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The Leonard Lopate Show

Friday, December 19, 2008
  • books
    (*Karen/flickr)

    Hot Books

    Get some book gift ideas! The editor of the New York Times Book Review shares his picks for the best and most notable books of 2008. Also: director Darren Aronofsky on his film "The Wrestler," and Laurent Cantet talks about his movie "The Class." Plus, Please Explain is all about baking.

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Best Books of 2008

Get some holiday book gift ideas! Sam Tanenhaus, editor of the New York Times Book Review, shares his picks for the best and most notable books of 2008.

Weigh in: What books are on your wish list this holiday season?

The Wrestler

Director Darren Aronofsky talks about the buzz surrounding his new film, "The Wrestler." It stars Mickey Rourke as a has-been fighter trying for a last shot at success.

An Inner-City School in Paris

Laurent Cantet’s new film, “The Class,” follows a teacher’s efforts to cope with challenging students at an inner-city school in Paris. It’s gotten great reviews, and won the Palme D'Or at Cannes.

baking

Please Explain: Baking

‘Tis the season for holiday cookies, cakes, and pies. Find about the chemistry of baking, and why techniques and ingredients really do matter when creating the tastiest baked treats. Chef Katherine Alford is editor and Test Kitchen Director for the Food Network; Dorie Greenspan is a food writer, expert baker, and author of several cookbooks including Baking: From My Home to Yours.

National Book Award Winners

The Leonard Lopate Show

A number of this year’s National Book Award winners have appeared on The Leonard Lopate Show. Click here to see the list!

Tributes: Jeanne-Claude

The Leonard Lopate Show

Jeanne-Claude created environmental works of art with her husband and fellow-conspirator/collaborator Christo. Together, they wrapped the Reichstag in Berlin, the Pont-Neuf in Paris, and created The Gates, with billowy orange drapes, in Central Park. Jeanne-Claude just died at the age of 74. You can hear Leonard Lopate’s last interview with them both, from July 19, 1999.

Please Explain: Eco-Labels

The Leonard Lopate Show

Your broccoli, shampoo, and air conditioner might bear labels declaring them to be organic, cruelty-free, or energy efficient, but what do those labels mean and are they true? Dr. Urvashi Rangan, Project Director for Consumer Reports' GreenerChoices.org and Consumers Union’s Senior Scientist for Policy Initiatives, and Dara O'Rourke, founder and CEO of GoodGuide.com, took a look at what eco-labels indicate, how standards are set, and what they mean for consumers and manufacturers around the world.

Our 3-ingredient Challenge wins a James Beard Award

The Leonard Lopate Show

On May 3, the Lopate Show won its third James Beard Award for our 3-ingredient challenge. In August, we asked our listeners to call in and name 3 ingredients and then challenged New York chef and 3-ingredient expert Rozanne Gold to whip up a recipe! You can listen to the 3-ingredient challenge and get some inspiration for simple, delicious, and unexpected dishes.