Book Society

Rodrigo and I talk about The Displaced , tattoos, gentrification, Los Angeles and gangs. Buy The Displaced: https://www.amazon.com/Displaced-Rodrigo-Ribera-Debre/dp/1558859381/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3JRAG6P02HI63&keywords=the+displaced&qid=1666898575&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIxLjU4IiwicXNhIjoiMS4wNiIsInFzcCI6IjEuMTgifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=The+Displaced%2Caps%2C254&sr=8-4

Poet and novelist Charles Harper Webb and I discuss his book Ursula Lake. Buy Ursula Lake: https://www.amazon.com/Ursula-Lake-Charles-Harper-Webb/dp/1636280218

I argue that child rearing isn't a war, stay-at-home dad's aren't heroes, and parenting is not the most important job you can do.  Basically I have issues with some of our culture's central metaphors and I take it out on Shannon Carpenter's book.

Listen to this show, Or don't listen to this show. If you'll do one thing in life, You should read Fool's Crow. Buy Fools Crow: https://www.amazon.com/Fools-Penguin-Classics-James-Welch/dp/0143106511/ref=asc_df_0143106511/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312809338991&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4884716830605559962&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hv...

Playwright Kirk Lynn and I discuss Games: Agency as Art by C. Thi Nguyen.  We start out taking about how we don't really like the book and then slowly realize that it's deep and thought provoking and we actually did like it a lot. Buy Games: Agency as Art: https://www.amazon.com/Games-Agency-As-Art-Thinking/dp/0190052082/ref=sr_1_1?crid=AEG76IMELJXF&keywords=games+agency+as+art+c.+thi+nguyen&a...

Caridad Moro-Gronlier and I discuss her book of Poems, Tortillera. Buy Tortillera: https://www.amazon.com/Tortillera-Poems-Caridad-Moro-Gronlier/dp/1680032445/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1YX0HWSKO94BK&keywords=tortillera%2C+book&qid=1663271626&sprefix=tortillera%2C+book%2Caps%2C123&sr=8-1

We're Back with Caridad Moro-Gronlier!  This episode we discuss Toni Morrison's amazing classic Song Of Solomon.

Richard Blanco, Inaugural poet and man who derives existential pleasure from civil engineering and I discuss his book How To Love A Country. Buy How To Love a Country: https://www.amazon.com/How-Love-Country-Richard-Blanco/dp/0807043079/ref=asc_df_0807043079/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=521104755025&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7846218042038700007&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hv...

The Amazing Richard Blanco, who wrote and performed the inaugural poem for Barack Obama in 2012, Discusses Blud by Rachel McKibbens.

I discuss how reefs turn sunlight into rocks with Sandy Sheehy. Buy imperiled Reef: https://www.amazon.com/Imperiled-Reef-Fascinating-Fragile-Caribbean/dp/1683402499

Shells!  This is an episode about shells.  They're everywhere, they're in everything and they're amazing! Buy The Sound of the Sea: https://www.amazon.com/Sound-Sea-Seashells-Fate-Oceans/dp/0393651444

Lou Mathews tells us about his work, his amazing book, and how he got a book that no publisher wanted to take a chance on traditionally published anyway.  We also talk about East Coast chauvinism in book publishing. Buy Shaky Town: https://www.amazon.com/Shaky-Town-Novel-Lou-Mathews/dp/1735303801/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2CR5HUD9V36YC&keywords=shaky+town&qid=1654645863&sprefix=shaky+%2Caps...

Lou and I talk about how awesome California is through the lens of Leonard Gardner's classic, Fat City. Buy Fat City: https://www.amazon.com/City-York-Review-Books-Classics/dp/1590178920/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1W2RP20IOEXPZ&keywords=fat+city&qid=1654212094&sprefix=fat+city%2Caps%2C311&sr=8-2

In part 2 of my discussion with Ruth Behar we talk about what it means to be a vulnerable observer.  We also talk about Poland and Cuba during WWII, Bata drumming and Santeria. Buy Letters From Cuba: https://www.amazon.com/Letters-Cuba-Ruth-Behar/dp/0525516476/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1653591531&sr=8-1 Here's some Bata Drumming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id8E60-n2x8

Our first children's book!  Ruth Behar and I talk about the amazingly deep and incredibly simple book, The Hundred Dresses but Elenor Estes.  We talk about bullying and I have a bit of a sad revelation. Buy The Hundred Dresses by Elenor Estes: https://www.amazon.com/Hundred-Dresses-Eleanor-Estes/dp/0152052607/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2AW2Y95K0TQB9&keywords=the+hundred+dresses&qid=1652718673&spr...

