Americans Pay The Price Of Getting Things 'Cheap' from NPR Topics: Books

In the days since the Industrial Revolution, Americans have put a premium on convenience and low prices. But this obsession with low prices has its consequences. At times, durability, craftsmanship and even social responsibility are sacrificed. Host Liane Hansen talks with Ellen Ruppel Shell, author of the book, Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture. - read the NPR story here. 

Chateauneuf-du-Pape from Lopate - Underreported by listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio)

Wine expert Harry Karis talks about the French wine region: Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The Chateauneuf-du-Pape Wine Book gives detailed information on over 200 winemakers, and an in-depth look at climate, soil, grapes, and winemaking.

Download the podcast here. See also: Exploring Wine: The Culinary Institute of America's Guide to Wines of the World, The Wine Bible, The Little Black Journal of Wine: A Wine Lover's Record Keeper (Little Black Books) (Guided Journal Series), Wine Tasting Notebook

The Colbert Report - August 26, 2010 - Richard Engel

762 August 26 None Richard Engel "Toyota recalls the Matrix. Personally, I think they should have recalled the sequels, they sucked. This is The Colbert Report." 6110

Source: Wikipedia. See also: War Zone Diary with Richard Engel, A Fist in the Hornet's Nest

The Colbert Report - August 25, 2010 - Andrew Hacker, Heidi Cullen

761 August 25 None Andrew Hacker, Heidi Cullen None 6109

Source: Wikipedia. See also: The Weather of the Future: Heat Waves, Extreme Storms, and Other Scenes from a Climate-Changed Planet, Higher Education?: How Colleges Are Wasting Our Money and Failing Our Kids---and What We Can Do About It, Two Nations : Black and White, Separate, Hostile, Unequal, Money: Who Has How Much and Why

The Colbert Report - August 24, 2010 - Jeffrey Goldberg

760 August 24 Control-Self-Delete Jeffrey Goldberg "Ladies, Tiger Woods' divorce is final. Which means he's dating less. This is The Colbert Report." 6108

Source: Wikipedia. See also: Prisoners: A Story of Friendship and Terror (Vintage), Prisoners, Charlie Rose with Michael Isikoff & Jeffrey Goldberg; Theodore Sorensen & Arthur Schlesinger Jr.; Stuart E. Eizenstat (February 4, 2003), Irwin Bazelon: Fusions; Fairy-Tale; Re-Percussions; etc., No Big Deal

Robb Wolf: The Paleo Solution: The Original Human Diet

This fad of a dietary approach to better living, reeks of an MLM product; it's marketed like an MLM product, and it's written like an ebook for internet marketing phonies. It's an NYT Bestseller though; though that's not saying much these days. It's not completely amazing that books and products like these still sell well. It's a product for the masses.

Charlie Rose's Monday, August 23, 2010 feature about, and with Tony Judt

CHARLIE ROSE: Tony Judt, a prominent historian and public intellectual
died of ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease on August 6. He was 62 years old.

Although in some places he was known for his controversial views on Israel,
he saw himself not as a polemicist, but as a teacher and a historian. He
authored or edited 13 books, including the work for which he became a
Pulitzer Prize finalist, "Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945." Last
year, Judt was awarded the George Orwell prize for intelligence, insight,
and conspicuous courage. Over the years he was a great friend of this
program as a guest and a guest host.

In September of 2008, Tony Judt was diagnosed with ALS. It is an
affliction that he described as progressive imprisonment without parole.
Over the past 18 months, he dictated dozens of essays and op-eds, wrote two
books, and delivered from memory his last lecture to an auditorium of NYU
students. His words that night were recently turned into his last book.
It is a petition for the future, a rallying cry for renewing social
democracy.

See the full, emotional CR piece here. See also: Ill Fares the Land, Reappraisals: Reflections on the Forgotten Twentieth Century

The Colbert Report - August 23, 2010 - Leslie Kean

759 August 23 Losing His Religion Leslie Kean None 6107

Source: Wikipedia. See also: UFOs: Generals, Pilots and Government Officials Go On the Record, Crash: When UFOs Fall From the Sky: A History of Famous Incidents, Conspiracies, and Cover-Ups, Science Was Wrong: Startling Truths About Cures, Theories, and Inventions "They" Declared Impossible

Red Plenty by Francis Spufford from Books news, reviews and author interviews | guardian.co.uk by Steven Rose

A book on Soviet utopianism prompts Steven Rose to wonder if the dream of a fair, prosperous society can ever be fulfilled. When I first visited Moscow, in what now seems a far-distant era, a giant red neon sign beamed Lenin's famous phrase "Socialism plus electrification equals communism" across the Moskva river. The slogan encapsulated several central aspects of communist thought. First, optimism for the future. Second, that science and technology were both by definition progressive forces but were impeded by capitalism; only under communism could they enable the building of a society of abundance for the many, not just the few.

Full book reviews like these, are books in and of themselves, and require a full reading on the proper site. See the Guardian piece here. Also, check out this BBC podcast, where Francis Spufford and Gideon Rachman of the Financial Times debate the comparison between the China and the USSR in the 60s and their influence on the Western economies. [Still trying to see if I can order Red Plenty for my Kindle from Asia.]

The Colbert Report - August 19, 2010 - Michael Blum, Jon Krakauer

758 August 19 What If You Threw A Peace And Nobody Came? Michael Blum, Jon Krakauer "Three million eggs have been recalled. I'd hate to be guy in charge of getting them back into that chicken. This is The Colbert Report." 6106

Source: Wikipedia. See also: Into the Wild, Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith, Eiger Dreams: Ventures Among Men and Mountains, Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster

The Colbert Report - August 18, 2010 - Thomas French

757 August 18 Borderline Personality Thomas French "Wired magazine says the Internet is dead. I hope the Lolcats made it out alive. This is The Colbert Report." 6105

Source: Wikipedia. See also: Zoo Story: Life in the Garden of Captives, South of Heaven: Welcome to High School at the End of 20th Century

The Colbert Report - August 17, 2010 - Barry Levine

756 August 17 None Barry Levine "The Ninth District Appeals Court has put a hold on gay marriage. Or as they said in the ruling: 'Sike [1]!' This is The Colbert Report." 6104

Source: Wikipedia. See also: Principles of Forensic Toxicology, 3rd Edition, The Caribbean Exodus, Monarch of the Moon

'The Help': In Service to Servants Poorly Treated from Politics Daily by Bonnie Goldstein

Despite a long apologetic addendum "in her own words" revealing her gratitude and affection for her own family's "stout and dark-skinned" maid, I confess I was slightly suspicious of Stockett and put off by her use of an inconsistent and condescending dialect for the working women ("her legs is so spindly, she look like she done growed em last week"). I know she wanted to convey hardships resulting from the steep racial divide but wondered if careless insensitivities laced through the narration were intended to underscore despicably egregious Jim Crow laws in force at the time, or if they reflected the author's own ambivalence.

Read the full post by Bonnie Goldstein here.

Charlie Rose's Tuesday, August 17, 2010 conversation with Harold Ford

CHARLIE ROSE: Harold Ford Jr. is here. He began his political career
at the age of 26 when he succeeded his father in the United States House of
Representatives, representing Tennessee’s ninth district in 1997 to 2007.
In the fall of 2006, he lost a closely contested race for the U.S. Senate
to Bob Corker.

Ford now lives in New York City and serving as chairman of the
Democratic Leadership Council and written a book about his life in politics
called "More Davids than Goliaths -- a Political Education." I’m pleased
have him back at this table. Welcome.

See the entire interview here, and read the full transcript here.

