Our common nature is a musical journey with Yo-Yo Ma and me, Ana Gonzalez, through this complicated country.

We go into caves, onto boats, and up mountain trails to meet people, hear their stories, their poetry, and of course, play some music, all to reconnect to nature and get closer to the things we're missing.

Listen to Our Common Nature from WNYC, wherever you get podcasts.

It's the splendid table from APM American Public Media.

Thank you. table from APM American Public Media. I'm Lynne Rousseto Casper with a question.

Who should you trust when it comes to buying a cookbook or cooking from a blog?

Because a lousy recipe, badly written or worse yet, untested, can make you

feel like a failure. And never mind the money and the time you wasted or the embarrassment.

It might even convince you that you can't cook at all. Ah, but recipes can be scoped out if you know

what to look for and who to trust.

So stick around for how to pick a recipe, who really writes those chef's cookbooks,

and Japan's unique way with spring veggies.

This hour on the splendid table. This is the Splendid Table from APM American Public Media,

the show for people who love to eat.

I'm Lynn Rosetto, Casper.

There is one kind of food writer who gets stuffed in the closet when cookbook awards are given out.

He or she is the ghost,

the person who does the actual writing for that busy chef or celebrity.

Sounds like a dream job, right?

Well, maybe.

I've got one of the busiest ghosts in the business with me.

J.J. Good has been in the trenches ghosting five chef's books, and has two more coming out soon. JJ, good to have you with me. Jay J.J. Good has been in the trenches ghosting five chef's books and has two more coming out soon.

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