Hey, it's NPR's book of the day. I'm Andrew Limbaung. The two books we have for you today have

got me thinking about the nature versus nurture to be. You know that eternal question of

how much of who we are is predetermined versus how much is dictated by our environment.

There are two works of cultural criticism and on the surface couldn't seem any more different.

Up ahead, we've got an author examining the female pop stars of the 2000s.

Think Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Hillary Duff, you know, pop stars who got their start at

Disney.

But first, Lawrence Bernie's essay collection, no sense in wishing,

is an appreciation of the art and artists that shaped him as he grew up in Baltimore,

think Gil Scott Heron or local rappers like Young Moose or Lor Scuda. Again, at first sight,

they seem wildly different. But on the cover of Bernie's book is a photo of him as an 11-year-old boy, and he's wearing

Mickey Mouse ears.

Because somehow, no matter who we are or where we go in life, Disney finds us.

More after the break.

In the U.S., national security news can feel far away from daily life.

Distant wars, murky conflicts, diplomacy behind closed doors.

On our new show, Sources and Methods.

NPR reporters on the ground bring you stories of real people

helping you understand why distant events matter here at home.

Listen to sources and methods on the NPR app

or wherever you get your podcasts.

Lawrence Bernie's mom was a musician, and so is his grandpa.

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