David Rakoff

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David Rakoff

Friday, December 28, 2012

Writer and humorist David Rakoff's writing was witty and sardonic and very funny. He died in August at the age of 47. He was on the Lopate Show in October 2010 to talk about his book Half Empty, which won the 2011 Thurber Prize for American Humor. We’re replaying a selection of that interview now to remember him.

Listen to other interviews with Dakid Rakoff here.

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Remembering David Rakoff

Monday, August 13, 2012

Writer David Rakoff died Thursday at the age of 47. His humorous essays examined a wide range of subjects, from his annoyance at first-world problems to undertaking a 21-day fast to his own bout with cancer. His most recent essay collection,  Half Empty, won the 2011 Thurber Prize for American Humor. He was a frequent contributor to This American Life, and the author of the essay collections Don’t Get Too Comfortable and Fraud. He responded to our Guest Picks question “What’s one thing you are a fan of that people might not expect?” with “As someone often seen as hating everything and being immune to pleasure, which isn’t true, I love everything (except sports). I’m just scared of it.” He was on the Leonard Lopate Show a number of times, and was always a generous guest. You can listen to those interviews below.

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Guest Picks: David Rakoff

Monday, October 11, 2010

David Rakoff stopped by The Leonard Lopate Show to share some of his favorite books, movies and more with us.

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David Rakoff on Half Empty

Monday, October 11, 2010

David Rakoff, writer at large for GQ and regular contributor to This American Life, defends pessimism. His new book Half Empty includes reporting and personal essays, and examines the realities of our ever-optimistic culture to find that, most of the time, the best is not yet to come and dreams don’t come true.

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Art in Odd Places

Sunday, December 08, 2002

Jazz in church, paintings after prison, an electronic soundscape in an old synagogue... we've got all kinds of art happening in all kinds of places. Plus, how to change a man who's committed crimes against humanity — by giving him books. And once again, we hand over the controls for ...

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News That's Not Exactly News

Sunday, March 25, 2001

The Next Big Thing is news that's not exactly news. It's a fall from the sky. It's the music and stories coming from Keba Cissoko's kora. It's an old-fashioned movie pianist named Abe. And, for pete's sake, let's not forget Mama.

What's the next big thing?

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A Field Day for Cartoonists

Sunday, December 17, 2000

Well. It's all over. This whole election business was a field day for cartoonists -- a field month, actually. Being a cartoonist has always seemed like such a cushy job. But, of course, it has its headaches and heartaches. This week on the show: life at the New Yorker, from ...

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Elian Raid; IMF Protests; Naomi Klein; Email Hoaxes; Columbine; Remember the Presidential Campaign?

Friday, April 21, 2000

It was the picture shown round the world: The Elian Gonzalez government raid. But what of all the photos from the event that didn't get shown--did they tell a different story?

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Media Blackmail in Australia?; NEJM; RIP: Martin Agronsky; Generations of Black Journalists

Friday, July 30, 1999

I'll make you an offer you can't refuse. If you give me a lot of money, I'll stop saying bad things about your company on my radio show. An Australian media scandal.

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