You Are What You Read

February is Black History Month, and here with us today on You Are What You Read is Professor of African American literature and Dean of the Graduate School at Howard University, Dr. Dana A. Williams. Dr. Williams joins us for a conversation about her book,Toni at Random: The Iconic Writer's Legendary Editorship, a biography about the great Toni Morrison and the lesser-known details of her work as a writer and an editor. Today, February 18th, happens to be Toni Morrison’s birthday—and we are thrilled to pay tribute to her in this episode.
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This Presidents' Day on You Are What You Read, we are joined by former presidential speechwriter, political commentator, talk show host, and New York Times bestselling author, Chris Matthews. Chris is the author of Bobby Kennedy: A Raging Spirit, Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero, Kennedy & Nixon: The Rivalry that Shaped Postwar America, and Hardball: How Politics Is Played, Told by One Who Knows the Game. Chris was both a presidential speechwriter and top aide to Speaker of the House Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill Jr. For a generation, he hosted Hardball with Chris Matthews on MSNBC, which is now exclusively on Substack. Chris joins us to talk about his latest book, Lessons from Bobby: Ten Reasons Robert F. Kennedy Still Matters. This book is a tribute about why Robert F. Kennedy’s revolutionary vision offers the roadmap America needs today.
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On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, Father James Martin joins us with his new memoir, Work in Progress: Confessions of a busboy, dishwasher, caddy, usher, factory worker, bank teller, corporate tool, and priest. Father Jim is a Jesuit priest, editor at large of America magazine, consultor to the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, and host of The Spiritual Life podcast. His books include Learning to Pray, Jesus: A Pilgrimage, and The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything. In this conversation filled with humility and humor, Father Jim reminisces about the summer jobs that prepared him for his calling to the priesthood. 
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Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel joins us this week on You Are What You Read with his new book, Eat Your Ice Cream: Six Simple Rules for a Long and Healthy Life. In this practical and entertaining guide to healthy living, Dr. Emanuel reveals that many of the tools for a long and meaningful life are already within reach. Dr. Emanuel is a vice provost and professor at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a bioethicist, health policy expert, and oncologist, and was one of the architects of the Affordable Care Act. 
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On this week’s episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by social media sensation and New York Times bestselling author, Melani Sanders. Melani’s latest book The Official We Do Not Care Club Handbook is a “Hot-Mess Guide for Women in Perimenopause, Menopause, and Beyond Who Are Over It”! Melani is a digital creator and founder of the “We Do Not Care Movement”. Her viral “We Do Not Care” reels and posts capture the humor, heart, and chaos of perimenopause, menopause, midlife, motherhood, and real life. 
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