Author Jill Lepore 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."

Corrected: August 25, 2026 at 10:05 AM EDT

A previous headline misspelled Jill Lepore's last name as Lapore.

Michel Martin

Michel Martin is a host of Morning Edition.

See stories by Michel Martin

Support nonprofit, fact-based public service journalism

WEKU depends on support from those who view and listen to our content. There's no paywall here. Please support WEKU with your donation.

Contribute now

Related Content

The Commonwealth

Horse electrocuted at Kentucky State Fair following electrical concerns reported in 2023

Sylvia Goodman

Ahead of this year’s World Championship Horse Show at the Kentucky State Fair, a horse died by electrocution in its stall. Two years prior, event organizers were warned they needed to fix electrical issues to maintain horse safety.
NPR News

Canada announces retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. as the countries' trade fight deepens

Alex Leff

The measures come after President Trump imposed 50% tariffs on many Canadian goods and threatened more after trade talks broke down on Friday.
NPR News

'Forget about going back': 9 years on, Rohingya crisis enters dangerous phase

Lorcan Lovett

The world largely moved on from the Rohingya crisis. But the exodus has not stopped, aid is shrinking and a generation of refugees is growing up with little prospect of going home.
The Commonwealth

Beshear administration won’t reveal communications ahead of Lee Specialty Clinic cuts

Joe Sonka

The Beshear administration is withholding 127 emails related to the Lee Specialty Clinic in advance of controversial cuts announced in June, including who sent them and when.
NPR News

Several states will decide voter ID ballot measures this year

Benjamin Swasey

Voters in at least six states will soon decide ballot measures related to voter ID — the largest number of voter ID measures in a single year. The tally includes three prominent swing states.