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  1. The delightful history behind serendipity suggests it’s not mere luck – NPR

    Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack in the 2001 film Serendipity. RGR Collection / Alamy

    Special Series, Word of the week

    The delightful history behind serendipity suggests it’s not mere luck

    January 7, 20265:00 AM ET, Heard on All Things Considered

    By Juliana Kim, 2-Minute Listen

    Transcript

    In the new year, we can all use some serendipity, right?

    Since the word was coined in the 18th century, “serendipity” has been used to describe all kinds of scientific and technological breakthroughs, including penicillin, the microwave oven and Velcro. (More on these below.)

    The whimsical term has also been the title of countless poems, songs and books about remarkable coincidences or eureka moments. And let’s not forget that it was the name of the charming 2001 romantic comedy about two strangers — played by John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale — meeting and reuniting during chance encounters.

    “Serendipity” — as the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it — is “the ability to find valuable or agreeable things not sought for” or “luck that takes the form of such finding.”

    While the word has often been associated with good fortune or happy accidents, its origin suggests that serendipity goes beyond just happenstance. Some researchers argue that serendipity can be acquired through skill and that opportunities for serendipitous moments occur more frequently than we realize.

    In this week’s installment of NPR’s Word of the Week, we dive into the roots of serendipity, its impact throughout history and tips on how we can cultivate it ourselves.

    Serendipity’s wayward journey

    While serendipity is all about the unexpected, its origins are less mysterious.

    Serendipity Plot: Although strangers Sara and Jonathan are both already in relationships, they realize they have genuine chemistry after a chance encounter – but part company soon after. Years later, they each yearn to reunite, despite being destined for the altar. But to give true love a chance, they have to find one another again. The Movie DB: 6.951/10 Information Runtime: 90 min Genre: Comedy, Romance Language: English Country: United States of America, India Budget: $28,000,000 Revenue: $77,516,304 Homepage: Release date: October 5 2001 Read more: The delightful history behind serendipity suggests it’s not mere luck – NPR

    Continue/Read Original Article Here: The delightful history behind serendipity suggests it’s not mere luck : NPR

    Tags: 2001, All Things Considered, Audio, Coincidence, Film, History, John Cusack, Juliana Kim, Kate Beckinsale, Love, Movie, National Public Radio, NPR, Personal Attraction, Serendipity, Unlucky in Love
    #2001 #AllThingsConsidered #Audio #Coincidence #Film #History #JohnCusack #JulianaKim #KateBeckinsale #Love #Movie #NationalPublicRadio #NPR #PersonalAttraction #Serendipity #UnluckyInLove
  2. The delightful history behind serendipity suggests it’s not mere luck – NPR

    Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack in the 2001 film Serendipity. RGR Collection / Alamy

    Special Series, Word of the week

    The delightful history behind serendipity suggests it’s not mere luck

    January 7, 20265:00 AM ET, Heard on All Things Considered

    By Juliana Kim, 2-Minute Listen

    Transcript

    In the new year, we can all use some serendipity, right?

    Since the word was coined in the 18th century, “serendipity” has been used to describe all kinds of scientific and technological breakthroughs, including penicillin, the microwave oven and Velcro. (More on these below.)

    The whimsical term has also been the title of countless poems, songs and books about remarkable coincidences or eureka moments. And let’s not forget that it was the name of the charming 2001 romantic comedy about two strangers — played by John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale — meeting and reuniting during chance encounters.

    “Serendipity” — as the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it — is “the ability to find valuable or agreeable things not sought for” or “luck that takes the form of such finding.”

    While the word has often been associated with good fortune or happy accidents, its origin suggests that serendipity goes beyond just happenstance. Some researchers argue that serendipity can be acquired through skill and that opportunities for serendipitous moments occur more frequently than we realize.

    In this week’s installment of NPR’s Word of the Week, we dive into the roots of serendipity, its impact throughout history and tips on how we can cultivate it ourselves.

    Serendipity’s wayward journey

    While serendipity is all about the unexpected, its origins are less mysterious.

