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Anne Lamott reflects on life, death, and 'learning to endure the beams of love'

NPR | By Manoush Zomorodi,
Rachel Faulkner White, Sanaz Meshkinpour
Published April 5, 2024 at 8:15 AM CDT
Bret Hartman
/
TED

Writer Anne Lamott has gained a cult following through shockingly honest prose on love, death, faith, writing and more. This hour, her wisdom from a career spanning 21 books and some 40 years.

About Anne Lamott

Anne Lamott photographed by her son
/ Sam Lamott
/
Sam Lamott
Anne Lamott photographed by her son

Anne Lamott has authored more than twenty books, including bestsellers Bird by Bird and Operating Instructions. Her most recent essay collection is Somehow: Thoughts on Love and her latest book on writing is Good Writing: 36 Ways to Improve Your Sentences, which she co-wrote with her husband Neal Allen. Lamott is a recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship and an inductee to the California Hall of Fame. She lives in Northern California with her family.

This episode of the TED Radio Hour was produced by Rachel Faulkner White and edited by Sanaz Meshkinpour. You can follow us on Facebook @TEDRadioHour and email us at TEDRadioHour@npr.org.

Copyright 2026 NPR
Manoush Zomorodi
Manoush Zomorodi is the host of TED Radio Hour.
Rachel Faulkner White
Rachel Faulkner is a producer and editor for TED Radio Hour.
Sanaz Meshkinpour
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