, discusses his new book "Blind Ambition" and the Watergate scandal.

Poet Adrienne Rich reads selections of her work.

Novelist and dog expert Robert Calder joins the show to discuss his book "The Dogs," dog behavior, and the relationship between humans and dogs.

Yugoslavian journalist, critic, and feminist Slavenka Drakulic (SLA-vinka DRA-coo-lich). Her new book of essays is "How We Survived Communism and Even Laughed," (published by Norton & Co.)

Stewart's back as Jean-Luc Picard in season 2 of the Paramount+ series Star Trek: Picard. "I am not averse to risk-taking and I don't judge myself," he says. Originally broadcast July 2, 2020.