Cancer has been part of life since the origins of evolution.Von Steve Scher

Baseball inspires poets and scribes to wax on about some essential baseball-ness that reflects larger values. Maybe baseball is not simply a game, but something grander, a philosophy that might help people order the broader human experience? Alva Noë is a writer and a philosopher who thinks about baseball. His latest book is Infinite Baseball: Note…

We think of the astronauts, those brave people who took a ride on a giant rocket ship into the unknown on their way to the moon. Charles Fishman got to thinking about the more than four hundred thousand working people who actually invented the space program, switch by switch, stitch by stitch, making the dream a reality.…

What will the digital world of the future be like? Will humans, or our eternally humming digital simulacra, live in heaven or hell?Von Steven Scher

Journalist Rachel Louise Snyder has looked at domestic violence around the world in her new book “ No Visible Bruises: What We Don’t Know About Domestic Violence Can Kill Us.”Von Steve Scher

health, according to Dr. Sandro Galea, isn’t going to actually occur, for individuals or societies, if we stay focused at that level of attention and care. Health should be considered how everyone lives in their neighborhoods, the opportunities that exist in education and employment. Sandro Galea is an innovator in epidemiology. He is Dean and Prof…

After a career of carefully editing so many accomplished writers, language and punctuation remain a joy to Marry Norris, renowned New Yorker Copy Editor. Her first book, “Between You and Me: Confessions of AComma Queen,”was nominated for a Thurber Prize for American Humor. In her follow up,“Greek To Me: Adventures of The Comma Queen,” Norris shares…

A broken democracy, perhaps like a broken clock, can be right sometimes. Journalist Hedrick Smith’s new film, “Winning Back Our Democracy,” profiles citizen activists around the United States who are making a difference. As one Florida activist put it, if it can happen in their state, maybe community by community, an end to gerrymandering and a com…

A broken democracy, perhaps like a broken clock, can be right sometimes. Journalist Hedrick Smith’s new film, “Winning Back Our Democracy,” profiles citizen activists around the United States who are making a difference. As one Florida activist put it, if it can happen in their state, maybe community by community, an end to gerrymandering and a com…

Siri Hustvedt talks about scholarship, teaching story to psychiatry residents and her new book about memory and time in her new novel, “Memories of the Future.”Von Steve Scher

“Mama’s Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Tell us About Ourselves” by Frans De Waal raises a troubling question that challenges humans place in the world. If animals, from mice and fish to apes and birds, have emotional intelligence, can recognize happiness or distress in themselves and in others, then aren’t we humans obligated to at least a…

Arne Duncan served as President Obama’s Secretary of Education. His assessment of the nation’s efforts to educate children and of his own tenure in federal office is “How Schools Work: An Inside Account of Failure and Success from One of the Nation’s Longest-Serving Secretaries of Education.”Von Steve Scher

Octavio Solis is an award-winning working playwright immersed in the culture and politics of our time. His plays tell the stories of rural America, of Latino America, of border America. He comes to Town Hall Seattle December 4th,the Rainier Arts Center, to read from his new book, a collection of short dream-like stories of his life growing up along…

An extended walk through Seattle’s Chinatown/International District with scholar Marie Wong. “Building Tradition: Pan-Asian Seattle and Life in the Residential Hotels”is the Seattle University professor’s historical examination of this vibrant Seattle neighborhood. The interview came out of an assignment for Seattle Magazine, published in the Decem…

An extended walk through Seattle’s Chinatown/International District with scholar Marie Wong. “Building Tradition: Pan-Asian Seattle and Life in the Residential Hotels” is the Seattle University professor’s historical examination of this vibrant Seattle neighborhood. The interview came out of an assignment for Seattle Magazine published in the Decem…

Through their wealth, philanthropists influence society. Is that fair? As it is currently set-up, Rob Reich says it isn’t. Reich (pronounced “reesh”) is a professor of political science and faculty co-director for the Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society at Stanford. He has written “Just Giving: Why Philanthropy Is Failing Democracy An…

Uber has disrupted the taxi industry around the world. But its way of doing business may be reshaping other industries. Alex Rosenblat is a technology ethnographer, a social scientist who learns from strangers and analyzes the technologies they use that shape their place in society. She took hundreds of rides with hundreds of drivers around the US.…

Peter Sagal, the very funny host of NPR’s News quiz “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!” has written a serious and funny book about his attraction to the physical and psychological benefits he gets from running. Sagal talks about his history with running, his hair-raising experience at the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, and the way running helped him as h…

