In Peter Mendelsund's novel Weepers, many in the world are concerned they'll be replaced by smart machines. But a cowboy poet named Ed has found work in the American Southwest. He's a professional weeper, part of a group of union workers hired to mourn at funerals. In today's episode, Mendelsund tells NPR's Scott Simon that the novel was inspired, in part, by the author's own experience with depression and "oversensitivity."
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In the 5th century BC, the Greek world found itself in the middle of one of its greatest wars. This wasn’t one of their existential conflicts against the Persians; this was a war of Greeks against Greeks.
An alliance of city-states led by Athens fought a coalition led by Sparta for control of the Greek world.
Over nearly 30 years, the two city-states fought for supremacy, leaving a lasting impact on the Greek world.
Learn more about the Peloponnesian War, its causes, and its resolution on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily.
Ten years ago, Ta-Nehisi Coates published Between the World and Me, written as a letter to his then-15-year-old son. The book was released shortly after a shooting at Mother Emanuel church in Charleston left nine people dead – and it became a literary phenomenon as many Americans searched for answers about the state of race relations in the United States. In today's episode, Coates reflects on the 10 year anniversary of Between the World and Me. He speaks with NPR's Michel Martin about the book's dedication, efforts to ban his work, and the role of writers in the public sphere.
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The Guillotine has become infamous for being the main weapon utilized during the Reign of Terror and a modern symbol of the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror.
It has been responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of people since its invention in April of 1792.
Of all the ways to execute people, why did they create an elaborate contraption when simpler methods were available?
Learn more about the guillotine, why it was invented, and its impact on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily.
One of the most important inventions in human history was artificial lighting. With the electric lightbulb, the night could be illuminated, allowing people to extend the productive hours in a day and to work in places that were otherwise difficult or impossible.
While the incandescent bulb was a breakthrough, it wasn’t actually very efficient. It wouldn’t be until decades later that a radically more efficient way of producing artificial light would be developed.
Learn more about LEDs or light-emitting diodes and how they work on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily.
Today's encore episode features two interviews with Kevin Kwan, author of the Crazy Rich Asians series. First, former NPR host Lulu Garcia-Navarro spoke to the writer in 2020 about Sex and Vanity, exploring identity through the lens of a biracial character and setting a new trilogy between Europe and the U.S. Then, Here & Now's Robin Young asks Kwan about his newest novel, Lies and Weddings, and his thoughts on the fascination with wealth and power in literature.
To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookoftheday