© 2026

Donate

Play Live Radio

Next Up:

0:00

0:00

0:00 0:00

Available On Air Stations

The Roundtable

Oren Harman looks at transformation over the ages in new book 'Metamorphosis: A Natural and Human History'

By Joe Donahue

Published February 23, 2026 at 11:12 AM EST

Oren Harman will tell us about his latest book, 'Metamorphosis: A Natural and Human History,' where Harman traces a path from Aristotle to Darwin to cutting-edge science today, to explore this miraculous yet violent process of transformation and metaphor for identity, reinvention, and survival.

Tags

The Roundtable science Butterflies animals book research history

Joe Donahue

Joe talks to people on the radio for a living. In addition to countless impressive human "gets" - he has talked to a lot of Muppets. Joe grew up in Philadelphia, has been on the area airwaves for more than 25 years and currently lives in Washington County, NY with his wife, Kelly, and their dog, Brady. And yes, he reads every single book.

See stories by Joe Donahue

Related Content

The Roundtable

Anne O'Dwyer's new book "A Driving Anger: The Psychology of Road Rage" dives into what psychological forces make driving such a place of anger

Joe Donahue

In the new book “A Driving Anger: The Psychology of Road Rage” Anne O’Dwyer investigates the psychological forces that make driving such fertile ground for anger. She explains how the illusion of anonymity, cognitive distortions, and the stressors of modern life can converge on the roadway turning minor inconveniences into outsized reactions.
The Roundtable

John Sayles will discuss his new book 'Crucible' at Oblong Books on 2/19 and at Northshire Bookstore on 2/20

Joe Donahue

John Sayles' new novel 'Crucible' is a sweeping historical epic that takes readers deep into the world of Henry Ford and the Motor City between 1927 and 1945. Sayles casts his net wide across this transformative era, capturing the rise and fall of industrial fortunes, the bitter struggles of workers and union organizers, and the cultural collisions of race, class, and power in America’s heartbeat.
The Roundtable

'Jean,' debut novel by Madeleine Dunnigan

Joe Donahue

Author Madeleine Dunnigan’s new novel 'Jean' is haunting and it is a coming-of-age debut that integrates the fragilities of masculinity, the mysticism of adolescence, and the often-fraught bonds between mothers and their sons. Madeleine was a Jill Davis Fellow in the MFA program at New York University. She was also awarded a GRI fellowship in Paris and this is her first novel.
The Roundtable

Actor Carolyn Michelle drew on her caregiving experience for Sarah Friedland film 'Familiar Touch'

Sarah LaDuke

Written and directed by Sarah Friedland, 'Familiar Touch,' is a sensitive coming-of-old-age film that follows Ruth (Kathleen Chalfant), as she transitions into assisted living and she navigates her relationship with herself, her caregivers, and her family amidst her shifting memories and desires. One of her caretakers, Vanessa, is played by actor, educator, and producer Carolyn Michelle. 'Familiar Touch' is streaming on MUBI.