'I regret that I didn't fight harder,' former labor secretary Robert Reich says Reich served under President Clinton from 1993 to 1997. He opens his new memoir, Coming Up Short, with an apology on behalf of the Baby Boom generation for failing to build a more just society. Tonya Mosley
Two genre novels offer entertainment -- and plenty of wry social commentary Dan Fesperman's spy caper Pariah follows a disgraced comic-politician who's recruited by the CIA. The Dancing Face, by Mike Phillips, is a crime caper that confronts the spoils of colonialism. Maureen Corrigan
'Old trees matter.' Seattle author Lynda Mapes is writing to save them in her new book The KUOW Book Club is continuing its summer reading series with Seattle Public Library this month. We're reading environmental journalist and author Lynda V. Mapes' new book, "The Trees are Speaking: Dispatches from the Salmon Forests." Katie Campbell
Novelist Thomas Mallon looks back on the early years of the AIDS epidemic In 2023, Mallon spoke about his novel, Up With the Sun, which is based on the life of a little-known actor who was gay and closeted. His new book is The Very Heart of it: New York Diaries, 1983-1994. Terry Gross
A dogged reporter takes on a mysterious cabal in 'The Diary of Lies' Philip Miller's sinister thriller is set in a Great Britain that's lost its bearings. But even when she's terrified, fictional journalist Shona Sandison will always risk everything to get the story. John Powers
A big break after age 40 is possible. Just ask Jeff Hiller of 'Somebody Somewhere' Hiller spent years scraping by in Hollywood by taking on various small roles. Then he landed the role of Joel on Somebody Somewhere and everything changed. His new memoir is Actress of a Certain Age. Terry Gross
These 'Blondes' are turning 100, and they're still a lot of fun Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is about two flappers on the prowl for sugar daddies. First published in 1925, Anita Loos' cheeky comic novel has now been reissued in paperback. Maureen Corrigan
Boston Public Library aims to increase access to a vast historic archive using AI The library is launching a project in collaboration with Harvard Law School and OpenAI this summer to digitize the materials and make them more fully searchable. Chloe Veltman
NPR staffers recommend fiction books they love for the summer NPR's Books We Love list has lots of great reads, as recommended by our staffers, including Stephen Graham Jones' latest novel and Fredrik Backman's summer story about the friendship of four teens. Shannon Rhoades