Books & Authors

Erin French is the owner of the Lost Kitchen in her small hometown of Freedom, Maine, where the population hovers just above 700. The restaurant is located in a former 19th century grist mill has made… Video, Audio

Melanie O'Loughlin of Lamplight Books reviews This Life by Quntos KunQuest, published by Agate. Audio

Tim Marshall is a leading authority on foreign affairs with more than 30 years of reporting experience. His latest book The Power of Geography focuses on ten maps that reveal the future of the world.

Guardian Australia columnist Bridie Jabour calls millennials the miserable generation so set out to discover how 30 somethings can learn to be happy. She shares her roadmap for navigating a path away… Audio

This year's Whitcoulls Top 100 list features a new number one and 13 books from New Zealand. Whitcoull's Book Manager Joan Mackenzie talks to Jesse about who's in and who's out in 2021! Audio

Laura Caygill reviews The Stranding by Kate Sawyer, published by Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand. Audio

When David Mitchell's son was diagnosed with autism at three years old, the British author and his wife Keiko Yoshida felt lost, unsure of what was happening inside their son's head. In an effort to… Audio

Wellington writer John Summers delves into old-school New Zealandness in his new essay collection The Commercial Hotel. Audio

The relationship between mothers and daughters has been a central theme of much of the work by Asian-American writer Amy Tan. The best-selling author, whose books include The Joy Luck Club, The… Audio

Paul Diamond reviews Enough Horizon: The life and work of Blanche Baughan by Carol Markwell, published by Cuba Press. Audio

New Zealand Biologist Jonathan Balcombe tells Jesse how much we unexpectedly have in common with the common household fly. Audio, Gallery

Quentin Johnson reviews Ethel Rosenberg: A Cold War Tragedy by Anne Sebba, published by Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand. Audio

Real men carry their luggage. Swedish journalist Katrine Marçal says it took so long to have suitcases on wheels because of the way gender shapes innovation. Audio

Today librarian at Diocesan School for girls has some great recommendations for books to young people on their school holidays occupied. The titles today are, Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai… Audio

David Hill reviews Brutal: The 100-year fight for world rugby supremacy by Ron Palenski, published by Upstart Press. Audio

The dirt beneath our feet can be easy to take for granted. But it's incredibly important for the food we eat, the air we breathe and the water we drink. Twelve years ago Australian chef and food… Audio

As Jeff Bezos,the richest man in the world, prepares to blast off high into space, we'll go deep down into the workings of company Jesse talks to Bloomberg news executive editor Brad Stone about his… Audio

Kiran Dass reviews Things Are Against Us by Lucy Ellmann, published by Text Publishing. Audio

Rupa Maitra was born in Dunedin after her Bengali parents migrated to New Zealand in the late 60s from India, via Uganda. She did a music degree at Otago and followed it up with one in medicine -… Audio