Alison Returns and Discusses Emergency Medical Leave; Managing Unexpected Situations; Sebastian Junger's Near-Death Experience; Our Summer Reading Challenge

In February of this year, our host Alison Stewart underwent emergency brain surgery, which revealed a serious infection pressing on her language center. Now, she's back on the live show, and ready to talk about her surgery and recovery process. She kicks things off by interviewing her own neurosurgeon, Dr. Randy D'Amico of Lenox Hill Hospital, about her case and the process of treating her infection (which included AWAKE brain surgery!).

Journalist Sebastian Junger nearly died a few years ago when an aneurysm in his abdomen ruptured. As he lay dying on the operating table, a vision of his dead father caused him to question for the first time the possibility of an afterlife. He joins us to discuss his memoir about the experience, In My Time of Dying: How I Came Face to Face with the Idea of an Afterlife.

We're launching a summer reading challenge! From now until the end of Labor Day weekend, we're challenging our listeners to read four books in any of the following categories:

A classic you’ve been meaning to get to
Something by a debut novelist
A book recommended by a friend
A book about or set in New York
A book translated from another language
A book being turned into a TV series or movie
A book you heard about on All Of It

To sign up for the challenge (and receive a prize!) click here.

To get you started, All Of It and Get Lit producer Jordan Lauf joins us for some recommendations in each category.