Ann Patchett, the award-winning author of numerous books including “Bel Canto” and “State of Wonder,” joins her good friend Elizabeth Gilbert, author of the hit bestseller “Eat, Pray, Love,” to talk about the challenges and joys of their craft. In this thrilling conversation, Patchett and Gilbert ask each other how and why they write, covering everything from grief, to frustration, to divine inspiration.

Ann Patchett & Elizabeth Gilbert on Writing

Background, context, and poem text: https://www.brainpickings.org/2017/04/06/cynthia-nixon-reads-emily-dickinson/

Photograph © A Quiet Passion/Hurricane Films/Courtesy of Music Box Films.

CONTEXT / POEM TEXT

Cynthia Nixon reads Emily Dickinson

Background and poem text: https://www.brainpickings.org/2017/01/01/adrienne-rich-reads-what-kind-of-times-are-these/

Recorded for PBS's "Poetry Everywhere" program: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/poetryeverywhere/

BACKGROUND / POEM TEXT

Adrienne Rich reads "What Kind of Times Are These"

Poem text and context: https://www.brainpickings.org/2017/05/02/rosanne-cash-adrienne-rich-marie-curie/

Recorded at "The Universe in Verse," April 24, 2017: https://www.brainpickings.org/the-universe-in-verse/

Photograph of Rosanne Cash by Molly Walsh / Academy of American Poets

POEM TEXT / CONTEXT

Rosanne Cash Reads "Power" by Adrienne Rich

He turned politics into a vicious blood sport, broke Congress, and paved the way for Trump's rise. Now he's reveling in his achievements.

Newt Gingrich Says You're Welcome - The Atlantic - McKay Coppins

Our conversation this time focuses on people who are referred to as ‘les décroissants’. But who exactly are ‘les décroissants’? To find out, let’s start with a conversation.

Learn French by Podcast

199: Les ‘décroissants’: c‘est qui?

@OnBeing host Krista Tippett reads at the third annual Universe in Verse — a charitable celebration of science through poetry, hosted by Maria Popova at Pioneer Works (April 24, 2019). Poem text and context: https://www.brainpickings.org/2020/01/02/krista-tippett-howard-nemerov-universe-in-verse/

More highlights from The Universe in Verse: https://www.brainpickings.org/tag/the-universe-in-verse/

The Universe in Verse: Krista Tippett Reads "Figures of Thought" by Howard Nemerov

Poem text and context: https://www.brainpickings.org/2020/03/15/today-another-universe-jane-hirshfield-ledger-jasmine

Kindly recorded by the poet for Brain Pickings.

Jane Hirshfield reads "Today, Another Universe"

Recorded by Hannah Bullock. "17 June 2020, 4.30am."

Adrienne Rich reads "What Kind of Times Are These"

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