Countries all around the world will soon send players to the U.S. to compete in one of soccer's biggest events. Roger Bennett explores how past competitions met cultural and geopolitical moments.

NPR's Scott Detrow talks with Tanya Bush about her new cookbook. She writes about a tumultuous year in her life filled with challenges and self discovery -- through baking.

Biographer Daniel Okrent discusses Sondheim's approach to writing music and lyrics, his often toxic relationship with his mother and his work with mentors and collaborators.

Mexican novelist Álvaro Enrigue re-imagines the story of the American West — and the Apache fight for survival — in an epic that's both defiantly challenging and, at times, magical.

Lindy West's book and Hulu series "Shrill" were a hit. Her new memoir "Adult Braces" explores the emotional aftermath of her success and the cross-country road trip that reset her life.

NPR's Adrian Ma speaks with Fab 5 Freddy, a pioneer of graffiti art and hip-hop filmmaking, on his new memoir Everybody's Fly.

Scott talks to Keith O'Brien about his latest book, "Heartland"

NPR's Scott Simon speaks with author Luke Kennard about "Black Bag," a novel about an actor who takes an unusual role in a university classroom.

Six-time USA Memory champion Nelson Dellis has memorized hundreds of digits of pi. He has tips for how to improve your memory.

Librarian Jarrett Dapier's graphic novel tells a fictionalized account of real-life events in 2013 that restricted access to Marjane Satrapi's memoir Persepolis in Chicago Public Schools.