Sunday

‘The Triple Agent,’ by Joby Warrick

Joby Warrick’s book “The Triple Agent” tells the story of Humam Khalil al-Balawi, the al-Qaeda mole who attacked Camp Chapman in Khost, Afghanistan.

‘The Last Mission of the Wham Bam Boys,’ Gregory A. Freeman

In “The Last Mission of the Wham Bam Boys,” Gregory A. Freeman explores the effects of a mob’s angry attack on a downed U.S. bomber crew in World War II.

‘How to Avoid Being Killed in a War Zone,’ by Rosie Garthwaite

Rosie Garthwaite’s “How to Avoid Being Killed in a War Zone” is advice for daring travelers.

‘Precious Objects,’ by Alicia Oltuski

Jonathan Yardley reviews “Precious Objects,” by Alicia Oltuski, a book about diamonds, family and a way of life.

Georgette Jone stand by mom and dad in new memoir

Daughter of country music deities Tammy Wynette and George Jones writes of growing up in a deeply fractured household.

‘Don’t Kill the Birthday Girl,’ by Sandra Beasley

In ‘Don’t Kill the Birthday Girl,’ Sandra Beasley recounts tales from her allergy-ridden life.

James Grant’s “Mr. Speaker! The Life and Times of Thomas B. Reed”

James Grant brings to life the witty speaker of the house of the late 19th century, Thomas B. Reed, in “Mr. Speaker! The Life and Times of Thomas B. Reed — The Man Who Broke the Filibuster.”

Jack O’Connell’s ‘King’s Counsel’

In “King’s Counsel: A Memoir of War, Espionage, and Diplomacy in the Middle East,” Jack O’Connell, former CIA officer in Jordan, remembers his friendship with King Hussein and the advice the American provided.

‘A Billion Wicked Thoughts’ by Ogi Ogas and Sai Gaddam

Ogi Ogas and Sai Gaddam dig through online searches to discover what drives sexual searches online.

‘Inside Scientology: The Story of America’s Most Secretive Religion’ by Janet Reitman

Janet Reitman takes readers inside Scientology in her book about America’s most secretive religion.

‘The Other Barack’: A tragic father figure

David Garrow reviews Sally Jacobs’s book “The Other Barack,” about the reckless life of President Obama’s father.

‘How the States Got Their Shapes Too’ by Mark Stein

In “How the States Got Their Shapes Too,” Mark Stein profiles the men and women who helped set American boundaries.

‘Sideways on a Scooter’ by Miranda Kennedy

In her memoir “Sideways on a Scooter,” Miranda Kennedy describes the difficulties of living in India as a single foreign woman.

3 tasty new food memoirs

Sweet and savory memoris about dining.

Review: Jose Saramago’s memoir, ‘Small Memories’

Jose Saramago tells the story of his youth in his memoir “Small Memories.”

Martin Meredith’s “Born in Africa: The Quest for the Origins of Human Life”

In “Born in Africa: The Quest for the Origins of Human Life,” Martin Meredith pays tribute to the intrepid scientists who dedicated their lives to finding the fragments of bone that would illuminate the story of our common humanity in Africa.

Jane Smiley reviews Frank Schaeffer’s ‘Sex, Mom, and God’

In “Sex, Mom, and God,” Frank Schaeffer makes the case that he and his parents were prime movers behind the political rise of the religious right in the United States.

Jon Ronson’s “The Psychopath Test”

In “The Psychopath Test,” Jon Ronson takes what he calls “a journey through the madness industry.”

‘Berlin 1961: Kennedy, Khrushchev, and the Most Dangerous Place on Earth’

Frederick Kempe details the Soviet-U.S. crisis that erupted in 1961 in

‘The Captain,’ a biography of Derek Jeter by Ian O’Connor

In “The Captain,” Ian O’Connor has written a biography of perhaps the best-loved player in baseball, Derek Jeter.

Blog: Political Bookworm

Is having a sane president bad for the country?

A forthcoming book argues that good mental health makes for poor leadership.

Recent Reviews

Language of diplomacy

(Del Rey)

Victor LaValle

China Mieville’s fantasy novel, “Embassytown,” imagines a distant planet where inhabitants speak in two voices at once.

Book World: Adventures of sci-fi writers

(Simon & Schuster)

Michael Dirda

A review of the latest fantastical ad­ven­ture about great 20th-century science-fiction writers.

‘Stone Arabia’ explores broad social ills

(Scribner)

Ron Charles

In Dana Spiotta’s new novel, a wannabe rock star manufactures a chronicle of his own spectacular success.

Book review: ‘Touch,’ by Alexi Zentner

(Norton)

Elizabeth Hand

In “Touch,” a melancholy fantasy by Alexi Zentner, a gold town’s history is full of wilderness monsters.

3 books on literary criticism

(Norton)

Michael Lindgren

New essay collections from three of the 20th century’s most influencial critics: former New Yorker editor Robert Gottlieb, feminist scholar Sandra M. Gilbert and literary critic Harold Bloom.

Ron Charles

Ron Charles

‘Stone Arabia’ explores broad social ills

In Dana Spiotta’s new novel, a wannabe rock star manufactures a chronicle of his own spectacular success.

Ron Charles

Ron Charles

My, what big teeth you have, you sexy beast

Glen Duncan’s “The Last Werewolf” is a smart, witty thriller about a man-beast trying to avoid assassination before the next full moon. Reviewed by Ron Charles.

Ron Charles

Ron Charles

Books: ‘Once Upon a River’

RON CHARLES | A modern-day teenager is determined to live on her own in the wilds of Michigan.

Michael Dirda

Michael Dirda

Book World: Adventures of sci-fi writers

A review of the latest fantastical ad­ven­ture about great 20th-century science-fiction writers.

Michael Dirda

Michael Dirda

‘Adventures of an Accidental Sociologist’

This is an engaging memoir by one of America’s most prominent social scientists, Peter L. Berger.

Michael Dirda

Michael Dirda

Book World: ‘A Most Dangerous Book’?

In “A Most Dangerous Book,” Christopher B. Krebs looks at Roman historian Tacitus’s “Germania,” which has had an earthshaking influence.

Jonathan Yardley

Jonathan Yardley

‘Precious Objects,’ by Alicia Oltuski

Jonathan Yardley reviews “Precious Objects,” by Alicia Oltuski, a book about diamonds, family and a way of life.

Jonathan Yardley

Jonathan Yardley

‘Red Summer,’ by Cameron McWhirter

In “Red Summer,” Cameron McWhirter chronicles racial violence that struck both North and South in 1919.

Jonathan Yardley

Jonathan Yardley

Yardley reviews ‘The Chitlin’ Circuit’

Preston Lauterbach explores the black music that was a forerunner to rock and roll.

Literary Calendar

Going Out Guide: Upcoming events

Going Out Guide: Upcoming events

Get the latest on readings, signings and author appearances in the D.C. area.

Summer Reading Issue

fpo

Best reads of the summer

Book World critics on the best books of the year so far | And the hottest upcoming books .

‘Carte Blanche,’ Jeffery Deaver’s James Bond novel

‘Carte Blanche,’ Jeffery Deaver’s James Bond novel

Matthew Dunn

Deaver brings James Bond back to life, again.