This encore Reader's Corner interview was originally broadcast in September, 2017. Scott Anderson holds the unique distinction of having a full issue of The New York Times Magazine devoted to his story. That speaks both to the quality of his work, as well as to its immense relevance. Mr. Anderson’s story, titled Fractured Lands: How the Arab World Came Apart, is now out as a paperback book, and it provides valuable insights into what has happened in the Middle East since the invasion of...

Our country was founded on the very idea that a free people should not be ruled by kings and queens. That said, there is an undeniable and lasting allure associated with monarchies. And that’s particularly true when it comes to Great Britain. One of the most mysterious and arguably, most misunderstood, members of the British royal family is Prince Charles, the man next in line to become the King of England. He’s the subject of Sally Bedell Smith’s New York Times bestseller, titled Prince...

This is an encore program, originally broadcast in July, 2017. Thanks to technological advances like the Internet, we have access to more information than ever before. Gone are the days when we argued at length with friends over a piece of trivia – instead we pull out our smart phones and instantly get the answer. But as Tom Nichols explains in his book, The Death of Expertise, this information isn’t making us any smarter. In fact, it’s turning us into an army of ill-informed and angry...

From the moment we first laid eyes on them, Americans have been captivated by mustangs — with their strength, their determination and their wild nature. They have been featured in countless Western paperbacks, movies and songs through the years, and we’ve named war planes and muscle cars after them. Mustangs also have captivated the imagination and curiosity of today’s guest, New York Times reporter David Philipps. In his new book, Wild Horse Country: The History, Myth, and Future of the...

Sheriff Walt Longmire, his sidekick Henry Standing Bear and the wide open spaces of Absaroka County are the fictional creations of author Craig Johnson – but they also have found their way into popular culture. In addition to the bestselling series of novels, there is a real-life Longmire Days festival that each summer draws thousands of fans to Buffalo, Wyoming; a website where you can purchase Longmire-for-Sheriff bumper stickers and other memorabilia; and a hit Netflix original series...

Most people are familiar with the phrase “a born leader,” but are leaders truly born? In her book, Forged in Crisis , historian Nancy Koehn makes a convincing case that the roots of leadership are not simply a matter of birthright. Rather, effective leaders are forged through their ability to confront adversity, see the humanity in others, and make difficult choices. To illustrate her point, Ms. Koehn walks us through the lives and crises faced by five leaders throughout history, including...

During the final days of World War II, a group of American soldiers encountered a German spy carrying nothing but photos of beautiful white horses. The story behind those photos was even more surprising. Nearby, on a farm behind enemy lines, the Nazis had stockpiled some of the world’s most valuable horses as part of an ambitious breeding program to develop the perfect war horse. But with the Russian army fast approaching from the east and the Third Reich on the verge of defeat, these...

The Great Recession ultimately left millions of Americans without jobs and devastated entire communities. The bruises have lingered, perhaps nowhere more so than in the industrial communities of our nation’s heartland, in places like Janesville, Wisconsin. Janesville was home to the oldest operating General Motors plant until it shut down in the midst of the Great Recession, two days before Christmas in 2008. Washington Post reporter Amy Goldstein spent years in Janesville to piece...

This encore program was originally aired in December of 2017. The world of foreign diplomacy is a secretive one, and for those of us on the outside, it is also largely inaccessible. Veteran diplomat and author Matthew Palmer pulls back the curtains on this hidden world with suspense novels that offer an insider’s perspective on conflicts and cultures in far corners of the globe. And he’s done it again in his new book, titled Enemy of the Good. The action in Enemy of the Good takes place in...

The turn of the 20th century was a momentous time in U.S. history. After defeating imperial Spain in a brief but consequential war, America had expanded its global reach, with a footprint that stretched from Cuba and Guam to the Philippines. The country was developing and harnessing new technology like no other nation, its economic and diplomatic power was soaring, and it had nudged Europe and Japan toward a collective policy with China that favored U.S. interests. While much has been...