    Serendipity Plot: Although strangers Sara and Jonathan are both already in relationships, they realize they have genuine chemistry after a chance encounter – but part company soon after. Years later, they each yearn to reunite, despite being destined for the altar. But to give true love a chance, they have to find one another again. The Movie DB: 6.951/10 Information Runtime: 90 min Genre: Comedy, Romance Language: English Country: United States of America, India Budget: $28,000,000 Revenue: $77,516,304 Homepage: Release date: October 5 2001 Read more: The delightful history behind serendipity suggests it’s not mere luck – NPR

    Continue/Read Original Article Here: The delightful history behind serendipity suggests it’s not mere luck : NPR

    Tags: 2001, All Things Considered, Audio, Coincidence, Film, History, John Cusack, Juliana Kim, Kate Beckinsale, Love, Movie, National Public Radio, NPR, Personal Attraction, Serendipity, Unlucky in Love
    #2001 #AllThingsConsidered #Audio #Coincidence #Film #History #JohnCusack #JulianaKim #KateBeckinsale #Love #Movie #NationalPublicRadio #NPR #PersonalAttraction #Serendipity #UnluckyInLove
  3. The delightful history behind serendipity suggests it’s not mere luck – NPR

    Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack in the 2001 film Serendipity. RGR Collection / Alamy

    Special Series, Word of the week

    The delightful history behind serendipity suggests it’s not mere luck

    January 7, 20265:00 AM ET, Heard on All Things Considered

    By Juliana Kim, 2-Minute Listen

    Transcript

    In the new year, we can all use some serendipity, right?

    Since the word was coined in the 18th century, “serendipity” has been used to describe all kinds of scientific and technological breakthroughs, including penicillin, the microwave oven and Velcro. (More on these below.)

    The whimsical term has also been the title of countless poems, songs and books about remarkable coincidences or eureka moments. And let’s not forget that it was the name of the charming 2001 romantic comedy about two strangers — played by John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale — meeting and reuniting during chance encounters.

    “Serendipity” — as the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it — is “the ability to find valuable or agreeable things not sought for” or “luck that takes the form of such finding.”

    While the word has often been associated with good fortune or happy accidents, its origin suggests that serendipity goes beyond just happenstance. Some researchers argue that serendipity can be acquired through skill and that opportunities for serendipitous moments occur more frequently than we realize.

    In this week’s installment of NPR’s Word of the Week, we dive into the roots of serendipity, its impact throughout history and tips on how we can cultivate it ourselves.

    Serendipity’s wayward journey

    While serendipity is all about the unexpected, its origins are less mysterious.

    Serendipity Plot: Although strangers Sara and Jonathan are both already in relationships, they realize they have genuine chemistry after a chance encounter – but part company soon after. Years later, they each yearn to reunite, despite being destined for the altar. But to give true love a chance, they have to find one another again. The Movie DB: 6.951/10 Information Runtime: 90 min Genre: Comedy, Romance Language: English Country: United States of America, India Budget: $28,000,000 Revenue: $77,516,304 Homepage: Release date: October 5 2001 Read more: The delightful history behind serendipity suggests it’s not mere luck – NPR

    Continue/Read Original Article Here: The delightful history behind serendipity suggests it’s not mere luck : NPR

    Tags: 2001, All Things Considered, Audio, Coincidence, Film, History, John Cusack, Juliana Kim, Kate Beckinsale, Love, Movie, National Public Radio, NPR, Personal Attraction, Serendipity, Unlucky in Love
    #2001 #AllThingsConsidered #Audio #Coincidence #Film #History #JohnCusack #JulianaKim #KateBeckinsale #Love #Movie #NationalPublicRadio #NPR #PersonalAttraction #Serendipity #UnluckyInLove
  4. The delightful history behind serendipity suggests it’s not mere luck – NPR

    Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack in the 2001 film Serendipity. RGR Collection / Alamy

    Special Series, Word of the week

    The delightful history behind serendipity suggests it’s not mere luck

    January 7, 20265:00 AM ET, Heard on All Things Considered

    By Juliana Kim, 2-Minute Listen

    Transcript

    In the new year, we can all use some serendipity, right?

    Since the word was coined in the 18th century, “serendipity” has been used to describe all kinds of scientific and technological breakthroughs, including penicillin, the microwave oven and Velcro. (More on these below.)

    The whimsical term has also been the title of countless poems, songs and books about remarkable coincidences or eureka moments. And let’s not forget that it was the name of the charming 2001 romantic comedy about two strangers — played by John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale — meeting and reuniting during chance encounters.

    “Serendipity” — as the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it — is “the ability to find valuable or agreeable things not sought for” or “luck that takes the form of such finding.”

    While the word has often been associated with good fortune or happy accidents, its origin suggests that serendipity goes beyond just happenstance. Some researchers argue that serendipity can be acquired through skill and that opportunities for serendipitous moments occur more frequently than we realize.

    In this week’s installment of NPR’s Word of the Week, we dive into the roots of serendipity, its impact throughout history and tips on how we can cultivate it ourselves.

    Serendipity’s wayward journey

    While serendipity is all about the unexpected, its origins are less mysterious.

