I'd Rather Be Reading

Cindy Chupack is a multihyphenate -- a screenwriter, a director, an executive producer, a Golden Globe winner, an Emmy winner. She has written for iconic shows like Sex and the City (where I first became aware of her work -- she wrote more episodes of the show than almost anyone), Modern Family, Everybody Loves Raymond, Divorce, and so many more, and, for the past five years, she has been directing, as well. In addition to that -- and serving as an executive producer -- Cindy has written three books and is an advocate for writers emerging and established. I have wanted to go inside the writer's room of Sex and the City for 25 years, and today, we get to have a glimpse inside it. One of my favorite conversations to date! Here are Cindy's three fantastic books: The Between Boyfriends Book: A Collection of Cautiously Hopeful Essays The Longest Date: Life as a Wife We Waited for You: Now We're a Family And here is a link to her website, where she is generous with tips for fellow writers: Cindy Chupack Official Website

We have a fantastic episode for you today! In our first Yesteryear Pick of season eight, we have on the show Brian Stelter, who literally wrote the book on morning television. His 2013 book "Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV" was the basis of Apple TV+'s hit series "The Morning Show" starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. The show's third season premiered this month, and Brian is on the show today to talk about it, why morning television will always be important, and what has changed in the genre in the past decade since his book was released. "Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV" by Brian Stelter

We're back! Season eight will be a bit of this, a bit of that -- I'm calling it my potpourri season. We'll have some fiction picks, some yesteryear picks, but still keep to our ethos of bringing you the best current nonfiction picks, like today's episode. Marisa Meltzer has just released the book of the season three days ago, and it dives into the rise of the beauty brand Glossier, its mysterious founder Emily Weiss, and the beauty industry as a whole in the U.S. It is a must read, even if you're not historically interested in beauty. It's so good to be back with you for this scattered season, but we're here, and I am so happy! I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I enjoyed having it. Glossy: Ambition, Beauty, and the Inside Story of Emily Weiss' Glossier by Marisa Meltzer

Surprise! Only for Luke Russert would I come back from hiatus -- and what a great chat this was. Luke's book is a New York Times bestseller, and for good reason. It unpacks the grief he felt over losing his father, Tim Russert, at such a young age; traveling the world in search of himself; his relationship with his mother Maureen Orth, also an iconic journalist; nepotism in the workplace; and so much more. This will be our last episode for a while, so I hope you enjoy it -- and pick up this book. You'll love it. Look for Me There: Grieving My Father, Finding Myself by Luke Russert

For our season seven finale, we're chatting with the wonderful Anna Kloots about rediscovering your magic. Magic, as you'll hear in our conversation, was a central theme in Anna's life -- her ex-husband was a magician. When they divorced, Anna lost her marriage, her home, and her job, and was forced to start over and build a life from the ruins. As you'll hear, she built a life she is proud of -- one that is, well, magic. As I announced in the last episode, at the close of season seven I'd Rather Be Reading is going on hiatus. Thank you to ALL of my guests, listeners, and especially my beautiful mother, Joy -- the show's unabashed biggest fan -- for supporting this show. It has been an honor reading with you for the past two years. My Own Magic: A Reappearing Act by Anna Kloots

Two of my favorite topics to study -- sports and the American presidency -- are fused into one in this fascinating book, and I can't wait for you to learn how presidents from Eisenhower to Biden interface with athletics. Some, like Nixon, can quote stats like they're reciting the alphabet. Some, like Johnson, aren't big fans. Some, like Ford, played a sport and played it well. Some, like Biden, could take it or leave it. So interesting -- and the Clinton anecdote had me uncontrollably laughing. Power Players: Sports, Politics, and the American Presidency by Chris Cillizza

If you remember an episode from last summer I put out about the team, you know that I am a passionate, albeit new, fan of the New York Yankees. That fandom continues, and our conversation today about the 1998 Yankees -- one of the best Major League Baseball teams ever -- far predates my becoming a fan. But our guest today, Jack Curry, was very much there and covering it, and he's written a beautiful book about it. You don't have to be a Yankees fan to appreciate this episode. If you love the game of baseball, or even if you're just mildly interested, you'll enjoy this conversation. The 1998 Yankees: The Inside Story of the Greatest Baseball Team Ever by Jack Curry

We certainly have read much about Jacqueline Kennedy (and have even done a couple of episodes about her on this show). We also know much about Jacqueline Onassis. But what about Jacqueline Bouvier, the woman before marriage, pursuing a career in Washington, D.C., falling in love with Paris, and attending Queen Elizabeth's Coronation as her last hoorah as a single woman during the late spring days of 1953? This book zooms in on Jackie from 1949 to 1953, during her early twenties, in a formative time of her life that we don't often discuss. To talk about it is perhaps the leading expert on First Ladies in the entire world -- Carl Sferrazza Anthony. I can't wait for you to hear this episode! Camera Girl: The Coming of Age of Jackie Bouvier Kennedy by Carl Sferrazza Anthony

Who knew that the generation you were born into -- obviously through no choice of your own -- could shape SO much of who you are? Today we're talking about a really interesting topic: The six currently living generations, spanning the Silents (the oldest of whom were born in 1925) to the Polars (who are being born even as you read this). Why does our generation have so much influence over us? And what are each of the generations like? This and so much more are covered in today's episode. Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents -- and What They Mean for America's Future by Dr. Jean M. Twenge

Charlotte Fox Weber is a therapist, and from her practice, she's uncovered the 12 most common human desires and has written a book about all of them. Each desire gets its own chapter -- and I'll bet you share these desires, too. (No, we're not talking explicit sexual desires, although that certainly can be a part of it.) Listen in for a therapist's insight and one of the most brilliant metaphors I've ever heard -- still can't get over it. Tell Me What You Want: A Therapist and Her Clients Explore Our 12 Deepest Desires by Charlotte Fox Weber