My "Third Finger, Left Hand" appears in the new issue of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine. A young woman refuses to return a ring given to her by the son of a wealthy New York family. When it's taken by force, her grandfather, an ex-cop battling cancer, calls in favors to grab the assailants.

Before You Toss That Book … www.nytimes.com/2025/12/28/o...

Here are 380+ great reads from 2025 handpicked just for you by NPR staffers and trusted critics.

Born on this date in 1924: Rod Serling, who is high on the short list of the best writers in the history of the TV medium. We marked his centennial last year with this special edition of "Writers at Work." tinyurl.com/3dry77ey

From the WSJ archives: My Christmas conversation with Ronnie Spector. tinyurl.com/2mmawddf

I enjoyed this story, but I have to say that it never occurred to me to wonder what else folks were doing while listening to my Narrows Gate saga, narrated by Eduardo Ballerini and published by Audible, that clocks in at 28 hours. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/b...

Rosemary Westwood from member station WWNO asked a few of New Orlean's favorite musicians about the songs they like to listen to around Christmas. n.pr/4p5Oqly

This Museum Housed 120,000 Works of Art. Now It’s Empty. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/w...

A special edition of Writers at Work w/ Peter Blauner, Reed Farrel Coleman, SJ Rozan and Peter Spiegelman, authors who possess what I consider essential traits of a successful novelist: willfulness, courage and a belief in their work regardless of the obstacles they may face. tinyurl.com/2psyrcas

The late, great Fela Kuti is known as the "Black President" for his role as both a musical and a political leader. Now he has become the first African artist to get this Grammy honor. n.pr/4oXdpat

The Books Times Readers Were Most Excited About This Year www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/b...

A decade ago… My WSJ Best Rock & Pop Albums of 2015 includes recordings by newcomers, artists in transition and our Album of the Year by an incomparable veteran: on.wsj.com/1QwfpUS

My guest is Grammy-nominated music scholar Rob Bowman, whose new book is “Land of a Thousand Sessions: The Complete Muscle Shoals Story 1951-1985” Meticulously detailed w/ a generous supply of photos and printed on beautiful stock, the book is as appealing as it is essential tinyurl.com/ym3rb8tz

The Best Book Covers of 2025 www.nytimes.com/2025/12/14/b...

Another masterpiece from Paolo Sorrentino and Toni Servillo. youtu.be/lyyzUH9v_8M?...

A state program in Wisconsin for deafblind children helped a 3-year-old, born with poor vision and no ears, learn to communicate. The Trump administration cut the program’s funding over goals related to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Every day we’re reminded how vile, self-consumed and unfit for civil society Trump is. Only uncontrollable mental illness can excuse Trump’s rabid post.

Prepping your favorite albums of 2025 list? Don't overlook "Michael Gordon: A Western" by Paul Hillier and Theatre of Voices," "an extended musing inspired by 'High Noon" starring Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly." Taste here: youtu.be/29Xumzwpltc?...

Another winner from National Treasure Eddie Muller on TCM's "Noir Alley." I'd never seen it until today. Now I rank it with the 1978 Canadian film "The Silent Partner" as my favorite Christmas-time bank heist picture. youtu.be/OUU3FRaEK1w?...

My guest is Grammy-nominated music scholar Rob Bowman, whose new book is “Land of a Thousand Sessions: The Complete Muscle Shoals Story 1951-1985” Meticulously detailed w/ a generous supply of photos and printed on beautiful stock, the book is as appealing as it is essential tinyurl.com/ym3rb8tz

New court documents reveal a list of nearly 200 words or phrases the Trump administration told Head Start programs it does not want to see in their funding requests. n.pr/497P6C4

Among the New York Times's Best Thrillers of 2025: Denise Mina's "The Good Liar" and Chris Pavone's "The Doorman" tinyurl.com/53e7usep Denise and Chris joined me on separate episodes of my "Writers at Work" podcast. Hear Denise here: tinyurl.com/4u43855s And Chris here: tinyurl.com/yjhhuej4

"Psycho" begins on today's date - December 11. Is it Hitchcock's take on Christmas? Bear with me here... tinyurl.com/ms9paeny

youtube.com/watch?v=iJHD... Otis Redding died OTD in 1967.