    Serendipity Plot: Although strangers Sara and Jonathan are both already in relationships, they realize they have genuine chemistry after a chance encounter – but part company soon after. Years later, they each yearn to reunite, despite being destined for the altar. But to give true love a chance, they have to find one another again. The Movie DB: 6.951/10 Information Runtime: 90 min Genre: Comedy, Romance Language: English Country: United States of America, India Budget: $28,000,000 Revenue: $77,516,304 Homepage: Release date: October 5 2001 Read more: The delightful history behind serendipity suggests it’s not mere luck – NPR

    Continue/Read Original Article Here: The delightful history behind serendipity suggests it’s not mere luck : NPR

    #2001 #AllThingsConsidered #Audio #Coincidence #Film #History #JohnCusack #JulianaKim #KateBeckinsale #Love #Movie #NationalPublicRadio #NPR #PersonalAttraction #Serendipity #UnluckyInLove
  5. The delightful history behind serendipity suggests it’s not mere luck – NPR

    Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack in the 2001 film Serendipity. RGR Collection / Alamy

    Special Series, Word of the week

    The delightful history behind serendipity suggests it’s not mere luck

    January 7, 20265:00 AM ET, Heard on All Things Considered

    By Juliana Kim, 2-Minute Listen

    Transcript

    In the new year, we can all use some serendipity, right?

    Since the word was coined in the 18th century, “serendipity” has been used to describe all kinds of scientific and technological breakthroughs, including penicillin, the microwave oven and Velcro. (More on these below.)

    The whimsical term has also been the title of countless poems, songs and books about remarkable coincidences or eureka moments. And let’s not forget that it was the name of the charming 2001 romantic comedy about two strangers — played by John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale — meeting and reuniting during chance encounters.

    “Serendipity” — as the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it — is “the ability to find valuable or agreeable things not sought for” or “luck that takes the form of such finding.”

    While the word has often been associated with good fortune or happy accidents, its origin suggests that serendipity goes beyond just happenstance. Some researchers argue that serendipity can be acquired through skill and that opportunities for serendipitous moments occur more frequently than we realize.

    In this week’s installment of NPR’s Word of the Week, we dive into the roots of serendipity, its impact throughout history and tips on how we can cultivate it ourselves.

    Serendipity’s wayward journey

    While serendipity is all about the unexpected, its origins are less mysterious.

    Serendipity Plot: Although strangers Sara and Jonathan are both already in relationships, they realize they have genuine chemistry after a chance encounter – but part company soon after. Years later, they each yearn to reunite, despite being destined for the altar. But to give true love a chance, they have to find one another again. The Movie DB: 6.951/10 Information Runtime: 90 min Genre: Comedy, Romance Language: English Country: United States of America, India Budget: $28,000,000 Revenue: $77,516,304 Homepage: Release date: October 5 2001 Read more: The delightful history behind serendipity suggests it’s not mere luck – NPR

    Continue/Read Original Article Here: The delightful history behind serendipity suggests it’s not mere luck : NPR

    Tags: 2001, All Things Considered, Audio, Coincidence, Film, History, John Cusack, Juliana Kim, Kate Beckinsale, Love, Movie, National Public Radio, NPR, Personal Attraction, Serendipity, Unlucky in Love
    #2001 #AllThingsConsidered #Audio #Coincidence #Film #History #JohnCusack #JulianaKim #KateBeckinsale #Love #Movie #NationalPublicRadio #NPR #PersonalAttraction #Serendipity #UnluckyInLove
  6. St. Louis librarians’ best books of 2025 -STLPR

    Angela Hsieh / NPR

    Culture & History

    St. Louis on the Air

    The best books of 2025, chosen by St. Louis librarians

    By Emily Woodbury, Published Dec. 3, 2025 at 5:00 a.m. CST

    The cold, snowy days and long nights of winter are prime time for curling up with a warm, soothing drink and a good book.

    Whether you’re in search of a gift idea, a book to read during holiday travel or a good story for a cozy staycation, St. Louis Public Radio’s 2025 book list has you covered.

    On Wednesday’s St. Louis on the Air, we talked top titles with the people who select books for libraries in St. Louis and St. Louis County: Jennifer Alexander, collection development librarian at St. Louis County Library, and Lauren Brickey, manager of collection development at St. Louis Public Library. Community members also shared their picks on Reddit and Facebook.

    St. Louis librarians’ best books of 2025

    Jennifer Alexander, left, and Lauren Brickey joined “St. Louis on the Air” on Dec. 3, 2025.

    Their favorite reads are listed below, including brief notes from each of them.

    JENNIFER ALEXANDER’S LIST:

    FICTION

    “Automatic Noodle,” by Annalee Newitz

    “Automatic Noodle” by Annalee Newitz

    “Four robots work together to create tasty food for humans. Their challenges: getting supplies, finding customers, robot-phobia and navigating laws on robot-owned businesses. This delightful tale offers wisdom on problem-solving, building teams and the joy of chosen work.”