This program was first broadcast in November, 2017 In his powerful debut novel, “Spoils,” Brian Van Reet transports his readers to the messy, murky front lines of the Iraq War, and a morally complex landscape, where the U.S. mission of winning hearts and minds is anything but clear. The fog of war is felt by American soldiers, Islamic jihadists, and the innocent Iraqi civilians caught in the cross hairs, and Mr. Van Reet tells their intertwining stories with an emotional intensity and...

With more than 500 million citizens in its 28 member states, the European Union has long embodied the dream of a united Europe, where the free movement of goods, capital, services and workers would lead to greater economic and political clout for all. But in recent years, the fissures within the EU have deepened. The Syrian refugee crisis, the economic downturn, a spate of terrorist attacks and the Greek financial bailouts have roiled the EU. And then came Brexit, the decision by British...

This episode of Reader's Corner was originally broadcast in June of 2017. The re-election of Barack Obama in November of 2012 dealt a stunning defeat to the Republican Party. As the GOP reeled from the loss and began laying plans to win in 2016, a small group of shadowy and wealthy figures gathered at the request of Charles and David Koch, otherwise known as the Koch brothers. Their secret agenda: To map out plans to systematically and inequitably influence our political system. In her...

Over thousands of years, dogs have earned the title of man’s best friend. Yet even as their companionship brings us personal joy and satisfaction, we may wonder what’s going on inside their heads. Do they adore us as much as we adore them, or do they just see us as reliable dispensers of food? In his new book, What It’s Like to Be a Dog, and Other Adventures in Animal Neuroscience , bestselling author Gregory Berns describes scientific breakthroughs that show that the brains of dogs and...

This encore program was originally broadcast in September, 2017. Hollywood usually is viewed as a symbol of the American Dream. But in the 1930s and ’40s, it became a symbol of something much darker: the Communist threat to American values that must be publicly rooted out at all costs. In his book, High Noon: The Hollywood Blacklist and the Making of an American Classic, Glenn Frankel expertly weaves the history of Hollywood’s Blacklist era with the making of this iconic Western film. High...

For most of its history, America has struggled to maintain a balance between fantasy and fact. According to today’s guest, Kurt Andersen, our country is now in a moment where we feel entitled to believe whatever we want, regardless of the evidence. How this happened, and why we should be concerned, is the subject of his book, Fantasyland , How America Went Haywire, A 500-Year History. In the book, Mr. Andersen looks back at America’s colorful history, from the Salem witch trials to...

This is an encore of the program which was originally broadcast in August of 2017. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is revered as an 18 th century genius who composed some of the most sublime music ever written. The fact that a starling became his beloved pet during one of the most creative and productive periods of his short life has perplexed historians and music lovers for years. Yet the unlikely story of the great composer and his common bird is a true one, and today’s guest, Lyanda Lynn Haupt,...

This is an encore program which originally aired in November of 2017. Generations have grown up with the tales spun by Charles Dickens, and that’s particularly true around the holidays. Characters like Ebenezer Scrooge and young Tiny Tim have become cultural icons, and a reminder to take stock of our lives, celebrate each day, and care for those around us. Just in time for this holiday season, Samantha Silva offers up Mr. Dickens and His Carol , her whimsical novel that transports us to...

Sheriff Walt Longmire, his sidekick Henry Standing Bear and the wide open spaces of Absaroka County are the fictional creations of author Craig Johnson – but they also have found their way into popular culture. In addition to the bestselling series of novels, there is a real-life Longmire Days festival that each summer draws thousands of fans to Buffalo, Wyoming; a website where you can purchase Longmire-for-Sheriff bumper stickers and other memorabilia; and a hit Netflix original series...

This interview was originally broadcast in June, 2017. In recent years, the powerful and at times unexpected impacts of globalization have sent shock waves through our country’s political, economic and social systems. The promise that open trade and investment would bring new jobs, economic growth and price stability has not materialized for many Americans, who have seen their standard of living stagnate or diminish. At the same time, there is widespread disagreement about what our country...