Pulitzer prize winning journalist, Truthdig columnist and RT TV talk show host Chris Hedges reports on what he sees as a declining empire, where oligarchs rules, people are disenfranchised, poorly served by their media and racing towards global climate disaster. He is talking about America.Von Steve Scher

The origins of humanity have become less uncertain as scientists like David Reich and his colleagues extract ancient DNA from the bones of our distant ancestors. The fast moving science is revealing our common ancestry and our surprising relationships with ancient humans. Reich notes there is much more knowledge to come as more tests are done on an…

People need bees. Since the first wasp got a taste for pollen 125 million years ago, bees and flowers have co-evolved in a way that brings almonds and apricots to our tables. But honeybees, as well as the less well known but equally critical miner, leafcutter, sweat and mason bees are in trouble, getting slammed by climate change, habitat loss and …

“The Tangled tree: A Radical New History of Life,” looks new scientific understanding that tangles up human understanding of the tree of life. Award winning science writer David Quammen says maybe life is more like an elaborate topiary.Von thehouseofpodcasts

Ray WIliams and Allison Rinard are urban farmers. Their goal is to bring communities together around flowers and food.Von Steve Scher

The next time you fear for the state of the union, turn your attention to small cities across America. James Fallows and Deborah Fallows say it is in Erie, Pennsylvania and Fresno, California that a brighter American future is being forged. The Fallows new book, Our Towns: A 100,00 mile journey into the heart of America, reads like a call for hope …

It is very hard to stamp out a weed.Von Steve Scher

Next time you're contemplating the fate of the world over a pint of ale, take a few moments to consider that amber nectar's own role in shaping society.Von Steve Scher

Will we innovate our way out of looming crises in climate, water, food and energy? Will cutting back and living within our means save us? Or are we like most species, devouring our resources until it is too late? Charles Mann explores the arguments and the values behind two ways of viewing the future- that innovations will save us or that reducing …

That Stack of Books listeners, I am back with an interview with none other than Nancy Pearl. Nancy has written her first novel, "George and Lizzie." It's a love story, with one partner, Lizzie, trying to figure out just how committed she is to George, who seems to be going along with a heart full of love and a head full of patience. We met in Seatt…

From the 1920’s until television permanently settled into our living rooms in the late 1950’s, radio blasted out comedies, variety shows, adventures and dramas to waiting listeners. Radio launched performers like Jack Benny and Fred Allen into stardom. It offered established stars like Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Jimmy Stewart and Frank Sinatra…

At Length features interviews by Steve Scher with artists, authors and scholars visting Town Hall Seattle Our irrational behavior interferes with our best efforts to curb spending and increase saving. Dan Ariely has come up with some rules of thumb that can help us make better decisions. Dollars and Sense: How We Misthink Money and How to Spend Sma…

At Length is a podcast featuring interview with visiting scholar and authors to Town Hall Seattle. How far removed is Vladimir Putin, the leader of Russia, from the Czars of old and the Soviet Premiers of the past century? What is the source of his grip power in Russia? What happened along the path to democracy envisioned after the end of the Sovie…

Nancy Pearl, the only public librarian featured as an action figure, has written her first novel. “George and Lizzie” is a funny, acerbic look at an always troubled, always promising marriage. We talked at Bryant Corner Cafe in the Northeast Seattle neighborhood of Ravenna-Bryant. Nancy and I had another podcast for a year or so called That Stack o…

Air Force Major Margaret Witt (Ret.) sued the Military over Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, which prohibited discrimination against closeted homosexuals but barred openly gay, lesbian, trans or bisexual individuals from service. Her decision to confront the 17 year policy helped overturn the military’s treatment of gays and lesbians and ushered in a new era …

Classic cover of a classic book Don’t Reject Science Fiction or Books That Take You Outside The Box or Why Nancy Hates Categorizing Books! Again we are dealing with the basic issue that rankles Nancy Pearl. When you put books into categories or label books as this but not that, too many readers skip over wonderful reading experiences. She knows som…

Nancy and Steve had the opportunity to spend some time with King County Librarian Aarene Storms and a great group of young readers at the Teen Pizza and Books group at the Lake Forest Park Library meeting room. You should drop by. The next one at the Lake Forest Park Library is scheduled for June 7th. By the way, there are numerous reading groups f…