    “A Guardian and a Thief,” by Megha Majumdar

    “This near-future novel set in Kolkata introduces characters who are fighting for survival and working to protect their families. As their stories intersect, it becomes clear that one character’s salvation will mean the other’s downfall. This is a fable-like tale of love, hardship and community.”

    “The Wilderness,” by Angela Flournoy

    “Intertwining stories of five Black women finding their way into adulthood create a deeply moving portrait of friendship. Over the course of 20 years in New York and Los Angeles, Desiree, Danielle, January, Monique and Nakia face both the universal hardships of growing up and the specific challenges of 21st century America.”

    “Heart the Lover,” by Lily King

    “This beautiful and moving novel presents a story of a college romance and all that comes after. King beautifully evokes the sincerity and confusion of young love while reminding readers that love, heartbreak and drama persist beyond youth.”

    Continue/Read Original Article Here: St. Louis librarians’ best books of 2025 | STLPR

    #2025 #2025BookList #AllThingsConsidered #BestBooks #Missouri #StLouis #StLouisOnTheAir #StLouisPublicRadio #STLPR

  7. St. Louis librarians’ best books of 2025 -STLPR

    Angela Hsieh / NPR

    Culture & History

    St. Louis on the Air

    The best books of 2025, chosen by St. Louis librarians

    By Emily Woodbury, Published Dec. 3, 2025 at 5:00 a.m. CST

    The cold, snowy days and long nights of winter are prime time for curling up with a warm, soothing drink and a good book.

    Whether you’re in search of a gift idea, a book to read during holiday travel or a good story for a cozy staycation, St. Louis Public Radio’s 2025 book list has you covered.

    On Wednesday’s St. Louis on the Air, we talked top titles with the people who select books for libraries in St. Louis and St. Louis County: Jennifer Alexander, collection development librarian at St. Louis County Library, and Lauren Brickey, manager of collection development at St. Louis Public Library. Community members also shared their picks on Reddit and Facebook.

    St. Louis librarians’ best books of 2025

    Jennifer Alexander, left, and Lauren Brickey joined “St. Louis on the Air” on Dec. 3, 2025.

    Their favorite reads are listed below, including brief notes from each of them.

    JENNIFER ALEXANDER’S LIST:

    FICTION

    “Automatic Noodle,” by Annalee Newitz

    “Automatic Noodle” by Annalee Newitz

    “Four robots work together to create tasty food for humans. Their challenges: getting supplies, finding customers, robot-phobia and navigating laws on robot-owned businesses. This delightful tale offers wisdom on problem-solving, building teams and the joy of chosen work.”

    “A Guardian and a Thief,” by Megha Majumdar

    “This near-future novel set in Kolkata introduces characters who are fighting for survival and working to protect their families. As their stories intersect, it becomes clear that one character’s salvation will mean the other’s downfall. This is a fable-like tale of love, hardship and community.”

    “The Wilderness,” by Angela Flournoy

    “Intertwining stories of five Black women finding their way into adulthood create a deeply moving portrait of friendship. Over the course of 20 years in New York and Los Angeles, Desiree, Danielle, January, Monique and Nakia face both the universal hardships of growing up and the specific challenges of 21st century America.”

    “Heart the Lover,” by Lily King

    “This beautiful and moving novel presents a story of a college romance and all that comes after. King beautifully evokes the sincerity and confusion of young love while reminding readers that love, heartbreak and drama persist beyond youth.”

    Continue/Read Original Article Here: St. Louis librarians’ best books of 2025 | STLPR

    #2025 #2025BookList #AllThingsConsidered #BestBooks #Missouri #StLouis #StLouisOnTheAir #StLouisPublicRadio #STLPR

  8. Holy mackerel, @npr.org has pretty much given about an hour of the two hours of #AllThingsConsidered this evening. They're trying to help make him into a martyr for the Republicans aren't they.

  9. In his new book, author Dan Brown tackles the ultimate mystery : NPR

    Author Interviews

    In his new book, author Dan Brown tackles the ultimate mystery

    September 9, 2025, 4:27 PM ET, Heard on All Things Considered

    By Scott Detrow, Tyler Bartlam, and Jeanette Woods
    5-Minute Listen Transcript

    Author Dan Brown is known for storylines that delve into myth and conspiracy theories. His new book — The Secret of Secrets — tackles the ultimate mystery: human consciousness.

    SCOTT DETROW, HOST:

    Robert Langdon is back in action, the dashing and brilliant Harvard professor who has a knack for wandering into situations where he unearths big philosophical questions and at the same time gets chased around by bad guys who do not want those questions answered. Langdon is, of course, the recurring main character in author Dan Brown’s thrillers “The Da Vinci Code,” “Angels & Demons” and many others. In Brown’s latest novel, “The Secret Of Secrets,” Langdon has traded the mysteries of Christianity and the mysteries of Freemasonry for the even bigger mystery of the nature of human consciousness. Dan Brown, welcome to ALL THINGS CONSIDERED.

