Library Talks
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Join The New York Public Library and your favorite writers, artists, and thinkers for smart talks and provocative conversations from the nation’s cultural capital.
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Far from Over: The Fight for the Equal Rights Amendment
Politicians and activists discuss the continuing push to revive the much-contested Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).
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Nov 14, 2023
Mary Beard with Tim Gunn: Emperor of Rome
Mary Beard returns to the Library to talk with Tim Gunn about her new book, Emperor of Rome, her long-awaited follow up to the international bestseller SPQR.
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Oct 31, 2023
C Pam Zhang with Padma Lakshmi: Land of Milk and Honey
In this episode of Library Talks, C Pam Zhang sits down with Padma Lakshmi to discuss her latest novel Land of Milk and Honey, which tells the story of climate disaster and a young chef discovering pleasure at the end of the world.
Zhang is the winner of the Academy of Arts and Letters Rosenthal Award and the Asian/Pacific Award for Literature, a Booker Prize nominee, and a finalist for numerous other prizes, including the the PEN/Hemingway Award and the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize. Zhang’s writing appears in Best American Short Stories, The Cut, The New Yorker, and The New York Times. She is a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 Honoree and a New York Public Library Cullman Fellow.
Padma Lakshmi is an Emmy-nominated producer, television host, food expert, and a New York Times best-selling author and one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People (2023).
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Oct 17, 2023
Matthew Desmond and Andrea Elliott: Poverty, by America
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Matthew Desmond’s latest book, Poverty, by America, reimagines the American debate on poverty, making an original and ambitious argument about why it persists here: because too many of us benefit from it.
In this episode of Library Talks, Desmond speaks with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Andrea Elliot to discuss his new ways of thinking around this morally urgent, uniquely American problem—and imagines practical, achievable solutions for making poverty disappear.
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Oct 3, 2023
Building the World We Want: Artificial Intelligence and Global Governance
Acclaimed scholar and writer Alondra Nelson leads a discussion on the transnational impacts of artificial intelligence and the need for global collaboration. Speakers include Karen Kornbluh, Maria Ressa, Olatunbosun Tijani, Tim Wu
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Sep 19, 2023
Luis Alberto Urrea: Good Night, Irene
The new novel by award-winning author Luis Alberto Urrea, Good Night, Irene, tells an overlooked story of women’s heroism in World War II, inspired by the experiences of his own mother. Urrea speaks about his “moving and graceful tribute to heroic women” that asks whether a friendship forged on the front lines of war defines a life forever.
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Sep 5, 2023
Sasha Velour and Joe E. Jeffreys: Drag Manifesto
Sasha Velour is an iconic queen. Turns out she’s also a historian! In this episode of Library Talks, Velour sits down with drag historian Joe E. Jeffreys to discuss her new book, The Big Reveal: An Illustrated Manifesto of Drag, a treasure trove of revelations about radical queer expressions throughout time.
The revered entertainer and winner of RuPaul's Drag Race weaves together gender theory, politics, and memoir to tell the story of drag. Velour redefines drag for a new generation while uncovering the history of queer life that made it all possible.
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Aug 22, 2023
Sherrilyn Ifill: How America Ends and Begins Again
Welcome back!
The Library presents conversations with an incredible array of authors, performers, activists, and thinkers, and our Library Talks podcast brings some of those conversations to you. Today we are relaunching the show with Sherrilyn Iffill delivering the annual Robert B. Silvers Lecture, titled How America Ends and Begins Again.
Within this dangerous period of accelerated democratic unraveling, Sherrilyn Ifill argues that our country has a unique opportunity. Can we use this moment to build at long last a healthy, multiracial democracy anchored in the values of equality and justice?
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Jun 23, 2019
Stonewall 50: The Sound of Memory
The Stonewall Riots were a flash point in LGBTQ history. After the riots that took place at the Stonewall Inn in June 1969, the LGBTQ civil rights movement went from handfuls of pioneering activists to a national movement mobilizing thousands.
On this special episode we’ll hear what happened over the nights of the riots through archival audio of iconic transgender rights activists Sylvia Rivera, Marsha P. Johnson, and Miss Major Griffin-Gracy. NYPL's Jason Baumann returns for an interview with pioneering photojournalist and gay rights activist Kay Tobin Lahusen. Plus stories from Eric Marcus' podcast Making Gay History, and the story of Stormé DeLarverie from the archives at The Schomburg Center.
Also mentioned:
* 'The Stonewall Reader'
* The exhibit 'Love & Resistance: Stonewall 50'
* Barbara Gittings and Kay Tobin Lahusen Photographs and Papers
* NYC Trans Oral History Project, including Miss Major's full length interview For more, listen to our previous episode “Before Stonewall” including an interview with writer and curator Hugh Ryan about his new book "When Brooklyn was Queer."
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Jun 16, 2019
Before Stonewall
Aidan Flax-Clark welcomes co-host Jason Baumann, Assistant Director for Collection Development and Coordinator of Humanities and the Library’s LGBTQ Initiative, for a special episode about queer life before the Stonewall Riots.
Frank Collerius, Manager of the Jefferson Market branch at NYPL, interviews writer and curator Hugh Ryan about his new book 'when brooklyn was queer.' We also hear a reading of 'The How and Why of Virginia,' the personal story of Virginia Prince, the founder and editor of the magazine 'Transvestia,' read by actor LeLand Gantt.
Next week we'll hear what happened during those few days at the Stonewall Inn in 1969 from iconic transgender rights activists Sylvia Rivera, Marsha P. Johnson, and Miss Major. Jason Baumann returns for an interview with pioneering photojournalist and gay rights activist Kay Tobin Lahusen. Plus stories from Eric Marcus' podcast 'Making Gay History' and a story from the archives at The Schomburg Center.
Also mentioned:
-'The Stonewall Reader'
-The exhibit 'Love & Resistance: Stonewall 50'
Special Thanks to: The Transgender Archives at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada for use of Virginia Prince's story.
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Jun 9, 2019
Marlon James Gets Nerdy with Kevin Young
Marlon James is a Jamaican novelist and winner of the Man Booker Prize. His recent book Black Leopard, Red Wolf is the first in a epic trilogy that blends myth, fantasy, and history—what James has described as "African Game of Thrones." He spoke with fellow fantasy and comic book fan, Kevin Young, who is a poet and the Director for the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. They talked about James' two years of research for the series, map making, Afrofuturism, and books they love, while unleashing their inner nerd.
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Jun 2, 2019
A History of the Queer Press
The Gay Liberation Front was an organization recognized for publishing the first gay liberation newspaper in the world,"Come Out!". It provided openly queer media exposure for many activists, writers, and artists. In conjunction with the NYPL exhibition Love & Resistance: Stonewall 50, founding members of the GLF, Perry Brass and Karla Jay, speak with media and activism scholar Michael Bronski, and Kathy Tu and Tobin Low, co-hosts of WNYC Studios’ podcast Nancy. They discussed the fight for inclusion in the media, the rise of the queer press in the 1960s and 70s, and the lasting impact of its legacy.
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May 26, 2019
Erin Lee Carr and Ta-Nehisi Coates Remember David Carr
Documentary filmmaker Erin Lee Carr remembers her father, legendary journalist David Carr, in a moving new memoir, "All That You Leave Behind." Erin Lee Carr, went looking for support and comfort in the lifetime of correspondence that they had shared. She was also looking for clues—advice the famous mentor, journalist, and father might have to offer on how to cope with her devastating loss, and continue on with her life and career. Erin Lee Carr will be joined by one of her father’s admiring mentees, Ta-Nehisi Coates, to discuss the legacy David Carr has left for his family, the journalistic community, and readers at large.
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May 19, 2019
How Robert Caro Writes About Power and the Powerless
At age 83, Robert Caro pulls back the curtains on his process, in his new book "Working." He also answers the question he is asked most often: why does it take him so long to write his books? Caro is the author of the Robert Moses biography "The Power Broker" and "The Years of Lyndon Johnson," The biographer, who has spent much time doing what he does best in the Allen Room of The New York Public Library, returns to share some stories of his own with William P. Kelly, The New York Public Library’s Andrew W. Mellon Director of the Research Libraries.
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May 12, 2019
Breaking New Ground with Dr. Carla Hayden and Tracy K. Smith
Dr. Carla Hayden is the 14th Librarian of Congress, the first African American and the first woman to hold this position. Tracy K. Smith is the 22nd Poet Laureate of the United States, and Director and Professor of Creative Writing at Princeton University. In a conversation with Schomburg Director, Kevin Young they discussed their work, the future of Black librarianship and the democratization of libraries
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May 5, 2019
Jill Abramson and Jane Mayer's Insider Take on the News
The former executive editor of "The New York Times" tells the story of the news industry in her new book "Merchants of Truth." Jill Abramson traces the past ten years of four major news outlets and their prospective futures in the face of rapidly changing technologies, shifting business models, and a president who almost daily assails the mainstream media as fake news. She spoke with long-time friend and colleague, investigative reporter Jane Mayer.
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Apr 28, 2019
Eliza Griswold Uncovers the Human Cost of Fracking
Journalist, Eliza Griswold just won a Pulitzer Prize and a Bernstein Award for her recent book,"Amity and Prosperity: One Family and the Fracturing of America." Even at its most basic level, the book is a fascinating story about the energy boom's relationship to the natural land. But it's also a moving portrait of a family—a resolute mother trying to care for her two children, sickened by the fracking fallout. Griswold sat down with NYPL's Gwen Glazer to talk about the making of this story, immersion journalism, and where things stand in rural America today.
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Apr 21, 2019
Shane Bauer's Undercover Reporting from Inside a Private Prison
Going undercover as a prison guard in Winnifield, Louisiana, journalist Shane Bauer exposes the brutality of for-profit private prison systems, and this country's history of outsourcing criminal punishment in his book "American Prison." This stunning work recently won NYPL's 2019 Bernstein Award for Excellence in Journalism. In this conversation with Aidan Flax-Clark, Bauer discusses the making of this book, the dangers of private prisons in the U.S., and his personal difficulties balancing his identities as a prison guard and reporter.
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Apr 14, 2019
Emily Bazelon and Stacey Abrams talk Criminal Justice Reform
In the search for meaningful criminal justice reform, are prosecutors one of the keys to change? In her new book, "Charged," journalist Emily Bazelon argues that prosecutors play an "outsize role" in mass incarceration -- from choosing the charge to setting bail to determining the plea bargain. To discuss the issue, Bazelon was joined by Stacey Abrams, a lawyer, novelist and politician who in 2018 campaigned for criminal justice reform as a candidate in a historic race for governor in Georgia.
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Apr 7, 2019
Bending Reality with G. Willow Wilson
G. Willow Wilson is a critically acclaimed novelist and co-creator of the first Muslim superhero with their own Marvel comic book series. Wilson's new book, The Bird King, is the story of a fantastical quest through the Iberian peninsula at the height of the Spanish Inquisition. She read from the novel and spoke with Hugo award-winning writer N. K. Jemisin about the power of imagining different worlds and how writing fantasy can expose reality.
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Mar 31, 2019
Janet Napolitano Explains Homeland Security with Joe Biden
Few people understand the state of our national security as well as Janet Napolitano and Joe Biden. Napolitano, former Dept. of Homeland Security Secretary and the first appointed by President Obama, has written about the subject in her new book,"How Safe Are We?" She spoke with Vice President Joe Biden, who—in addition to being Barack Obama's Vice President— chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and sat on the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security. “Homeland security is not only the job of the secretary or of the 240,000 professionals who work for the department,” says Napolitano, “it is everyone’s responsibility.”
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Mar 24, 2019
Still Cringing After 'Cat Person'
When "Cat Person" appeared in "The New Yorker" in December 2017, it quickly became a viral hit, striking a chord with readers at the height of the #MeToo Movement. People seemed surprised by the Internet popularity of a long form fiction story—including its author, Kristen Roupenian. "You Know You Want This" is Roupenian's highly anticipated debut collection of stories that, like "Cat Person," dwells in discomfort and is compulsively readable. "The New Yorker"'s fiction editor, Deborah Treisman, joined her for a conversation about why she chose "Cat Person" from a stack of other submissions, Roupenian's new book and plans for an upcoming horror film.
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Mar 17, 2019
Paperback Crushin'
The 1970s are sometimes hailed as the true dawn of young-adult literature, the decade when authors like Judy Blume and Lois Lowry showed that teen readers were worth taking seriously. Decades later, J.K. Rowling revolutionized YA, permanently broadening its appeal to adults. But teen fiction of the '80s and '90s is often ignored. Bustle editor and writer Gabrielle Moss has a soft spot in her heart for what she calls the genre's "intellectual dead zone"—the era of The Baby-sitters Club, Sweet Valley High, and so many more girl-centered series. In this interview with NYPL's Gwen Glazer, Moss discusses her new book "Paperback Crush," which makes the case for why the YA fiction of the '80s and '90s shouldn't be overlooked, and why it's so much fun to revisit.
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Mar 10, 2019
Frankenstein: Our Dark Mirror
Over 200 years ago, a teenage girl started a literary legacy that continues to haunt us today. Why do we still keep telling this story and how does it reflect our darkest fears? The New York Public Library's curators join monster theory scholars and best-selling authors to trace the history of Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin Shelley’s classic. This special podcast episode unpacks the genius of Shelley’s novel, its origins and evolution—from the British Romantics to Black Lives Matter—to uncover how the story helps us better understand ourselves, our humanity, and our future.
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Mar 3, 2019
Marilynne Robinson: Liberalism and American Tradition Pt. II
This week we're featuring part two of Marilynne Robinson's lecture on American society, government and economy titled "Liberalism and American Tradition." Robinson discusses our country's Puritan history and how society constructs value, referencing a number of political philosophers and social reformers.
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Feb 24, 2019
Marilynne Robinson: Liberalism and American Tradition Pt. I
Marilynne Robinson is one of the most celebrated American writers—she won a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and was awarded a National Humanities Medal from President Barack Obama, to name just a few of her accolades. She recently delivered a lecture on American Civilization and Government titled "Liberalism and American Tradition," which traces the origins of liberalism. Part two of the lecture will be released next week.
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Feb 17, 2019
How to Make Black Lives Matter at School
Despite the fact that New York City is one of the most diverse places in the country our school system is among the most segregated. As part of the nationwide campaign, Black Lives Matter at School Week, Schomburg Center's Associate Director of Education, Brian Jones organized a panel about this issue and how to challenge structural racism in schools. Featuring award-winning journalist, Nikole Hannah-Jones, public school teacher José Vilson, and two NYC high school student activists Xoya David and Joshua Brown.
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Feb 10, 2019
Envisioning 'A People's Future of the United States'
Howard Zinn’s seminal 1980 work "A People’s History of the United States" challenged dominant narratives of our country’s past by uncovering its darker truths; nearly 40 years later, a new collection of speculative fiction, "A People’s Future of the United States" challenges our visions of tomorrow. Like Zinn's work, this collection of stories centers on the experiences of traditionally marginalized communities. The collection's co-editor, Victor LaValle, speaks with four contributors— Maria Dahvana Headley, N.K. Jemisin, Alice Sola Kim, and Sam J. Miller—about the fantasies and projections for the future of the country.