Shorts: Secrets of Success from WNYC's Radio Lab by listenerservices@wnyc.org (Jad Abumrad & Robert Krulwich)

Malcolm Gladwell doesn’t like Gifted and Talented Education Programs. And he doesn’t believe that innate ability can fully explain superstar hockey players or billionaire software giants. In this podcast, we listen in on a conversation between Robert and Malcolm recorded at the 92nd St Y. Robert asks Malcolm if he’s a “genius denier,” and Malcolm asks Robert if he’s uncomfortable with the power of love, as they duke it out over questions of luck, talent, passion, and success.

Download the podcast here. See also: Outliers: The Story of Success, What the Dog Saw: And Other Adventures, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference

The Colbert Report - August 16, 2010 - Richard A. Clarke, John Fetterman

755 August 16 None Richard A. Clarke, John Fetterman None 610

Source: Wikipedia. See also: Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terror, Your Government Failed You: Breaking the Cycle of National Security Disasters, Stinking Creek: The Portrait of a Small Mountain Community in Appalachia

Please Explain: Caffeine from Lopate - Underreported by listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio)

This week's Please Explain will answer all of our caffeine-related questions, from whether or not we should drink coffee before we run a marathon to how caffeine differs from other stimulants. Bennett Alan Weinberg, co-author of the book The World of Caffeine: The Science and Culture of the World's Most Popular Drug, explains how the world's most popular drug affects us.

Download the podcast here. None other than the New Journal of Medicine had this to say about the book:

This book covers the history and social effects of the principal beverages that contain caffeine, notably coffee and tea. Products of cacao, chocolate that is eaten and drunk, and the soft drinks that contain caffeine (principally colas) are also covered. The historical origins of coffee, tea, and cacao are described, as are the various fascinating ways they made their way into world culture. Some of the main features of this story are told with a theme of geographic spread and with a description of effects of the arrival of “the drug,” as the authors often refer to caffeine, on existing cultures. How the different beverages were received (or rejected) by different cultures and by different strata and segments of each culture makes a rich and exciting story. Insights emerge as to how the various civilizations worked. The pleasure of reading is enhanced by the authors' eye for beauty and the many appropriate half-tone illustrations. The scholarship is impressive; many of the most famous figures of the past 500 and more years make brief appearances. Among them are Chinese emperors, Zen Buddhist monks in Japan, nameless Olmecs of Mesoamerica, and then Cortés and Montezuma and Charles V. The conquest of Europe by the drug from Turkish and African sources is also covered. The familiar names of great historical figures appear on almost every page, tying this account in with our knowledge of history and making it more real. The text is rich with information, yet it is easy and pleasant to read.

The full article is here. See also: Caffeine for the Creative Mind: 250 Exercises to Wake Up Your Brain, Caffeine for the Creative Team: 150 Exercises to Inspire Group Innovation, Buzz: The Science and Lore of Alcohol and Caffeine

Charlie Rose's Friday, August 13, 2010 conversation with Author Christopher Hitchens

CHARLIE ROSE: Christopher Hitchens is an English-born, Oxford-
educated writer and journalist who has lived and worked in Washington for
many years. He is well known for his wit, his sharp arguments and strong
opinions on religion, politics and especially the war in Iraq. David
Brooks of "The New York Times" says "There are few people in this country
who bring such a literary perspective to political and policy
controversies." And here is what his friend Martin Amis said on this
program this week.

Check out the full length conversation and interview here. The transcript can be found here. See also: God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever, Letters to a Young Contrarian (Art of Mentoring)

The Colbert Report - August 12, 2010 - Chuck Close

754 August 12 Weapon of Mass Construction Chuck Close "Tomorrow is Friday the 13th. Bad luck for you, I don't do shows on Fridays. This is The Colbert Report." 6102

Source: Wikipedia. See also: Chuck Close: Work, Chuck Close, Chuck Close: Life, Chuck Close

Book Buzz: 'The Help' paperback is late, 'Angelina' release is early from Books: Book reviews, news and bestseller list - USATODAY.com ...

