Anne Frank: The Book, The Life, The Afterlife

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From the depths of history, to the classroom, to the stage, how do we understand the enduring influence of the story of Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl? Francine Prose, adoring fan and author of Reading Like a Writer will join us to discuss the book, the life, and the afterlife.

Guest

• Francine Prose, author of Anne Frank: The Book, The Life, The Afterlife

Death Panels and the Fear of Dying

(http://www.wpr.org/hereonearth/archive_090914k.cfm)

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When Georgia Weithe's father was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 1997, she approached his impending death with absolute terror. To her great surprise, the experience deepened her life in ways she could not have anticipated, and she came to the conclusion that death is a teacher and a friend. Georgia is the author of Shining Moments: Finding Hope in Facing Death.

Primo Levi's Universe

(http://www.wpr.org/hereonearth/archive_090730k.cfm)

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Italian humanist Primo Levi is best known as a memoirist of Auschwitz, but he was also a scientist, fiction writer, and poet: in short, a Renaissance man. Primo Levi's Universe by Sam Magavern, published to coincide with Levi's 90th anniversary on July 31st, gives us a chance to find out what made this great humanist tick.

Guest

• Sam Magavern, author of Primo Levi's Universe: A Writer's Journey

Related Links

• Sam Magavern
• Primo Levi's Universe: A Writer's Journey
• Our previous show about Levi: Christmas in Auschwitz

Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature

(http://www.wpr.org/HereOnEarth/archive_090707k.cfm)

Forget the notion that technology improves upon nature. Science writer Janine Benyus introduces us to pioneering engineers making technological breakthroughs by uncovering and copying nature's hidden marvels.

Guest

• Janine Benyus, natural sciences writer, innovation consultant, and author of six books, including her latest, Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature, President of the Biomimicry Institute

The Art Instinct

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(http://wpr.org/hereonearth/archive_090609k.cfm)

Can you imagine what our cave people ancestors were thinking as they relaxed by the side of a fire and enjoyed a beautiful sunset? If you think that we've only learned to appreciate beauty more recently, think again. We are celebrating Darwin's bicentennial year with author Denis Dutton and his book The Art Instinct: Beauty, Pleasure, and Human Evolution which explores the evolutionary role of aesthetic appreciation.

• Denis Dutton, founder and editor of the hugely popular Web site Arts & Letters Daily, author of The Art Instinct: Beauty, Pleasure, and Human Evolution

Guerrilla Gardening

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(http://www.wpr.org/hereonearth/archive_090601k.cfm)

What do you get when you cross a desire to go green and the nerve to takeover land owed by someone else? It's called Guerrilla Gardening, and while it was first practiced in 17th century Britain, it's become a movement in places like New York City, where abandoned lots are turned into lush gardens by local "Green Guerrillas."

Guest

• Richard Reynolds, author of On Guerrilla Gardening: A Handbook for Gardening Without Boundaries

Related Links

• Richard Reynolds and his book

The Book Of Dead Philosophers

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(http://wpr.org/hereonearth/archive_090602k.cfm)

What can you tell about a person from the way they die? In The Book of Dead Philosophers, Simon Critchley, Professor of Philosophy at the New School in New York, explores death, our last taboo, from a most unusual perspective. He recounts the demise of famous philosophers, revealing how their variously tragic, amusing, and bizarre ends can help us lead richer lives.

Guest

• Simon Critchley, author of The Book of Dead Philosophers, Professor and Chair of Philosophy at the New School for Social Research in New York

Related Links

• Simon Critchley
• The Book of Dead Philosophers (with excerpt)
• New York Times review of the book
• Simon Critchley's interview on NPR

Christian Missionary Deconverted by Tribe

Pirahã tribe of Brazil returns Christian Missionary, Daniel Everett, to atheism

More on the Pirahã tribe & linguist, Daniel Everett - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7Spzj...

http://www.newscientist.com/article/m...

http://www.llc.ilstu.edu/dlevere/

http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=545

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/20...

http://centripetalnotion.com/2007/04/...

And a very special appearance on Wisconsin's own Here On Earth: Radio Without Borders with Jean Feraca: http://www.wpr.org/hereonearth/archive_090112k.cfm

4 Essential Podcasts for Every ipod

Freedomain Radio: If you are at all interested in anything vaguely cerebral then Stefan Molyneaux is your man. An anarcho-capitalist, philosopher, ex-software entrepreneur and orator, Stef is positively encyclopedic in his knowledge and doggedly pursues empirical truth. Covering everything from dream analysis to free will, Freedomain Radio is a miraculous resource for anybody who is starting their journey into the raw wilderness of Anarchist thought and self-knowledge. This podcast seriously changed my life and it will do the same for you too.

http://www.freedomainradio.com/

I Love Movies: Doug Benson the drowsy-eyed star of "Super High Me" and a regular of VH1's "Best Week Ever" hosts a round table of comedians discussing, what else, movies! With guests ranging from Bob Odenkirk and Dana Gould to actor Jerry O'Connell, Doug Benson has a surprisingly entertaining, by-the-seat-of-his-pants biweekly free-for-all. It's often best when the panel devolves into unadulterated silliness which usually culminates with the "Leonard Maltin game" that ends every episode. The Leonard Maltin game is a challenge where both guests try to guess a movie only by three clues: how film critic Leonard Maltin reviewed it, the year of release and a list of the cast presented from least known to best. This podcast is great for a few good belly laughs and will not disappoint.

http://handheldcomedy.com/index.php?task=ms&id=8&referred=TRUE&mature_pass=TRUE

Harcore History: Up until college history, for me, was just a bunch of vapid, dead white guys I had to memorize to pass a class. But thanks to Professor Aldrete history became a story curling out from the jungle and into my lap. A tale filled with the most improbable twists of destiny, grotesque carnage and immortal love. If you're like me and can't get enough history then this podcast is for you. And if you couldn't give two shits about history then this podcast is for you as well. Because all it takes is a terrific teacher to kindle that spark and host Dan Carlin is just dramatic enough for the novice, apolitical enough for the casual observer and exhaustive enough for the expert.

http://www.dancarlin.com/disp.php/hh

Here on Earth: Radio Without Borders: Unique among the other podcast selected for this list, Here on Earth is actually a radio show based in Madison, WI. After giving it a listen I hope a lot of the myths about us cheeseheads will be dispelled. The topics are varied but the prime directive of the broadcast is to showcase the similarities between cultures and celebrate the differences. And much to the the credit of the show's producers, writers and host, Jean Feraca, the tone is not usually a schmaltzy "We are the World" singalong, but one of a matter-of-fact jubilation and a true desire to inform. Yes, us Wisconsinites do enjoy thinking and we are interested in what lies beyond state lines, and Here on Earth delivers it to us in a way only radio can.

http://www.wpr.org/hereonearth/

Salman Rushdie on "Here on Earth"

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In Salman Rushdie’s latest wild and whirling novel, The Enchantress of Florence, a refugee from Florence ends up in the court of the Mughal emperor Akbar: A Muslim vegetarian, a warrior who wants only peace, a philosopher king and the first great Indian secularist. Jean Feraca talks with Salman Rushdie this hour on Here on Earth: Radio Without Borders.

Salman Rushdie on "Here on Earth"

100-Mile Diet

What kind of diet reduces miles rather than calories? Alisa Smith and James MacKinnon's 100-Mile Diet, which has taken off as a new way to think –- and eat -– locally. We'll talk with Alisa about the challenge she and James set for themselves: to eat only food produced within 100 miles of their British Columbian apartment for one year. Can eating locally really help save the planet?

Here on Earth: 100-Mile Diet