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Feb 3, 2019
Jason Rezaian's 544 Days in an Iranian Prison
Jason Rezaian is an American journalist and author of a new memoir. In 2014, while reporting in Tehran for the Washington Post , he was arrested and wrongfully convicted of espionage by Iranian authorities. Rezaian recounts his experience in "Prisoner: My 544 Days in an Iranian Prison—Solitary Confinement, a Sham Trial, High-Stakes Diplomacy, and the Extraordinary Efforts It Took to Get Me Out." Rezaian sat down with New Yorker editor David Remnick for a conversation about his experience, the books he read in prison that were most comforting, and his experience coming home after incarceration.
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Jan 27, 2019
The Banished Immortal
Internationally bestselling author Ha Jin discussed his latest book—a new biography about legendary eighth-century Chinese poet, Li Bai. Ha Jin read some of the poet's lesser known works, and described Li’s unconventional lifestyle which he researched for his book, "The Banished Immortal." From the poet’s life-long interests in swordsmanship and celestial bodies, to his excessive drinking, rumors of manslaughter, and the numerous myths about is death—Ha Jin sheds new light on the poet and why he is still loved today.
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Jan 20, 2019
Seeing and Being Seen in Sally Wen Mao's 'Oculus'
Sally Wen Mao is the author of "Oculus," a collection of poems that explores sight and being seen, futuristic worlds and historical figures. She completed this collection during her Cullman Center Fellowship at NYPL in 2016-2017. In conversation with fellow poet, Jenny Xie, Mao shared some of the archival materials she used in her research, including those of the first Chinese American actress Anna May Wong. They discussed Asian American futurism, representation in Hollywood, and how a Solange concert at the Guggenheim inspired one of her poems.
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Jan 13, 2019
Maria Popova's A Velocity of Being
Maria Popova & Claudia Bedrick curated an anthology of letters and original illustrations by 121 of the most interesting and inspiring culture-makers alive today. "A Velocity of Being," Popova's project that was eight years in the making, asked each contributor to write a letter to a young reader about the power of reading. To celebrate the book’s release, contributors took to the stage at The New York Public Library to share what they wrote. Featured readings and performances by: Jad Abumrad, Sophie Blackall, Alexander Chee, Mohammed Fairouz, Adam Gopnik, Paul Holdengräber, Sarah Kay, Dawn Landes, Morley, Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie, and Naomi Wolf.
All proceeds from "A Velocity of Being" will benefit the public libraries of New York City. Read more about the book on Brain Pickings.
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Jan 6, 2019
Satirizing America in 'Friday Black'
Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah sheds light on a modern day America full of racial violence, greed, and heartbreak in his debut collection of short stories, "Friday Black." Focusing on the struggles of young black men and women, his characters fight to survive with their humanity intact. In conversation with writer Mychal Denzel Smith, Adjei-Brenyah discuses his approach to writing satire, the perils of capitalism, and how to stay hopeful while creating dystopian fiction.
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Dec 30, 2018
The Librarian Is In with Eric Klinenberg
Our friends from NYPL's The Librarian Is In podcast recorded their first-ever live episode, featuring NYU sociologist and author Eric Klinenberg. His new book "Palaces for the People" looks at how shared public spaces like gardens, child-care centers, and—yep, you guessed it—libraries are essential to maintaining a healthy democratic society. Klinenberg talks about his research at NYPL's Seward Park branch, social infrastructure, and what books he's reading with podcast hosts and librarians, Gwen and Frank.
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Dec 19, 2018
Neil Gaiman Reads "A Christmas Carol" (Rebroadcast)
To celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Dickens' classic, we're rebroadcasting this very special reading by writer and comic book author, Neil Gaiman. His live performance from 2013 uses a rare prompt copy that belonged to Charles Dickens himself and now resides in The New York Public Library. Dickens marked it up and annotated it for the express purpose of performing the story in front of an audience, which he did regularly in the 1850s and 1860s.
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Dec 16, 2018
A Reporting Life in Latin America
Award-winning journalist Alma Guillermoprieto delivered this year's annual Robert B. Silvers lecture, a series named in honor of the co-founding editor of The New York Review of Books. In her lecture titled “Among the Drug Dealers, Criminals, Rapists: A Reporting Life in Latin America,” Guillermoprieto shares insights from her 40 years of experience. Born in Mexico, Guillermoprieto came to New York in 1965 to join the Martha Graham dance studio. By the late 1970s, she had left dance to cover the Central American civil wars as a journalist. Since then she has written extensively about Latin America for The New Yorker, The New York Review of Books, and National Geographic.
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Dec 9, 2018
Magical Realism with Wayétu Moore
Wayétu Moore's debut novel explores African diasporic identity through historical fiction and magical realism. In a conversation with Buzzfeed writer, Isaac Fitzgerald, Moore talks about the stories behind her new book "She Would Be King": the history of her native Liberia and the childhood stories her family used to tell her. Moore says, "I grew up hearing stories that always included someone disappearing or shapeshifting or casting a spell...when I moved to America these things were relegated to Disney, but back home, that just wasn't the case."
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Dec 2, 2018
John McPhee's Album Quilt
In his seventh collection of essays, The Patch, master non-fiction writer John McPhee shares a montage of stories and reflections that range from a visit to the Hershey chocolate factory to encounters with Oscar Hammerstein, Joan Baez, and Mount Denali. Calling on his signature devotion to structure, McPhee has winnowed this body of work to present a random assembly he calls an “album quilt,” a memoir as only he could write it. He spoke with Paul Holdengräber about the arc of his life and career.
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Nov 25, 2018
How Congress Really Works...Or Doesn't
Wyatt Cenac moderates a panel of Washington insiders and journalists about the mechanics of Congress, the archetypes for today's lawmakers, and advice on how constituents can ensure their representatives take action. Featuring Washington Post senior congressional correspondent Paul Kane and ProPublica's Derek Willis, Stevens Institute of Technology assistant professor of political science Lindsay Cormack, When We All Vote communications director and former Congressional Black Caucus staffer Stephanie L. Young, and James Wallner, R Street senior fellow and former congressional staffer,
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Nov 18, 2018
James Baldwin's Children's Book
Did you know that when James Baldwin was writing "If Beale Street Could Talk" he was also writing a children's book? "Little Man, Little Man" was inspired by his young nephew and was first published in 1976. At the time, it got mixed reviews, went out of print and was largely forgotten. But 40 years later, that book has been republished.
Baldwin's niece and nephew, Aisha Karefa-Smart and Tejan "TJ" Karefa-Smart stopped by the Schomburg for Research in Black Culture to talk about their childhood and memories of their uncle. Joining them were the co-editors of the new edition of the book, Jennifer DeVere Brody and Nicholas Boggs. Their conversation was moderated by author and National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, Jacqueline Woodson.
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Nov 11, 2018
Susan Orlean's Ode to Libraries
More than 30 years after a fire destroyed 400,000 books at the Los Angeles Public Library's Central Library, journalist Susan Orlean re-examines the tragedy in "The Library Book." Orlean has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 1992; her quest to piece together the events surrounding this little-known tale was fueled by her relentless curiosity, a love of reading, and a profound appreciation for the democratic institution of the library. "Libraries are remembering for a whole culture," she said. "That's what books do for all of us—preserve memory."
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Nov 4, 2018
A History of Voter Suppression with Carol Anderson
Carol Anderson is an historian, educator, and author of "White Rage." Her latest book, "One Person, No Vote," is a timely survey of how voting rights have been rolled back in this country following the 2013 Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder. Dr. Anderson's work exposes racially biased voter suppression methods happening today. Joining Dr. Anderson was Dr. Khalil Gibran Muhammad, a professor of History, Race and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School and former Director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
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Oct 28, 2018
A Modern-day Gothic Horror Story
The bestselling English novelist of "The Essex Serpent," Sarah Perry, stopped by the Library to talk about her newest novel,"Melmoth." The books origins lie in an obscure 19th-century Gothic novel of the same name and an illness that upended her life. She discussed how the earlier novel and her personal experiences combined to birth the phantasmagoric nightmare at the heart of Melmoth's plot.
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Oct 21, 2018
Making Movements Intersectional
Darnell L. Moore and Charlene Carruthers are two dynamic leaders and organizers committed to intersectional liberation in movements for Black lives. They are also friends and writers. Moore and Carruthers recently spoke at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and read from each other's recent works: Moore's debut memoir "No Ashes in the Fire: Coming of Age Black and Free", and Carruthers's "Unapologetic: A Black, Queer, & Feminist Mandate for Radical Movements."
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Oct 14, 2018
Why Men Fight with Thomas Page McBee
While training for a charity boxing match at Madison Square Garden, writer Thomas Page McBee gained insight into how masculinity operates in the ring and in society— McBee became the first known trans man to box in the historic venue. He stopped by the Library to talk about this experience, the subject of his new book Amateur: A True Story About What Makes a Man.
Amanda Hess, a critic-at-large for the New York Times joined McBee to discuss the meaning of toxic masculinity,violence, and what it means to be a "real man."
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Oct 7, 2018
Righteous Rage with Rebecca Traister
In her new book, "Good and Mad" Rebecca Traister uncovers the history of women's anger in American politics—from the suffragettes to #MeToo. She argues that this collective fury is often the hidden force that drives political change, but rarely has it ever been hailed as fundamentally transformative or patriotic. To discuss her book and what it says about our current political state, Traister was joined by Aminatou Sow, co-host of the podcast "Call Your Girlfriend."
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Sep 30, 2018
The Secret Memoir of Bill Cunningham
When famed fashion and society photographer Bill Cunningham died in 2016, he left behind not only an incredible archive of New York Times columns and photographs, but two identical copies of a secret memoir that he apparently hoped someone would find. His family discovered the book, which Cunningham himself titled Fashion Climbing.
The Library celebrated its release with the book’s editor, Christopher Richards, and New Yorker critic Hilton Als, who wrote its preface. They were joined by artist and co-founder of Paper, Kim Hastreiter, who was a close acquaintance of the late photographer.
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Sep 23, 2018
The Elite Charade of Changing the World
The world’s leading philanthropists are constantly working to “make the world a better place,” leading passionate campaigns against everything from climate change to poverty that had once been the province of governments. Journalist Anand Giridharadas asks whether those rich and powerful people who have most benefitted from “our highly inequitable status quo” are in fact the best candidates to take on these challenges. When are their solutions democratic and universal, and when do they reflect and support the biases that introduced the inequity in the first place? In conversation with Joy-Ann Reid, political analyst for MSNBC and host of “AM Joy,” Giridharadas discussed his new book, “Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World,” a call to action—for elite and everyday citizens alike—to build more egalitarian institutions.
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Sep 16, 2018
Looking for the Real Lolita
Vladimin Nabokov's "Lolita" is one of the most widely-read classics of twentieth century; however, few are familiar with the true story of an eleven-year-old-girl named Sally Horner, whose story bears an eerie resemblance to that of Nabokov's Dolores Hayes. In "The Real Lolita: The Kidnapping of Sally Horner and the Novel that Scandalized the World," author Sarah Weinman traces the connections between these two girls and their stories. Weinman stopped by NYPL to revisit her research using the Nabokov Papers that question the role of facts within fiction.
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Sep 9, 2018
Notes from the Reading Life: Tim Gunn and Min Jin Lee
Tim Gunn is the Emmy Award-winning former producer of "Project Runway," where for 16 seasons he mentored contestants with charm and care. But when he isn’t busy making it work, chances are he has his nose in a book.
In a live conversation series presented in collaboration with the National Book Foundation, Gunn spoke about some of the most powerful books in his life, the reads that have stayed with him since his early teens. His conversation partner: fellow avid reader—and best-selling novelist—Min Jin Lee, whose most recent book, Pachinko, was a finalist for the National Book Award.
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Sep 2, 2018
The Untold Story of the Up Stairs Lounge Fire
Before the Pulse Nightclub shooting in 2016, there was The Up Stairs Lounge fire. Author Robert Fieseler sets the largely overlooked tragedy of the Up Stairs Lounge arson that killed 32 people in its rightful historical place with "Tinderbox:The Untold Story of The Up Stairs Lounge Fire and the Rise of Gay Liberation." The 1973 mass murder dragged a closeted, blue-collar gay community into the national public eye, that shortly after was forgotten—until now.
Fieseler discussed how he discovered this story, his research in New Orleans, and other findings in his book with Eric Marcus, creator and host of the award-winning book and podcast "Making Gay History."
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Aug 21, 2018
There's No Such Thing As Now
Carlo Rovelli is an Italian theoretical physicist. In his new book, The Order of Time, Rovelli asks "Why do we remember the past and not the future…What ties time to our nature as persons, to our subjectivity?" Rovelli is the head of the Quantum Gravity group at the Centre de Physique Théorique of Aix-Marseille University and has devoted his life's work to understanding what time might truly be. Author and philosopher, Jim Holt spoke with Rovelli about the past, future, and why there isn't exactly a "now."
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Aug 14, 2018
Two Sisters' Path Toward Radical Islam
Norwegian journalist Åsne Seierstad's most recent book, Two Daughters: A Father, his Daughters, and their Journey into the Syrian Jihad, is a heart-pounding thriller tracing the radicalization of two teenage girls. In 2013, the two Somali youth abandoned their family and their adopted home in Oslo to travel into Syria and become part of a jihadist movement. As soon as they disappeared, their father dedicated his existence to finding them and bringing them home. Seierstad explains the family narrative, her sources, and the ethical concerns of telling their complicated story.
The best way to support this podcast is with a gift to The New York Public Library. Click here to donate.
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Aug 7, 2018
Chronicling Illness with Porochista Khakpour and Eileen Myles
For as far back as she can remember, writer Porochista Khakpour has been sick. She was recently diagnosed with late-stage Lyme disease and has written her first memoir about her illness, Sick. Khakpour sat down with one of her literary heroes Eileen Myles for a conversation about her experience with the disease and how it has affected her as a writer, activist, and lover of New York City. Khakpour says "it's a diaristic book and I wanted there to be a lot of honesty... a lot of capturing myself, not at my best but at my worst."
The best way to support this podcast is with a gift to The New York Public Library. Click here to donate.
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Jul 31, 2018
Love and Lanyards with Billy Collins
Former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins stopped by the Library earlier this Spring to read some of his work, share a few tips on the creative process, and land a few jokes. He sat down with Paul Holdengräber for a conversation about their favorite writers and his career, from the back pages of Rolling Stone magazine to the Library of Congress. Plus, Collins reads some of his recent work.
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Jul 24, 2018
Literacy is a Human Right with The World in Words Podcast
Earlier this spring, our friends from The World in Words Podcast recorded a live show at NYPL's very own Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library. The podcast, hosted by is about languages and the people who speak them. For this special episode, hosts Nina Porzucki and Patrick Cox shared stories about the history of Braille, why whale calls go viral like pop songs, and the difficulties of preserving languages in the U.S. through generations.
