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Library Talks

294 episodes - English - Latest episode: 14 days ago - ★★★★ - 307 ratings

Join The New York Public Library and your favorite writers, artists, and thinkers for smart talks and provocative conversations from the nation’s cultural capital.

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Episodes

Marlon James & Salman Rushdie on Storytelling

January 09, 2015 20:52 - 1 hour - 32 MB

The two great authors discuss experimental narrative, political turmoil, and blending believable fiction with the absurd truth.

Thomas Struth on Collective Memory and Family Photos

December 30, 2014 20:53 - 1 hour - 43.5 MB

This week, the New York Public Library Podcast welcomes Thomas Struth, the world-famous and influential photographer best known for his family portraits and large-scale cityscapes. To celebrate the opening of NYPL’s new exhibition "Public Eye: 175 Years of Sharing Photography," Struth joins us to speak about cultural memory, photographing Queen Elizabeth, and reading the stories that images tell.

Neil Gaiman Reads "A Christmas Carol"

December 19, 2014 12:00 - 1 hour - 39.7 MB

Acclaimed author Neil Gaiman performs a memorable dramatic reading from the Library’s own rare copy of "A Christmas Carol," which includes edits and prompts Charles Dickens wrote in his own hand for his unique public readings 150 years ago. Dressed in full costume and joined by writer and BBC researcher Molly Oldfield, Gaiman performs the classic tale as its great author intended.

Maira Kalman on Her Favorite Things

December 11, 2014 21:03 - 26 minutes - 12 MB

The illustrator and author of more than twenty books for both kids and adults sits down with us to talk about strong female characters, nonlinear storytelling, and drawing outside the lines.

Mark Strand on Artistic Imagination

December 02, 2014 16:05 - 26 minutes - 12 MB

This week, we honor Pulitzer Prize winner and former US poet laureate Mark Strand, who passed away over the weekend at the age of 80. The beloved poet and author joined us this October to discuss art, imagination, and the life of the mind.

Marcus Samuelsson on Food, Love, & Gratitude

November 24, 2014 21:41 - 1 hour - 38.3 MB

This Thanksgiving week, we’re reaching back into the NYPL archives to bring you a story about food, family, and multicultural identity. Internationally acclaimed chef Marcus Samuelsson describes his remarkable journey from a humble kitchen in Sweden, to some of the most competitive and revered restaurants in the world — and, finally, to the opening of the beloved Red Rooster in Harlem.

Richard Ford on Becoming a Reader and Finding a Voice

November 20, 2014 22:22 - 35 minutes - 16.2 MB

This week, we welcome novelist Richard Ford, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "The Sportswriter," "Independence Day," and "The Lay of the Land." Ford comes to NYPL to talk about his latest book, "Let Me Be Frank with You," a fourth installment in his bestselling Frank Bascombe series, which now finds its protagonist struggling to make sense of his past in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

George Clinton on the Future of Funk

November 13, 2014 20:07 - 1 hour - 39.5 MB

This week, the NYPL Podcast welcomes George Clinton, the singular musical phenomenon who twisted soul music into funk. Clinton joins us to talk about his life's work, learning from his proteges, and pushing the boundaries of what music can do.

Neil Gaiman on Fairy Tales Revisited

November 06, 2014 18:34 - 1 hour - 194 MB

This week on the podcast, Neil Gaiman, the beloved bestselling author of "Coraline," "American Gods," and "The Graveyard Book," joins us on Halloween night for some scary stories and thrilling conversation. He speaks about disobedient adults, why he learned to read, and his own reimagining of "Hansel and Gretel."

Sam Roberts on New York City

October 31, 2014 17:38 - 31 minutes - 14.4 MB

This week on the podcast, Sam Roberts joins us to discuss seeing history through objects, productive procrastination, and what he thinks the motto of New York City should be.

Marjane Satrapi - Narratives of Social Protest.

