Big Books & Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller

Kerri Miller Podcast Tile
Big Books & Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller
MPR News

Where readers meet writers, Fridays at 11 a.m. Listen live or stream later on your favorite podcast app.

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Books Coverage: The Thread | About: Kerri Miller

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Kelly Weill on why conspiracy theories are spreading faster than ever
Despite centuries of evidence pointing otherwise, there are still people who believe the Earth is flat — and their numbers are growing, thanks to social media and a reinvigorated culture of conspiratorial thinking. Journalist Kelly Weill has studied the flat Earth movement for years. Her new book is “Off the Edge: Flat Earthers, Conspiracy Culture, and Why People Will Believe Anything.”
From the archives: Climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe says all is not lost
Conspiracy theories have gone mainstream since 2020. Why are people so willing to believe almost anything and disregard science and reason? That’s Kerri Miller’s conversation coming up this Friday. In the meantime, enjoy this one from our archives. It’s a discussion with acclaimed climate scientist and evangelical Katharine Hayhoe, who knows a thing or two about dealing with folks who would rather deny than accept.
Mesha Maren on the oft-misunderstood complexity of the southern border
Mesha Maren’s new novel examines the misperceptions that endure about the U.S.-Mexico border, as it follows an earnest but naïve couple who moves to the El Paso region and must grapple with a mysterious disappearance.
From the archives: Novelist Yaa Gyasi explores addiction, immigration and family ties
As we await Friday’s show, which dives into a book about life at the southern U.S. border, enjoy a discussion Kerri Miller had in 2020 with author Yaa Gyasi which also touches on themes of identity and culture.
From the archives: Historian Eric Foner on three constitutional amendments that altered history
In anticipation of Friday’s show about the Civil War, we’re revisiting a conversation Kerri Miller had with Pulitzer-prize winning author Eric Foner back in 2019, about how that era changed what it means to be an American.
Wajahat Ali on being American with an asterisk
Writer and activist Wajahat Ali loves America — but he knows that being a brown, Muslim in this country means America doesn’t always love him back. In his personal and often hilarious memoir, “Go Back To Where You Came From,” Ali shares his own experience of being both "us" and "them."
Heather Havrilesky on the 'divine tedium' of a long marriage
If we knew then what we know now, would we jump into the pool of matrimony quite so quickly? A new book takes a look at the joys and irritations of being with the same person for a long time.
From the archives: Tayari Jones on 'An American Marriage'
Tayari Jones’ 2018 novel, “An American Marriage,” is filled with conflict around questions of memory, loyalty, race, fatherhood, ambition and justice. We’re revisiting Kerri Miller’s conversation with Jones from February 2018.
From the archives: Author Dina Nayeri on breaking down refugee stereotypes
Dina Nayeri fled the Iran revolution with her family when she was 8. We’re revisiting Nayeri’s 2019 book, "The Ungrateful Refugee: What Immigrants Never Tell You,” and the conversation host Kerri Miller had with her about it in February 2020.