    DAN BROWN: Thanks for having me.

    DETROW: So this is by my count your sixth book starring Robert Langdon. How has he changed over the years?

    BROWN: (Laughter) Well, he’s aging much more slowly than I am, I’ve sensed.

    DETROW: (Laughter).

    BROWN: You know, this book took eight years to write. And Langdon, who is always – he’s always skeptical about all things conspiratorial and paranormal and all that sort of stuff. And in this book, he is sort of dragged out of his comfort box by a noetic scientist named Katherine Solomon. And he becomes a believer in aspects of consciousness that to most of us, myself included, seem quite out of this world.

    DETROW: I want to ask about the topic of the book. How much were you personally thinking about these big questions of consciousness? Was that how the book started out? Is that something you were wrestling with or wondering about and wanting to learn more about?

    BROWN: Absolutely. I mean, it’s no secret I like to write about big, sweeping, important topics, you know?

    DETROW: Yeah.

    BROWN: There really is no topic bigger, that I can imagine, than consciousness. It’s the lens through which we see reality, see ourselves, see our interactions with other people. And I wrote the character Katherine Solomon maybe 10 or 12 years ago as an ancillary character in another book, and she was a noetic scientist. And through the research for that book, I started to learn about noetic science. And some of these mind experiments who have results that are simply – you cannot believe them. You hear what the result is and you say, that’s impossible. And you read more, and you find out that reality is a much stranger thing than we ever imagined.

    DETROW: For those of us who aren’t as familiar, can you briefly explain noetic science?

    Editor’s Note: Read the rest of the story, at the below link.

    Continue/Read Original Article Here: In his new book, author Dan Brown tackles the ultimate mystery : NPR

    #2025 #AllThingsConsidered #Books #DanBrown #HumanConsciousness #Interview #Libraries #Library #LibraryOfCongress #NationalPublicRadio #NPR #Opinion #Published #Reading #TheSecretOfSecrets #UltimateMystery

  10. In his new book, author Dan Brown tackles the ultimate mystery : NPR

    Author Interviews

    In his new book, author Dan Brown tackles the ultimate mystery

    September 9, 2025, 4:27 PM ET, Heard on All Things Considered

    By Scott Detrow, Tyler Bartlam, and Jeanette Woods
    5-Minute Listen Transcript

    Author Dan Brown is known for storylines that delve into myth and conspiracy theories. His new book — The Secret of Secrets — tackles the ultimate mystery: human consciousness.

    SCOTT DETROW, HOST:

    Robert Langdon is back in action, the dashing and brilliant Harvard professor who has a knack for wandering into situations where he unearths big philosophical questions and at the same time gets chased around by bad guys who do not want those questions answered. Langdon is, of course, the recurring main character in author Dan Brown’s thrillers “The Da Vinci Code,” “Angels & Demons” and many others. In Brown’s latest novel, “The Secret Of Secrets,” Langdon has traded the mysteries of Christianity and the mysteries of Freemasonry for the even bigger mystery of the nature of human consciousness. Dan Brown, welcome to ALL THINGS CONSIDERED.

    DAN BROWN: Thanks for having me.

    DETROW: So this is by my count your sixth book starring Robert Langdon. How has he changed over the years?

    BROWN: (Laughter) Well, he’s aging much more slowly than I am, I’ve sensed.

    DETROW: (Laughter).

    BROWN: You know, this book took eight years to write. And Langdon, who is always – he’s always skeptical about all things conspiratorial and paranormal and all that sort of stuff. And in this book, he is sort of dragged out of his comfort box by a noetic scientist named Katherine Solomon. And he becomes a believer in aspects of consciousness that to most of us, myself included, seem quite out of this world.

    DETROW: I want to ask about the topic of the book. How much were you personally thinking about these big questions of consciousness? Was that how the book started out? Is that something you were wrestling with or wondering about and wanting to learn more about?

    BROWN: Absolutely. I mean, it’s no secret I like to write about big, sweeping, important topics, you know?

    DETROW: Yeah.

    BROWN: There really is no topic bigger, that I can imagine, than consciousness. It’s the lens through which we see reality, see ourselves, see our interactions with other people. And I wrote the character Katherine Solomon maybe 10 or 12 years ago as an ancillary character in another book, and she was a noetic scientist. And through the research for that book, I started to learn about noetic science. And some of these mind experiments who have results that are simply – you cannot believe them. You hear what the result is and you say, that’s impossible. And you read more, and you find out that reality is a much stranger thing than we ever imagined.