Subscribe to The World in Words Podcast
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Jul 17, 2018
Roxane Gay and Aja Monet Tell Their Truth
Roxane Gay's latest book, "Not That Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture," is a collection of first-person essays that directly tackle rape, sexual assault and harassment. With writer and organizer, Aja Monet, Gay discusses how their stories fit into the national conversation about sexual assault, the pitfalls of the #MeToo Movement, the pressure to "perform one's trauma," and the complex work that still needs to be done towards healing and justice.
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Jul 10, 2018
Remembering to Listen with Arundhati Roy & Viet Thanh Nguyen
Twenty years after Arundhati Roy won the Booker Prize for "The God of Small Things," she returned to writing fiction in 2017 with her novel "The Ministry of Utmost Happiness." The book was hailed for its ability to juggle “the vast, violent, circling, driving, ridiculous, insane, unfeasible, public turmoil of a nation.” Roy spoke with Viet Thanh Nguyen, whose novel "The Sympathizer" won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2016. Together they discussed Roy's life before she became a writer, the relationships between writing and political activism, plus Roy reads from "The Ministry of Utmost Happiness."
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Jul 3, 2018
A Future for Democracy?
New York Public Library President Anthony Marx brings together political analysts from the right and left to ask what the future holds for American democracy and for democracies around the world. Peter Beinart is a contributing editor at "The Atlantic" and associate professor of journalism and political science at the City University of New York. Jonah Goldberg is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and senior editor at "National Review."
In Goldberg's new book, "Suicide of the West: How the Rebirth of Tribalism, Populism, Nationalism, and Identity Politics is Destroying American Democracy," he argues that non-democratic surges are not the root causes of our problems but rather symptoms. Peter Beinart has written of his concern for the current presidential administration that is "evidence of a global authoritarian turn, a shedding of checks and balances."
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Jun 26, 2018
Finding Hope on the Road in "Nomadland"
Bernstein Book Award finalist, "Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-first Century" tells the stories of a growing population of "workampers"—retirement-age Americans who live and work on the road full-time, taking seasonal jobs and living out of RVs, vans, and travel trailers. Author Jessica Bruder found that the best way to get to know her nomadic subjects was to join them. In a secondhand vehicle she named "Van Halen," Bruder lived and worked alongside the workampers. Traveling over 15 thousand miles, they visited everywhere from amusement parks to Amazon warehouses. In an interview with host Aidan Flax-Clark, Bruder shares her surprising findings, plus more van puns!
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Jun 19, 2018
Tarrell Alvin McCraney & Donja R. Love Lift Up Black Queer Narratives
Playwrights Tarell Alvin McCraney and Donja R. Love stopped by the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture earlier this spring. McCraney is the Academy Award-winning screenwriter of "Moonlight" and a MacArthur Fellow. Love is an award-winning playwright, poet, and filmmaker from Philadelphia. In a conversation with NYU professor of theatre, Michael D. Dinwiddie, they discussed Black joy, the legacy of queer writers and playwrights and the people in their lives who have influenced their work.
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Jun 12, 2018
Sliding Off the Couch with George Saunders
Until recently, George Saunders was best known for his short stories and essays. Then his first novel, Lincoln in the Bardo, won the 2017 Man Booker Prize. Saunders spoke with Paul Holdengräber about the book as well as the broader arc of his life and career, covering everything from comedy to fathers to Buddhism to reporting on Trump rallies.
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Jun 5, 2018
The Harrowing History of Roosevelt Island
Before there was Rikers Island, there was Blackwell's—today known as Roosevelt Island. Historian Stacy Horn's newest book Damnation Island: Poor, Sick, Mad, and Criminal in 19th-Century New York is the first in-depth look at its dark past. In addition to a penitentiary, the small strip of land housed an almshouse, mental institution, and a number of hospitals for the poor—which, as one can imagine, lead to disturbing outcomes for the city's most disenfranchised people. From annual reports of the Women's Prison Association to an unpublished autobiography of a survivor of the NYC draft riots, Horn walks us through some of her findings from the NYPL archives used to write this chilling story, and how it sheds light on the same issues of today.
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May 29, 2018
Kevin Young & Claudia Rankine Discuss "Brown"
Kevin Young, Director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and New Yorker poetry editor, recently published a new collection of poems titled "Brown: Poems." From James Brown to John Brown v. the Topeka Board of Ed., Young meditates on all things "brown" and the ways culture shaped his personal experience growing up in Kansas. Joining him to discuss the book was Claudia Rankine, professor of poetry at Yale University and the author of "Citizen: An American Lyric." Rankine asks Young about his childhood memories, musical influences, and pop culture that makes us dance and think at the same time.
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May 24, 2018
Remembering Tom Wolfe and the Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test
Literary icon and friend of The New York Public Library, Tom Wolfe passed away last week at the age of 88. Wolfe became a Library Lion in 1981, and is the author of many books, including The Bonfire of the Vanities and The Right Stuff.
Wolfe’s The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test was first released in 1968, chronicling American counterculture. Half a century later, TASCHEN released an abridgment of the text, with photographs and ephemera from the era. Wolfe's last appearance at the Library was this conversation with Paul Holdengräber, which included readings of Wolfe's work by actor René Auberjonois.
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May 22, 2018
Masha Gessen Explains Horror, Humor and Hope for the Future
Masha Gessen’s book The Future is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia is the winner of the Library’s 2018 Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism. A defining account of Russia’s post-Soviet era, it asks how the country’s prospects for democracy disappeared under the rule of Vladimir Putin. Taking on a novelistic approach, Gessen wove together the stories of four protagonists born in the last decade of the Soviet Union, earning last year’s National Book Award for Nonfiction. Gessen is a staff writer for The New Yorker and has also been a contributor to The New York Review of Books and the author of several books.
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May 15, 2018
Zora Neale Hurston's Story of the Last Slave Ship Survivor
Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo” is one of Zora Neale Hurston’s most important works of non-fiction that has never been published until today. Hurston recorded the story in Alabama in the late 1920s. It's a collection of interviews with a man named Kossola, also known as Cudjo Lewis, one of the last known living survivors of the Atlantic slave trade. To discuss the book's history and Hurston's legacy, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture welcomed Dr. Cheryl Sterling, Director of the Black Studies Program at City College of New York, to moderate a conversation featring: Hurston scholar and editor of Barracoon, Deborah G. Plant; founder of book club Well-Read Black Girl, Glory Edim; and Dr. Sylviane Diouf, an award-winning author and historian of the African Diaspora.
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May 8, 2018
A Goddess Reimagined
Madeline Miller's first novel, The Song of Achilles, transformed The Iliad from a vast impersonal epic into an intimate and poignant love story. Now Miller turns her mind to Homer's other great work, and one of mythology's most riveting figures, in Circe. It's the retelling of The Odyssey in which a fierce young woman is at the center. Madeline Miller discusses her writing process, witchcraft, and why this story resonates today with classicist and translator Emily Wilson, the first woman to translate The Odyssey into English.
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May 1, 2018
Trump's Doghouse has a Revolving Door
Joshua Green's Devil's Bargain: Steve Bannon, Donald Trump, and the Nationalist Uprising, was one of the first books to shed light on the Trump campaign and Bannon's influence on their way to the White House. A finalist for NYPL's 2018 Helen Berstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism, Green stopped by the Library to talk about what it was like to interview the President, what actually motivates his former Chief Strategist and how getting kicked out of the White House doesn't necessarily mean you're out for good.
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Apr 24, 2018
Why Net Neutrality Matters
Last December, the Federal Communications Commission voted 3–2 to repeal net neutrality—which left many people wondering "why should we be concerned about the repeal and what can be done about it?" Library President Tony Marx convened a panel of experts to help shed light on the issue including: Susan Crawford, Professor at Harvard Law School and member of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Broadband Task Force; Jessica Rosenworcel, Commissioner to the Federal Communications Commission; and Tim Wu, Professor at Columbia Law School who coined the term "net neutrality" over a decade ago. They discussed where things stand now and where we can go from here.
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Apr 17, 2018
Sheelah Kolhatkar has Inside Information
Sheelah Kolhatkar is a staff writer at The New Yorker and is a former hedge fund analyst. Her book, Black Edge: Inside Information, Dirty Money, and the Quest to Bring Down the Most Wanted Man on Wall Street, tells the story of Steven A. Cohen and his involvement in the largest insider-trading scandal in U.S history. The book is one of the five finalists selected for NYPL's Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism. Kolhatkar dropped by the Library to discuss how she wrote this real-life thriller, what Cohen is up to today, and why people outside of the financial world should be paying attention.
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Apr 10, 2018
Isabella Rossellini Shares Her Eggs
Actor Isabella Rossellini raises chickens; evolutionary biologist Menno Schilthuizen studies them. In My Chickens Rossellini unexpectedly breeds 38 yellow chicks of diverse heritage breeds and capitalizes on the opportunity to study their traits, behavior, and history. In Darwin Comes to Town, Schilthuizen posits that the strange and rapid adaptations made by animals in urban environments suggest that evolution is perhaps not the slow grinding process biologists have long believed in. From husbandry to research, Rossellini and Schilthuizen share some of the mysteries and wonders of our animal kingdoms.
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Apr 3, 2018
Building Movements with Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor and Shaun King
How have social justice movements evolved in the fifty years after Martin Luther King Jr.'s death? Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor is an author and professor of African American Studies at Princeton University whose research examines race and public policy. Shaun King is a writer for The Intercept and prominent public activist speaking out against police brutality. They discussed race in America, why movements succeed or fail, Martin Luther King Jr.'s fluctuating reputation during his life and after his death, and the social movements they envision for tomorrow.
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Mar 27, 2018
Reforming America's Prisons
New York Public Library President Anthony Marx brought together criminal-justice-reform advocates from the right and left to discuss the complex issues of American incarceration—Reginald Dwayne Betts, an award-winning writer and current Ph.D. candidate at Yale Law School, and Pat Nolan, Director of the American Conservative Union Foundation’s Center for Criminal Justice Reform. Although they come from opposite ends of the political spectrum, both have direct experience within the prison system and both have dedicated their life's work toward prison reform. They discuss how the tragedies of American incarceration started, how they persist and what action is needed for change.
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Mar 20, 2018
Dr. John Carlos Has No Regrets
Civil Rights leader and legendary athlete, Dr. John Carlos, made history on the Olympic podium in 1968. After medaling in the 200 meter race in Mexico City, he and Tommie Smith raised their fists in the Black Power salute during the national anthem. Marking fifty years since that iconic moment, Dr. Carlos spoke with Sports Editor of The Nation and co-author of his memoir, Dave Zirin. Dr. Carlos shares his story of meeting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the hardships he faced after the '68 Olympics, and the message he has for athletes continuing the movement for racial justice today.
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Mar 13, 2018
Debut Novelist Akwaeke Emezi Recenters Reality
Akwaeke Emezi is an Igbo and Tamil writer and video artist. "Freshwater" is Emezi's debut novel and one of the most anticipated books of 2018. The partially autobiographical story follows a young person, Ada, from Nigeria to American college, where a traumatic event reveals the hidden powers of the spirits within her. Emezi discussed the novel with Glory Edim, founder of the book club and digital platform, Well-Read Black Girl. She traced the origin story behind Freshwater, decolonizing identities, and navigating transition.
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Mar 6, 2018
Michelle McNamara and Patton Oswalt's search for the Golden State Killer
The comedian and actor Patton Oswalt shares the posthumous true-crime masterpiece written by his wife Michelle McNamara, who died suddenly at the age of 46 in 2016. McNamara, a true crime reporter and creator of TrueCrimeDiary.com, spent years tracking a serial killer she dubbed the Golden State Killer. Between 1976 and 1986 he committed 50 sexual assaults and 10 murders up and down California. Oswalt wrote, “I can't help feeling that somewhere, in her final pages, she left enough clues for someone to finish the job she couldn't—to put California's worst serial killer behind bars.” Plus: a behind-the-scenes private tour of items from NYPL's true crime collections.
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Feb 27, 2018
Confessions of a Nuclear War Planner
In 1971 when Daniel Ellsberg leaked the Pentagon Papers and revealed the true story of American involvement in Vietnam, he was holding on to a much larger and more terrifying set of American secrets than he was letting on.
Ellsberg had to wait almost fifty years to bring them to light. What those secrets were and why they remained hidden for so long are revealed in his new book The Doomsday Machine: Confessions of a Nuclear War Planner.
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Feb 20, 2018
Neel Mukherjee Tells Ghost Stories
Aidan Flax-Clark speaks with author Neel Mukherjee about his new novel, "A State of Freedom" and his evolving notions of home, autonomy, migration, and ghosts. ”A ghost is someone who belonged to a particular world who had an unhappy or tragic or violent ending to that particular life and hasn’t found a resting place in another world,” Mukherjee says, “this could be a very a good working definition for who a migrant is.”
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Feb 13, 2018
Tayari Jones Redefines American Marriage
You may have read about Tayari Jones’s latest novel on quite a few “most anticipated books of 2018” lists, and for good reason. Inspired by her research into the painful realities of American incarceration, Jones’ “An American Marriage” blends equal parts heartbreak and humor to tell the love story of a young couple whose marriage is tested by an unexpected calamity. It was recently selected by Oprah Winfrey for the Oprah Book Club. In a conversation with Isaac Fitzgerald, founding editor of Buzzfeed Books and co-host of Twitter Morning Show, #AmtoDM, Jones talks about her writing process, her relationships with her characters, and what it felt like to get an unannounced call from Oprah herself.
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Feb 6, 2018
Black Lives Matter Co-founder Patrisse Khan-Cullors
To celebrate the publication of When They Call You A Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir, Patrisse Khan-Cullors and her co-author asha bandele stopped by the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Akiba Solomon, Editorial Director of Colorlines, interviews the two about the history of Black Lives Matter, from hashtag to global movement.
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Jan 30, 2018
Networking with Niall Ferguson and Gillian Tett
What do Mark Zuckerburg and Martin Luther have in common? Historian and political commentator Niall Ferguson explains in his newest book The Square and the Tower: Networks and Power, from the Freemasons to Facebook. Ferguson stopped by The New York Public Library to speak with Gillian Tett, U.S. Managing Editor of the Financial Times, about the power and limitations of networks throughout history, our news feeds and censorship.
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Jan 22, 2018
The Hunt for Timothy Leary
How did a former Harvard professor turned counterculture icon become an international fugitive? Authors Bill Minutaglio and Steven L. Davis explain the larger-than-life story of Timothy Leary, the middle-aged acid enthusiast of the early 1970s, who famously preached "turn on, tune in, drop out." The PEN award-winning writers of Dallas 1963, talked with Aidan Flax-Clark about their research at NYPL and remarkable true story at the heart of their newest book, The Most Dangerous Man in America: Timothy Leary, Richard Nixon & the Hunt for the Fugitive King of LSD.
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Jan 16, 2018
Jessica B. Harris and Carla Hall
The James Beard Award–winning food historian and cookbook writer was at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture this past fall to talk about her memoir, My Soul Looks Back, with chef and co-host of ABC's The Chew, Carla Hall.