'Help' isn't on the way: For publishers, it's nirvana when a hardcover book sells so well you can keep postponing the paperback edition. Kathryn Stockett's debut novel, The Help, which is No. 15 on USA TODAY's Best-Selling Books list, was published in February 2009, and it's still a hardcover hit. The book hit No. 35 on July 23, 2009, and hasn't left the top 50 since. (Nearly 2.6 million copies are in print.) There is no scheduled date for a regular paperback edition "because the hardcover is doing so well," says the book's editor and publisher, Amy Einhorn. There will be a movie tie-in paperback to coincide with the film version, tentatively set to hit screens in fall 2011. It stars Zombieland's Emma Stone as a white girl who befriends a black maid (Doubt's Viola Davis) in 1962 Mississippi.

Of course they've got a movie on the way. Read the full USA Today story here.

Charlie Rose's Wednesday, August 11, 2010 conversation with Author Martin Amis

CHARLIE ROSE: Martin Amis is here. At just 24 he published his debut
novel "The Rachel Papers." He was quickly branded the enfant terrible of
literary England and established a career rivaling that of his famous
father Kingsley Amis.

Almost 40 years and 20 books later, Martin Amis is now 60 and he’s
going strong. Ron Charles of the "Washington Post" says "There’s not a
smarter, cleverer writer alive than Martin Amis." "The Pregnant Widow" is
his twelfth novel. I’m pleased to have him here back at this table.

And there’s also this in the beginning of the book, "The death of the
contemporary forms of social order are to gladden rather than trouble the
soul. Yet what is frightening is that the departing world leaves behind it
not an heir, but a pregnant widow. Between the death of the one and the
birth of the other, much water will flow by, a long night of chaos and
desolation will pace." Alexander Person -- from that you chose this title.

Check the full interview out here, and the transcript out here. See also: Money: A Suicide Note (Penguin Ink) (The Penguin Ink Series), The Rachel Papers

"The Evolution of E-Books and Our Literary Future" - The Takeaway - Wednesday, August 11, 2010

What would our world look like without paperback books? One publishing company has taken one step closer to the reality of eliminating paperback books entirely. Dorchester Publishing has decided to change its printing schedule, focusing first on e-books, followed by a print-on-demand run of paperbacks. The question is: will this be the trend for paperback book publishers to follow? Jason Boog, publishing editor at Mediabistro, and the editor of the publishing blogs GalleyCat.com and eBookNewswer.com, says sales of mass market paperbacks have decreased significantly in the past year. Boog says, "Many people are thinking this may be the end of the mass market paperback." Nancy Davenport, the Director of Library Services for the District of Columbia Library, says a shift to e-books is happening, but the library is far from obsolete. The DCLS has incorporated e-books into their book collections. Davenport says, "People come in to browse and, unless there's something they want to read on the shelves, [they then] browse the digital catalog of books."

Download The Takeaway podcast here.

The Colbert Report - August 11, 2010 - David Finkel

753 August 11 None David Finkel None 6101

Source: Wikipedia. See also: The Good Soldiers, The Real Estate Fast Track: How to Create a $5,000 to $50,000 Per Month Real Estate Cash Flow (Creating Cash Flow Series)

The Science of Trust: Economics and Virtue (July 9, 2009) from APM: Speaking of Faith with Krista Tippett

In a few breathtaking months, we've culturally moved from seeing Wall Street as an icon of thriving civil society to discussing its workings with book titles like "House of Cards" and "Animal Spirits." As part of our ongoing Repossessing Virtue series, we'll talk to pioneering neuroeconomist Paul Zak. We look at what science is learning about trust, fair play, and empathy -- and what these qualities have to do with human character and economics.

You can download or listen to the show here. See also: Monetary Stability and Economic Growth: A Dialog Between Leading Economists