Sarah Vowell

Sarah Vowell tells the history of the fiftieth state—Hawaii. Her latest book, Unfamiliar Fishes, gives an account of the transformation of the islands by New England missionaries who arrived in 1820, an incestuous princess pulled between her new god and her brother-husband, and also looks at sugar barons, lepers, con men, Theodore Roosevelt, and the last Hawaiian queen: a songwriter whose sentimental ode "Aloha 'Oe" serenaded Barack Obama, the first president from Hawaii, during his inaugural parade.

Bestselling author Sarah Vowell, This American Life host Ira Glass, and actor, writer, comedian, and Daily Show correspondent John Oliver round up some "Great Speeches & Other Outbursts" to benefit the education nonprofit 826NYC.

Listeners: what do you think is one of the greatest speeches or public outbursts… of all time? Call in or comment here!

Sarah Vowell tells the history of the fiftieth state—Hawaii. Her latest book, Unfamiliar Fishes, gives an account of the transformation of the islands by New England missionaries who arrived in 1820, an incestuous princess pulled between her new god and her brother-husband, and also looks at sugar barons, lepers, con men, Theodore Roosevelt, and the last Hawaiian queen: a songwriter whose sentimental ode "Aloha 'Oe" serenaded Barack Obama, the first president from Hawaii, during his inaugural parade.

Sarah Vowell stopped by The Leonard Lopate Show to talk about some of her favorite picks.

The Puritans came to America full of ideals and lofty aspirations. Four hundred years later, candidates like Sarah Palin still sing their tune. Writer Sarah Vowell, author of the new book The Wordy Shipmates, says we could learn a thing or two from these politicians ...

Events:
Sarah Vowell will give a Q&A and booksigning
Wed. Oct. ...

Then
Massie Ritsch, communications director for the Center for Responsive Politics, opens up the convention swag ...