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Chris Gardner relates his rags-to-riches story in his memoir of surviving the means streets of San Francisco with his son while pursuing his dream of becoming a stockbroker.

Child soldiers are still very much a fact of life in countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka and much of Africa. The U.N. is attempting to lure some of these soldiers into schools, but the phenomenon remains a global scourge.

As next year's mid-term elections approach, the Republican Party is trying to appeal to ever-larger numbers of African Americans. Party leaders believe many black voters side with them on values issues like the state of the family, homosexuality and abortion. Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) talks about these and other issues in his new book It Takes a Family: Conservatism and the Common Good.

New Hampshire indentured servant turned novelist Harriet Wilson wrote Our Nig more than a century ago. The work is the first known publication by an African American woman. Now Wilson will become the first person of color in New Hampshire history to have a monument in her likeness.

Mysterious banners at a Cambridge, Mass., subway stop have commuters scratching their heads. The signs, challenging passers-by to solve a complicated math problem, are actually a cryptic a pitch by Google, which is looking to hire more brainy engineers. Andrea Shea reports.

The movie, which chronicles the adventures of space cadet Buzz Lightyear, is slated to be released June 16.

Separated in infancy and given up for adoption, Elyse Schein and Paula Bernstein grew up unaware that they had an identical twin. Their new memoir, Identical Strangers, chronicles their story of separation, reunion and identity.

Science writer Gary Taubes argues that when it comes to counting calories, dieters need to be thinking about quality, not just quantity. In his new book, Good Calories, Bad Calories, Taubes challenges widely held beliefs about the healthiest ways to eat.

Jill Price can recall every detail of the last three decades of her life — whether she wants to or not. A rare memory condition causes Price to experience continuous, automatic playback of events just like movies playing in her mind. Price talks about her new memoir, The Woman Who Can't Forget.

How do population, natural resources and women's rights all intersect? Author Robert Engelman explains in a new book how allowing women to control their reproduction can lead to a more sustainable planet

Silda Spitzer stood beside her husband, New York governor Eliot Spitzer, as he apologized amid allegations that he was connected to a high-end prostitution ring. While some applaud her loyalty, others argue that she should not have been so supportive.

Just hours before he died last month, Samuel Snow finally got his wish. The Army formally apologized to the World War II vet and affirmed his honorable discharge. NPR's Tony Cox speaks with journalist Jack Hamann, author of On American Soil, and Lashell Drake, granddaughter of one of the exonerated veterans.

A new book, The Real Pepsi Challenge, looks at how the cola company sought brand loyalty among African Americans in the 1940s. Hear from the man who led Pepsi's marketing team.

After months of speculation, beleaguered Attorney General Alberto Gonzales announced his resignation Monday. His tenure was marked by public debate over the use of warrantless wiretaps by the United States government and the firing of eight U.S. attorneys.

In a new book, Come On People, comedian Bill Cosby and psychiatrist Alvin Poussaint urge struggling black communities in America to get "on the path from victims to victors."

Daytime television star Victoria Rowell spent her early life going from home to home in the foster care system. In her new book she talks about those experiences and the women who cared for her.

As Phil Spector stands trial for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson, his biographer is among the observers. Mick Brown, author of a new book about the legendary producer, interviewed Spector just weeks before Spector allegedly killed Lana Clarkson.

Nearly 100,000 Americans sign up for electro-shock therapy every year to treat severe depression. Many patients call it life-saving, yet scientists still struggle to explain why it is effective. Critics say the procedure is barbaric and that doctors underplay the risk of post-therapy memory loss.

As the Gulf Coast states struggle to recover from Hurricane Katrina, people are asking what can be done to prepare for the next disaster. From a massive hurricane in the East to a major earthquake in California, how are communities readying for their own worst-case scenarios? And what can be done now to mitigate damage from future catastrophes?

In this week's edition of the Political Junkie: McCain aides have expressed irritation with Sarah Palin's off-script remarks and Barack Obama has purchased a half-hour of prime-time TV. Also: Will Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens campaign as a convicted felon?

James Lipton, the creator and host of the popular television program "Inside the Actors Studio," is celebrating the show's 200th episode this week on the Bravo cable network. Lipton is known for his casual, reflective talks with celebrities, A-listers from the late Paul Newman to comedian Chris Rock. In commemoration of the anniversary, the television host talks about his show, and his book Inside Inside the Actors Studio.

Former New York Times restaurant critic Frank Bruni has had a lifelong self-proclaimed obsession with food. Bruni talks about his memoir, Born Round, his struggle with overeating, and the eating disorders he has overcome.

It's never too late to become the prodigy you always wanted to be, according to David Shenk, author of The Genius In All Of Us. What does this mean for you? Shenk says can still train your brain to do remarkable things.

For Rain Pryor, being the daughter of comedian Richard Pryor, wasn't always one long laughfest. Her father's use of drugs and alcohol resulted in savage dark moods of anger and abuse directed toward his children and women. Rain Pryor has written about both the happy and difficult times in her relationship with her father in Jokes My Father Never Taught Me.

Burnout is a common feeling in a society in which work is like a religion. Experts say young people are more likely to experience burnout than older persons, and a single person is more likely to feel it than a person who takes care of four kids and ailing parents. But what is burnout? Guests discuss the three kinds of burnout and how it manifests in people's lives.