U.S. Plans to Scrutinize Foreign Tourists’ Social Media History www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/t...

Priorities. At State Dept., a Typeface Falls Victim in the War Against Woke www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/u...

Raul Malo, Lush-Voiced Frontman of the Mavericks, Dies at 60 www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/a...

For many years, I was tasked with choosing the Wall Street Journal's Top 10 albums of the year. Here's a link to a mix with tracks from the albums I selected a decade ago: tinyurl.com/4nn49vu8 Do my choices hold up? What were your favorite albums of 2015?

So glad to see "Isola" by Allegra Goodman on NPR's "Books We Love" list: tinyurl.com/kt6emx2f

OTD in 2011, "Narrows Gate" was ranked #1 in historical fiction (ahead of the new Stephen King), #2 in contemporary fiction (just behind Michael Connelly’s new one) and #4 overall in the Kindle Store. Amazing.

A belated happy 89th birthday to James Lee Burke, who remains among the best American authors. Jim was my first guest when we launched Writers at Work. As you'll hear, I lost control of the interview - and that turned out to be good fortune as he spoke his mind. tinyurl.com/mrv6vpkr

President Trump has made major changes at the Kennedy Center this year, ousting the board chair and president, and naming himself host of the organization's yearly awards show. n.pr/48z1No2

Joining me on Writers at Work is Mariiyn Fu, screenwriter whose “Rosemead” starring Lucy Liu opens today in New York. Directed by Eric Lin, “Rosemead” had its premiere at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival and has been nominated for a slew of awards at festivals worldwide. tinyurl.com/yz9vbs9b

What are the "Best Children’s Books of 2025"? These are 24 titles that have been singled out again and again on the best-of lists from NPR, the New York Public Library, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, The New York Times, and more https://pen.org/best-childrens-books-2025/

Earlier this year, the Trump administration gutted the Institute of Museum and Library Services, leading to canceled federal grants. Now, after a court order, those grants are being reinstated. n.pr/4phxzwN

NEWS: The Institute of Museum & Library Services has restored ALL previously canceled federal grants to libraries, following a ruling by a federal judge in Rhode Island last month. This is a massive win for libraries & communities in every state & territory! Learn more: www.ala.org/news/2025/12...

My guest is Zorana Pringle, author of “The Creativity Choice: The Science of Making Decisions to Turn Ideas into Action.” The Director of the Creativity and Emotions Lab at Yale, Zorana and I discuss her writing and her distinctive views on the creative process. tinyurl.com/yycjbamw

Every year, we ask NPR staff and book critics to share their favorite titles in our annual Books We Love guide. Here are 8 fiction picks that were standout stars. n.pr/49PcyVy

Robert A.M. Stern Designed New York City Like a 1930s Movie www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/o...

The ‘Race Against Time’ to Save Music Legends’ Decaying Tapes www.nytimes.com/2025/12/01/a...

In matching, brilliant blue suits, David Byrne and his band squeeze behind the Desk to perform four songs, including Talking Heads' "Life During Wartime." n.pr/4pFYoun

Daniel Woodrell, the author of “Winter’s Bone” who was known for his tales of violence and squalor in his native Ozarks, died on Friday. He was 72.

Really wonderful. Worthy of Denis Johnson's novella. youtu.be/_Nk8TrBHOrA?...

My guest is Zorana Pringle, author of “The Creativity Choice: The Science of Making Decisions to Turn Ideas into Action.” The Director of the Creativity and Emotions Lab at Yale, Zorana and I discuss her writing and her distinctive views on the creative process. tinyurl.com/yycjbamw