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Jan 9, 2018
Naomi Klein & Martin Breum: Climate Change and the Arctic Imagination
The best-selling journalist speaks with Danish reporter on the Arctic, Martin Breum, about melting ice and global solutions for our changing climate.
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Jan 2, 2018
Masha Gessen—The Stories of a Life
The journalist and 2017 National Book Award Winner delivered the Library's annual Robert B. Silvers Lecture. The talk is named in honor of the co-founding editor of the New York Review of Books, who died in March 2017. With unexpected candor and intimacy, Gessen traced her own life as a sequence of choices and explored how notions of choice affect ideas about immigration, identity, and purpose.
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Dec 19, 2017
Neil Gaiman Reads "A Christmas Carol" (Rebroadcast)
Neil Gaiman's reading from 2013 uses a rare prompt copy that belonged to Charles Dickens himself and now resides in The New York Public Library. Dickens marked it up and annotated it for the express purpose of performing the story in front of an audience, which he did regularly in the 1850s and 1860s.
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Dec 12, 2017
Muhammad Yunus & Jeffrey Sachs
Is self-interest the only force motivating business? Or can altruism be an equally powerful driver? It's a question that Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel Prize–winning father of microcredit, answers in his latest book, A World of Three Zeros: The New Economics of Zero Poverty, Zero Unemployment, and Zero Net Carbon Emissions. He spoke with fellow economist Jeffrey Sachs.
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Dec 5, 2017
Nikki Giovani & Joy-Ann Reid
The titan of American poetry was at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in November to talk about her latest collection, A Good Cry. She spoke with Joy-Ann Reid, the host of MSNBC's AM Joy.
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Nov 28, 2017
Stephen Greenblatt & Tony Kushner: Adam and Eve in the Teeth of Time
The Pulitzer Prize–winning literary historian and Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright discuss Greenblatt's latest book, The Rise and Fall of Adam and Eve, "a life history of one of the most extraordinary stories ever told." Exploring the power of narrative to travel from myth into reality, Greenblatt and Kushner traced the tale from its biblical origins through its imaginings in the minds of writers and artists from St. Augustine to Albrecht Dürer to John Milton.
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Nov 21, 2017
Kevin Young & Bunk—Hoaxes, Hooey, Hocum; Cons, Plagiarists, and Forgers
The Director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and the Poetry Editor of The New Yorker speaks with Garnette Cadogan about his most recent work of nonfiction, Bunk: The Rise of Hoaxes, Humbug, Plagiarists, Phonies, Post-Facts, and Fake News. Young traces the particularly American tradition of cons, hoaxes, and fakes, from P. T. Barnum to today.
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Nov 14, 2017
Anne Applebaum: Fighting Against the Great Forgetting
The Soviet famine of the early 1930s killed around 5 million people; almost 4 million of them were Ukrainians. As Pulitzer Prize–winning historian and Washington Post columnist Anne Applebaum demonstrates in her latest book, Red Famine, it wasn't fate or chance that skewed those numbers so heavily—it was something much more deliberate, and much more sinister. And the story behind it was, until recently, in danger of disappearing. Applebaum spoke about recovering it at the New York Public Library with John Podhoretz, the editor of Commentary magazine.
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Nov 7, 2017
Theaster Gates: "I'm Trying to Create an Intimate Moment with Our Most Treasured Assets."
Envisioning the archives of the future with the Chicago-based artist, who was joined by Nettrice Gaskins, director of the STEAM Lab at the Boston Arts Academy, and Greg Carr, a professor at Howard University.
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Oct 31, 2017
Van Jones: "You have to keep open the possibility for redemption."
Jones may be known as a liberal activist, but his new book, "Beyond the Messy Truth," is a call to action for all Americans seeking a way out of our ideological and cultural divisions. He spoke about it at the Library with CNN anchor Brooke Baldwin.
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Oct 24, 2017
Ron Chernow: Grant
Ulysses S. Grant has for decades routinely listed as one of our worst presidents. Ron Chernow says the legacy of the Civil War hero and 18th president is deeply misunderstood, making the case in both his latest book and in this conversation with Richard Stengel, former managing editor of TIME magazine.<\P>
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Oct 18, 2017
Nasty Women
The co-editors of the essay collection Nasty Women along with select contributors to it explore the complications of being an American woman in 2017. Featuring Kate Harding and Samhita Mukhopadhyay, with Kera Bolonik, Zerlina Maxwell, and Meredith Talusan. Moderated by Jezebel founder Anna Holmes.
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Oct 10, 2017
Mike Wallace, Greater Gotham
Twenty years in the making, Greater Gotham is Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Mike Wallace's follow-up to his 1999 Gotham. He spoke about the New York City history, which covers 1898 to 1918, with the New Yorker's Jelani Cobb.
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Oct 3, 2017
Salman Rushdie, The Golden House
The Booker Prize–winning novelist discusses his twelfth, and most recent, novel, The Golden House.
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Sep 26, 2017
Jesmyn Ward on 'Sing, Unburied, Sing'
The National Book Award–winning author spoke at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture about her most recent novel, Sing, Unburied, Sing. She was joined by Lisa Lucas, Executive Director of the National Book Foundation.
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Sep 19, 2017
Atul Gawande & Elizabeth Alexander
Two writers, two beautiful books, both on the subject of death. Atul Gawande's Being Mortal examines the lengths modern medicine must go to better humanize the final stages of our lives. Elizabeth Alexander's The Light of the World is the memoir of her husband Ficre's sudden and unexpected death, and Alexander's process of grieving and rebuilding that followed it. <\p>
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Sep 12, 2017
Kurt Andersen, Fantasyland
The host and co-creator of Studio 360 discusses his new book, Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire, a 500-Year History. He spoke with NYU professor Kwame Anthony Appiah. Andersen argues that the roots of our post-truth, alternative facts present can be discovered in America's "promiscuous devotion to the untrue" and its instinct to believe in make believe, evident across four centuries of magical thinkers and true believers, hucksters and suckers, who have embedded an appetite for believe-whatever-you-want fantasy into our national DNA.
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Sep 5, 2017
Raoul Peck, "I Am Not Your Negro"
The filmmaker speaks about his groundbreaking documentary I Am Not Your Negro at the Schomburg Center with the Schomburg's Director, Kevin Young and LIVE from the NYPl's Paul Holdengräber.
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Aug 29, 2017
Ayobami Adebayo on her debut novel "Stay With Me"
The Nigerian writer discusses her debut novel, Stay With Me, the haunting tale of a young couple whose childless marriage threatens to tear them apart. It was shortlisted for the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction and hailed by Michiko Kakutani as "powerfully magnetic and heartbreaking."
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Aug 22, 2017
Ibram X. Kendi, Stamped from the Beginning
Kendi discussed his National Book Award–winning work on the history of racist ideas in America with Khalil Gibran Muhammad, the Director Emeritus of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
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Aug 15, 2017
Noam Chomsky and Wallace Shawn: Rigorous Rationality
MIT linguist, philosopher, and political theorist Noam Chomsky, in conversation with actor Wallace Shawn.
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Aug 8, 2017
How Judy Collins Conquered Her Cravings
Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and best-selling author Judy Collins came to the Library back in February, to celebrate the publication of her most recent book, Cravings. “As an active, working alcoholic with an eating disorder,” she writes, “I yearned for serenity and was tormented for much of my life by longings, addictions, and painful crises over food: bingeing, bulimia, weight loss and gain.” Collins spoke with William Kelly, who is NYPL’s Andrew W. Mellon Director of the Research Libraries.
Learn more at nypl.org/podcasts.
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Aug 1, 2017
Lynn Nottage & Sweat
The Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright was joined in May by members of the Broadway cast of Sweat to talk about the play and the issues behind it at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
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Jul 25, 2017
Immigrant Stories—Min Jin Lee with Simon Winchester
Best-selling novelist Min Jin Lee on her latest book, the ups and downs of her career, the history of Koreans in Japan, and the treatment of Asians in America.
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Jul 18, 2017
Phillip Glass, Words Without Music
Philip Glass is a giant of twentieth-century American music, arguably of the most influential composers of his time. He spoke with LIVE from the NYPL’s Paul Holdengräber last June about his memoir "Words Without Music." It is a riveting record of a life very well lived, and a fascinating conversation with a legendary artist.
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Jul 11, 2017
Janet Mock, Surpassing Certainty
Writer, activist, and podcast host Janet Mock joins for a discussion of her second memoir, Surpassing Certainty. She's interviewed by Lisa Lucas, the Executive Director of the National Book Foundation. The two talked about everything from Mock’s time in the publishing industry to her work in a Honolulu strip club, from spam recipes and Zara dresses to the influence of writers like Maya Angelou and Zora Neale Hurston.
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Jul 4, 2017
Inside the Work and Mind of Nick Cave
One of contemporary art's most towering figures guides us through his astonishing new exhibition at MASS MoCA.
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Jun 27, 2017
David Grann
In the 1920s, the Osage Indian nation in Oklahoma become oil millionaires after black gold was discovered under their land. Discover the stories of the mysterious that followed and one of the FBI's earliest investigations.
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Jun 20, 2017
Tracy K. Smith, New U.S. Poet Laureate
Tracy K. Smith was named 22nd U.S. Poet Laureate last week. In 2016 she came by the Library to discuss her memoir, Ordinary Light.
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Jun 15, 2017
Jelani Cobb, The Half-Life of Freedom (Part 2: Demagogues of American History)
This week, the second part of Jelani Cobb's lecture on politics, journalism, and history entitled "The Half-Life of Freedom: The Demagogues of American History."
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Jun 13, 2017
Jelani Cobb, The Half-Life of Freedom (Part 1: The Media and Alternative Facts)
New Yorker staff writer and Columbia Journalism School professor Jelani Cobb delivers a lecture on politics, journalism, and history entitled "The Half-Life of Freedom." This episode is part 1: "The Media and Alternative Facts."
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Jun 6, 2017
Alec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin spoke with NY Times critic-at-large Wesley Morris about his recent memoir, "Nevertheless," at LIVE from the NYPL.
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May 30, 2017
Journalism in the Age of Trump, part 2
Katherine Boo, Anand Giridharadas, and Philip Gourevitch are all past winners of the Library's Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism, which celebrates its 30 anniversary this year. They came to the Library to speak on the shifting responsibilities, purposes, and even definitions of journalism.
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May 23, 2017
Jane Mayer, Winner of the Bernstein Award
Is the Trump Administration a dream or a nightmare for the Koch brothers? This week's episode asks and answers many questions about the intricate relationship between money and politics in American life with Jane Mayer, a New Yorker staff writer and winner of NYPL's 2017 Bernstein Award for her book "Dark Money."
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May 15, 2017
George Packer and Reihan Salam with Tony Marx
Explore both the seeds and the fruits of our present American political condition with New Yorker writer George Packer, National Review editor Reihan Salam, and New York Public Library President Tony Marx.
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May 9, 2017
Syria's Human Side, with Janine di Giovanni
Bernstein Award finalist Janine di Giovanni talks about her book, "The Morning They Came For Us: Dispatches from Syria," the story of Syria's civil war as told through the people who have lived through it.
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May 2, 2017
Charlotte McDonald-Gibson, Bernstein Award Finalist
Bernstein Award finalist Charlotte McDonald-Gibson talks about her book, 'Cast Away: True Stories of Survival from Europe's Refugee Crisis,' which follows individuals fleeing violence and persecution in Syria, Libya, Nigeria, and Eritrea.
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Apr 27, 2017
The Librarian Is In: American Passions
BONUS: We're giving you a taste of the Library's other podcast, The Librarian Is In. Each week hosts Gwen and Frank discuss books, culture, what you should read next , and interview interesting figures from the world of books and libraries. Give it a listen, and subscribe if you like what you hear! Back to regularly scheduled programing on Tuesday.
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Apr 25, 2017
Lawrence Krauss w/ Alan Alda. Reality, the Real Story
A hilarious, confounding, perplexing, and thoroughly engrossing conversation between theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss and actor Alan Alda. They came to the LIVE from the NYPL stage to discuss Krauss’s new book, The Greatest Story Ever Told…So Far: Why Are We Here?
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Apr 18, 2017
Gary Younge, Bernstein Award Finalist
An interview with Bernstein finalist and Guardian editor-at-large Gary Younge. His book is called Another Day in the Death of America: a Chronicle of Ten Short Lives. On an average day in the U.S., seven children and teens will die from gun violence. Younge picked one such day in November 2013 and told the stories of the ten young people whose lives were lost in that 24-hour span.
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Apr 11, 2017
Like Passover, But Funnier
If you’ve ever made it through a full Seder, you know that celebrating Passover can last as long as the Exodus itself. Today, on day two of the annual holiday, the NYPL podcast has a measure of comic relief for you in the form of an all-new Haggadah called For This We Left Egypt? It's written by Dave Barry, Alan Zweibel, and Adam Mansbach.
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Apr 4, 2017
Sonia Shah & Pandemic, Bernstein Award Finalist
Sonia Shah's new book 'Pandemic' uses the history of cholera as a template toward understanding the life cycles of disease outbreaks and how our how our next global pandemic might arise.
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Mar 28, 2017
Women's and Girls' Lives Matter
An extraordinary group of women who are on the front lines of the fight for bettering the lives for young black women and girls across the country gathered at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture this International Women's Day to highlight the roles, needs, and contributions of black women and girls in the context of the Black Lives Matter.
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Mar 21, 2017
What Patients Say, What Doctors Hear with Dr. Ofri and Mary Harris
Modern medicine is infatuated with high-tech gadgetry, yet the single most powerful diagnostic tool remains the doctor-patient conversation, which can uncover the lion’s share of illnesses. Dr. Danielle Ofri speaks with WNYC host Mary Harris about her new book, What Patients Say, What Doctors Hear, which proves that medicine doesn’t have to work that way, and how better communication can lead to better health for all of us.
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Mar 16, 2017
Etgar Keret, the Rock and the Hard Place
Whether evoking the tragicomic and surreal for which his short stories first gained acclaim, or awakening the keen love of family in 2015’s The Seven Good Years, Etgar Keret mines the human experience for all of its farce and dignity. The Israeli author recently came by the Library’s Stephen A. Schwarzman Building to speak with Paul Holdengräber, the director of LIVE from the NYPL. The conversation began on Keret’s lost luggage and the two unexpected donations, of a coat and boxer shorts, that followed. From there it turned one strange corner after the next, from Kafka to drug dealers, technophobia, bedtime stories with drunks and prostitutes, and Keret’s anxieties about the ethics of writing fiction.
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Mar 8, 2017
Journalism in the Age of Trump
This year, the New York Public Library will, for the thirtieth year, dispense the Helen Bernstein Award for Excellence in Journalism. In the first in a series of events to celebrate the award, we welcomed Dean Baquet, Executive Editor of The New York Times; Shawna Thomas, DC Bureau Chief of VICE News; Jose Antonio Vargas, Founder of Define American; Jacob Weisberg, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Slate Group; and Bill Moyers, Managing Editor of BillMoyers.com to discuss the shifting responsibilities, obligations, purposes, and even definitions of American journalism today. For this week's episode of the New York Public Library Podcast, we're proud to present this conversation on the press during the administration of the forty-fifth president.
