Library Talks

Emmy and Tony-award winning actress Mary-Louise Parker comes to the Library this fall to celebrate the release of her first book, “Dear Mr. You,” which has received advance acclaim from the New York Times and Publishers Weekly, among others. In this conversation with bestselling memoirist Mary Karr, Parker talks about relationships, forgiveness, and the invaluable lessons she learned from her father.

Grammy Award-winning musician Elvis Costello's prolific career as a singer-songwriter spans nearly four decades. This fall, he comes to NYPL to celebrate his new memoir, “Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink.” In this delightful conversation with Paul Holdengraber, Costello discusses memory, songwriting, and his life in rock and roll.

Writer Sloane Crosley is a frequent New York Times contributor and author of the bestselling books “How Did You Get This Number” and “I Was Told There’d Be Cake,” a Thurber Prize finalist. In this conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Crosley discusses humor, human nature, and her new novel, “The Clasp.”

World-renowned activist and author Gloria Steinem, award-winning author and playwright Alan Bennett, heralded dancer and choreographer Judith A. Jamison, celebrated author and illustrator Maira Kalman, and groundbreaking novelist Karl Ove Knausgaard are this year’s Library Lions, five outstanding individuals recognized by NYPL for their achievements in the fields of art, culture, scholarship, and letters. We sat down with each of these incredible people to talk about libraries, the creative process, and much more.

Sports legend and businessman Shaquille O’Neal's nineteen-year basketball career made him a three-time Finals MVP, a four-time NBA champion, and a fifteen-time All-Star. This fall, he comes to NYPL to celebrate the release of his new children’s book, “Little Shaq.” In a fun and provocative conversation with NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber, Shaq discusses reading, dunking, and the value of having a sense of humor.

Recent Macarthur Genius Grant winner Ta-Nehisi Coates is a national correspondent for “The Atlantic” whose latest book, “Between the World and Me,” is a nominee for the 2015 National Book Award. This fall, Coates sits down with Khalil Gibran Muhammad, Director of NYPL’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, for a conversation on race, writing, and more.

Musician, writer and artist Patti Smith returns to the podcast this fall to discuss her new memoir “M Train,” a follow-up to her 2010 National Book Award-winning debut memoir, “Just Kids.” In a conversation with NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber, Smith talks about art, the city, and the experiences she’s gained during her prolific and eclectic career.

Award-winning author Erica Jong's prolific career has produced such bestsellers as “Fear of Flying,” “Seducing the Demon,” and her latest work, “Fear of Dying.” In this delightful conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Jong discusses feminism, early success, and why she’s never stopped writing over the course of her long and fruitful career.

A two-time winner of the O. Henry Prize, Ron Rash is the author of numerous novels, short stories and poetry collections, including New York Times bestseller “Serena,” and most recently, “Above the Waterfall.” In a conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Rash discusses narrative, Appalachia, and finding the universal in a particular setting.

Two stars of the culinary world join us for this week's podcast: Chez Panisse restaurateur Alice Waters and James Beard Award-winner and wine importer Kermit Lynch. Waters, a pioneer of the farm-to-table movement and recent winner of the National Humanities Medal, sat down with Lynch in 2013 to discuss their shared passions. In this delectable conversation, Waters and Lynch talk about fresh food, wine, and the culinary world’s impact on the environment.