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Most people think of the Cold War as a long, glacial period, but in the beginning it was dangerously unstable. Neil Sheehan, author of A Bright Shining Lie, says there might well have been nuclear war — had it not been for one man: the subject of his latest book, A Fiery Peace in a Cold War: Bernard Schriever and the Ultimate Weapon.

Best-selling mystery novelist James Patterson may be known for his thrillers, but the little book that profoundly influenced his writing was far less conspicuous. Mrs. Bridge, the tale of a Kansas City husband and wife, would stay with him forever.

In Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman, the Japanese writer Haruki Murakami spins whimsical and daring short stories about a talking monkey, man-eating cats on a Greek island and the girl from Ipanema. The writer himself appears in a few of them.

Author Monica Ali spent an entire year poking around "below stairs" in five London Hotel restaurants before she started writing latest novel.

Time and Again spans time, finds mystery, delves into Science-Fiction, grounds itself in Einstein's theories and ultimately, settles into romance fantasy. So what's the problem? Author Susan Jane Gilman explains her guilty addiction to this cult pop thriller.

Gourmet magazine's editor in chief and food critic Ruth Reichl grew up in a house where mold-covered pudding was considered an adequate dessert. But Reichl doesn't begrudge her mother. In a new book, she thanks her.

While the presidential campaigns traded attack ads on Friday, President Obama was on the road in Virginia. The state is a prime target for both candidates.

A controversial new Japanese government campaign is urging young people to drink more alcohol to boost the economy. It comes as young Japanese people are turning away from drinking.

In this week's Wisdom Watch, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright discusses foreign relations, sexism and the dynamics of presidential politics, as chronicled in her new book Memo to the President Elect: How We Can Restore America's Reputation and Leadership.

Performance artist Hillary Carlip collects discarded shopping lists. She imagines their authors, transforms herself into them, and goes shopping. In one case, she even created an online dating profile for her character.