Richard Holmes is fascinated by what he calls "The Age of Wonder." The subtitle of his book is "how the romantic generation discovered the beauty and the terror of science," and he tells Steve Paulson about how Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" came directly out of the scientific climate of the time.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
Audio
Steve Paulson spoke with Kurt Vonnegut just after his 83rd birthday, and Vonnegut recalled his experiences during the fire-bombing of Dresden.
Max Boot tells Jim Fleming that the United States is the most powerful state that’s ever existed, and that sometimes it’s a good and necessary thing to take unilateral action against tyrants.
Kelly Link tells Anne Strainchamps where some of her stories came from and about answering customers' questions in a Boston bookstore.
Marion Winik muses on macaroni and cheese, and the lessons it can teach parents - and kids - about giving.
Linguist Mike Hammond talks about made-up language games with Jim Fleming. Going way beyond pig latin, we hear samples from “The Name Game,” as well as “ob” and “Geta.”
Classical pianist Leon Fleisher tells Jim Fleming about the neurological disorder that crippled his right hand for over thirty years and what it meant for his musicianship.
Nature writer Robert Finch gives Steve Paulson an insider's view of the ecosystem of the Cape Cod town of Wellfleet. They walk along the outskirts of Wellfleet, and visit shellfish growers Pat and Barbara Woodbury, who are raking for clams.
You can see photos from Cape Cod here.
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