There may be no more moral writer working right now than George Saunders – and no writer who makes you want to try harder to be a better human. In his latest book, “Liberation Day” (Random ...

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with George Saunders about Liberation Day: Stories — his short story collection that explores everything from love affairs to lobotomized actors forced to perform.

George Saunders: Honestly, for me, it feels like one long book. Even during Lincoln in the Bardo, I was working on a story about Mother’s Day that’s in this book.

George Saunders his new book is a collection of short stories. It is called "Liberation Day." Thanks so much. SAUNDERS: Thank you so much. (SOUNDBITE OF ROBIN THICKE SONG, "PRETTY LIL' HEART FT.

GEORGE SAUNDERS: Oh, it's so nice to be here. Thank you. KELLY: Let's dive right in with that title story, "Liberation Day." It's the longest story in the collection. I got to say it's the strangest.

GEORGE SAUNDERS: Oh, it's so nice to be here. Thank you. KELLY: Let's dive right in with that title story, "Liberation Day." It's the longest story in the collection. I got to say it's the strangest.