F. Brett Cox, "Roger Zelazny" (U Illinois Press, 2021)
Roger Zelazny (1937-1995) combined poetic prose with fearless literary ambition to become one of the most influential science fiction writers of the 1960s. Yet many critics found his later novels unde...
26 Jul 20221h 4min
Jay Baruch, "Tornado of Life: A Doctor's Journey through Constraints and Creativity in the ER" (MIT Press, 2022)
To be an emergency room doctor is to be a professional listener to stories. Each patient presents a story; finding the heart of that story is the doctor’s most critical task. More technology, more tes...
22 Jul 20221h 11min
Dennis Deletant, "In Search of Romania" (Hurst, 2022)
The imposition of Communist ideology was a misfortune for millions in Eastern Europe, but never for Dennis Deletant. Instead, it drew him to Romania. The renowned historian’s association with the coun...
22 Jul 202253min
Gabrielle David, "Trailblazers: Black Women Who Helped Make America Great, American Firsts/American Icons" (2leaf Press, 2021)
Since slavery, Black women have struggled to liberate themselves from racism and sexism. Yet despite these hurdles and under the most difficult circumstances, they managed to achieve greatness. Trailb...
20 Jul 202242min
Caryn Rose, "Why Patti Smith Matters" (U of Texas Press, 2022)
Patti Smith arrived in New York City at the end of the Age of Aquarius in search of work and purpose. What she found—what she fostered—was a cultural revolution. Through her poetry, her songs, her una...
19 Jul 202254min
Rachel Krantz, "Open: An Uncensored Memoir of Love, Liberation and Non-Monogamy" (Harmony, 2022)
Rachel Krantz is the author of the reported memoir, Open: An Uncensored Memoir of Love, Liberation and Non-Monogamy (Harmony, 2022). She is the host of HELP EXISTING, a new podcast offering help on, ...
19 Jul 202249min
Patrick Hastings, "The Guide to James Joyce's Ulysses" (Johns Hopkins UP, 2022)
From the creator of UlyssesGuide.com, The Guide to James Joyce's Ulysses (Johns Hopkins UP, 2022) weaves together plot summaries, interpretive analyses, scholarly perspectives, and historical and biog...
18 Jul 20221h 7min
Bookends: A Conversation about Grad School, Loss, and Books
Welcome to The Academic Life! In this episode you’ll hear about: Zibby Owen’s experience in grad school of losing her best friend. What she did to regroup and find a way forward after failing a grad...
14 Jul 202253min
