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British writer Mark Haddon's first novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, brought him critical and popular acclaim. He follows up with A Spot of Bother.

Former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko died last week from radiation poisoning. But questions linger about who was responsible. Journalist David Remnick discusses the threat of violence in President Vladamir Putin's Russia.

Think you're completely prepared for a hurricane? What about recipes? In The Storm Gourmet, Daphne Nikolopoulos offers dishes to make when the power is out. She tells Howard Berkes what to stock up on before the storm.

As music director of Weekend Edition Sunday, NPR's Ned Wharton supervises music continuity for the show and keeps tabs on what's new and noteworthy in the music world. He looks at a pair of CDs designed to be appreciated with visual components.

The Intimate World of Abraham Lincoln, a recently published book by author C.A. Tripp, argues that President Abraham Lincoln had intimate relationships with men. Two Lincoln scholars debate evidence for and against the notion that Lincoln was gay.

Thousands of U.S. troops launch a much-anticipated offensive against Iraqi insurgents in the town of Fallujah, west of Baghdad. Hear NPR's Michele Norris and NPR's Philip Reeves.

The Da Vinci Code has been out for more that two years, and it still remains on bestseller lists. The popularity of Dan Brown's novel that combines science, religion, history and suspense has publishers jumping at the opportunity to spot the next literary sensation.

Electronic musician Moby talks about juggling business with his intensely personal and idiosyncratic music. He is currently touring in support of his latest album Hotel.

The Assassins' Gate is New Yorker reporter George Packer's scathing account of the Bush administration's push to change the political future of the Middle East through force.

Many Americans got their first news on the Iraq war from embedded reporters. Steve Mumford embedded himself as an artist, working in Baghdad four times between 2003 and 2004.

Howlin' Wolf electrified the blues of the Mississippi Delta and laid a foundation for rock 'n' roll in the early 1950s. His lyrics, delivered in a gruff, haunting voice, evoked his hard-life experiences.

Have you ever tried to learn another language? If so, you know how tough it can be. Now imagine trying to learn another language everyone already expects you to know.

The Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan panel brainstorming options and solutions for the U.S.-led occupation, is expected to deliver its recommendations on options to President Bush later this year.

Author Nicholas Dawidoff has written a newly published memoir, The Crowd Sounds Happy: A Story of Love, Madness and Baseball. He talks about his fondness for listening to Boston Red Sox games and about his father's struggle with mental illness.

Futurist Ray Kurzweil explains the idea of the "singularity" — what happens when technology advances so much that it's impossible to predict what happens next. Will artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and biotechnology be able to completely reshape what it means to be human?

In The Beautiful Struggle Ta-Nehisi Coates writes about growing up in West Baltimore and escaping the temptations of the city's streets. His memoir explains two very different kinds of knowledge — the language of the corner and the political consciousness taught to him by his father.

Randall Kennedy talks about the history of the term "sellout" — when the word can be used and why the label has been used to chastise him. Kennedy's newest book is Sellout: The Politics of Racial Betrayal.

Father Yod's followers were a fixture on the Sunset Strip in the late '60's. They took names like Electricity, dressed in robes and lived communally in a mansion in the Hollywood Hills.

A new book offers a fresh perspective on Christian fundamentalism, arguing against the common stereotypes of being rigid and unapologetically dogmatic. Author Brett Grainger discusses, In The World But Not of It: One Family's Militant Faith and the History of Fundamentalism in America.

Major League Baseball began its season this week with a series between Boston and Oakland played in Japan. Guests discuss the science behind America's favorite pastime — from statistics, to orthopedics, to the psychology of die-hard fans.

When Pauline Chen became a doctor, she was troubled by inconsistencies in the ways that fellow physicians dealt with the emotional aspect of death and dying. Chen tackles the subject in her new book: Final Exam: A Surgeon's Reflections on Mortality.

Thomas Stevens was the first person to ride a bicycle around the world. He left San Francisco in 1884 on a high-wheeler. Upon his return in 1887, he wrote a book: Around the World on a Bicycle.

Peter Sis' new graphic book for children and adults is called The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain. The book depicts life as Sis saw it while growing up under communist domination in Prague.

Vicente Fox, former President of Mexico, discusses his tenure and the intricate relationship between the United States and Mexico. Fox recently published a memoir, Revolution of Hope: The Life, Faith and Dreams of a Mexican President.

Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC's Hardball, talks about his fascination with politics and his trademark style of rapid-fire questioning. Matthews has written a new book, Life's a Campaign: What Politics Has Taught Me about Friendship, Rivalry, Reputation and Success.