    DETROW: For those of us who aren’t as familiar, can you briefly explain noetic science?

    Editor’s Note: Read the rest of the story, at the below link.

    Continue/Read Original Article Here: In his new book, author Dan Brown tackles the ultimate mystery : NPR

    #2025 #AllThingsConsidered #Books #DanBrown #HumanConsciousness #Interview #Libraries #Library #LibraryOfCongress #NationalPublicRadio #NPR #Opinion #Published #Reading #TheSecretOfSecrets #UltimateMystery

  11. In his new book, author Dan Brown tackles the ultimate mystery : NPR

    Author Interviews

    In his new book, author Dan Brown tackles the ultimate mystery

    September 9, 2025, 4:27 PM ET, Heard on All Things Considered

    By Scott Detrow, Tyler Bartlam, and Jeanette Woods
    5-Minute Listen Transcript

    Author Dan Brown is known for storylines that delve into myth and conspiracy theories. His new book — The Secret of Secrets — tackles the ultimate mystery: human consciousness.

    SCOTT DETROW, HOST:

    Robert Langdon is back in action, the dashing and brilliant Harvard professor who has a knack for wandering into situations where he unearths big philosophical questions and at the same time gets chased around by bad guys who do not want those questions answered. Langdon is, of course, the recurring main character in author Dan Brown’s thrillers “The Da Vinci Code,” “Angels & Demons” and many others. In Brown’s latest novel, “The Secret Of Secrets,” Langdon has traded the mysteries of Christianity and the mysteries of Freemasonry for the even bigger mystery of the nature of human consciousness. Dan Brown, welcome to ALL THINGS CONSIDERED.

    DAN BROWN: Thanks for having me.

    DETROW: So this is by my count your sixth book starring Robert Langdon. How has he changed over the years?

    BROWN: (Laughter) Well, he’s aging much more slowly than I am, I’ve sensed.

    DETROW: (Laughter).

    BROWN: You know, this book took eight years to write. And Langdon, who is always – he’s always skeptical about all things conspiratorial and paranormal and all that sort of stuff. And in this book, he is sort of dragged out of his comfort box by a noetic scientist named Katherine Solomon. And he becomes a believer in aspects of consciousness that to most of us, myself included, seem quite out of this world.

    DETROW: I want to ask about the topic of the book. How much were you personally thinking about these big questions of consciousness? Was that how the book started out? Is that something you were wrestling with or wondering about and wanting to learn more about?

    BROWN: Absolutely. I mean, it’s no secret I like to write about big, sweeping, important topics, you know?

    DETROW: Yeah.

    BROWN: There really is no topic bigger, that I can imagine, than consciousness. It’s the lens through which we see reality, see ourselves, see our interactions with other people. And I wrote the character Katherine Solomon maybe 10 or 12 years ago as an ancillary character in another book, and she was a noetic scientist. And through the research for that book, I started to learn about noetic science. And some of these mind experiments who have results that are simply – you cannot believe them. You hear what the result is and you say, that’s impossible. And you read more, and you find out that reality is a much stranger thing than we ever imagined.

    DETROW: For those of us who aren’t as familiar, can you briefly explain noetic science?

    Editor’s Note: Read the rest of the story, at the below link.

    Continue/Read Original Article Here: In his new book, author Dan Brown tackles the ultimate mystery : NPR

    #2025 #AllThingsConsidered #Books #DanBrown #HumanConsciousness #Interview #Libraries #Library #LibraryOfCongress #NationalPublicRadio #NPR #Opinion #Published #Reading #TheSecretOfSecrets #UltimateMystery

  12. In his new book, author Dan Brown tackles the ultimate mystery : NPR

    Author Interviews

    In his new book, author Dan Brown tackles the ultimate mystery

    September 9, 2025, 4:27 PM ET, Heard on All Things Considered

    By Scott Detrow, Tyler Bartlam, and Jeanette Woods
    5-Minute Listen Transcript

    Author Dan Brown is known for storylines that delve into myth and conspiracy theories. His new book — The Secret of Secrets — tackles the ultimate mystery: human consciousness.

    SCOTT DETROW, HOST:

    Robert Langdon is back in action, the dashing and brilliant Harvard professor who has a knack for wandering into situations where he unearths big philosophical questions and at the same time gets chased around by bad guys who do not want those questions answered. Langdon is, of course, the recurring main character in author Dan Brown’s thrillers “The Da Vinci Code,” “Angels & Demons” and many others. In Brown’s latest novel, “The Secret Of Secrets,” Langdon has traded the mysteries of Christianity and the mysteries of Freemasonry for the even bigger mystery of the nature of human consciousness. Dan Brown, welcome to ALL THINGS CONSIDERED.

    DAN BROWN: Thanks for having me.