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Feb 28, 2017
Civil Rights Journeys Across Generations
For this week's episode of the New York Public Library Podcast, we present discussions presented by the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture on two documentaries about icons Maya Angelou and John Lewis. To talk about American Masters - And Still I Rise, a film about the Pulitzer-nominated Dr. Angelou, Elizabeth Alexander, Director of Creativity and Free Expression at the Ford Foundation; Rita Coburn Whack, co-director and co-producer of Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise; Louis Gossett, Jr., Academy Award-winning actor; and Colin Johnson, Co-Founder and Principal of Caged Bird Legacy joined Director of the Schomburg Center, Kevin Young. Get in the Way: The Journey of John Lewis is a documentary film about Congressman John Lewis, a civil rights icon and the winner of the National Book Award for Young People's Literature for March: Book Three. It is discussed by Arva Rice, President and CEO of the New York Urban League; activist and advocate Phil Pierre; and Ahmad Greene, a core me…
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Feb 21, 2017
Casanova: Seduction and Genius in Venice
Today the name Giacomo Casanova has become synonymous with the skilled lover. The Venetian claimed to have seduced countless women over his lifetime. Laurence Bergreen's new biography Casanova: the World of a Seductive Genius recounts the life of Casanova from an impoverished youth to infamous writer to librarian. For this week's episode of the New York Public Library Podcast, we're proud to present Laurence Bergreen in conversation with psychosexual therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer on the life of the notorious Casanova.
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Feb 14, 2017
Hugh Ryan on the Queer Histories of Brooklyn's Waterfront
Hugh Ryan is a curator and journalist based in Brooklyn, whose work primarily explores queer culture and history. He is the Founder of the Pop-Up Museum of Queer History, and sits on the Board of QED: A Journal in LGBTQ Worldmaking. As the Library’s Martin Duberman Visiting Scholar for 2017, he has been researching the queer history of Brooklyn's working waterfront, in preparation for an upcoming exhibition at the Brooklyn Historical Society. For this week's episode of the New York Public Library Podcast, we're proud to present Ryan discussing the complicated queer refuges offered by the borough's waterfront spaces.
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Feb 7, 2017
Emmett Till: True Stories of An American Tragedy
The year was 1955, and the place was America. The murderers were white men, and the fourteen-year-old boy who was kidnapped, beaten, murdered, and dumped in a river was Emmett Till.
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Jan 31, 2017
George Washington and the Hyper-Partisan Now
New York Times political correspondent Maggie Haberman joins Daily Beast editor-in-chief John Avlon to discuss his new book, Washington’s Farewell: the Founding Father’s Warning to Future Generations.
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Jan 24, 2017
New York Never Built
It's hard to imagine a New York different from the one we know, but what would the city have been like if the ideas of some of the greatest architectural dreamers had made it beyond the drawing boards and into built form? The new book Never Built New York paints the picture of an alternative New York, with renderings, sketches, models, and stories of proposals for the city that never came to be. Internationally acclaimed architects Daniel Libeskind. Steven Holl, and Elizabeth Diller come together with author Sam Lubell to envision this alternate city. If you’re curious about some of the images discussed in this episode, visit nypl.org/podcast where you can find a link to a video of the discussion.
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Jan 17, 2017
Art Spiegelman on How He Sees Himself, Becoming a Devotee to Another Artist, and the Artist After Art
Art Spiegelman moved readers with Maus, the renowned graphic novel recounting his father’s experience of the Holocaust. Now, Spiegelman has brought to our attention the forgotten Si Lewen masterpiece, The Parade, a wordless meditation on the cycle of war. He joins NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber for a discussion on his work past and present. If you’re curious about some of the images discussed in this episode, visit nypl.org/podcast where you can find a link to a video of the discussion.
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Jan 10, 2017
Our Compelling Interests: A Panel on Diversity and Democracy
This week we’re proud to present a compelling panel discussion on diversity and democracy. The discussion features participants from education, government, journalism, and non-profit sectors, with moderator Brian Lehrer of WNYC. At a time when American society is swiftly transforming, discussion sheds light on how our differences will only become more critical to our shared success.
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Jan 3, 2017
Rebecca Solnit, Joshua Jelly-Schapiro, Garnette Cadogan, Suketu Mehta, and Luc Sante on Phone Maps, Libraries, and Walking
This week we’re bringing you a conversation with the minds behind Nonstop Metropolis: A New York City Atlas. Writer and activist Rebecca Solnit, geographer Joshua Jelly-Schapiro, essayist Garnette Cadogan, and authors Suketu Mehta and Luc Sante participate in a discussion about the layers of vitality and diversity, but also inequity and erasure that make up this thriving metropolis
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Dec 27, 2016
Michael Chabon and Richard Price on Plot, Secular Judaism, and Remembering to Make Stuff Up
Lying on your deathbed, how does the story of your life unfold? Michael Chabon's new novel, Moonglow, unfolds surrounded by this question, in a story both imagined and researched, fictionalized and biographical. Joined by author Richard Price, the two explore the story of Chabon’s own life, and the life of his stories.
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Dec 20, 2016
Neil Gaiman Reads "A Christmas Carol" (Rebroadcast)
This week we’re rebroadcasting one of our favorite episodes: acclaimed author Neil Gaiman delivering a memorable reading of A Christmas Carol. You’ll hear Gaiman reading from the Library’s own rare copy, which includes edits and prompts Charles Dickens wrote in his own hand for his unique readings 150 years ago. Joined by writer and BBC researcher Molly Oldfield, Gaiman’s reading of the classic tale as the great author intended has become a New York Public Library tradition.
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Dec 13, 2016
Paul Krugman on Fake News, Lying Candidates, and What Public Intellectuals Need to Do
This week we’re thrilled to present a thought-provoking lecture from New York Times columnist Paul Krugman. He recently came to the library to deliver the annual Robert B. Silvers lecture, and gave a stirring talk he titled “Public Discourse In A Time Of Crazy.” Krugman is introduced by Robert Silvers himself, editor of The New York Review of Books.
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Dec 6, 2016
James McBride on James Brown and NYC
This week we're joined by musician and author James McBride, who returns to the Library to mark the paperback publication of his book,Kill 'Em and Leave: Searching for James Brown and the American Soul.He's joined by journalist and author Philip Gourevitch for a conversation the covers the tensions and contradictions of the American experience: between North and South, black and white, rich and poor.
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Nov 29, 2016
Sarah Sze on Scale, Gravity, and Value
Sarah Sze is an internationally acclaimed artist, whose signature visual language challenges the static nature of sculpture and questions the value society places on objects. She joined NYPL's Paul Holdengraber this spring for a conversation spanning her body of work and what it says about space, architecture, art, and most importantly, how humans relate to all three.
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Nov 22, 2016
Robbie Robertson on Six Nations Inspiration, Bob Dylan, and Goals of the Soul
This week we’re bringing you a conversation with songwriter and guitarist Robbie Robertson. As an original member of the seminal music group the Band, Robertson has helped shape American music and culture profoundly. He’s joined by Stevie Van Zandt of the E Street Band for reflective conversation on the history of rock and roll and the way it continues to shape their lives.
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Nov 15, 2016
Wole Soyinka on Hollywood, Reparations, and Morgan Freeman
For this week’s episode we’re bringing you a conversation between two Nigerian authors whose works include plays, novels, poetry, essays and more. Chris Abani is known as an international voice on humanitarianism, art, ethics and our shared political responsibility. Wole Soyinka won of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986 and has received accolades for his work in writing and advocating for human rights. The two recently sat down at the Library for a on the intersections between art, writing, activism, and politics.
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Nov 8, 2016
Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Margo Jefferson on Understanding Uncle Tom's Cabin
For this week’s episode, we’re bringing you a conversation between two public intellectuals who have contributed immensely to our understanding of history, literature, cultural criticism, and politics, Macarthur Fellow Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Pulitzer Prize winner Margo Jefferson. In 2006, Gates and Jefferson sat down at the Library for a special event on Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin co-presented with The Studio Museum in Harlem.
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Nov 1, 2016
Marina Abramović and Debbie Harry on Doubt and Diaries
This week we’re joined by two legendary women from very different artistic backgrounds, performance artist Marina Abramović and rock singer Debbie Harry of Blondie. The two share stories and insights from their lives and art as they discuss Abramovic's new memoir, Walk Through Walls.
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Oct 25, 2016
Tim Wu on How the Internet Is Not Really Free
This week, we’re bringing you a conversation with author and policy advisor Tim Wu. In his new book The Attention Merchants, Wu makes the case truly paying attention is both incredibly rare and incredibly valuable. He’s joined in conversation by conversation by writer, documentarian, and Professor of Media Theory and Digital Economics at CUNY/Queens, Douglas Rushkoff.
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Oct 18, 2016
Margaret Atwood on Shakespeare in the 21st Century and on YouTube
Four hundred years after William Shakespeare’s death, Margaret Atwood retells one of his most beloved plays, The Tempest, with a dark and fantastical interpretation in her new book, Hag-Seed. This week on the podcast, Atwood is joined in conversation by celebrated actress Fiona Shaw for a discussion of the Bard and his influence on their work.
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Oct 11, 2016
Mona Eltahawy and Yasmine El Rashidi on White Feminism and the Privilege to Protest
The original Antigone may be from antiquity, but our current era abounds with women fighting unabashedly for what they believe. This week on the podcast, we welcome journalist, feminist, and author of Headscarves and Hymens: Why the Middle East Needs a Sexual Revolution, Mony Eltahawy. As you’ll hear is a force to be reckoned with and an embodiment of this spirit. She is joined by yet another fierce and powerful author and journalist, Yasmine El Rashidi.
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Oct 4, 2016
Sally Mann on Cy Twombly and the Babushkas Who Saved Russian Art
Perhaps the most permanent - and essential - character in Sally Mann’s work is that of place: the American South. Her home of Lexington, VA is not just the set for her most powerful work; it is also the place where she met fellow artist and friend, Cy Twombly. The photographs from her new book, Remembered Light: Cy Twombly in Lexington, are featured in an exhibition at Gagosian Gallery; and she had many stories to tell when she sat down for a conversation NYPL’s Paul Holdengräber.
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Sep 27, 2016
Yanis Varoufakis and Noam Chomsky on Money and The Sickest Joke in the History of Humankind
Yanis Varoufakis considers himself a politician by necessity, not by choice. An economist and academic by training, he became Greece’s finance minister amidst the country's financial crisis, creating an image for himself both beloved and reviled. He came to the Library last April to discuss this complicated role and his recent book, And the Weak Suffer What They Must?: Europe's Crisis and America's Economic Future. He was joined in conversation by renowned academic and theorist Noam Chomsky.
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Sep 20, 2016
Alan Cumming on Memory, Gore Vidal, and Monica Lewinsky
He enthralls audiences with his colorful roles, but Alan Cumming’s real-life adventures pack just as much punch. This week we’re bringing you the first event from our Fall LIVE series as Paul Holdengräber and the award-winning actor in a conversation as whimsical and mischievous as Cumming’s new book of photographs and essays, You Gotta Get Bigger Dreams: My Life in Stories and Pictures.
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Sep 13, 2016
Edwidge Danticat on Silence, Bridging Audiences, and Participating in Stories
This week, we’re going back into the archives to bring you a conversation with Hatian-American novelist and short story writer Edwidge Danticat. When she came the Library in 2010, she discussed her book CREATE DANGEROUSLY: The Immigrant Artist at Work with NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber. Their conversation covered central questions of her book including what it means to be an immigrant and an artist, and to bo be working out of one’s homeland.
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Sep 6, 2016
Werner Herzog on Death, Executioners, and Advice for Filmmakers
This week, we celebrate legendary film director Werner Herzog’s birthday with a thrilling conversation from the archives. In 2012, Herzog came to the Library to discuss his most recent film, “Into the Abyss,” as well as his four-part television series, “Death Row.” In this conversation with NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber, Herzog talks about crime, human nature, and why he stands so firmly against capital punishment.
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Aug 30, 2016
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Walter Mosley on Empire, English, and Beethoven
On this week’s podcast, we welcome basketball legend, activist, and bestselling author Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who came to the Library this summer for a conversation with his hero, critically acclaimed author Walter Mosley. In this thought-provoking conversation, Abdul-Jabbar and Mosley talk about fiction, racial injustice, and the nature of truth.
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Aug 23, 2016
Maggie Nelson & Wayne Koestenbaum on Clarity & Cruelty
Bestselling author Maggie Nelson's latest book, “The Argonauts,” received the 2016 National Book Critics Circle Award in Criticism. In this conversation with poet and critic Wayne Koestenbaum, Nelson talks about justice, empathy, and the nature of grief.
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Aug 16, 2016
Colson Whitehead on "The Underground Railroad" & Poker
Macarthur Award-winning author Colson Whitehead's latest book, “The Underground Railroad,” was released August 2nd to widespread critical acclaim and recently named an Oprah’s Book Club Pick. The author, a former fellow at NYPL’s Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers, came to the Library in 2015 to discuss his book “The Noble Hustle: Poker, Beef Jerky & Death,” which chronicles his experience as an amateur card player trying his hand at the World Series of Poker. In this conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Whitehead talks about what he learned about the human condition in Las Vegas—and discusses the early stages of writing what would become this year’s hit, “The Underground Railroad.”
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Aug 9, 2016
Kevin Young & Gabrielle Hamilton on Food & Poetry
Award-winning poet Kevin Young will be joining the NYPL family this fall as the new director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. He came to the Library last November for a talk with chef and writer Gabrielle Hamilton, owner of the acclaimed New York City restaurant Prune and author of the memoir “Blood, Bones, & Butter.” In this wide-ranging conversation, co-presented by The Academy of American Poets, Young and Hamilton talk about food, verse, and the links between sense and memory.
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Aug 2, 2016
Siddhartha Mukherjee on Genetics & Storytelling
Renowned cancer physician and researcher Siddhartha Mukherjee came to the Library this spring to discuss his new book “The Gene: An Intimate History,” a fascinating examination of our understanding of human heredity and its influence on our personalities, fates, and choices. In this conversation with “The New Yorker” editor David Remnick, Mukherjee talks about medicine, writing, and the links between biology and personal narrative.
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Jul 26, 2016
Laurie Anderson on Melville, Opera, and Mystery
Writer, artist and vocalist Laurie Anderson, one of America’s most renowned and daring creative pioneers, came to the Library this spring to discuss her life and work. In this conversation with NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber, Anderson talks about art, inspiration, and trusting the physical.
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Jul 19, 2016
Derek Walcott on Hemingway, the Caribbean, & First Love
We’re celebrating Ernest Hemingway’s birthday with an event from the archives. Nobel Prize winning poet Derek Walcott gives us a new appreciation of Hemingway as a great and influential Caribbean writer, discussing Hemingway's influence on his writing, and paying tribute to him with readings of his own poems.
