Search results for

The essays range in subject from Axl Rose to the Southern Agrarian novelist Andrew Nelson Lytle. What they have in common is John Jeremiah Sullivan's essential curiosity about the world, his eye for the perfect detail, and his great good humor in revealing both his subjects' and his own foibles.

Former Jeopardy! champ Ken Jennings charts what he calls "the wide, weird world of geography" in his latest book, Maphead. He profiles Google Maps engineers, geocachers, imaginary mapmakers, map collectors, geography bee contestants and "road geeks."

Kelly Wilkinson always felt like her crafty side was at odds with her professional life, but now she has a book that incorporates both. Weekend Handmade provides instructions for quirky crafts that virtually anyone can do.

In Boomerang, writer Michael Lewis tells the stories of the countries hit hardest by the 2008 financial crisis. He also profiles some people who bet against European governments and are likely to make millions if and when they default.

With her dogged optimism and goofy dance moves, there is something endlessly likeable about DeGeneres, and her personality jumps off every page. Seriously ... I'm Kidding is a mirthful celebrity memoir that manages to entertain without divulging juicy bits of gossip.

Many colleges have adopted a "common reads" program, where freshmen read the same book during the summer and then discuss it when they get to campus. Jared Diamond, author of the popular common read Guns, Germs, and Steel, talks about what his book can offer young readers.

In 2002, the Oakland A's made history, winning 20 games in a row to set a new American League record. In Moneyball, writer Michael Lewis goes behind the scenes and explains how the A's used statistics and analytics to compete with teams with much bigger payrolls.

Fallon is thankful for slow walkers, people named Lloyd and the word "moist." The comedian and host of Late Night collects more than 100 nuggets of gratitude in his book Thank You Notes. He talks with Terry Gross about giving thanks and doing impressions.

Film critic Roger Ebert is famous for arguing about movies on TV with Gene Siskel. Now that cancer surgeries have left him without the ability to speak, Ebert has found a new voice online. Melissa Block visits him at his Chicago home to talk about his memoir, Life Itself.

The best books don't just get inside a character's psyche, they get in the reader's head, as well. Author Ismet Prcic recommends Irvine Welsh's Marabou Stork Nightmares, a funny, provocative, cerebral novel that explores the meaning of violence.