PBS
Why culture shock is a valuable part of ‘thoughtful travel,’ according to Rick Steves
New ReviewMillions of Americans are expected to go on a European vacation this summer. Many of those going for the first time are likely to be following the advice of travel writer Rick Steves, host of “Rick Steves’ Europe” on PBS stations. John...
PBS
Carla Hayden on her time as a pioneering librarian of Congress and getting fired by Trump
New ReviewDr. Carla Hayden, a trailblazing librarian of Congress, was fired by President Trump in May. Geoff Bennett recently spoke with her about being blindsided by the decision, the administration’s ongoing efforts to reshape key institutions...
PBS
Maine arts residency gives Black and Brown artists a platform to develop their craft
New ReviewIndigo Arts Alliance is an organization focused on supporting contemporary Black and Brown artists and opening doors to artists of color worldwide. It's doing all of this from its home in an unlikely place: Maine. Jeffrey Brown reports...
PBS
The power of stories helps young people overcome differences
New ReviewColum McCann's Narrative 4 organization is bringing the power of story to students in a time of division. The project helps young people around the world share their stories and bridge divides in politics and culture. Senior arts...
PBS
Political cartoonists on navigating a changing media landscape
"A picture is worth a thousand words." It's a well-worn phrase but there is special resonance when applied to editorial cartoons, a centuries-old tradition that is evolving as the media landscape itself does. Senior arts correspondent...
PBS
Development near Phoenix tests whether car-free living is sustainable in sprawling cities
The sprawling metropolis of Phoenix seems an unlikely place to build an apartment complex without parking for residents. Car dependency is just part of life for most people there. But a new development in the suburb of Tempe is providing...
TED Talks
TED: A firework ladder to the sky — and the magic of explosive art | Cai Guo-Qiang
From a boy setting off small explosions in his living room to the creator of world-famous pyrotechnic events, multidisciplinary artist Cai Guo-Qiang has always been drawn to gunpowder. He gives a stunning tour of his work — including his...
PBS
In ‘Hope for Cynics,’ researcher explores how seeing the good in others is good for you
At Stanford Social Neuroscience Laboratory, scientists have spent years studying kindness, connection and empathy. But those can all seem in short supply at a time of deep divisions. But the head of that lab offers a data-driven reason...
PBS
Stephen King reflects on his iconic career and latest release ‘You Like It Darker’
Fifty years ago, a 26-year-old rural Maine school teacher wrote the horror novel “Carrie.” That man, Stephen King, has gone on to write more than 60 books and many have been turned into such films as “The Shining” and “Shawshank...
PBS
Immersive exhibitions are changing the way people consume art
In recent years, immersive art exhibitions that place viewers amid the art have been a hot ticket. Popular ones featuring works from artists like van Gogh and Monet travel from city to city. But there are a growing number of permanent...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: Why is this black square famous? | Allison Leigh
In 1915, an exhibition of radical artworks opened in Russia. Many pieces pushed the boundaries of form and style, but one was particularly controversial: Kazimir Malevich's "Black Square." Criticized as simple and uninspired, Malevich's...
PBS
Carpenter Mark Ellison's New Book ‘Building’ Offers Lessons On Life And Good Work
Mark Ellison, the author of the new book “Building,” is a carpenter who knows his way around tools. But rather than a how-to book, this is about developing any kind of craft and skill, along with a few hard-earned lessons for living a...
PBS
Use Of Artificial Intelligence Generates Questions About The Future Of Art
Artificial intelligence is everywhere and part of our conversations about education, politics and social media. It's also a hot topic in the arts world as programs that generate art using AI are widely available to the public. But what...
PBS
In Ta-Nehisi Coates’ new novel, memory is a superpower
To make the case for reparations for the toll of slavery, acclaimed writer Ta-Nehisi Coates has offered forceful advocacy and powerful data-driven argument. With his first novel, "The Water Dancer," he uses fiction to illuminate the...
PBS
The top library books people tried to ban or censor last year
Battles have erupted at schools, school boards and library meetings across the country as parents, lawmakers and advocacy groups are debating books. The American Library Association documented more than 1,200 demands to censor books and...
PBS
Theater in rural Appalachian Virginia brings regional themes to the stage
Barter Theatre, which opened during the Great Depression and is thriving 90 years later, is known for bringing regional themes to its rural Appalachian stage. Jeffrey Brown visited Abingdon, Virginia, to show the changing face of the...
PBS
A Conversation With ‘We The Corporations’ Author Adam Winkler
Adam Winkler, author of our October pick for the NewsHour-New York Times book club, Now Read This, joins William Brangham to discuss “We the Corporations,” and William announces the November book selection.
PBS
‘Inheritance’ author Dani Shapiro answers your questions
Dani Shapiro talks about memoir about her reckoning with an ancestry test that revealed a life-changing family secret: The beloved man who had raised her wasn't her biological father.
PBS
In Common’s New Memoir About Healing, ‘Love Can Be An Action’
Common, the award-winning musician, actor, activist, and now author, says that in a world of division and anxiety, he wanted to offer solution-oriented resources for healing that have helped him overcome trauma and tough times in his...
PBS
Tayari Jones Answers Your Questions About ‘The Street’
Author Tayari Jones wrote the introduction to a new edition of Ann Petry's 1946 novel "The Street," our May pick for the NewsHour-New York Times book club, Now Read This. Jones joins Jeffrey Brown to answer reader questions about the...
PBS
Bernd Heinrich On His 'Unusual' Life As A Runner And Biologist In Maine
A new book out Tuesday, "Racing the Clock: Running Across a Lifetime,"
explores a life of scientific research and discovery in nature, and some
extraordinary feats of the human body. And the author himself, Bernd
Heinrich, is the subject...
PBS
Isabel Allende's Newest Historical Novel Tells Familiar Story Of Refugee Life
"A Long Petal of the Sea," a new historical novel by renowned writer Isabel Allende, draws upon events spanning from the Spanish civil war to the 1973 coup in her native Chile -- and with resonance for the experience of refugees today....
PBS
"Trust Exercise" Author Susan Choi On Power Dynamics And Timely Fiction
Susan Choi’s novel “Trust Exercise” takes place in a high school for the performing arts in an unnamed southern city. But the subjects examined, including consent, power and memory, are universally relevant. “Trust Exercise” won the 2019...
PBS
In Rural Michigan, Detroit Artists Reimagine The Iconic American Barn
The American barn is a cultural icon, but one that is quickly disappearing. In Port Austin, Michigan, an art project aims to draw attention to these structures -- and maybe even save some of them along the way. Jeffrey Brown reports as...