Showing results by narrator "Terry Gross" in All Categories

Epidemiologist and one of the world's leading experts on Alzheimer's disease, David Snowdon, on this archive edition of Fresh Air. In 1986 Snowdon began what he calls the Nun Study, following a group of aging nuns to better understand why some of the sisters were able to age gracefully, retaining their mental faculties, and others were not.

Novelist David Leavitt and poet Yehuda Amichai on this archive edition of Fresh Air. David Leavitt's new book is Martin Bauman; or, a Sure Thing. It is a look at the Manhattan publishing scene as viewed through the eyes of 19-year-old Martin Bauman. Leavitt's own first book, Family Dancing, was published when he was just 23. Leavitt's other books include The Lost Language of Cranes, Equal Affections, and While England Sleeps.

Singer/songwriters Barry Manilow and Tom Waits on this edition of Fresh Air. Barry Manilow made the pop charts in the 1970s and early 80s with love ballads such as "Mandy," "Looks Like We Made It," "I Write the Songs" and "Copacabana (At the Copa)." Before becoming a singer he was Bette Midler's accompanist and arranger.

Veteran actress Angela Lansbury on this archive edition of Fresh Air. She's spent over 50 years in the business on stage, and in film and television. When she was 17 she debuted in Gaslight, and was nominated for an Oscar for her portrayal of Ingrid Bergman's Cockney maid.

Hear religion scholar Bart D. Ehrman on this edition of Fresh Air. Ehrman chairs the Department of Religious Studies at UNC-Chapel Hill. His new book is God's Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question - Why We Suffer. He is the author of the best seller Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why.

Comedian and political satirist Al Franken and actor Benicio Del Toro on this edition of Fresh Air. In December, Franken was part of a USO tour performing for troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Kuwait. The tour lasted eight days, and he returned Christmas Day. He'll talk about the tour and do some of his routine from it. Franken's books include Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right and Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot.

Hear journalists Douglas Farah and Stephen Braun, and film critic David Edelstein, on this edition of Fresh Air. Farah and Braun have collaborated on a new book about Russian weapons supplier Victor Bout. Bout emerged from the Cold War with easy access to the massive inventories of weapons and ammunition built up by the Soviets.

P.W. (Peter) Singer, security analyst at The Brookings Institution and writer and physician John Murray on this edition of Fresh Air. P.W. Singer is an Olin Fellow in the Foreign Policy Studies Program at the Brookings Institution and Coordinator of the Brookings Project on U.S. Policy towards the Islamic World. He is also the author of the new book, Corporate Warriors: The Rise of the Privatized Military Industry.

Writer/director Paul Schrader and remembering historian Stephen Ambrose on this edition of Fresh Air. Paul Schrader directed the new film Autofocus, about the life of actor Bob Crane. Schrader wrote the screenplays for a number of classic films, including Taxi Driver and Raging Bull. Films he directed include Affliction, The Comfort of Strangers and American Gigolo. Historian Stephen Ambrose died Sunday at the age of 66.

Writer Nick Hornby and sherpa Jamling Tensing Norgay on this archive edition of Fresh Air.

Hear singer-songwriter Ray Davies on this edition of Fresh Air. Davies first became known as the leader of the band The Kinks, one of the great and enduring British bands to came out of the 60s. Davies' first solo record, Other People's Lives was released in 2006. While recording the album in New Orleans, he was shot in the leg by a man who stole his girlfriend's purse. His new album, Working Man's Cafe, was released this month.

Soul week continues on Fresh Air. Two former members of the vocal group The Impressions - Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield on this edition of Fresh Air. Singer Jerry Butler, aka The Iceman. His 1969 hit, "Only the Strong Survive," is a rhythm and blues classic, and also the title of his autobiography: Only the Strong Survive: Memoirs of a Soul Survivor. Butler founded The Impressions.

Actress Angie Dickinson and Professor Gerald Early on this edition of Fresh Air. Angie Dickinson played an undercover cop in the TV series Police Woman from 1974-78. Her film roles include Dressed to Kill, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, Pretty Maids all in a Row, and Ocean's Eleven which she made in 1960 with the Rat Pack: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr.

In honor of the 40th anniversary of the film West Side Story, Fresh Air speaks with cast members.

Former Beatle Paul McCartney on this edition of Fresh Air. His song lyrics include "When I'm Sixty-Four," "Yesterday," "Fool on the Hill," "Paperback writer" and many more. They are collected along with his poems in a recent volume, Blackbird Singing: Poems and Lyrics 1965-1999.

Singer and Songwriter Tom Waits on this edition of Fresh Air. Since the 1973 release of his first album, Closing Time, Waits has won over fans with his original songwriting and distinctive, gravely vocal style. One reviewer calls Waits "the Ultimate hobo boho, a Jack-in-the-box cum storyteller." Musicians including Johnny Cash, Bruce Springsteen, and Rod Stewart have recorded covers of his songs.

Writer Vernor Vinge and actor Steve Buscemi on this edition of Fresh Air. The author of 16 books of science fiction, Vernor Vinge gained a cult following for his early role in writing about cyber-culture and the Internet. His new book, Across Realtime, came out earlier this year. He talks about the difficulty of writing science fiction when technology outdates itself as rapidly as it does. Vinge teaches computer science at San Diego State.

Writer Stephen King on this edition of Fresh Air. King has just received the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters at this year's National Book Award ceremony. Author of several best sellers, he is credited with ushering in a whole new era of horror with his first novel, Carrie, published in 1974.

Computer programmer Linus Torvalds on this edition of Fresh Air. He is the creator of Linux, a computer operating system intended to improve upon Unix. When Torvalds wrote the original code in 1991, he sent it out on the Internet to allow anyone to make changes and improvements.

Writer Michael Chabon on this edition of Fresh Air. Chabon just won a year 2000 Pulitzer Prize for his novel The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. His other books include The Mysteries of Pittsburgh and a collection of stories called Werewolves in Their Youth. Last year, his book Wonder Boys was adapted into a film starring Michael Douglas. He has also written for many publications including The New Yorker, Harpers, and Esquire.