October 24, 2014 19:27 - 1 hour - 36.2 MB

This week, the NYPL Podcast welcomes Marjane Satrapi, the graphic novelist, illustrator, film director, and children's book author who brought us Persepolis. She speaks to NYPL's Paul Holdengraber about the liabilities of learning English from American movies, the intelligence required for a sense of humor, and more.

Jane Smiley - The Last Hundred Years

October 17, 2014 19:02 - 26 minutes - 12.3 MB

This week, acclaimed author Jane Smiley joins us to discuss the origins of her new trilogy "The Last Hundred Years," the hard part about spending a century with her characters, and her middle school reading tastes.

Philip K. Howard - The Rule of Nobody

October 10, 2014 21:11 - 35 minutes - 16.2 MB

This week on the podcast, noted legal reformer Philip K. Howard discusses his latest work, "The Rule of Nobody: Saving America from Dead Laws and Broken Government."

Tom Perotta - Nine Inches

October 03, 2014 14:34 - 33 minutes - 46.1 MB

This week, the New York Public Library Podcast welcomes Tom Perrotta, whose novels Little Children, Election, and The Leftovers have been adapted into highly-lauded films and television series. He joins us today to discuss his latest work, Nine Inches.

Ben Lerner - 10:04

September 26, 2014 19:24 - 1 hour - 121 MB

The award-winning poet and author of the novel Leaving the Atocha Station brings his masterful command of words from the page to the stage, celebrating the start of LIVE's Fall 2014 season and his new book, 10:04.

Ayana Mathis - The Twelve Tribes of Hattie

September 22, 2014 19:50 - 28 minutes - 13.1 MB

This week on the podcast, acclaimed author Ayana Mathis comes to NYPL to talk about her latest work, The Twelve Tribes of Hattie.

Losing Parents to AIDS: The Personal and the Political

September 05, 2014 21:04 - 1 hour - 44.8 MB

This week, The New York Public Library Podcast features personal stories from adult children who have lost their parents to AIDS, including Alysia Abbott, author of Fairyland: A Memoir of My Father.

Robert Morris: "Object Sculpture, 1960-1965"

August 22, 2014 17:07 - 1 hour - 36.4 MB

This week on The New York Public Library Podcast, internationally renowned artist Robert Morris discusses various aspects of his practice and some of the key themes—time, memory, language, medium, and process—of his work.

CUT – The Songs That Didn't Make It

August 07, 2014 17:40 - 1 hour - 31.9 MB

The Library for the Performing Arts presents an evening of songs—songs that were cut from this season’s new Broadway musicals, including The Bridges of Madison County, If/Then, and Rocky.

The Letters of Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.

July 24, 2014 20:49 - 49 minutes - 22.7 MB

This week, The New York Public Library Podcast welcomes Stephen Schlesinger, as he discusses his new book, The Letters of Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., a collection of his father’s vivid, witty correspondence influential political and cultural figures of his time.

George Prochnik - "The Impossible Exile"

July 10, 2014 19:41 - 1 hour - 42.4 MB

This week on The New York Public Library Podcast, acclaimed author George Prochnik discusses The Impossible Exile, his new book about the life and work of Stefan Zweig, an icon of the Viennese cultural renaissance.

Amazon: Business As Usual?

July 03, 2014 18:20 - 1 hour - 43.5 MB

In April 2014, Amazon and Hachette locked horns in what has become a very public, and still ongoing, battle over contract negotiations. After the online retailer removed the pre-order option, imposed shipping delays, and slashed discounts on the book publisher's titles, the reaction against Amazon was swift and fierce. But the story of the Amazon-Hachette dispute is anything but simple, and raises critical questions about the future of the book publishing industry. What is really at stake fo...

A. E. Hotchner - Stories and Biographies

June 26, 2014 18:25 - 33 minutes - 15.4 MB

When you've written biographies on Sophia Loren, Ernest Hemingway and Doris Day you're bound to have some pretty incredible stories. This week on the podcast we join editor, novelist, playwright, and biographer A. E. Hotchner as he reflects on some memorable moments from impressive career. 