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Jul 12, 2016
John Lithgow & James Shapiro on Guy Fawkes & Falling for Shakespeare
This week, we’re thrilled to welcome acclaimed author and Shakespeare scholar James Shapiro in a talk with Tony, Emmy, and Golden Globe Award-winning actor John Lithgow. In a conversation that covers drama, language, and the relationship between history and art, the two discuss Shapiro’s latest book, “The Year of Lear: Shakespeare in 1606”—which examines how tumultuous events in England in 1606 affected Shakespeare and shaped the three great tragedies he wrote that year: "King Lear," "Macbeth," and "Antony & Cleopatra."
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Jul 5, 2016
The World in Words Presents: From Ainu to Zaza
This week, we’re bringing you a very special episode produced in partnership with Public Radio International. Along with a panel of speakers including NYPL’s Denise Hibay, the World in Words’ hosts Patrick Cox and Nina Porzucki examine the state of endangered languages around the world: Why do languages become endangered, and how have some speakers worked to ensure a future for their native tongues? In this special live podcast taping, we explore what’s happening to endangered languages from Ainu to Zaza.
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Jun 28, 2016
Geoff Dyer on Class in America
Award-winning English author Geoff Dyer came to the Library this spring to discuss his latest book, “White Sands: Experiences from the Outside World.” In this conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Dyer talks about travel, unexpected awareness, and looking for meaning in the world around you.
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Jun 21, 2016
Bruce Davidson & Matt Dillon on Lasting Impressions
Award-winning photographer Bruce Davidson's prolific body of work includes documentations of the 1960s Civil Rights movement and the gritty underbelly of New York City in the late 70s. He came to the Library this spring for a conversation with Academy Award-winning actor Matt Dillon, who is a great admirer and collector of Davidson’s work. In this riveting discussion between the two great artists, Davidson and Dillon talk about images, storytelling, and the joy of working in silence.
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Jun 14, 2016
Padma Lakshmi on NYC & the Greatest Gift
Padma Lakshmi, author and Emmy-nominated host of “Top Chef,” came to the Library to mark the release of her debut memoir, “Love, Loss, and What We Ate.” In this conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Lakshmi talks about food, family, and the importance of being raised by strong women.
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Jun 7, 2016
Jill Leovy on Murder in America
This week, we bring you a conversation with the 2016 winner of The Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism. Each year the award is given to journalists whose books have brought clarity and public attention to important issues, events, or policies. This year’s winner, Jill Leovy, explores the country’s murder epidemic and the long-standing plague of black homicide in her bestselling book, “Ghettoside: A True Story of Murder in America.” In this conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Leovy talks about race, violence, and the search for justice in the face of tragedy.
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May 31, 2016
Maya Lin on Memorializing What Is Missing
Award-winning artist and designer Maya Lin first achieved fame at the age of 21 as the designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., and her work today encompasses large-scale environmental installations, intimate studio artworks, architectural works, and memorials. Her latest design project, “What is Missing?,” raises awareness about the crisis surrounding biodiversity and habitat loss. In this conversation with NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber, Lin talks about space, memory, and the incredible resilience of nature.
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May 24, 2016
Åsne Seierstad on the Deadliest Attack on Norway Since WWII
Award-winning Norwegian journalist Åsne Seierstad's book “One of Us: The Story of Anders Breivik and the Massacre in Norway” examines the incidents of July 22, 2011, when one man’s attacks left more than 70 people dead. In this conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Seierstad discusses violent extremism — and how a society copes with the reverberations of homegrown evil still felt today.
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May 17, 2016
The Bad Rap of Do-Gooders: Larissa MacFarquhar
“New Yorker” writer Larissa MacFarquhar's book “Strangers Drowning” examines the psychological roots and existential dilemmas motivating those rare individuals who are practicing lives of extreme ethical commitment. In this conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, MacFarquhar tells the stories of people who devote themselves fully to bettering the lives of strangers—even when it comes at great personal cost.
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May 10, 2016
Helen Mirren on Women's Roles & Taking on Shakespeare
This week, we’re excited to welcome Oscar, Emmy, and Tony Award-winning actress Helen Mirren. Going back to her start with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Mirren’s career has been heavily influenced by the works of legendary poet and playwright William Shakespeare. In this conversation with NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber, to help mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, Mirren reflects on the legacy of the prolific playwright and his impact on her life.
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May 3, 2016
Dan Ephron: When The Man Who Almost Changed Israel Met Bill Clinton
This week, we bring you the 2nd of five conversations with the2016 finalists for NYPL’s Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellencein Journalism. Each year the award is given to journalists whosebooks have brought clarity and public attention to importantissues, events, or policies. In this episode, we’re thrilled towelcome renowned journalist Dan Ephron, who is nominated for hisbook “Killing a King: The Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin and theRemaking of Israel.” In this conversation with NYPL’s JessicaStrand, Ephron talks about the event that fundamentally altered thetrajectory for both Israel and the Palestinians, and continues tohave a significant impact on the situation in the Middle Easttoday.
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Apr 26, 2016
Rosanne Cash on Shakespeare, Performing, & Poetry
Grammy Award-winning musician Rosanne Cash's many accomplishments include penning the bestselling 2010 book “Composed: A Memoir.” In this conversation with NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber, Cash talks about Shakespeare, songwriting, and her father, the great Johnny Cash.
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Apr 19, 2016
Dale Russakoff: When Facebook Tried to Save Newark
Journalist Dale Russakoff's new book, “The Prize: Who’s In Charge of America’s Schools,” investigates the state of public education in America’s underserved communities. In this conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Russakoff tells the story of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s $100 million quest to transform the debilitated school system of Newark, New Jersey — and spark educational change across the country.
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Apr 12, 2016
Robert A. Caro & Frank Rich on Power & Corruption
We’re bringing you a special talk with Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning author Robert Caro, whose book “The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York” was hailed by Time magazine as one of the hundred top nonfiction books of all time, and is considered one of the most revealing biographies of the 20th century. In this conversation with essayist and columnist Frank Rich, Caro talks about power, corruption, and the men who shaped the urban landscape of modern-day New York City.
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Apr 5, 2016
Elizabeth Alexander & Hilton Als on Dreams & Obsession
We’re kicking off National Poetry Month with award-winning poet Elizabeth Alexander, who came to the Library to celebrate the release of her new memoir, “The Light of the World.” In this provocative conversation with “The New Yorker” writer Hilton Als, Alexander talks about dreams, obsession, and her dedication to social justice.
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Mar 29, 2016
Nathaniel Kahn & Matt Mountain on Outer Space & Weird Science
Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Nathaniel Kahn and renowned astrophysicist Matt Mountain give us a look at the state-of-the-art Webb Telescope, which will succeed the Hubble Telescope in 2018. Kahn and Mountain, both of whom have been deeply involved in the project, join NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber to discuss how this new telescope will enable us to look deeper into the universe than ever before.
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Mar 22, 2016
Dana Spiotta on Good People, Heroes, & Writing
Dana Spiotta is the National Book Award-nominated author of “Stone Arabia.” In this conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Spiotta talks about art, friendships, and her new novel, “Innocents and Others.”
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Mar 15, 2016
Darryl Pinckney & Zadie Smith on Achievement & Beyoncé
This week, we welcome two award-winning authors: American writer Darryl Pinckney and popular English novelist Zadie Smith. In this wide-ranging conversation, Pinckney and Smith talk about race, class, and Pinckney’s new novel, “Black Deutschland.”
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Mar 8, 2016
Jhumpa Lahiri on Language & Disorder
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri comes to the Library to celebrate the release of her new novel, “In Other Words.” In this conversation with NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber, Lahiri talks about nostalgia, expression, and her love of the Italian language.
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Mar 1, 2016
Debbie Harry with Chris Stein on Beatniks, the Stillettoes, & Style
Debbie Harry and Chris Stein of Blondie came to NYPL’s Library for the Performing Arts in 2013 for a talk with Rolling Stone senior critic Will Hermes. In this rousing conversation, Harry and Stein discuss punk, photography, and the New York City music scene in the 1970s.
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Feb 23, 2016
The Future of Black History
Ta-Nehisi Coates, Toni Morrison, Jay-Z, and Zadie Smith are just a few among the black authors and creators we'll hear from this week. In our 100th episode, we present the men and women making black history today, from music moguls to authors, chefs to television stars. Please join us for a look at of some of the most incredible guests The New York Public Library and The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture have had the privilege to host.
In order of appearance:
Marcus Samuelsson
Ntozake Shange
Charles Blow
Tavis Smiley
George Clinton (with Paul Holdengraber)
Shaquille O'Neal
Timbaland (with William Jelani Cobb)
Ta-Nehisi Coates (with Khalil Gibran Muhammad)
RuPaul
Toni Morrison & Angela Davis
Zadie Smith & Chimamanda Adichie
Jay-Z (with Cornel West)
Jesmyn Ward (with William Jelani Cobb & Khalil Gibran Muhammad)
Toni Morrison
Zadie Smith
Music by: Blue Dot Sessions, Chris Zabriskie, and Hot Acid Alien Lust Bomb.
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Feb 16, 2016
Russell Simmons & Rick Rubin on Music & Meditation
We’re going back in the archives to bring you a conversation with the founders of record label Def Jam Recordings: music producers Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin. In this talk with NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber, Simmons and Rubin discuss hip hop, collaboration, and the importance of speaking your own truth.
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Feb 9, 2016
Yusef Komunyakaa on Politics, Imagery, & Memorizing Poetry
Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet Yusef Komunyakaa came to the Library last October to celebrate the release of his latest book, “The Emperor of Water Clocks.” In this engrossing conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Komunyakaa talks about music, Langston Hughes, and his literary coming of age.
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Feb 2, 2016
Toni Morrison and Angela Davis on Connecting for Progress
We’re kicking off Black History Month with Pulitzer and Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison, who came to NYPL in 2010 for a conversation with activist and author Angela Davis. In this wide-ranging talk, Morrison and Davis discuss Frederick Douglass, education, and liberation.
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Jan 26, 2016
Francine Prose on YouTube, Sentences, & War
Award-winning author Francine Prose came to the Library to talk about her latest novel, “Lovers at the Chameleon Club, Paris 1932.” In this conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Prose discusses love, storytelling, and how to read like a writer.
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Jan 19, 2016
Junot Díaz on Intimacy & the Game of Fiction
Bestselling author Junot Díaz came to the Library in 2013 to mark the release of his book “This Is How You Lose Her.” In this conversation with NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber, Díaz talks about family, love, and the American immigrant experience.
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Jan 12, 2016
Sharon Olds & Cynthia Nixon on Dickinson, First Drafts, & Selfhood
This week, we welcome two great artists: Pulitzer and T.S. Eliot Prize-winning poet Sharon Olds; and Tony, Emmy, and Grammy Award-winning actress Cynthia Nixon. In this entertaining conversation, co-presented by the Academy of American Poets, Olds and Nixon discuss theater, Emily Dickinson, and channeling their energy into art.
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Jan 5, 2016
David Hare on Theater, Anticipation, & Hitchcock
English playwright and screenwriter David Hare's work includes the Academy Award-nominated screenplays for “The Hours” and “The Reader,” as well as three Tony Award-nominated plays on Broadway. In this conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Hare talks about love, the stage, and his new memoir, “The Blue Touch Paper.”
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Dec 29, 2015
Nico Muhly & Ira Glass on Composers & the Internet
Ira Glass, creator and host of “This American Life,” talks to composer Nico Muhly, who has composed a wide scope of work for ensembles, soloists, and organizations including the New York Philharmonic, the American Symphony Orchestra, and the Paris Opera Ballet. In this colorful conversation, Muhly and Glass discuss music, anxiety, and their image of the first Christmas.
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Dec 22, 2015
Neil Gaiman Reads "A Christmas Carol" (Rebroadcast)
This week, we bring you a rebroadcast of a podcast favorite. Acclaimed author Neil Gaiman comes to the Library to present a memorable reading of A Christmas Carol from the Library’s own rare copy, which includes edits and prompts Charles Dickens wrote in his own hand for his unique readings 150 years ago. Dressed in full costume and joined by writer and BBC researcher Molly Oldfield, Gaiman performs the classic tale as the great author intended.
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Dec 15, 2015
Timbaland on Mantronix, Reinvention, & Kids
Renowned music producer Timbaland joins us to talk about his new memoir, “Emperor of Sound,” which provides a long-anticipated inside look at his extraordinary life and career. In this, his first public conversation about his new book, Timbaland sits down with author and educator Dr. Jelani Cobb at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture to discuss hip hop, creativity, and the passion that drives his artistic career.
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Dec 8, 2015
Edmund de Waal on Porcelain, Time Travel, & Sound
Celebrated artist Edmund de Waal's porcelain works can be found in major museum collections around the world. His new book, “The White Road,” chronicles the lure his chosen medium has held over the centuries, as well as its role in his own life and work. In this conversation with NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber, de Waal talks about obsession, history, and why a ceramicist needs literature.
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Dec 1, 2015
Gloria Steinem on Sex, Justice, & Magazines
World-renowned activist and writer Gloria Steinem's new book “My Life on the Road” was released in October to critical acclaim. She came to the Library this fall to talk with attorney Roberta Kaplan, who landed a major victory for the LGBTQ movement by successfully arguing for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act before the Supreme Court. In this enthralling conversation, Steinem and Kaplan discuss marriage, social justice, and the power of stories to shape our world.
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Nov 24, 2015
Mary-Louise Parker on Relationships, Motherhood, & Religion
Emmy and Tony-award winning actress Mary-Louise Parker comes to the Library this fall to celebrate the release of her first book, “Dear Mr. You,” which has received advance acclaim from the New York Times and Publishers Weekly, among others. In this conversation with bestselling memoirist Mary Karr, Parker talks about relationships, forgiveness, and the invaluable lessons she learned from her father.
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Nov 17, 2015
Elvis Costello on the Internet, Records, & Imitation
Grammy Award-winning musician Elvis Costello's prolific career as a singer-songwriter spans nearly four decades. This fall, he comes to NYPL to celebrate his new memoir, “Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink.” In this delightful conversation with Paul Holdengraber, Costello discusses memory, songwriting, and his life in rock and roll.
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Nov 10, 2015
Sloane Crosley on College, Jewelry, & Publicity
Writer Sloane Crosley is a frequent New York Times contributor and author of the bestselling books “How Did You Get This Number” and “I Was Told There’d Be Cake,” a Thurber Prize finalist. In this conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Crosley discusses humor, human nature, and her new novel, “The Clasp.”
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Nov 3, 2015
The 2015 Library Lions on Truth & Inspiration
World-renowned activist and author Gloria Steinem, award-winning author and playwright Alan Bennett, heralded dancer and choreographer Judith A. Jamison, celebrated author and illustrator Maira Kalman, and groundbreaking novelist Karl Ove Knausgaard are this year’s Library Lions, five outstanding individuals recognized by NYPL for their achievements in the fields of art, culture, scholarship, and letters. We sat down with each of these incredible people to talk about libraries, the creative process, and much more.
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Oct 27, 2015
Shaquille O'Neal on Germany, Rap, & Slam Dunks
Sports legend and businessman Shaquille O’Neal's nineteen-year basketball career made him a three-time Finals MVP, a four-time NBA champion, and a fifteen-time All-Star. This fall, he comes to NYPL to celebrate the release of his new children’s book, “Little Shaq.” In a fun and provocative conversation with NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber, Shaq discusses reading, dunking, and the value of having a sense of humor.
