Search results for

Writer Peter Hessler spent two years teaching English to young men and women who wanted to be teachers in rural schools. He reads an excerpt from his new book about one particularly memorable future teacher, and the English name he chose for himself.

A man calling himself Gaddar makes no secret about his ideology: He sings it from the rooftops. The Indian man can barely finish a sentence without bursting into song, often describing the oppression of the masses. Gaddar was once a foot soldier in the jungles of India with the People's Army, a Maoist insurgent militia. Maoists are active in nearly half of the country's states; hundreds have died in recent violence between the Maoist militias and Indian security services. Years ago, Gaddar turned from violence to music, becoming a revolutionary balladeer and writing hundreds of popular songs. The authorities are taking notice of the power of Gaddar's music.

Danica Patrick placed fourth at last year's Indianapolis 500, earning the best time in the race for a woman driver. A self-described "girl," Patrick discusses how she got her start in the sport and the challenges she faces on the racetrack.

Daniel Okrent was the first ombudsman of The New York Times. His new book is a behind-the-scenes look at the art and politics of America's most respected newspaper. Okrent has spent more than 25 years in the print-media business, with writing and editing jobs at Esquire, Time and Life magazines.

The Boston Celtics have now joined the rest of the NBA by enlisting a sexy dance squad to entertain fans between play. As commentator Frank Deford notes, dance is really the perfect complement to hoops.

In the second of two commentaries on the nomination of Gen. Michael Hayden to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency, commentator Stansfield Turner explains why he opposes the president's pick. Turner is a retired Navy admiral and a former head of the CIA. He is also the author of books on the spy organization.

Nigerian author Wole Soyinka talks about his new memoir with Renee Montagne. It is an intimate look into Nigeria's political turmoil in the last half century.

Memories, and how to capture them, are a tricky proposition, says The New Yorker's Roger Angell. He talks about the art of writing, what he learned from his stepfather, E.B. White, and his new memoir, Let Me Finish.

Ann Fessler talks about her new book, The Girls Who Went Away. Using her own story of adoption as a basis for her book, Fessler tells the story of over a million women who surrendered children for adoption prior to legalized abortion. Fessler is a photography professor at the Rhode Island School of Design.

Juan Hernandez, former head of Mexico's Office for Mexicans Abroad, talks with Renee Montagne about President Bush's televised immigration address. Hernandez is the author of the book The New American Pioneers: Why Are We Afraid of Mexican Immigrants?.