NPR Bestsellers: Paperback Nonfiction, Week Of September 3, 2015
In The Short And Tragic Life Of Robert Peace, Jeff Hobbs tells the story of an African-American Yale graduate and marijuana dealer. It appears at No. 3.
Books
'Don Quixote' Speaks To The 'Quality Of Being A Dreamer'
NPR's Robert Siegel speaks with Ilan Stavans about his book, Quixote: The Novel and the World. Stavans was inspired by the Miguel de Cervantes' classic, Don Quixote, which turns 400 this year.
No Solace In 'Visiting Privilege,' But Plenty Of Truth
No one escapes unscathed in Joy Williams' brilliant, brutal new story collection. Critic Michael Schaub calls Williams our poet laureate of loss, whose work is full of hope and perverse joy.
Funny, Touching 'Bream' Has Echoes Of Steve Martin And Woody Allen
Jesse Eisenberg specializes in playing (and writing about) jittery, antisocial nerds. Critic Heller McAlpin says the wonder is the empathy he brings to the sad sacks in his new story collection.
'Fear Of Dying' Asks: Can You Go Zipless At 60?
Author Erica Jong famously explored female sexuality in 1973's Fear of Flying. In her new novel, she writes about how the need for sex, touch and connection doesn't diminish when you get older.
'Child Garden' Gives The Cozy Mystery A Shot Of Caffeine
Tight-laced Gloria Harkness says she's no Miss Marple, but she can't help picking at the threads of a murder mystery. Especially when it involves the care at the home where her disabled son lives.
Why The Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards Are Good For You
It was known as the black Pulitzer Prize. Edith Anisfield Wolf created the award in 1935 to honor books that explored issues of race and culture diversity. Thursday is its 80th anniversary.
In A Shadow Tongue, 'The Wake' Tells Of Bloody Battles And Old Gods
Paul Kingsnorth invented a whole new language for his novel about the Norman invasion of England in 1066. Critic Jason Sheehan says that hard work paid off.
Lighter Than Air: An End-Of-Summer Comics Collection
Just in time for the long Labor Day weekend, we've got the perfect selection of comics to help you wring the last bits of sunlight out of summer: plenty of heroism and romance, but nothing too heavy.
Jesse Eisenberg's New Book Gets Seriously Absurd (And A Little Serious)
The actor and writer has a collection of funny short stories that also mine some emotional truths — from post-gender attempts at pick-ups to a lonely 9-year-old reviewing expensive restaurants.