I give Catherine Wolff the 3rd degree about the behavior of the Catholic church in recent decades and she defends the church pretty admirably. Beyond: How Humankind Thinks About Heaven: https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Humankind-Thinks-About-Heaven/dp/1594634459

Catherine Wolff and I talk about Timothy Egan's book A Pilgrimage to Eternity.  I also make her answer for all of the Catholic Church's crimes. Buy A Pilgrimage to Eternity: https://www.amazon.com/Pilgrimage-Eternity-Canterbury-Search-Faith/dp/0735225230 Beyond: https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Humankind-Thinks-About-Heaven/dp/1594634459/ref=sr_1_1?crid=YKHFRSIK6D33&keywords=Beyond%2C+how+humanki...

Edwidge is an amazing writer and brilliant thinker.  In this episode, I just try to keep up with limited success. Buy A Small Place: https://www.amazon.com/Small-Place-Jamaica-Kincaid/dp/0374527075/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3GERRCMMYZ7YJ&keywords=a+small+place&qid=1651179527&sprefix=a+small+place%2Caps%2C283&sr=8-1 Learn More About Edwidge Danticat: https://edwidgedanticat.com

Mark Schatzker and I discuss how food has been altered over the last century and what the result is on the population at large.  Hint: It may be THE reason why people are obese in such record numbers.  If you've ever struggled with your weight, Shatzker's books might tell you why.  We also learn where to get the best steak in LA. Buy The End Of Craving: https://www.amazon.com/End-Craving-Recoverin...

Celebrated food writer Mark Schatzker and I talk about the Western classic True Grit by Charles Portis.  I learn from Mark how much poultry factors into this story. Buy True Grit: https://www.amazon.com/True-Grit-Novel-Charles-Portis/dp/159020459X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2DH1127F4MU6B&keywords=true+grit+book&qid=1649889088&sprefix=true+grit%2Caps%2C193&sr=8-1 Learn more about Mark: https:/...

Carrie Fountain and I talk about her poetry, Robert Frost, Gerrard Manly Hopkins and I accidentialy misgender Rilke.  In my defense, his middle name is Maria. Buy The Life: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/650137/the-life-by-carrie-fountain/ Find Out More About Carrie Fountain: https://www.carriefountain.com

Texas Poet Laurete Carrie Fountain and I talk about Poetry, the driftless region and Jeffrey Dahmer. Buy God of Nothingness: https://www.amazon.com/God-Nothingness-Poems-Mark-Wunderlich/dp/1644450429 Me and Maggie Smith Talk About Carrie Fountain's Book:

M&A Legend and Venture Capitalist Ken Miller and I talk about the nature of fiction and the nature of money. Buy The Thousand Autumns Of Jacob De Zoet: https://www.amazon.com/Thousand-Autumns-Jacob-Zoet-Novel/dp/0812976363/ref=sr_1_1?crid=18A7T5X1V6ZIP&keywords=the+thousand+autumns+of+jacob+de+zoet&qid=1648160985&sprefix=the+thousand+autumns+of%2Caps%2C305&sr=8-1

Vinod and I talk about the nature of memoir and novels, politics as a national pastime, and the Hindu attitude towards sex... Voltaire makes an appearance too... oh yea, so does the World Bank. Buy Silent Winds, Dry Seas: https://www.amazon.com/Silent-Winds-Dry-Seas-Novel/dp/0385547021/ref=sr_1_1?crid=18FLNDL7DL82P&keywords=silent+winds+dry+seas&qid=1646864464&s=books&sprefix=silen...

Vinod and I talk about about miserable Irish childhoods, the problem with the British, and the Catholic Church. Buy Angela's Ashes: https://www.amazon.com/Angelas-Ashes-Frank-McCourt-Memoirs/dp/0684874350/ref=asc_df_0684874350/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312371602209&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15996310014722693887&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&...