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Oct 20, 2015
Ta-Nehisi Coates on Theft, Atheism, & History
Recent Macarthur Genius Grant winner Ta-Nehisi Coates is a national correspondent for “The Atlantic” whose latest book, “Between the World and Me,” is a nominee for the 2015 National Book Award. This fall, Coates sits down with Khalil Gibran Muhammad, Director of NYPL’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, for a conversation on race, writing, and more.
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Oct 13, 2015
Patti Smith on Authors She Loves
Musician, writer and artist Patti Smith returns to the podcast this fall to discuss her new memoir “M Train,” a follow-up to her 2010 National Book Award-winning debut memoir, “Just Kids.” In a conversation with NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber, Smith talks about art, the city, and the experiences she’s gained during her prolific and eclectic career.
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Oct 6, 2015
Erica Jong on Becoming a Poet & Favorite Authors
Award-winning author Erica Jong's prolific career has produced such bestsellers as “Fear of Flying,” “Seducing the Demon,” and her latest work, “Fear of Dying.” In this delightful conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Jong discusses feminism, early success, and why she’s never stopped writing over the course of her long and fruitful career.
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Sep 29, 2015
Ron Rash on Writer Survival & Place
A two-time winner of the O. Henry Prize, Ron Rash is the author of numerous novels, short stories and poetry collections, including New York Times bestseller “Serena,” and most recently, “Above the Waterfall.” In a conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Rash discusses narrative, Appalachia, and finding the universal in a particular setting.
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Sep 22, 2015
Alice Waters on the Pleasures of the Palate
Two stars of the culinary world join us for this week's podcast: Chez Panisse restaurateur Alice Waters and James Beard Award-winner and wine importer Kermit Lynch. Waters, a pioneer of the farm-to-table movement and recent winner of the National Humanities Medal, sat down with Lynch in 2013 to discuss their shared passions. In this delectable conversation, Waters and Lynch talk about fresh food, wine, and the culinary world’s impact on the environment.
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Sep 15, 2015
John Lithgow on Shakespeare & Bedtime Stories
On this week’s podcast, we’re reaching back in the archives to 2011, when NYPL welcomed John Lithgow, winner of numerous Emmys and Golden Globes and one of the most distinguished American actors of his generation. In a conversation with Peabody Award-winning journalist Bill Moyers, Lithgow talks about not only his acting career, but also his authorship of numerous children’s books, an anthology of poems, and most recently, his memoir, “Drama: An Actor’s Education.”
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Sep 8, 2015
Jack White on Music & Freedom
This week, we’re excited to welcome a panel of guests including musician Jack White and cofounder of Revenant Records, Dean Blackwood. Along with author Daphne A. Brooks, these lovers of music examine the rise and fall of Paramount Records, a label that existed from 1917 to 1931, and compiled a dizzying array of performers still unrivaled to this day — from Louis Armstrong to Ma Rainey and Ethel Waters. In this captivating panel discussion, our guests talk about the music business, the Great Migration, and how the legacy of Paramount Records lives on today.
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Aug 31, 2015
In Memoriam: Oliver Sacks on Hallucinations
This week, we’re honoring the memory of Oliver Sacks, esteemed neurologist and author of numerous bestselling books, including “Awakenings”, “The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat,” and, most recently, his autobiography “On the Move.” We’re reaching back in the archives to 2009, when Dr. Sacks delivered NYPL’s annual Robert B. Silvers lecture. In this fascinating talk, Dr. Sacks explores the musical hallucinations of the deaf, the visual hallucinations of the blind, and more strange behaviors of the human brain.
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Aug 25, 2015
Chimamanda Adichie & Zadie Smith on Race, Writing, & Relationships
On the heels of the blockbuster success of her latest novel, “Americanah,” Adichie sat down with Smith at NYPL’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture to discuss the critically acclaimed book and how it came to be. In their far-reaching conversation, Adichie and Smith talk about race, feminism, and finding one’s identity in a globalized world.
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Aug 18, 2015
Colson Whitehead on Poker
The Macarthur Award-winning author joins us to celebrate the release of his latest book, “The Noble Hustle: Poker, Beef Jerky & Death,” which chronicles his experience as an amateur card player trying his hand at the World Series of Poker. In a conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Whitehead discusses his mediocre card skills, the grueling training regimen that prepared him for the tournament, and what he learned about the human condition in Las Vegas.
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Aug 11, 2015
The Moth on the Power of Storytelling
Eighteen years ago, storytelling collective The Moth launched what has become a world-wide storytelling movement. In this captivating show, we join novelist and Moth Founder George Dawes Green, writer Andrew Solomon, and The Moth's long-time Artistic Director Catherine Burns for a performance and discussion with NYPL’s Paul Holdengräber about the craft of storytelling and its power to re-shape the world.
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Aug 4, 2015
Lou Reed on Playing Outside the Box
Lou Reed, Mo Tucker, and Doug Yule of the Velvet Underground reunited at the Library in 2009 for a discussion with Rolling Stone journalist David Fricke. In this provocative conversation, the three legendary musicians talk about strange performance venues, the energy of New York, and how it felt to go where no musician had gone before.
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Jul 28, 2015
Vivian Gornick on Voice in Memoir
The bestselling author's latest book, “The Odd Woman and the City,” was released this May to critical acclaim. In this conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Gornick talks about modern feminists, New York City, and the evolution of friendship over the past two centuries.
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Jul 21, 2015
Alan Rusbridger on Whistleblowers & Wikileaks
Former editor-in-chief of The Guardian and a keen amateur pianist, Alan Rusbridger's book “Play It Again” recounts how he learned Chopin’s Ballade No. 1 during a year bookended by Wikileaks and the News of the World phone-hacking scandal. Together with NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber, Rusbridger discusses music, the Pentagon Papers, and why he always carries a destroyed government hard drive in his breast pocket.
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Jul 14, 2015
Patti Smith on Youth & Friendship
This week, we’re taking you back in the archives to a captivating conversation with Patti Smith, the beloved and critically acclaimed artist and performer. Smith came to the Library in 2010 to mark the release of her book “Just Kids,” which chronicles her relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe in 1960s and 70s New York City. Joined by NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber, Patti Smith takes the stage to discuss friendship, youth, and her creative awakening — and maybe even sing a song or two.
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Jul 7, 2015
Sally Mann on Ethical Photography & Stories
This week on the podcast, we welcome renowned photographer Sally Mann, whose works are included in the permanent collections at the Whitney Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, among many others. Mann came to the Library this spring to celebrate the release of her latest book, “Hold Still: A Memoir With Photographs.” In this conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Mann discusses memory, mortality, and how she crafted a striking personal history through image and narrative.
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Jun 30, 2015
Werner Herzog on Greece & Wrestlemania
This week, we’re excited to welcome legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog, whose numerous, award-winning films have made him one of the most influential directors of New German Cinema and contemporary film around the world. In a conversation co-presented by the Onassis Cultural Center of New York, Herzog talks to NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber about Ancient Greek literature and its influence on his cinematic work over the past half-century.
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Jun 23, 2015
Dan Savage on Monogamy
This week, we’re celebrating Pride Month with popular writer and gay activist Dan Savage, author of the advice column "Savage Love" and creator of the Emmy-winning "It Gets Better" campaign. Along with fellow writer and political commentator Andrew Sullivan, Savage came to the Library back in 2013 to mark the release of his latest book, “American Savage.” In this entertaining and thought-provoking conversation, Sullivan and Savage talk about moralism, marriage, and monogamy.
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Jun 16, 2015
Suzanne Farrell on George Balanchine
This week, we’re thrilled to welcome Suzanne Farrell, one of George Balanchine’s most celebrated muses and a legendary figure in the ballet world. The world-renowned dancer inspired some of Balanchine's finest choreography, and today, she helps maintain his legacy as founder of the Balanchine Preservation Initiative and her own ballet company at The Kennedy Center. In a thought-provoking conversation with NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber, Farrell reflects on Balanchine, ballet, and her influence on both.
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Jun 9, 2015
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Bitcoin
This week, we’ll be hearing from a panel of writers and innovators on the often talked about, but rarely understood, Bitcoin. New York Times reporter Nathaniel Popper, whose book “Digital Gold” tells the story of this trail-blazing virtual currency, will be joined on stage by Gavin Andresen, the programmer who has been leading the Bitcoin project since 2010, and Fred Wilson, one of the biggest venture capitalists backing the project. In a conversation moderated by New York Times columnist and CNBC anchor Andrew Ross Sorkin, this group of powerful thinkers discusses virtual currency and the future of money in the digital age.
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Jun 2, 2015
Damien Echols on Hope & Death Row
This week, we’re excited to welcome Damien Echols, whose bestselling memoir “Life After Death” describes how he was falsely convicted of three murders and spent nearly eighteen years on death row. He’s joined by performer and activist Henry Rollins for a conversation about prison life, holding onto memories, and how to stay hopeful in the worst of times.
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May 26, 2015
Matthew Weiner on the End of "Mad Men"
In his first public discussion of the show from beginning to end, "Mad Men" creator Matthew Weiner sits down with writer A.M. Homes to talk about the show’s themes, the fates of its characters, and the enigmatic final episode.
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May 19, 2015
Alan Cumming on NYC & Acting
He's written a memoir Not My Father's Son. He's Eli Gold on The Good Wife. He's been Nightcrawler in X-2: Men United and Hamlet and Mr. Elton in the film adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma. He's Alan Cumming, and we're so pleased to share his recent appearance at Books at Noon in this week's episode of the New York Public Library podcast.
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May 12, 2015
Diane von Furstenberg on Confident Women
Internationally renowned fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg comes to NYPL for a conversation with Rhonda Garelick, award-winning scholar and author of “Mademoiselle: Coco Chanel and the Pulse of History.” Together, von Furstenberg and Garelick discuss success, women taking the lead, and what it means to be a fashion icon.
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May 5, 2015
Sonia Sotomayor on Education & Color Blindness
In this inspiring conversation with NYPL President Tony Marx, Sotomayor talks about her early life in the Bronx, the importance of education, and her rise to becoming one of the most powerful women in America today.
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Apr 28, 2015
Frank Bruni on College Admissions Mania
The author and popular op-ed columnist for the New York Times joins us to discuss his latest book, “Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania.” Talking to NYPL’s own Jessica Strand, Bruni reflects on modern anxieties, higher education, and what truly defines success.
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Apr 22, 2015
T.C. Boyle on Finding Stories and Themes
Bestselling and prolific author T.C. Boyle comes to NYPL to discuss his twenty-fifth book, “The Harder They Come.” In this witty conversation with the Library’s Jessica Strand, Boyle talks about irony, black humor, and America’s obsession with image and materialism.
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Apr 14, 2015
Tavis Smiley on Maya Angelou
Joined by NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Tavis Smiley talks about his latest book, “My Journey with Maya,” which details his friendship with the late Maya Angelou. In this moving conversation, Tavis Smiley discusses the value of debate, his connection with the past, and how Angelou’s friendship transformed him into the man he is today.
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Apr 7, 2015
Azar Nafisi on the Freedom to Read
The bestselling author of “Reading Lolita in Tehran,” a portrayal of the Islamic Revolution in Iran and its effects on one university professor and her students, Azar Nafisi comes to NYPL to celebrate the success of her most recent book, “The Republic of Imagination.” Nafisi joins NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber for a conversation on the importance of literature, freedom, and originality in today’s global society.
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Mar 31, 2015
Jeffrey Deitch on Art & Spectacle
Jeffrey Deitch, a celebrated art critic and curator, talks about his popular new book “Live the Art,” which details his decades of boundary-pushing work in the galleries and museums of New York, California, and beyond. In a fascinating conversation with Massimiliano Gioni, Artistic Director of New York’s New Museum, Deitch discusses innovation, creation, and his appreciation for spectacle.
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Mar 24, 2015
RuPaul on Fantasy & Identity
The musician, performer, and host of "RuPaul's Drag Race" sashays onto our stage to celebrate the recent release of his seventh studio album, "Realness." In a wildly entertaining and thought-provoking conversation, the cultural icon talks to NYPL’s Paul Holdengräber about success, performance, all things drag and beyond.
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Mar 19, 2015
Stay Tuned
Get ready for our upcoming spring season of exciting talks from very special guests at the Library, now released every Tuesday on iTunes, Stitcher, and SoundCloud.
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Mar 12, 2015
Sarah Lewis & Anna Deavere Smith on Inspiring Failures
Art historian and curator Sarah Lewis talks to award-winning actress Anna Deavere Smith about Lewis’s nonfiction debut, “The Rise: Creativity, the Gift of Failure, and the Search for Mastery,” which examines stories of innovation and discovery born from the unlikeliest of experiences. In a conversation that’s equal parts funny, moving, and thoughtful, the two women discuss how failure is crucial to true success.
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Mar 5, 2015
Ann Patchett & Elizabeth Gilbert on Writing
Ann Patchett, the award-winning author of numerous books including “Bel Canto” and “State of Wonder,” joins her good friend Elizabeth Gilbert, author of the hit bestseller “Eat, Pray, Love,” to talk about the challenges and joys of their craft. In this thrilling conversation, Patchett and Gilbert ask each other how and why they write, covering everything from grief, to frustration, to divine inspiration.
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Feb 26, 2015
Jay-Z on Hustling & Forgiveness
Grammy Award winning artist Jay-Z came to NYPL in 2010, when his long-awaited memoir, "Decoded," had just hit shelves. He’s joined by NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber and intellectual icon Cornel West for a conversation about his journey from a rough childhood to becoming an internationally renowned rap artist, philanthropist, and entrepreneur.
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Feb 20, 2015
Charles Blow on His Unexpected Childhood Hero
New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow joins Khalil Muhammad, Director of NYPL’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, for a conversation about Blow’s new memoir, “Fire Shut Up in My Bones.” Through the lens of Blow’s powerful personal story, the two men discuss visual art, social justice, and the need for empathy in American culture.
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Feb 12, 2015
Tom Wolfe on Handwriting & Humility
On the heels of the success of his bestselling 2012 novel “Back to Blood,” Wolfe came to NYPL to discuss identity, beliefs, and the weaving together of journalism and fiction.
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Feb 6, 2015
Ntozake Shange on Inspiration & Harlem
The great American playwright and poet Ntozake Shange, creator of the Obie Award-winning play “for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf,” celebrates the 40th anniversary of her landmark work with a panel discussion about its inspiration, creation, and enduring legacy.
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Jan 29, 2015
Joan Didion on Writing & Revising
The beloved writer talks to fellow bestselling author Sloane Crosley about the challenges of putting personal tragedy and illusory pleasure into words.
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Jan 23, 2015
Cheryl Strayed on Wild Success
Before her memoir Wild become an oscar nominated film, Strayed joined NYPL to discuss the blockbuster memoir, measuring success, and good advice.
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Jan 16, 2015
Joyce Carol Oates on Inspiration and Obsession
The prolific and beloved writer talks about creativity, productivity, and the importance of living an inspired life.
