Read an Excerpt from The Questions That Matter Most
Jane Smiley’s musings on self-growth, literary criticism and the art of writing.
How Edith Wharton Became the First Woman to Win a Pulitzer
The award was controversial—but not for the reasons you might think.
Read an Excerpt from Strange Love, Fred Waitzkin’s New Book
“If literary romance is your genre, this book is for you.” —Men Reading Books
Read an Excerpt From Overcoming Hate Through Dialogue
Find out what happened when a Muslim politician decided to have coffee with the people who sent her hate mail.
Read an Excerpt from The Genius of Impeachment
John Nichols explains why impeachment is an essential American institution.
Read an Excerpt from The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus
L. Frank Baum's charming Christmas origin story.
This Kids’ Book Explains Why Voting Is So Important
“Our democracy only reflects what Americans want if Americans vote.”
Read Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Fiery Speech Following Bush v. Gore
“Each side warned that the other risked casting a cloud of illegitimacy over the election.”
Read an Excerpt from Walter Mosley’s The Awkward Black Man
The collection of short stories artfully shares the struggles of a range of uniquely flawed characters.
Read an Excerpt from Lawrence Durrell, a Stunning Biography
Ian S. MacNiven’s 1998 biography remains the most intimate portrait of Lawrence Durrell.
Secrets Unravel in A Girl Named Anna, an Exciting New Thriller
Who do you trust when you find out everything was a lie?
Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul Has Died at 76
Read an excerpt from this music legend’s biography.
.jpg "An Irish Immigrant Gets a Second Chance in Taylor Caldwell's Captains and the Kings")
An Irish Immigrant Gets a Second Chance in Taylor Caldwell's Captains and the Kings
While en route to Pennsylvania, a penniless teenager meets the man who will change his life forever.
The Absurd Meets Reality in This Darkly Humorous Story Collection
The titular story in Julia Slavin's collection, "The Woman Who Cut Off Her Leg at the Maidstone Club," is a wacky satire of elitism.
Family and Fireflies: Anecdotes from the Real-Life Durrell Family
An excerpt from the memoir by Gerald Durrell that inspired the PBS hit, "The Durrells in Corfu."
A Bunny's Tale: Gloria Steinem's Shocking Exposé That Challenged Hugh Hefner's Playboy Empire
In “Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions” the journalist shares lessons from her brief stint as a Playboy bunny.
"Villainous Perfidy": Benedict Arnold's Betrayal of George Washington
"Washington: The Indispensable Man" examines the character of the first President of the United States, and how the treachery of a man who he considered to be an ally shaped his future.
The Forgotten Rivalry: Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci
An excerpt from Stephanie Storey’s art history thriller about the warring Renaissance masters.
Joan Didion's Play It As It Lays: The Dark Heart of the American Dream
An excerpt from the literary icon's novel about loneliness and life's unanswerable questions.
