Books & Authors

Melanie O'Loughlin of Unity Books reviews The Topeka School by Ben Lerner, which is published by Granta. "Adam Gordon, a senior in the class of 97, explores the events that lead up to a terrible act… Audio

He's been described as "the father of New Zealand composition" Douglas Lilburn was a composer, conductor, critic and teacher whose work earned him our highest award - the Order of New Zealand. Video, Audio

Ralph McAllister reviews Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. Published by Pan Macmillan. Audio

Behavioral issues are the number one cause of death for dogs under the age of three, so getting the training right when they're puppies is critical. Mark Vette shares his insights about looking past… Audio

Jonathan West reviews Pākehā Settlements in a Māori World by Ian Smith, which is published by Bridget Williams Books. Audio

Best-selling cognitive scientist Alexandra Horowitz talks to Susie Ferguson about her new book "Our Dogs, Ourselves", which attempts to understand the age-old and often emotional relationship between… Audio

An enterprising book in Te Reo and English teaching the important Maori concepts of kaitiakitanga and rahui is just going into its second print run. Te haerenga o Piri - Piri's Adventure - is a… Audio

Nice guys don't always finish last. Stanford University psychologist Jamil Zaki says nice people, people who help others are happier, healthier and more effective at work. Audio

Celebrity chef Simon Gault has released his first cookbook in six years - just in time for summer. Audio

Quentin Johnson reviews Somewhere Becoming Rain by Clive James, which is published by Pan Macmillan. "An appreciation of the poet Philip Larkin by James, a longtime admirer, written in his… Audio

In the immediate aftermath of the Christchurch mosque shootings, one image captured the grief and sadness felt across the nation. Wellington artist Ruby Jones has now released her first book 'All Of… Audio

It's been ten years since chef and food writer Catherine Bell co-founded the Garden to Table Trust, teaching children to grow, cook and share food. Since then, 23,000 children, in years three to six… Audio, Gallery

Stella Chrysostomou of VOLUME Books reviews Deeplight by Frances Hardinge, which is published by Pan Macmillan. "Dive into the world of scavenger pirates, deep-sea mythologies, powerful gods and a… Audio

Drongo. Its Australiasian slang you don't hear much these days. A drongo: an idiot, a no-hoper. The name apparently derives from an Australian racehorse in the 1920's who showed much promise but never… Audio

Peta Mathias' new book Eat Your Heart Out is an exploration of love stories from around the world, intertwined with recipes that suit romantic encounters. Although, she maintains that anything cooked… Audio

Rick Stein has been visiting these shores since the 1960s, when he celebrated his 21st by eating crayfish in Kaikoura, and he's still pleading with his TV bosses to do a New Zealand food series. Audio

A new book tells the story of Aotearoa New Zealand through the maps that guided our first inhabitants and the explorers and settlers that followed. Singing the Trail digs back into the history of the… Audio, Gallery

Red Hot Chili Peppers' co-founder and bassist Flea (aka Michael Balzary) talks to Kim Hill about love, drugs, friendship, healing and Acid For The Children – a searingly honest memoir about his… Audio

Elisabeth Easther reviews The Toll by Neal Shusterman, which is published by Walker Books. Audio