This week is a treat because at the heart of many memoirs are stories of people throwing themselves into meaningful distractions in order to not have to face the challenges and unravellings so common to adult life. In her new book, Why Fly, Caroline Paul becomes obsessed with learning to fly a gyrocopter as her long-term marriage is dissolving. In the show we speak about risk, about love and loss, and about the things that keep us grounded—and not. It’s the stuff from which good story emerges, and this week’s book trend is not about AI. Just kidding, it actually is, and we’re sorry.

Caroline Paul is a bestselling author, adventurous adventurer, and one of the first women to join the San Francisco Fire Department. She is known for non-fiction and memoirs highlighting risk-taking and outdoor adventure, such as Fighting Fire, The Gutsy Girl, Tough Broad, and most recently Why Fly. Paul has been a member of the Writers Grotto in San Francisco since 1999. Discover more about Caroline and her work at carolinepaul.com.

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