    DETROW: So this is by my count your sixth book starring Robert Langdon. How has he changed over the years?

    BROWN: (Laughter) Well, he’s aging much more slowly than I am, I’ve sensed.

    DETROW: (Laughter).

    BROWN: You know, this book took eight years to write. And Langdon, who is always – he’s always skeptical about all things conspiratorial and paranormal and all that sort of stuff. And in this book, he is sort of dragged out of his comfort box by a noetic scientist named Katherine Solomon. And he becomes a believer in aspects of consciousness that to most of us, myself included, seem quite out of this world.

    DETROW: I want to ask about the topic of the book. How much were you personally thinking about these big questions of consciousness? Was that how the book started out? Is that something you were wrestling with or wondering about and wanting to learn more about?

    BROWN: Absolutely. I mean, it’s no secret I like to write about big, sweeping, important topics, you know?

    DETROW: Yeah.

    BROWN: There really is no topic bigger, that I can imagine, than consciousness. It’s the lens through which we see reality, see ourselves, see our interactions with other people. And I wrote the character Katherine Solomon maybe 10 or 12 years ago as an ancillary character in another book, and she was a noetic scientist. And through the research for that book, I started to learn about noetic science. And some of these mind experiments who have results that are simply – you cannot believe them. You hear what the result is and you say, that’s impossible. And you read more, and you find out that reality is a much stranger thing than we ever imagined.

    DETROW: For those of us who aren’t as familiar, can you briefly explain noetic science?

    Editor’s Note: Read the rest of the story, at the below link.

    Continue/Read Original Article Here: In his new book, author Dan Brown tackles the ultimate mystery : NPR

    #2025 #AllThingsConsidered #Books #DanBrown #HumanConsciousness #Interview #Libraries #Library #LibraryOfCongress #NationalPublicRadio #NPR #Opinion #Published #Reading #TheSecretOfSecrets #UltimateMystery

  13. Why the origin of the word ‘dog’ remains a mystery : NPR

    Why the origin of the word ‘dog’ remains a mystery

    August 13, 2025, 5:00 AM ET Heard on All Things Considered

    By Juliana Kim, 2-Minute Listen Transcript

    A dog poses for a photo on Sept. 6, 2023 in Straffan, Ireland. Oisin Keniry/Getty Images

    They’re known as man’s best friends, fur babies, pooches.

    But the most widely used word for these beloved animals — “dog” — is also a great linguistic mystery.

    “The most everyday, commonplace words are often the most mysterious,” said Colin Gorrie, a linguist who has written about the origin of “dog.”

    Descended from wolves, dogs were among the first animals to be domesticated, and their close bond with humans can be traced back thousands of years. Much like the animal itself, the word used to describe canines has evolved over time; “dog” only became the standard term within the past 500 years or so, according to Gorrie.

    “This is a process that we see over and over again,” he said. “I think what the source of it is — is the fact that dogs live with us so much and we have such an emotional association with dogs, they become parts of our family and they attract these kinds of pet names.”

    From insult to standard pet name

    Centuries ago, dogs were more commonly called “hounds” — a term derived from the Old English word “hund.” Today, “hound” typically refers to a specific breed of dog, but back then, it referred to all domestic canines, according to Gorrie.

    Early forms of the word “dog” did appear in land charters and place names over a millennia ago. But most notably, during the Middle English period from roughly 1100 to 1450, “dog” was often used as an insult directed at people.

    “ The use of terms for dog to insult people are pretty common historically and across cultures and we see it all over the place,” Gorrie said. “So not just in the history of English but in related languages of Europe and Asia.”

    Over time, the positive emotions people felt toward the four-legged creature eclipsed some of the word’s negative, derogatory charge, he said. Around the 1500s, “dog” replaced “hound” as the standard term we use for the pet today.

    Continue/Read Original Article Here: Why the origin of the word ‘dog’ remains a mystery : NPR

    #2025 #AllThingsConsidered #America #DogWord #Dogs #Education #Etymology #History #JulianaKim #Libraries #Library #LibraryOfCongress #NationalPublicRadio #NPR #Science #UnitedStates

  14. Why the origin of the word ‘dog’ remains a mystery : NPR

    Why the origin of the word ‘dog’ remains a mystery

    August 13, 2025, 5:00 AM ET Heard on All Things Considered

    By Juliana Kim, 2-Minute Listen Transcript

    A dog poses for a photo on Sept. 6, 2023 in Straffan, Ireland. Oisin Keniry/Getty Images

    They’re known as man’s best friends, fur babies, pooches.

    But the most widely used word for these beloved animals — “dog” — is also a great linguistic mystery.

    “The most everyday, commonplace words are often the most mysterious,” said Colin Gorrie, a linguist who has written about the origin of “dog.”