Professor Marieka Klawitter Over the last few years, the debate in America over the rights of people of different gender identities has become a key civil rights issue. Professor Marieka Klawitter is the final speaker in the UW’s Equity and Difference series. Her widely published research, focuses on poverty, family savings and the economic impact …

Stewart O'Nan's newest novel. “In post-World War II Jerusalem, a concentration camp survivor becomes involved in the underground resistance movement against the British.” That is the straightforward description of Stewart O’Nan’s newest novel, “City of Secrets.” Brand, the camp survivor navigates between loss and hope in violent Jerusalem. Stewart …

Last week we talked about books that make us happy. For balance, we take up books that make a reader sad, that take the reader into the darkest places of the human experience. Here are some books that are such an emotionally tough read, they might best be read In the sunny days of summer. The Bryant Corner Cafe is a warm and cozy place. The sunshin…

We have had some remarkably wonderful spring days here in Seattle. Record April high's in the 80's have put smiles on our faces and have us thinking happy thoughts and reaching for books that make us happy. We have tasked ourselves, those of us sitting around the table at the Bryant Corner Cafe and those of basking in the weather in our homes, on t…

Toure Toure, the writer, TV commentator and social critic, was the Signature Speaker at the University of Washington lecture series on Equity and Difference . Steve spoke to Toure about his work, including his book, "Who is Afraid of Post-Blackness: What it is Like to Be Black In America Now." Here is a short excerpt from the interview. For the ent…

Nancy and Steve talk about two books that look at the history of the American civil rights movement. But one book sparks another suggestion. Carry Me home: Birmingham, Alabama: The Climactic Battle of the Civil Rights Revolution,” by Diane McWhorter. Nancy says that if you are going to read one book about how young people challenged Jim Crow instit…

What are the norms for public and private behavior in these modern times? Well, different norms for different occasions, sure. Different norms for different people too, of course. And too often different norms depending on the color of our skin. That last notion, pointing to the prejudice we carry around inside ourselves, is the most insidious and …

Why do we know the name of an early 20th century Russian mystic? Why is it that the story of Rasputin has become a mini-industry of myth and folklore, well into the 21st century? Here is a That Stack of Books Extra, an author interview about a forthcoming book. Steve Scher talked to historian Douglas Smith at Folio, the new independent library and …

When Mount St. Helens erupted on May 18th, 1980, 57 people were killed. What were they still doing in harm's way on the mountain, after months of warnings by scientists and rumblings from the volcano? Steve Olson has gone back to tell their stories in his new book, "Eruption: The Untold Story of Mount St. Helens." We spoke at Town Hall, in Seattle.…

The political season is in full throttled shout now. So we figured this might be the time to pick up some books to put our American system into some context. A few of the books we discussed in this episode. All The King’s Men, by Robert Penn Warren Advise and Consent, Allan Drury Lincoln, Gore Vidal Burr, by Gore Vidal America, by John Stewart All …

Steve had the chance to talk to a few Northwest based writers who have new books on the way. That prompted Nancy to share a few new books by Northwesterners that she is reading right now too. “Lovecraft Country,” by Matt Ruff. Nancy says Ruff takes the thriller into new and surprising territory. This story begins as a very realistic novel, set in 1…

The rigors of the mystery test our panel. We debate authors, series, and definitions. And we have quite a list. Before we got started on our mysteries, Nancy Decided to add to our stack of sad books. “The Velveteen Rabbit,” by Margery Williams “The House of Mirth,” Edith Warton “Charlotte’s Web,” by E.B. White “When Breathe Becomes Air,” by Paul Ka…

School reform could succeed in the U.S. if the cultural paradigm is flipped and urban schools led by strong leadership among principals, community activists and students are acknowledged as leaders in promoting quality education. University of Chicago scholar Dr. Charles M. Payne talks with Steve Scher about real reform. Dr. Payne spoke in Seattle …

You get that dreaded phone call from your loved one, who tells you, “I have cancer.” How do you share the pain and the fear? Nancy is off this week and we have an interview Steve did with a northwest author. In a sense it is following up on last week's episode about romance and love. Here is a true love story. For writer Abbe Rolnick, the love and …

Why aren't Indians often heard in mainstream America? Scholar K. Tsianina Lomawaima says it’s because of the simple but challenging reality that this country is built on Native lands. The recipient of the UW Distinguished Teaching Award talks to Steve Scher about American Indians, citizenship, identity and strength. Professor K. Tsianina Lomawaima …