Recent Reviews
Thriller: ‘Lexicon,’ by Max Barry
A secret society of poets has figured out how to control people with words.
Book World: ‘The Ghost Riders of Ordebec’ by Fred Vargas
The eighth Commissaire Adamsberg policier is full of strange crimes and quirky suspects.
Raising ‘Cain’
In “My Lunches With Orson,” Welles says he hasn’t measured up to it since, nor has anyone else.
Wall Street: How a hedge fund went down
In “Hedge Hogs,” Barbara T. Dreyfuss recounts the collapse of the biggest hedge fund, Amaranth Advisors.
Of humans and nature
‘The Kingdom of Rarities’ asks why some species are rare and ‘Butterfly People’ looks at insect enthusiasts
History: Rescuing Italian art from the Nazis
In “Saving Italy,” Robert M. Edsel chronicles the efforts to save cultural treasures that fell in war’s way.
History: the making of modernity
In “The Enlightenment,” Anthony Pagden reveals why the era’s notions still matter.
Travel: ‘The Longest Road’
From Key West to the Arctic Ocean, Philip Caputo describes his cross-country road trip
Sports: Baseball rules brain teasers
In “So You Think You Know Baseball?” Peter E. Meltzer gives the lowdown on baseball rules.
Washington Post Bestsellers July 14
The books Washington has been reading.
Book review: ‘The Last Summer of the Camperdowns’
After 13-year-old Riddle witnesses a murder, the question of what she should do haunts her for decades.
‘Nothin’ but Blue Skies,’ reviewed by Michael Dirda
The story of the ruin of America’s industrial heartland, punctuated by the bitter voices of the displaced.
Edmund S. Morgan, historian of early America, dies at 97
An expert on Puritans and colonial history, the Yale scholar also wrote a best-selling life of Ben Franklin.
Expert: Apple e-book ruling ‘complicated.’
A judge has ruled against Apple in an antitrust case over e-book price fixing.
Discuss books with The Washington Post on Good Reads
Join The Washington Post's group on the social network Good Reads to discuss this month's summer reading book, "Beautiful Ruins."
Apple's e-book case in one chart
A federal judge has ruled that Apple violated antitrust law by helping publishers raise e-book prices. This chart shows how they did it.
Fiction: ‘Is This Tomorrow,’ by Caroline Leavitt
When a sixth-grader goes missing, lives around him are changed forever.
Language: 3 books on how we write — and swear
Advice on how to compose great sentences, sound intelligent and shock your mom.
Book World: Susan Choi’s ‘My Education’
Despite a weak ending, Susan Choi gives this worn setup all the nubile energy of a new school year.
‘Memories of a Marriage’ by Louis Begley: The anti-Gatsby novel
The author of ‘About Schmidt’ writes knowingly of failed romance, New York society and class divisions.
True Crime: ‘Lost Girls,’ by Robert Kolker
A grisly investigation into the murder of prostitutes on Long Island — and the culture of sexual violence.
Book review: “My New Orleans, Gone Away” by Peter M. Wolf
An uneven book that turns clunky when Wolf tries to write dialogue, but its best parts are engaging and at moments delightful.
Biography: John Hay as politician, writer, lover and businessman.
In “All the Great Prizes,” John Taliaferro depicts a man who cut a wide swath through the 19th century.
The inner world of our animal cousins
Barbara J. King and Virginia Morell provide touching and provocative explorations of the latest research on animal minds and animal emotions
Book review: ‘The Blood of Heaven,’ by Kent Wascom
The pulse-pounding historical novel is about revolutionaries in West Florida when the United States was young.
Book World: David Mason’s ‘The Pope’s Bookbinder’
A rare-book dealer reconsiders the chapters of his life and profession.
Music: Songs of patriotism
Two books trace the birth and impact of “God Bless America” and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.”
Fiction: ‘The Pink Hotel,’ by Anna Stothard
A 17-year-old waif in London steals a credit card and flies to California for her mother’s funeral.
Book World: ‘The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells,’ a time-warped tale
In his new novel, Andrew Sean Greer again bends the hands of the clock.
Book World for YA: Vince Vawter’s ‘Paperboy’
A paper route in 1959 Memphis is a tough job for 11-year-old Victor, as he struggles with a bad stutter.
‘Bob and Ray: Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding,’ by David Pollock
A new biography tells the ‘Backstayge Story” of the deadpan radio humorists.
Comics: Jim Ottaviani’s ‘Primates’
The author explores the “fearless science” of three primatologists.
Book World for kids: ‘If You Want to See a Whale’
An extraordinary picture book for children about the creative process.
Join Book World's summer reading program
The Book World team has compiled a list of 10 books that will make any beach vacation, plane ride, road trip, or staycation more entertaining. Then join us in reading "Beautiful Ruins."
Book World: ‘Tampa’ fumbles with a taboo
In this tale of a middle-school teacher who can’t keep her hands off the boys, the fun isn’t in the sex scenes.
History: The Anglo-Afghan War
In “The Return of a King,” William Dalrymple examines a crucial 19th century war in Afghanistan
Jennifer Miller begins record-breaking month of book-club visits
The Washington-born novelist hopes to speak with 100 book clubs using Skype and other social media tools
Book Review: ‘Anne Perry and the Murder of the Century’
Long before Anne Perry wrote about murders, she committed one, as Peter Graham relates in this book.
Washington Post Bestsellers July 14
The books Washington has been reading.
Washington: From cover to cover
From novels to history to cooking and ghost stories, Post editors and critics offer introduction to capital.
Book World: Susan Choi’s ‘My Education’
Despite a weak ending, Susan Choi gives this worn setup all the nubile energy of a new school year.
Book World: ‘The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells,’ a time-warped tale
In his new novel, Andrew Sean Greer again bends the hands of the clock.
A book critic’s heavenly night on the town
A chance Metro encounter leads to a remarkable and enchanted evening spent with people who love books.
‘Nothin’ but Blue Skies,’ reviewed by Michael Dirda
The story of the ruin of America’s industrial heartland, punctuated by the bitter voices of the displaced.
Book World: David Mason’s ‘The Pope’s Bookbinder’
A rare-book dealer reconsiders the chapters of his life and profession.
‘Queen Bee of Tuscany: Janet Ross,’ by Ben Downing
Ben Downing’s charming biography of Janet Ross is one of the best books of the year.
Travel: ‘The Longest Road’
From Key West to the Arctic Ocean, Philip Caputo describes his cross-country road trip
Biography: Rose Kennedy
Barbara A. Perry looks at Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, the matriarch of the great American political dynasty
FDR, Lindbergh, Wilkie and the election of 1940
Susan Dunn looks at what may be the most consequential election of the 20th Century
Literary Calendar
Going Out Guide: Upcoming events
Get the latest on readings, signings and author appearances in the D.C. area.
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