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6.10.14: The Exo-Skeleton Kicking Off The World Cup And Why Reading YA Is Embarassing

Thomás via Flickr Creative Commons

The world cup kicks off in Sao Paulo this Thursday amid controversy, corruption, and protest. Today, a profile of the neuroscientist behind a bionic exoskeleton that will make a miraculous kickoff at the world cup possible. But first, Stephen Dubner, co-author of Freaknomics, explains some of the decisions that are part of playing in the world cup. And then, a conversation with Ruth Graham, who triggered a fury among young adult fans by claiming "Adults should be embarrassed about reading literature for children".

Listen to the full show and click Read more for individual segments.

Freakonomics Explores The Headlines

Stephen Dubner is host of the WNYC podcast Freakonomics Radio –which professes to expose “the hidden side of everything”.  He is also co-author of the books Freakonomics, Super-Freakonomics, and most recently, Think Like a Freak.

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Freakonomics Explores The Headlines

The World Cup's Exoskeleton

Danielle Elliot is a writer and producer based in New York. She traveled to Sao Paulo to see the mind-controlled exoskeleton which will be participating in the World Cup kickoff, and wrote about it in an article for Grantland, “The Dream Kickoff.”

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The World Cup's Exoskeleton

The Argument Against YA Fiction

Ruth Graham wrote the article “Against YA” for the Slate book review and was immediately met with a wave of backlash. She will probably be hearing about it for a long time, especially given the popularity of books like Eleanor and Park and the blockbuster adaptation of The Fault In Our Stars, markers for the success of “youth culture.”

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The Argument Against YA Fiction

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