In the second part of this exclusive conversation, President Obama and writer Marilynne Robinson discuss literature, politics, competition, American restlessness, teaching, and citizenship. The conversation was recorded on September 14, 2015 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Soundings from The New York Review

President Obama and Marilynne Robinson: A Conversation—II

In this exclusive conversation, President Obama and author Marilynne Robinson discuss topics ranging from the problems of American democracy and the responsibilities of citizenship to the challenges of Christianity and their shared sense of the values and virtues of small-town America. The conversation was recorded on September 14, 2015 in Des Moines, Iowa. This is the first part of their conversation; the second part will appear on October 26.

President Obama and Marilynne Robinson: A Conversation

A panel discussion with Laurie Robinson, co-chair of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, critic and novelist Darryl Pinckney, and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. The panelists reflect on issues of race and bias in law enforcement and whether the recommendations of the White House Task Force, if implemented, can practically address and dismantle sources of conflict, deepening racial divisions, and high rates of incarceration in the US. Recorded on September 20, 2015 at the Brooklyn Book Festival.

Civil Rights & Policing

Ian Buruma, Joseph Lelyveld, Zoë Heller, Alma Guillermoprieto, and Andrew Delbanco discuss the future of literary journalism. This podcast was recorded on April 3, 2013 at the New York Public Library.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nybooks-podcasts/~4/csh1TvQAF2A" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>

Ian Buruma, Joseph Lelyveld, Zoë Heller, Alma Guillermoprieto, and Andrew Delbanco discuss the future of literary journalism. This podcast was recorded on April 3, 2013 at the New York Public Library.

Literary Journalism: A Discussion

Michael Chabon reads from his <a href="http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2005/jun/09/on-the-mysteries-of-pittsburgh/">piece</a> about writing his first novel, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh. Chabon spoke on February 5, 2013 at Town Hall in New York City, in a celebration of The New York Review's 50th anniversary.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nybooks-podcasts/~4/uJOAyUExm7w" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>

Michael Chabon reads from his piece about writing his first novel, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh. Chabon spoke on February 5, 2013 at Town Hall in New York City, in a celebration of The New York Review's 50th anniversary.

Michael Chabon on the Mysteries of Pittsburgh

Daniel Mendelsohn reads from his 2006 piece, "<a href="http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2006/sep/21/september-11-at-the-movies/">September 11 at the Movies</a>," a review of United 93 by Paul Greengrass and World Trade Center by Oliver Stone. Mendelsohn spoke on February 5, 2013 at Town Hall in New York City, in a celebration of The New York Review's 50th anniversary.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nybooks-podcasts/~4/vHvn-l0iaeU" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>

Daniel Mendelsohn reads from his 2006 piece, "September 11 at the Movies," a review of United 93 by Paul Greengrass and World Trade Center by Oliver Stone. Mendelsohn spoke on February 5, 2013 at Town Hall in New York City, in a celebration of The New York Review's 50th anniversary.

Daniel Mendelsohn on September 11 at the Movies

Mark Danner discusses his time as an editorial assistant at The New York Review and as a contributor from the campaign trail. Danner spoke on February 5, 2013 at Town Hall in New York City, in a celebration of The New York Review's 50th anniversary.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nybooks-podcasts/~4/iHuQe5DNlNA" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>

Mark Danner discusses his time as an editorial assistant at The New York Review and as a contributor from the campaign trail. Danner spoke on February 5, 2013 at Town Hall in New York City, in a celebration of The New York Review's 50th anniversary.

Mark Danner on Reporting from the Campaign Trail

Darryl Pickney discusses his lifelong engagement with the writing of James Baldwin. Pinckney spoke on February 5, 2013 at Town Hall in New York City, in a celebration of The New York Review's 50th anniversary.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nybooks-podcasts/~4/LSAVKuC-vDo" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>

Darryl Pickney discusses his lifelong engagement with the writing of James Baldwin. Pinckney spoke on February 5, 2013 at Town Hall in New York City, in a celebration of The New York Review's 50th anniversary.

Darryl Pinckney on James Baldwin

Mary Beard discusses The New York Review’s coverage of the classics throughout its history. Beard spoke on February 5, 2013 at Town Hall in New York City, in a celebration of The New York Review's 50th anniversary.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nybooks-podcasts/~4/PyXnZL-XPGk" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>

Mary Beard discusses The New York Review’s coverage of the classics throughout its history. Beard spoke on February 5, 2013 at Town Hall in New York City, in a celebration of The New York Review's 50th anniversary.

Mary Beard on Reading the Classics

John Banville discusses his 1997 review "The European Irishman," on the work of Hubert Butler. Banville spoke on February 5, 2013 at Town Hall in New York City, in a celebration of The New York Review's 50th anniversary.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nybooks-podcasts/~4/2Z8KdCed8Mg" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>

John Banville discusses his 1997 review "The European Irishman," on the work of Hubert Butler. Banville spoke on February 5, 2013 at Town Hall in New York City, in a celebration of The New York Review's 50th anniversary.

John Banville on Hubert Butler

Joan Didion reads from her 1991 essay "New York: Sentimental Journeys" about the Central Park jogger case. Didion spoke on February 5, 2013 at Town Hall in New York City, in a celebration of The New York Review's 50th anniversary.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nybooks-podcasts/~4/x_DJVWLx0kU" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>

Joan Didion reads from her 1991 essay "New York: Sentimental Journeys" about the Central Park jogger case. Didion spoke on February 5, 2013 at Town Hall in New York City, in a celebration of The New York Review's 50th anniversary.

Joan Didion on the Central Park Jogger

Steve Coll addresses the political implications of the mission to kill Osama bin Laden and how the author of <a href="http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2012/oct/25/bin-laden-dead-or-alive/">No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission That Killed Osama bin Laden</a> sidestepped legal issues to publish his book.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nybooks-podcasts/~4/NIler360nws" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>

Steve Coll addresses the political implications of the mission to kill Osama bin Laden and how the author of No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission That Killed Osama bin Laden sidestepped legal issues to publish his book.

Steve Coll on the Killing of Osama bin Laden

Henri Cole reads from his recent book of poems, Touch (2011), and talks about his search for what he calls the "essentialness of emotion."<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nybooks-podcasts/~4/FBAzpFboyD4" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>

Henri Cole reads from his recent book of poems, Touch (2011), and talks about his search for what he calls the "essentialness of emotion."

Henri Cole Reads Selected Poems

Jonathan Freedland talks with Emily Greenhouse about gilded-coach celebrity in an era of austerity, the hereditary principle, and why all bets are off when it comes to Wills and Kate.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nybooks-podcasts/~4/h1_SeC8R_4g" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>

Jonathan Freedland talks with Emily Greenhouse about gilded-coach celebrity in an era of austerity, the hereditary principle, and why all bets are off when it comes to Wills and Kate.

Jonathan Freedland on the Royal Wedding

Andrew Delbanco talks with Andrew Martin about the first volume of Mark Twain’s unabridged Autobiography and the distinctive joys and challenges of reading Twain in the twenty-first century.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nybooks-podcasts/~4/l4-U2tq7aW8" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>

Andrew Delbanco talks with Andrew Martin about the first volume of Mark Twain’s unabridged Autobiography and the distinctive joys and challenges of reading Twain in the twenty-first century.

Andrew Delbanco on Mark Twain

Interviews, conversations, discussions, events and more from the writers and staff of The New York Review of Books

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Soundings from The New York Review

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