Karl Ove Knausgaard and Jeffrey Eugenides – "My Struggle"

June 23, 2014 19:38 - 1 hour - 33.8 MB

On this episode of The New York Public Library Podcast, Norwegian author Karl Ove Knausgaard dissects the latest volume of his critically acclaimed autobiography, My Struggle—and the controversy that surrounds it—with Jeffrey Eugenides, author of The Virgin Suicides.

John Waters - "Car Sick"

June 05, 2014 18:20 - 1 hour - 38.4 MB

This week on The New York Public Library Podcast, filmmaker John Waters comes to us with tales from his latest book, Carsick, which chronicles his adventures hitchhiking across the United States.

Colm Tóibín - The Testament of Mary

May 30, 2014 18:02 - 31 minutes - 29.2 MB

This week, The New York Public Library Podcast welcomes the Irish novelist, playwright, and critic Colm Tóibín to Books at Noon, the Library’s new series of free lunchtime author talks.

Kara Walker and Jad Abumrad - "A Subtlety"

May 23, 2014 04:00 - 1 hour - 42 MB

This week on The New York Public Library Podcast, renowned visual artist Kara Walker joins Radiolab host Jad Abumrad to discuss her new show at Domino Sugar Factory, and explore the complicated history of sugar, sex, sweetness, and power.

Chuck Palahniuk and Douglas Coupland: "Balls in the Air"

May 16, 2014 18:36 - 1 hour - 41 MB

Chuck Palahniuk is best known as the author of the novels Fight Club and Choke. Douglas Coupland is the author of the international bestsellers Generation A and JPod. This week on The New York Public Library Podcast, the two take to the stage at LIVE from the NYPL for a literary conversation that doubles as a social experiment.

Eve Ensler: "In the Body of the World"

May 09, 2014 17:57 - 40 minutes - 18.6 MB

This week, The New York Public Library Podcast welcomes Tony Award-winning playwright, performer, and activist Eve Ensler to Books at Noon, the Library’s new series of free lunchtime author talks.

The Craft Beer Revolution

April 29, 2014 19:04 - 1 hour - 44.9 MB

This week on The New York Public Library podcast, LIVE from the NYPL welcomes three leaders of the craft beer movement. Brooklyn Brewery cofounder Steve Hindy—joined by Kim Jordan, New Belgium Brewing Company CEO, and Charlie Papazian founder of the American Homebrewers Association—recounts how craft brewers have forever changed the way the world experiences beer.

Joyce Carol Oates: "The Landscape of My Spiritual Self"

April 18, 2014 17:33 - 31 minutes - 14.6 MB

This week, The New York Public Library podcast welcomes acclaimed novelist Joyce Carol Oates to Books at Noon, the Library’s new series of free lunchtime author talks.

"Books are Conversations": Katherine Boo & Adrian Nicole LeBlanc

April 11, 2014 19:48 - 1 hour - 37.6 MB

This week on the podcast, hear the two award-winning authors discuss poverty around the world.

"Get to the point" | Malcolm Gladwell LIVE from the NYPL

April 03, 2014 22:24 - 1 hour - 44.6 MB

This week on the New York Public Library Podcast, best-selling author and challenger of conventional wisdom Malcolm Gladwell brings his critical approach to LIVE from the NYPL as he expounds on his newest interests.

The Snow Queen: Michael Cunningham on "Books at Noon"

March 26, 2014 19:28 - 30 minutes - 14 MB

This week on the podcast, we welcome Michael Cunningham to Books at Noon, the Library's new series of free lunchtime author talks. Cunningham is the author of six novels, including A Home at the End of the World and The Hours, which was awarded both the Pulitzer Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award. His latest novel is The Snow Queen.

Report from the Interior | Paul Auster on "Books at Noon"

March 20, 2014 19:37 - 27 minutes - 12.4 MB

This week on the podcast, award winning author Paul Auster stops by "Books at Noon" – NYPL's weekly lunchtime author talk series – to discuss some of his latest work, pushing the boundaries of autobiography, and much more.

The Fun Parts | Sam Lipsyte on 'Books at Noon'

March 13, 2014 21:43 - 23 minutes - 10.6 MB

Today's New York Public Library podcast welcomes Sam Lipsyte to Books at Noon, the Library's new series of free lunchtime author talks. Lipsyte was a Guggenheim Fellow, is the recipient of the Believer Book Award, and is the author of five books, including most recently a collection of short stories, The Fun Parts.

The Baby Boom | PJ O’Rourke on Books at Noon

March 06, 2014 21:40 - 26 minutes - 12.2 MB

Today’s New York Public Library podcast features the new Books at Noon series; a free weekly program featuring popular and acclaimed authors in the Schwarzman Building on 42nd Street and 5th Avenue. Our first guest is the political satirist and author PJ O’Rourke who has written 16 books, most recently "Baby Boom: How it Got that Way (And it Wasn’t My Fault) (And I’ll Never Do it Again)."

The Grand Budapest Hotel: Wes Anderson LIVE from the NYPL

March 03, 2014 22:40

Wes Anderson's vivid cinematic aesthetic and idiosyncratic characters make his films both immediately recognizable and endearing. Anderson returns to LIVE to explore his passions, influences, and his newest film The Grand Budapest Hotel, in conversation with Paul Holdengräber.

The Grand Budapest Hotel | Wes Anderson LIVE from the NYPL

March 03, 2014 22:40 - 1 hour - 40 MB

Wes Anderson's vivid cinematic aesthetic and idiosyncratic characters make his films both immediately recognizable and endearing. Anderson returns to LIVE to explore his passions, influences, and his newest film The Grand Budapest Hotel, in conversation with Paul Holdengräber.

You Don't Know Nothing: Toni Morrison and Junot Díaz LIVE from the NYPL

February 06, 2014 15:48 - 1 hour - 37.9 MB

LIVE closes the Fall 2013 season with a conversation between 2013 Library Lion Junot Diaz and the writer who most influenced him, Nobel Prize-winner Toni Morrison. "I think the most sustained love of mine," Diaz has said, "the one that's carried me through all these years, is my relationship with Toni Morrison. Im telling you, I'm one of those people who's still cracking my head on many of the ideas Toni Morrison both suggested and elaborated on in her work." Witness a powerful event as Dia...

My Life In Middlemarch: Rebecca Mead LIVE from the NYPL

January 30, 2014 20:02 - 1 hour - 37.5 MB

A passionate attachment to a great work of literature can shape our lives and help us to read our own histories.  For Rebecca Mead, that book was George Eliot's Middlemarch, which she first read as a young woman in an English coastal town, and reread regularly throughout her life. In My Life In Middlemarch, the New Yorker writer revisits her own past and Eliot's work in a new way, by leading us into the life that the book made for her, as well as the many lives the novel has led since it wa...

The Good Lord Bird Band: James McBride LIVE from the NYPL

January 27, 2014 21:41 - 1 hour - 32.4 MB

James McBride opens LIVE from the NYPL's Spring 2014 season with an exploration of his latest work The Good Lord Bird - winner of the 2013 National Book Award for fiction - through words and music. The evening will feature conversation with the author and musician, as well as performances by McBride and his quintet, whose mix of spirituals and jazz renditions of classic gospel songs are inspired by the abolitionist John Brown, a key figure in this novel. With Keith Robinson on guitar, Trevor...

40 Chances: The Buffetts with Tom Brokaw LIVE from the NYPL

January 24, 2014 22:01 - 56 minutes - 25.8 MB

Three generations of philanthropists sit down to discuss business, charity, farming, and their 40 Chances in life, moderated by Tom Brokaw. If you had the resources to accomplish something great in the world, what would you do? That's the question legendary investor Warren Buffett posed to his son in 2006, when he announced he was leaving the bulk of his fortune to philanthropy. Howard G. Buffett set out to help the most vulnerable people on earth—nearly a billion individuals who lack basic...

