How do you turn a concert into a musical, into a film, into a book?

Singer, songwriter, artist, and author David Byrne will be here to talk about his latest

project, American Utopia.

And how did the case of Shuranda Jones, a single mother sentenced to life in prison without

parole, change the life of a young law student forever?

Brittany Barnett will be here to discuss her book, A Nolket Midnight, A Story of Hope,

Justice, and Freedom.

Alexander Alter will have an update from the publishing world, plus our critics will

join us for the latest in literary criticism.

This is the Book Review Podcast from the New York Times.

It's November 13th.

I'm Pamela Paul.

David Byrne joins us now.

He is, of course, the musician, the filmmaker, visual artist, and here primarily as an author

of a new book, American Utopia.

He wrote it and it's illustrated together with Myra Kalman.

David, thank you so much for being here.

Thank you.

This is obviously tied to a larger project, began as a concertor than a Broadway show,

now a film directed by Spike Lee and simultaneously a book.

Can you talk to us a little bit for those who aren't familiar with American Utopia, which

I feel like I don't know who those people are at this point, but tell us about how you

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