Sarah Vowell

Last night on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, author and This American Lifer Sarah Vowell made an unusual endorsement. "This morning I got the paper and I was about to read it and I was"—Ms. Vowell let out a pained grown—"and I just went over to the computer and looked up F.D.R.'s 'Fireside Chats' and started reading those."

Ever the helpful host, Mr. Stewart added some context for his younger viewers. "The chats he gave to get people through the Depression."

"Yeah," said Ms. Vowell. "Because people say that really bucked up people during the Depression. And I'm not really getting any of that, so I decided to go back the 30s and be reassured."

Sounds good to us. Check out these Fireside Chats for yourself. Also, it's worth noting that President Roosevelt relies heavily on Senator John McCain's favorite phrase, "my friends."

The big dogs of publishing might have Oprah Winfrey’s Book Club, but the little ones have indie rock. Unclear when the flirtation became a marriage, but the benefit concert held Sunday night at Beacon Theater for 826 NYC, the McSweeney’s-sponsored reading-and-writing program for kids, seems a good indication that independent literature and independent music are happily locked in a warm, wordy bear hug.  read more »