Undisputed Truth: Mike Tyson LIVE From the NYPL

January 22, 2014 20:52 - 1 hour - 37.5 MB

Mike Tyson has defied expectations and conventional wisdom during his three decades in the public eye. Tyson, the one-time heavyweight champion of the world and a legend both in and out of the ring, joins LIVE for a conversation about his tumultuous life in the same straightforward and sincere tone seen in his new memoir, Undisputed Truth. One of the most thrilling and ferocious boxers of all time, Tyson's brilliance in the ring was often compromised by reckless behavior. Years of hard part...

Guests

Neil Gaiman
6 Episodes
Colson Whitehead
2 Episodes
Elizabeth Alexander
2 Episodes
James McBride
2 Episodes
Joyce Carol Oates
2 Episodes
Marilynne Robinson
2 Episodes
Noam Chomsky
2 Episodes
Salman Rushdie
2 Episodes
Tom Wolfe
2 Episodes
Toni Morrison
2 Episodes
Zadie Smith
2 Episodes
Alice Waters
1 Episode
Anna Deavere Smith
1 Episode
Ann Patchett
1 Episode
Art Spiegelman
1 Episode
Arundhati Roy
1 Episode
Atul Gawande
1 Episode
Azar Nafisi
1 Episode
Billy Collins
1 Episode
Bob Dylan
1 Episode
Chuck Palahniuk
1 Episode
Colm Tóibín
1 Episode
Dan Savage
1 Episode
Douglas Coupland
1 Episode
Edwidge Danticat
1 Episode
Elizabeth Gilbert
1 Episode
Elvis Costello
1 Episode
Erica Jong
1 Episode
Eric Klinenberg
1 Episode
Erin Lee Carr
1 Episode
Eve Ensler
1 Episode
Geoff Dyer
1 Episode
George Balanchine
1 Episode
George Saunders
1 Episode
Gore Vidal
1 Episode
James Baldwin
1 Episode
James Shapiro
1 Episode
Janet Mock
1 Episode
Janine di Giovanni
1 Episode
Janine Di Giovanni
1 Episode
Jeffrey Eugenides
1 Episode
Jhumpa Lahiri
1 Episode
Joan Didion
1 Episode
John McPhee
1 Episode
John Waters
1 Episode
Luc Sante
1 Episode
Malcolm Gladwell
1 Episode
Margaret Atwood
1 Episode
Marina Abramović
1 Episode
Marjane Satrapi
1 Episode
Maya Angelou
1 Episode
Michael Chabon
1 Episode
Michael Cunningham
1 Episode
Monica Lewinsky
1 Episode
Muhammad Yunus
1 Episode
Naomi Klein
1 Episode
Nathaniel Kahn
1 Episode
Niall Ferguson
1 Episode
Oliver Sacks
1 Episode
Philip K. Howard
1 Episode
Rebecca Solnit
1 Episode
Richard Ford
1 Episode
Richard Price
1 Episode
Robert A. Caro
1 Episode
Ron Chernow
1 Episode
Ron Rash
1 Episode
Rosanne Cash
1 Episode
Roxane Gay
1 Episode
Sarah Lewis
1 Episode
Shane Bauer
1 Episode
Sharon Olds
1 Episode
Simon Winchester
1 Episode
Sonia Shah
1 Episode
Stephen Greenblatt
1 Episode
Suketu Mehta
1 Episode
Suzanne Farrell
1 Episode
Tom Brokaw
1 Episode
Tony Kushner
1 Episode
Van Jones
1 Episode
Wole Soyinka
1 Episode
Yanis Varoufakis
1 Episode
Zora Neale Hurston
1 Episode

Books

A Christmas Carol
5 Episodes
Uncle Tom's Cabin
1 Episode