NPR Bestsellers: Hardcover Fiction, Week Of July 9, 2015
Daniel Silva's The English Spy follows an Israeli spy as he investigates the murder of a former princess. It debuts at No. 3.
Books
NPR Bestsellers: Hardcover Nonfiction, Week Of July 9, 2015
Debuting at No. 14, Ben Mezrich's Once Upon A Time In Russia tells true stories of Russia's mega-wealthy.
NPR Bestsellers: Paperback Fiction, Week Of July 9, 2015
David Mitchell tries his hand at dystopian fantasy in The Bone Clocks, which appears at No. 13.
NPR Bestsellers: Paperback Nonfiction, Week Of July 9, 2015
At No. 1, Daniel James Brown's The Boys In The Boat tells the story of the American rowing team that attended Adolf Hitler's 1936 Berlin Olympics.
In Harper Lee's Return, First Chapter Swings From Homecoming To Heartbreak
The opening chapter of Go Set A Watchman, Lee's first novel in 55 years, is out. Reactions ran from joy to shock — as readers coped with a plot twist and lingering doubts on the timing of its release.
The Man Behind Wonder Woman Was Inspired By Both Suffragists And Centerfolds
Wonder Woman's creator had a few secrets of his own. Historian Jill Lepore describes William Moulton Marstothe's unusual life in The Secret History of Wonder Woman. Originally broadcast Oct. 27, 2014.
Daniel Silva On 'Double-Edged Sword' Of Writing An Israeli Spy Protagonist
"Israel is extremely unpopular in the world right now," Silva says, and he doesn't always share his characters' opinions. The English Spy is Silva's 15th novel starring operative Gabriel Allon.
From Medicine To Modern Revival: A History Of American Whiskey, In Labels
During Prohibition, booze was banned, but "medicinal" spirits weren't, a loophole whiskey makers exploited. That's just one of the tidbits a new book tracing the history of whiskey labels reveals.
Caine Prize Winner: Literature Is Not A Competitive Sport
Namwali Serpell promised to split the award's winnings with her fellow nominees. For the Zambian writer, it's one step toward changing the structure of the prestigious prize for African authors.
Examining The War On Mexican Drug Cartels, Through Film And Fiction
Two new works of art — the documentary film Cartel Land and the novel The Cartel — shine a light on the seemingly endless drug war in Mexico. John Powers says both works are bleak, but gripping.