Kim Stanley Robinson is renowned for his futuristic science fiction, so he surprised lots of people by writing a novel set in the Paleolithic era. He says recent archeological discoveries, as well as his backpacking in the Sierra Nevada, inspired him to write about our ancient ancestors.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
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What would it be like to spend two days a month in complete silence?
For nearly a decade, political scientist Kathy Cramer has been travelling throughout rural Wisconsin, talking with groups of people at small cafes, gas stations, and other popular local gathering spots. Through her conversations with ordinary Wisconsinites, she's discovered a growing resentment between the state's rural and academic communities. She tells Steve Paulson that the dream of the Wisconsin Idea isn't connecting with many of the state's rural residents.
Alan Turing wasn't just a brain. He was also an accomplished athlete -- a runner, who nearly made it to the Olympics. British writer Alan Garner knew Alan Turing as his friend and running partner.
Steve Paulson talks with philosopher Alva Noe, author of "Out of Our Heads: Why You Are Not Your Brain, and Other Lessons from the Biology of Consciousness."
Economists at the University of Warwick in England have calculated the price of happiness. Andrew Oswald tells Steve Paulson that money can buy happiness, but it takes a lot.
Constitution quoting religious fanatics with guns taking over government land might seem as extreme as you could take your beliefs in god and country. But you can take it further. Christian Picciolini is the former leader of the US’s first neo-Nazi skinhead organization. He too was acting out of patriotism. He was also acting out of hate and white supremacy. The title of his 2015 memoir, “Romantic Violence” says it all. But Christian quit being a neo-Nazi skinhead. And in 2010, he co-founded a nonprofit peace advocacy groups called Life After Hate that helps youth leave extremist groups. Charles Monroe-Kane sat down with Christian for a frank discussion on racism.
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