New Books Network

Gesine Bullock-Prado, a celebrated baker and cookbook author known for her books like My Vermont Table, joins the discussion to delve into her new cookbook, My Harvest Kitchen. She explores the joy of cooking with fresh, seasonal ingredients and shares humorous insights about her journey toward homesteading. From the secrets of perfect fries to the magic of Aunt Sis’s Tomato Sandwich, Gesine's passion for food shines through. She also touches on foraging, the importance of local produce, and the comfort found in traditional recipes.

Marcy Dermansky, an acclaimed author known for her novels like Hurricane Girl, dives into her latest work, Hot Air. She reveals the quirky origin of its plot involving a hot air balloon pool incident. Dermansky discusses creating empathetic yet 'unlikable' characters through interior monologue and explores mother-daughter dynamics in her story. Desire serves as a key theme, driving character actions, while she artfully critiques wealth's corrosive effects. With a minimalist comic style, Dermansky shares her insights on writing and character perspectives.

Pablo Meninato, an Associate Professor at Temple University and an expert in Latin American architecture and urbanism, dives deep into the dynamics of informal settlements across five major cities. He discusses the innovative Favela-Bairro program in Rio, Medellín's phased Social Urbanism, and Tijuana's NGO-led community initiatives. Meninato emphasizes the need for community respect in urban planning, the balance of aesthetics with social programs, and the significance of secure tenure for residents. His insights illuminate how design can influence social change in these vibrant communities.

Hatem Bazian, a prominent Palestinian scholar at UC Berkeley focusing on Islamophobia, and Ismail Patel, founder of Friends of Al-Aqsa, dive deep into pro-Palestinian resistance. They share personal journeys into activism and the impact of coloniality on current conflicts. The discussion touches on the significance of protests for education and solidarity with other movements, the destruction of Gaza’s universities, and Western academia's complicity. Ultimately, they envision victory as a future defined by freedom and justice for all.

Rob Wells, visiting associate professor at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism, delves into his book about Willard Kiplinger, the pioneering journalist who bridged Washington and Wall Street. He discusses Kiplinger's unique role during the New Deal and his insights on capitalism and democracy. Wells also examines the evolution of journalism's societal role and debates the possibility of unbiased reporting today. He offers media literacy tips and emphasizes Kiplinger's entrepreneurial spirit as a key takeaway.

Tamar Mitts, an Associate Professor at Columbia, dives into the complexities of moderating online extremism. She reveals how social media platforms create safe havens for hate groups through varying content moderation standards. Mitts discusses evasion tactics extremists use to avoid bans and the allure of middle-sized platforms like Telegram. She outlines the tension between free speech and the need for regulation while stressing the importance of understanding the entire online ecosystem in combating hate. Her insights shed light on the future of digital governance.

Aria Fani is an associate professor and director of Persian and Iranian Studies at the University of Washington and the author of Reading Across Borders. He shares insights on how Afghans and Iranians shaped their identities through literature despite national divides. The conversation delves into the evolution of literary concepts, the role of institutions in national literary canons, and the cultural impact of bilingualism in Afghanistan versus monolingualism in Iran. Fani emphasizes the need for ethical discourse and understanding in addressing recent tensions.

Claudia Gastrow, an anthropology assistant professor at North Carolina State University, discusses her book on post-war urbanism in Luanda. She delves into how aesthetics shape belonging in the city, highlighting the political implications of infrastructure and design. Gastrow reframes informal neighborhoods, or musseques, as skilled Indigenous urban formations rather than mere slums. She also reveals the struggles residents face due to violent evictions and critiques of foreign design as expressions of dissent, especially after the oil boom's collapse.

Vlatko Vedral, a physics professor at Oxford, dives into the future of physics, driven by quantum information theory. He reveals how we're on the cusp of a revolution, echoing the transformative discoveries of the early 20th century. Vedral discusses intriguing thought experiments, like entangling humans with Schrödinger's cat, and explores how quantum mechanics challenges traditional views of reality. He also proposes radical experiments to test gravity's role in quantum entanglement and examines the potential quantum influences on biological processes.

Dr. Jane G. Goldberg, a practicing psychoanalyst and holistic health practitioner, dives deep into the intricate relationship between our brains and our experiences. She challenges the reliability of memory, suggesting it’s an illusion rather than a faithful record. Goldberg explores cultural trends in emotional numbing and the creative potential of spontaneous mind-wandering. She also discusses the surprising success of 'B' students over 'A' students and the merging of psychoanalysis with holistic health practices, driven by her own personal trauma.