    Descended from wolves, dogs were among the first animals to be domesticated, and their close bond with humans can be traced back thousands of years. Much like the animal itself, the word used to describe canines has evolved over time; “dog” only became the standard term within the past 500 years or so, according to Gorrie.

    “This is a process that we see over and over again,” he said. “I think what the source of it is — is the fact that dogs live with us so much and we have such an emotional association with dogs, they become parts of our family and they attract these kinds of pet names.”

    From insult to standard pet name

    Centuries ago, dogs were more commonly called “hounds” — a term derived from the Old English word “hund.” Today, “hound” typically refers to a specific breed of dog, but back then, it referred to all domestic canines, according to Gorrie.

    Early forms of the word “dog” did appear in land charters and place names over a millennia ago. But most notably, during the Middle English period from roughly 1100 to 1450, “dog” was often used as an insult directed at people.

    “ The use of terms for dog to insult people are pretty common historically and across cultures and we see it all over the place,” Gorrie said. “So not just in the history of English but in related languages of Europe and Asia.”

    Over time, the positive emotions people felt toward the four-legged creature eclipsed some of the word’s negative, derogatory charge, he said. Around the 1500s, “dog” replaced “hound” as the standard term we use for the pet today.

    Continue/Read Original Article Here: Why the origin of the word ‘dog’ remains a mystery : NPR

    #2025 #AllThingsConsidered #America #DogWord #Dogs #Education #Etymology #History #JulianaKim #Libraries #Library #LibraryOfCongress #NationalPublicRadio #NPR #Science #UnitedStates

  15. #CPB helps fund both #PBS & #NPR, but most of its funding is distributed to more than 1,500 local #PublicRadio & #television stations around the country.

    The corporation also has deep ties to much of the nation’s most familiar programming, from NPR’s “#AllThingsConsidered” to, historically, “#SesameStreet,” “#MisterRogers Neighborhood” & the documentaries of #KenBurns.

    #law #democracy #Constitution #FreePress #autocracy #Trump

  16. #CPB helps fund both #PBS & #NPR, but most of its funding is distributed to more than 1,500 local #PublicRadio & #television stations around the country.

    The corporation also has deep ties to much of the nation’s most familiar programming, from NPR’s “#AllThingsConsidered” to, historically, “#SesameStreet,” “#MisterRogers Neighborhood” & the documentaries of #KenBurns.

    #law #democracy #Constitution #FreePress #autocracy #Trump

  17. #CPB helps fund both #PBS & #NPR, but most of its funding is distributed to more than 1,500 local #PublicRadio & #television stations around the country.

    The corporation also has deep ties to much of the nation’s most familiar programming, from NPR’s “#AllThingsConsidered” to, historically, “#SesameStreet,” “#MisterRogers Neighborhood” & the documentaries of #KenBurns.

    #law #democracy #Constitution #FreePress #autocracy #Trump

  18. #CPB helps fund both #PBS & #NPR, but most of its funding is distributed to more than 1,500 local #PublicRadio & #television stations around the country.

    The corporation also has deep ties to much of the nation’s most familiar programming, from NPR’s “#AllThingsConsidered” to, historically, “#SesameStreet,” “#MisterRogers Neighborhood” & the documentaries of #KenBurns.

    #law #democracy #Constitution #FreePress #autocracy #Trump

  19. #CPB helps fund both #PBS & #NPR, but most of its funding is distributed to more than 1,500 local #PublicRadio & #television stations around the country.

    The corporation also has deep ties to much of the nation’s most familiar programming, from NPR’s “#AllThingsConsidered” to, historically, “#SesameStreet,” “#MisterRogers Neighborhood” & the documentaries of #KenBurns.

    #law #democracy #Constitution #FreePress #autocracy #Trump

  20. My friend, high-school English teacher Alexandra Howes, interviewed along with colleague Alonzo Vereen on the 100th anniversary of The Great Gatsby. #booksky #literature #NPR #AllThingsConsidered #GreatGatsby www.boisestatepublicradio.org/2025-04-12/h...

    High school teachers reflect o...

  21. My friend, high-school English teacher Alexandra Howes, interviewed along with colleague Alonzo Vereen on the 100th anniversary of The Great Gatsby. #booksky #literature #NPR #AllThingsConsidered #GreatGatsby www.boisestatepublicradio.org/2025-04-12/h...

    High school teachers reflect o...

  22. My friend, high-school English teacher Alexandra Howes, interviewed along with colleague Alonzo Vereen on the 100th anniversary of The Great Gatsby. #booksky #literature #NPR #AllThingsConsidered #GreatGatsby www.boisestatepublicradio.org/2025-04-12/h...

    High school teachers reflect o...