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Books & Authors
Ockham Book Awards 2021 finalists revealed
Finalists for the country's top book prizes are out this morning.
Sixteen works have made it on to the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards finalist list for fiction, poetry, illustrated non-fiction and… Audio
Book Critic - Claire Mabey
Today Claire reviews Sorrow & Bliss by Meg Mason: Brilliant novel essentially about mental health, family, relationships and concepts of what a good mother is/should be. Claire also talks about her… Audio
Book review - Stranger in the Shogun's City by Amy Stanley
Stella Chrysostomou of VOLUME Books reviews Stranger in the Shogun's City by Amy Stanley. Published by Penguin Random House. Audio
Bernice Tuffery on her long battle for a good night's sleep
In New Zealand, 25% of all adults can only dream about getting a good night'ss sleep. Bernice Tuffery was one of them. She shares her experience in a new book, Sleep Easy. Audio
Book review - Tranquility and Ruin by Danyl McLauchlan
Holly Walker reviews Tranquility and Ruin by Danyl McLauchlan, published by Victoria University Press. Audio
"Courage is very related to hopelessness" - author Behrouz Boochani
Hosted by John Campbell, some of Word Christchurch's most distinguished writers respond to the theme of courage: Behrouz Boochani, Laura Jean McKay, and Witi Ihimaera. The second of two hours. Audio
Why it's never too late to learn something new
Our ability to pick up new skills declines with age, but harnessing a specific mindset can help you learn new tricks as an adult. Tom Vanderbilt joins the show to discuss his new book, Beginners: The… Audio
How to be a (very stable) genius
Professor Craig Wright is author of The Hidden Habits of Genius: Beyond Talent, IQ, and Grit - Unlocking the Secrets of Greatness. He's travelled the world looking to unearth the hidden lessons from… Audio
Book review - Bestiary by K-Ming Chang
Briar Lawry, Unity Books, reviews Bestiary by K-Ming Chang. Published by Harvill Secker. Audio
Getting unmotivated sons moving
Maggie Dent talks with Kathryn about how to "unstick" unmotivated sons. She is the mother of four boys, a former teacher and counsellor who has become one of Australia's foremost parenting experts -… Audio
Book review - An Exquisite Legacy by George Gibbs
Murray Williams reviews An Exquisite Legacy: The life and work of New Zealand naturalist G.V. Hudson by George Gibbs. This book is published by Potton & Burton. Audio
Sir Partha Dasgupta: GDP is not fit for purpose
Sir Partha Dasgupta is the author of a landmark review calling for transformational change in our economic approach to nature. He is Emeritus Professor of Economics at the University of Cambridge and… Audio
How technology blurs the lines of right and wrong
Ethics evolve over time and technology is accelerating that change says Juan Enriquez. He's a cofounder and investor in companies on the cutting edge of biology and technology. He explains how the… Audio
I Love Mondays: The guide to enjoying your job
As the warm rays of your summer holiday start to fade and the neon light of your working reality flickers before you, it's possible you might find yourself wondering if you're in the right job. My… Audio
Book review - Letters of Denis Glover edited by Sarah Shieff
Harry Ricketts reviews Letters of Denis Glover edited by Sarah Shieff, published by Otago University Press. Audio
Poet Ruby Solly - inspired by ancestors
Wellington PhD student Ruby Solly is a poet, musician and music therapist. Her first book of poetry, Tōku Pāpā speaks to Māori growing up outside of their papakāika. Ruby's poems embrace knowledge… Audio
Sex, a Pagoda and a new NZ novel
"Taking Pagoda Mountain (by strategy) romps through sex in a pagoda, people-smuggling in a Buddha statue, disguises, Led Zeppelin, Denis Glover’s grandson, a racist talent show, corrupt Shanghai…
Coming up
200 years of John Keats
Robert Kelly celebrates the legacy of romantic poet John Keats who passed on this day 200 years ago in the teeth of another pandemic. Audio
Reo Pēpi
Two NgÄi Tahu cousins from Otago are behind the Reo Pēpi bilingual board books - writing and illustrating them. Kitty Brown talks to Kathryn about how she and her whanaunga Kirsten Parkinson came up… Audio
Book review - A Sky Full Of Stars by Dani Atkins
David Hill reviews A Sky Full Of Stars by Dani Atkins, published by Head of Zeus. Audio