Author Jill Lapore discusses new book, 'The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State'

NPR | By Michel Martin

Published August 25, 2026 at 4:44 AM EDT

NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Harvard professor and writer at the New Yorker Jill Lepore about her new book, "The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State."

Related Content

Novelist Jade Chang on the point of our existence

Justine Kenin, Ailsa Chang, Linah Mohammad

To help us hang on to summer vibes, we invited author Jade Chang to share a couple of the books she's reading and to talk about he own novel, What a Time to be Alive.
Edwidge Danticat's 'Dèy' explores explores trauma, mourning and joy through Haitian American lens

The novel tells the story of a young woman in Florida as she navigates the aftermath of surviving a mall shooting, raises a 10-year-old daughter, struggles to keep her elderly parents and brother safe from gangs in Haiti, and grapples with her mother's mental illness.
Graphic novel 'Raise the Bar' illustrates a Chilean girl's pursuit to achieve weighlifting dreams

Ayesha Rascoe

Ayesha Rascoe speaks with author and illustrator Fernanda Frick about her new graphic novel, "Raise the Bar," about a Chilean girl who pursues a passion for weightlifting.
In which 'Winnie-the-Pooh' turns 100

Samantha Balaban

In 1926, author A.A. Milne and illustrator Ernest H. Shepard published Winnie-the-Pooh. Now, a new kids' book — How a Bear Became a Book — celebrates their collaboration.
'The Dog Stars' novelist Peter Heller drew on real-life survival skills

Dave Davies

Heller's 2012 novel about a man who survives a super flu that kills most of humanity is now being adapted to film. Adventure writer Heller drew from his own life. Originally broadcast in 2012.

You make NHPR possible.

NHPR is nonprofit and independent. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. Your support makes this news available to everyone.

Give today. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference.