Studio 360

Forever Young

Kurt Andersen notes that his generation, the baby boomers, have never stopped embracing their inner child. Fad-happy, spendthrift, and impulsive, America followed their lead. Could the recession be a last chance to grow up?

"Older"

They Might Be Giants reminds us that we're not getting any younger.

Susan Orlean

Even after she had seven books to her credit (and was the subject of a movie starring Meryl Streep), Susan Orlean endured a piece of familiar fatherly advice: go to law school, in case writing “didn’t work out.” Practical but always optimistic, her father came of age during the Great Depression. Orlean thinks she could use some of his can-do attitude now.

"Careful What You Pack"

There’s trouble around every corner, in this song by They Might Be Giants.

They Might Be Giants: Watch What You Say

The members of They Might Be Giants have started keeping a list of meaningless phrases that prevent real communication. “It is what it is” – what does that mean, anyway?

"Why Does The Sun Really Shine?"

The original lyrics came from the encyclopedia, but facts change. They Might Be Giants stay current on their astrophysics.

Saul Griffith

In an age of hyperspecialization, Saul Griffith is an old-school inventor. A MacArthur "genius," his work includes a new way to manufacture eyeglasses, kites that generate power, and rope that knows how much weight it carries. Griffith explains how to get kids excited about inventing our future: send them to school on zip lines.

Curtis Sittenfeld

The writer of American Wife and Prep thought she had the secret formula for getting work done: she didn't live in New York, didn't write a blog, and didn't have kids - until her daughter was born. She hasn't written a word of fiction since.

Grasshopper and Coyote

In the 1990s, Kurt says, Americans were like Wile E. Coyote, headed across the mesa at maximum speed. And then we looked down. But there’s hope at the bottom of the cliff.

"Spiraling Shape"

"Nobody knows what it's really like, but everyone says it’s great": a cautionary tale from They Might Be Giants. Don’t believe the hype.

Reset

Kurt's new book, Reset: How This Crisis Can Restore Our Values and Renew America hits bookstores July 28th! Find out why the current economic crisis is actually a moment of great opportunity to get ourselves and our nation back on track.

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