News on Books

NPR's Lulu Garcia Navarro speaks with author Harold McGee about his new book, Nose Dive: A Field Guide to the World's Smells.

Cixin Liu's latest collection — made up of several decades' worth of stories — showcases a science fiction that harks back to the earliest days of the genre, before grimdark or galactic empires.

Right now, we have "an entire government apparatus designed to foster falsehoods," says editor Ellis Cose, who has written a new book, The Short Life and Curious Death of Free Speech in America.

Alicia Garza, a co-founder of Black Lives Matter, reflects on her past two decades of activism, the upcoming election and her new book, The Purpose of Power: How We Come Together When We Fall Apart.

When Derrick Barnes began writing children's books 15 years ago, he didn't see Black kids — boys in particular — depicted in positive, affirming ways. His latest book is called I Am Every Good Thing.

Bryan Washington's debut novel brings together an eclectic cast of characters who redefine family. He says he wanted to write about people operating from a place of love, rather than disdain or hate.

NPR's Scott Simon talks to historian Elizabeth Bradley about the 200th anniversary of the publication of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Alexa Martin draws on her own life for the latest in her series of football-themed romances. Snapped deals with some of the problems that plague the sport, but never loses sight of the love story.

Ailsa Chang talks with Don DeLillo about his novel, The Silence.

Some want escapist reads to distract themselves during these times, while others are turning to books that lean into the darkness and dread of the pandemic.