Writers on Writing

A book of essays, stories, and Twitter poems that takes on themes of sickness, health, dying, living, grief, and joy -- the remarkable musings of one doctor and the patients who have shaped him.

"Engrossing.... A fascinating reflection on the connection between food, place, and what flavors mean to the people who prepare them and those who travel to seek them out." -- Travel + Leisure

"Riveting history.... Excellently rendered." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Rigorous and innovative.... Hallman successfully transforms Anarcha from historical object to subject, and shines a light on the contentious rise of medical ethics in the 19th century. It's a must-read." -- Publishers Weekly

"A compelling yarn.... Roberts's storytelling soars as she leads the reader through Edith's machinations to hide her husband's disabilities while maintaining his White House's functions." -- The Washington Post

Our guest is the creator of "Gender Queer: A Memoir," which was the most challenged book of 2021-22, according to the American Library Association.

"With poise and restraint, Rilla Askew's historical novel 'Prize for the Fire' tells the brilliant, multifaceted story of an intelligent, virtuous, and indomitable woman." -- Foreword Reviews

We discuss a Founding Father biography that was named a "Best Book of 2022" by The New York Times, The New Yorker, NPR, The Wall Street Journal, and various other outlets.

From Tom Piazza -- whose books include the novels "A Free State" and "City of Refuge" -- comes a new work of fiction set at a writer's conference attended by Herman Melville, Walt Whitman, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Mark Twain, and others.

"In this collection of brief, touching essays, an emergency room doctor presents poignant stories about disease and loneliness and argues that medical professionals are 'stewards' of their patients' stories, morally obligated to look beyond data and tests." -- The New York Times Book Review