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Jan 9, 2015
Marlon James & Salman Rushdie on Storytelling
The two great authors discuss experimental narrative, political turmoil, and blending believable fiction with the absurd truth.
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Dec 30, 2014
Thomas Struth on Collective Memory and Family Photos
This week, the New York Public Library Podcast welcomes Thomas Struth, the world-famous and influential photographer best known for his family portraits and large-scale cityscapes. To celebrate the opening of NYPL’s new exhibition "Public Eye: 175 Years of Sharing Photography," Struth joins us to speak about cultural memory, photographing Queen Elizabeth, and reading the stories that images tell.
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Dec 19, 2014
Neil Gaiman Reads "A Christmas Carol"
Acclaimed author Neil Gaiman performs a memorable dramatic reading from the Library’s own rare copy of "A Christmas Carol," which includes edits and prompts Charles Dickens wrote in his own hand for his unique public readings 150 years ago. Dressed in full costume and joined by writer and BBC researcher Molly Oldfield, Gaiman performs the classic tale as its great author intended.
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Dec 11, 2014
Maira Kalman on Her Favorite Things
The illustrator and author of more than twenty books for both kids and adults sits down with us to talk about strong female characters, nonlinear storytelling, and drawing outside the lines.
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Dec 2, 2014
Mark Strand on Artistic Imagination
This week, we honor Pulitzer Prize winner and former US poet laureate Mark Strand, who passed away over the weekend at the age of 80. The beloved poet and author joined us this October to discuss art, imagination, and the life of the mind.
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Nov 24, 2014
Marcus Samuelsson on Food, Love, & Gratitude
This Thanksgiving week, we’re reaching back into the NYPL archives to bring you a story about food, family, and multicultural identity. Internationally acclaimed chef Marcus Samuelsson describes his remarkable journey from a humble kitchen in Sweden, to some of the most competitive and revered restaurants in the world — and, finally, to the opening of the beloved Red Rooster in Harlem.
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Nov 20, 2014
Richard Ford on Becoming a Reader and Finding a Voice
This week, we welcome novelist Richard Ford, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "The Sportswriter," "Independence Day," and "The Lay of the Land." Ford comes to NYPL to talk about his latest book, "Let Me Be Frank with You," a fourth installment in his bestselling Frank Bascombe series, which now finds its protagonist struggling to make sense of his past in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
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Nov 13, 2014
George Clinton on the Future of Funk
This week, the NYPL Podcast welcomes George Clinton, the singular musical phenomenon who twisted soul music into funk. Clinton joins us to talk about his life's work, learning from his proteges, and pushing the boundaries of what music can do.
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Nov 6, 2014
Neil Gaiman on Fairy Tales Revisited
This week on the podcast, Neil Gaiman, the beloved bestselling author of "Coraline," "American Gods," and "The Graveyard Book," joins us on Halloween night for some scary stories and thrilling conversation. He speaks about disobedient adults, why he learned to read, and his own reimagining of "Hansel and Gretel."
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Oct 31, 2014
Sam Roberts on New York City
This week on the podcast, Sam Roberts joins us to discuss seeing history through objects, productive procrastination, and what he thinks the motto of New York City should be.
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Oct 24, 2014
Marjane Satrapi - Narratives of Social Protest.
This week, the NYPL Podcast welcomes Marjane Satrapi, the graphic novelist, illustrator, film director, and children's book author who brought us Persepolis. She speaks to NYPL's Paul Holdengraber about the liabilities of learning English from American movies, the intelligence required for a sense of humor, and more.
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Oct 17, 2014
Jane Smiley - The Last Hundred Years
This week, acclaimed author Jane Smiley joins us to discuss the origins of her new trilogy "The Last Hundred Years," the hard part about spending a century with her characters, and her middle school reading tastes.
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Oct 10, 2014
Philip K. Howard - The Rule of Nobody
This week on the podcast, noted legal reformer Philip K. Howard discusses his latest work, "The Rule of Nobody: Saving America from Dead Laws and Broken Government."
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Oct 3, 2014
Tom Perotta - Nine Inches
This week, the New York Public Library Podcast welcomes Tom Perrotta, whose novels Little Children, Election, and The Leftovers have been adapted into highly-lauded films and television series. He joins us today to discuss his latest work, Nine Inches.
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Sep 26, 2014
Ben Lerner - 10:04
The award-winning poet and author of the novel Leaving the Atocha Station brings his masterful command of words from the page to the stage, celebrating the start of LIVE's Fall 2014 season and his new book, 10:04.
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Sep 22, 2014
Ayana Mathis - The Twelve Tribes of Hattie
This week on the podcast, acclaimed author Ayana Mathis comes to NYPL to talk about her latest work, The Twelve Tribes of Hattie.
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Sep 5, 2014
Losing Parents to AIDS: The Personal and the Political
This week, The New York Public Library Podcast features personal stories from adult children who have lost their parents to AIDS, including Alysia Abbott, author of Fairyland: A Memoir of My Father.
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Aug 22, 2014
Robert Morris: "Object Sculpture, 1960-1965"
This week on The New York Public Library Podcast, internationally renowned artist Robert Morris discusses various aspects of his practice and some of the key themes—time, memory, language, medium, and process—of his work.
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Aug 7, 2014
CUT – The Songs That Didn't Make It
The Library for the Performing Arts presents an evening of songs—songs that were cut from this season’s new Broadway musicals, including The Bridges of Madison County, If/Then, and Rocky.
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Jul 24, 2014
The Letters of Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.
This week, The New York Public Library Podcast welcomes Stephen Schlesinger, as he discusses his new book, The Letters of Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., a collection of his father’s vivid, witty correspondence influential political and cultural figures of his time.
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Jul 10, 2014
George Prochnik - "The Impossible Exile"
This week on The New York Public Library Podcast, acclaimed author George Prochnik discusses The Impossible Exile, his new book about the life and work of Stefan Zweig, an icon of the Viennese cultural renaissance.
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Jul 3, 2014
Amazon: Business As Usual?
In April 2014, Amazon and Hachette locked horns in what has become a very public, and still ongoing, battle over contract negotiations. After the online retailer removed the pre-order option, imposed shipping delays, and slashed discounts on the book publisher's titles, the reaction against Amazon was swift and fierce. But the story of the Amazon-Hachette dispute is anything but simple, and raises critical questions about the future of the book publishing industry. What is really at stake for the companies, authors and readers? What larger issues of free-market capitalism and free speech are at play? And what does the Amazon-Hachette dispute reveal about the future of the publishing industry in the age of e-books?
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Jun 26, 2014
A. E. Hotchner - Stories and Biographies
When you've written biographies on Sophia Loren, Ernest Hemingway and Doris Day you're bound to have some pretty incredible stories. This week on the podcast we join editor, novelist, playwright, and biographer A. E. Hotchner as he reflects on some memorable moments from impressive career.
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Jun 23, 2014
Karl Ove Knausgaard and Jeffrey Eugenides – "My Struggle"
On this episode of The New York Public Library Podcast, Norwegian author Karl Ove Knausgaard dissects the latest volume of his critically acclaimed autobiography, My Struggle—and the controversy that surrounds it—with Jeffrey Eugenides, author of The Virgin Suicides.
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Jun 5, 2014
John Waters - "Car Sick"
This week on The New York Public Library Podcast, filmmaker John Waters comes to us with tales from his latest book, Carsick, which chronicles his adventures hitchhiking across the United States.
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May 30, 2014
Colm Tóibín - The Testament of Mary
This week, The New York Public Library Podcast welcomes the Irish novelist, playwright, and critic Colm Tóibín to Books at Noon, the Library’s new series of free lunchtime author talks.
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May 23, 2014
Kara Walker and Jad Abumrad - "A Subtlety"
This week on The New York Public Library Podcast, renowned visual artist Kara Walker joins Radiolab host Jad Abumrad to discuss her new show at Domino Sugar Factory, and explore the complicated history of sugar, sex, sweetness, and power.
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May 16, 2014
Chuck Palahniuk and Douglas Coupland: "Balls in the Air"
Chuck Palahniuk is best known as the author of the novels Fight Club and Choke. Douglas Coupland is the author of the international bestsellers Generation A and JPod. This week on The New York Public Library Podcast, the two take to the stage at LIVE from the NYPL for a literary conversation that doubles as a social experiment.
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May 9, 2014
Eve Ensler: "In the Body of the World"
This week, The New York Public Library Podcast welcomes Tony Award-winning playwright, performer, and activist Eve Ensler to Books at Noon, the Library’s new series of free lunchtime author talks.
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Apr 29, 2014
The Craft Beer Revolution
This week on The New York Public Library podcast, LIVE from the NYPL welcomes three leaders of the craft beer movement. Brooklyn Brewery cofounder Steve Hindy—joined by Kim Jordan, New Belgium Brewing Company CEO, and Charlie Papazian founder of the American Homebrewers Association—recounts how craft brewers have forever changed the way the world experiences beer.
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Apr 18, 2014
Joyce Carol Oates: "The Landscape of My Spiritual Self"
This week, The New York Public Library podcast welcomes acclaimed novelist Joyce Carol Oates to Books at Noon, the Library’s new series of free lunchtime author talks.
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Apr 11, 2014
"Books are Conversations": Katherine Boo & Adrian Nicole LeBlanc
This week on the podcast, hear the two award-winning authors discuss poverty around the world.
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Apr 3, 2014
"Get to the point" | Malcolm Gladwell LIVE from the NYPL
This week on the New York Public Library Podcast, best-selling author and challenger of conventional wisdom Malcolm Gladwell brings his critical approach to LIVE from the NYPL as he expounds on his newest interests.
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Mar 26, 2014
The Snow Queen: Michael Cunningham on "Books at Noon"
This week on the podcast, we welcome Michael Cunningham to Books at Noon, the Library's new series of free lunchtime author talks. Cunningham is the author of six novels, including A Home at the End of the World and The Hours, which was awarded both the Pulitzer Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award. His latest novel is The Snow Queen.
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Mar 20, 2014
Report from the Interior | Paul Auster on "Books at Noon"
This week on the podcast, award winning author Paul Auster stops by "Books at Noon" – NYPL's weekly lunchtime author talk series – to discuss some of his latest work, pushing the boundaries of autobiography, and much more.
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Mar 13, 2014
The Fun Parts | Sam Lipsyte on 'Books at Noon'
Today's New York Public Library podcast welcomes Sam Lipsyte to Books at Noon, the Library's new series of free lunchtime author talks. Lipsyte was a Guggenheim Fellow, is the recipient of the Believer Book Award, and is the author of five books, including most recently a collection of short stories, The Fun Parts.
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Mar 6, 2014
The Baby Boom | PJ O’Rourke on Books at Noon
Today’s New York Public Library podcast features the new Books at Noon series; a free weekly program featuring popular and acclaimed authors in the Schwarzman Building on 42nd Street and 5th Avenue. Our first guest is the political satirist and author PJ O’Rourke who has written 16 books, most recently "Baby Boom: How it Got that Way (And it Wasn’t My Fault) (And I’ll Never Do it Again)."
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Mar 3, 2014
The Grand Budapest Hotel | Wes Anderson LIVE from the NYPL
Wes Anderson's vivid cinematic aesthetic and idiosyncratic characters make his films both immediately recognizable and endearing. Anderson returns to LIVE to explore his passions, influences, and his newest film The Grand Budapest Hotel, in conversation with Paul Holdengräber.
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Feb 6, 2014
You Don't Know Nothing: Toni Morrison and Junot Díaz LIVE from the NYPL
LIVE closes the Fall 2013 season with a conversation between 2013 Library Lion Junot Diaz and the writer who most influenced him, Nobel Prize-winner Toni Morrison.
"I think the most sustained love of mine," Diaz has said, "the one that's carried me through all these years, is my relationship with Toni Morrison. Im telling you, I'm one of those people who's still cracking my head on many of the ideas Toni Morrison both suggested and elaborated on in her work." Witness a powerful event as Diaz comes face to face with his literary hero to celebrate her remarkable career.
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Jan 30, 2014
My Life In Middlemarch: Rebecca Mead LIVE from the NYPL
A passionate attachment to a great work of literature can shape our lives and help us to read our own histories.
For Rebecca Mead, that book was George Eliot's Middlemarch, which she first read as a young woman in an English coastal town, and reread regularly throughout her life. In My Life In Middlemarch, the New Yorker writer revisits her own past and Eliot's work in a new way, by leading us into the life that the book made for her, as well as the many lives the novel has led since it was written. Employing a structure that mirrors that of the novel, My Life in Middlemarch blends biography, reporting, and memoir, taking the themes of Eliot's masterpiece--the complexity of love, the meaning of marriage, the foundations of morality, and the drama of aspiration and failure--and bringing them into our world. Mead comes to LIVE from the NYPL to explore the enduring power of Middlemarch, and how the books we read help us read our own lives.
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Jan 27, 2014
The Good Lord Bird Band: James McBride LIVE from the NYPL
James McBride opens LIVE from the NYPL's Spring 2014 season with an exploration of his latest work The Good Lord Bird - winner of the 2013 National Book Award for fiction - through words and music. The evening will feature conversation with the author and musician, as well as performances by McBride and his quintet, whose mix of spirituals and jazz renditions of classic gospel songs are inspired by the abolitionist John Brown, a key figure in this novel. With Keith Robinson on guitar, Trevor Exter on bass, Show Tyme Brooks on drums, Adam Faulk on piano, McBride on saxophone and the whole band on vocals.
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Jan 24, 2014
40 Chances: The Buffetts with Tom Brokaw LIVE from the NYPL
Three generations of philanthropists sit down to discuss business, charity, farming, and their 40 Chances in life, moderated by Tom Brokaw.
If you had the resources to accomplish something great in the world, what would you do? That's the question legendary investor Warren Buffett posed to his son in 2006, when he announced he was leaving the bulk of his fortune to philanthropy. Howard G. Buffett set out to help the most vulnerable people on earth—nearly a billion individuals who lack basic food security. And Howard has given himself a deadline: 40 years to put more than $3 billion to work on this challenge. 40 Chances: Finding Hope in a Hungry World captures Howard's journey to make a difference in the world, and the lessons learned along the way. Warren joins his son and grandson, Howard W. Buffett, to celebrate the accomplishments so far, and embrace the new challenges ahead.
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Jan 22, 2014
Undisputed Truth: Mike Tyson LIVE From the NYPL
Mike Tyson has defied expectations and conventional wisdom during his three decades in the public eye. Tyson, the one-time heavyweight champion of the world and a legend both in and out of the ring, joins LIVE for a conversation about his tumultuous life in the same straightforward and sincere tone seen in his new memoir, Undisputed Truth.
One of the most thrilling and ferocious boxers of all time, Tyson's brilliance in the ring was often compromised by reckless behavior. Years of hard partying, violent fights, and criminal proceedings took their toll: by 2003, he hit rock bottom, a convicted felon and completely broke. Yet Tyson managed to regained his success, his dignity, and the love of his family. With his new-found happiness and stability as a father and husband, his story is an American original.
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