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The musician and educator spent six years as Ira Gershwin's cataloger and archivist. His experience forms the basis of a new book, The Gershwins and Me, in which he explores George and Ira's work and influence.

According to poet Kevin Young, the best poems are like the best meals — they're made from scratch. Young has edited a new collection of poems that celebrate the pleasures of food, from "butter disappearing into whipped sweet potatoes" to oysters that taste like "starlight."

Sherman Alexie's Blasphemy, a collection of stories about Native American life, debuts at No. 15.

America's Test Kitchen host Chris Kimball and Renee Montagne cook up a Julia Child-inspired Thanksgiving feast of roast turkey and mashed potatoes. And we remember that she would say, if things go wrong in the kitchen, just keep on going. And have a glass of wine.

There are songs, and then there are anthems. Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" is a popular power anthem now, but almost never saw light of day. In his new book, music journalist Alan Light charts the unlikely rise of the song through countless weddings, funerals and in film and television.

Rick Rubin could have written about the music industry and insider stories. Instead, he spent eight years writing what is basically a spiritual text about making something meaningful.

Questlove, drummer and co-founder of The Roots, is coming out with a memoir in June called Mo' Meta Blues, co-written with Ben Greenman. The musician spoke with NPR intern Lidia Jean Kott about why the movie Spring Breakers made him feel like less of a rock star, and whether you can ever outgrow being a dweeb.

Also: Lyndon Johnson biographer Robert Caro is put on the spot; a short film inspired by David Foster Wallace; the legacy of Samuel Johnson.

Also: A rare recording of Flannery O'Connor speaking on "The Grotesque in Southern Literature," New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg writes a poem; and the best books coming out this week.

In Charcoal Joe, Mosley brings his iconic private eye Easy Rawlins into the haze of the late '60s, extending a literary odyssey through the transformation of black Los Angeles.