Books

International

'Chinese Encounters with America' argues U.S. and China lost shared interests

Vincent Ni

The 12 profiles featured in this edited book highlight the positive aspects of the U.S.-China engagement, which began in earnest after diplomatic relations were established in 1979.
Arts & Culture

A new biography zeroes in on Lin-Manuel Miranda's superpower

Jennifer Vanasco

The secret to his success isn't just genius — it's collaboration a lot of creative friends. Author Daniel Pollack-Pelzner interviewed more than 150 people for his biography about the Hamilton creator.
Arts & Culture

San Diego weekend arts events: Psychology and art, Fiesta de Libros and Sinatra ballet

Julia Dixon Evans

This weekend in the arts: Ewa Słapa at Best Practice; curtains rise at The Joan; City Ballet's Sinatra-themed dance; plus indie rock and more live music.
National

NSA leaker Reality Winner is rebuilding her life -- and looking back at her past

Terry Gross

Winner was working at the NSA in 2017 when she leaked a classified document to the press. Soon after, the FBI showed up at her door. Winner's new memoir is I Am Not Your Enemy.
4 lives are upended by an impulsive kiss in the epic novel 'Buckeye'

Maureen Corrigan

Patrick Ryan's novel focuses on two married couples and stretches from pre-WWII to the close of the 20th century, capturing both the sweep of history and the mundane particularity of everyday life.
Happy 75th birthday to Henry Huggins, Ramona Quimby's big-kid neighbor

Elizabeth Blair

Beverly Cleary's fictional third grader with an adopted dog named Ribsy made his debut in 1950. Cleary was praised for writing simple, humorous stories that kids wanted to read.
New books out today: A Dan Brown thriller, John Prine bio, and World Wide Web memoir

Colin Dwyer

New books this week include Secret of Secrets — the sixth installment of The Da Vinci Code saga, plus a tech memoir from Tim Berners-Lee and a career-spanning anthology from Terry McMillan.
New teen thriller 'Sisters in the Wind' finds drama in hidden identities

Neda Ulaby

Angeline Boulley, author of the hit Firekeeper's Daughter, writes thrillers set in Native American communities in northern Michigan, like the ones where her family has lived for generations.
Hitch a ride to the moon in a rusty old car and 'The Couch in the Yard'

Samantha Balaban

As the sun sets in a small town, a family loads up their rusty old car with the spare couch in their yard. When it breaks down in the mountains, what else is there to do but fly it to the moon?
Russ & Daughters in NYC celebrates '100 years of appetizing' and family

Scott Simon

Samantha Balaban

Shannon Rhoades

At Russ & Daughters, it takes three months to learn how to slice salmon. NPR's Scott Simon visits the 100 year-old appetizing store to try his hand at the fine art and talk about their new cookbook.