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Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jared Diamond discusses his new book Collapse. The book discusses why some great societies in history succeeded while others failed, and what 21st century America could learn from them. Hear Diamond and NPR's Steve Inskeep.

Writer Jonathan Franzen's massive 2001 bestseller The Corrections was based, in part, on his own life. His new book is a memoir, The Discomfort Zone: A Personal History. Franzen's other books include The Twenty-Seventh City, Strong Motion and How to be Alone.

In his new book The Elements of Murder: A History of Poison, chemist John Emsley chronicles cases of accidental and intentional use of lethal substances throughout the ages. Some say Beethoven and Mozart were poisoned to death.

Robert Siegel talks with Middle East scholar William Polk about his new book, Understanding Iraq: The Whole Sweep of Iraqi History, from Genghis Khan's Mongols to the Ottoman Turks to the British Mandate to the American Occupation. Polk fears that this could be a period of transition from one dictator to the next in Iraq.

New York Times foreign affairs columnist Thomas Friedman's new book, The World is Flat, explores the effects of outsourcing and globalization. The book, subtitled "a brief history of the 21st century," connects recent business trends with social issues.

Melisa Raouf is the first contestant to compete without makeup in the history of the Miss England competition.

Urgent and anthemic, "Trashcan" pulled at heartstrings back in 2008 when Delta Spirit dropped Ode To Sunshine. Its sophomore album, History From Below, builds on Sunshine's high-energy rock 'n' roll.

We kick off our series on country music in time for the Labor Day holiday with Martie Maguire, Emily Robison and Natalie Maines. They are considered the biggest-selling female band in history, but found themselves boycotted in 2003 when Maines made an off-the-cuff remark about President Bush on the eve of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. In June, they released their first CD in three years, Taking the Long Way. (Original air date: June 6, 2006)

Forty years ago, Italian composer Ennio Morricone rode into America with the soundtrack for a Western titled A Fistful of Dollars. This year, for only the second time in its history, the Motion Picture Academy will present a film-music composer with a lifetime achievement award.

Some members of Congress say Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has been less than candid in explaining the dismissal of eight U.S. attorneys. Nancy Baker, who teaches government at New Mexico State University, offers insight into the history of the office of attorney general.