L.A. and its 1970s cultural renaissance
At a critical time the worlds of movies, television and music were transformed by a creative explosion centered in Los Angeles, as explored in the new book, "Rock Me on the Water."
Books
The Book Report: Reviews from Washington Post critic Ron Charles (March 28)
Recommendations of new fiction, non-fiction and poetry titles.
Book excerpt: "100 Poems to Break Your Heart"
Teacher and poet Edward Hirsch explores the ennobling powers of poetry in his compendium of masterful works from the past 200 years.
Book excerpt: "Good Company" by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
A new novel about the profound joy – and heartache – of family and friends, from the author of the New York Times bestseller "The Nest."
Book excerpt: "How Beautiful We Were" by Imbolo Mbue
The winner of the PEN/Faulkner Prize for her first novel, "Behold the Dreamers" returns with a story of the struggles of African villagers against an American oil company.
Book excerpt: "Every Day Is a Gift" by Sen. Tammy Duckworth
The Illinois Democrat's new memoir tells of what inspired her in her journey from Iraq War veteran to U.S. Senator.
Book excerpt: How Los Angeles in 1974 ruled the pop culture universe
Ronald Brownstein's "Rock Me on the Water" explores how in the mid-1970s L.A. produced a sustained burst of innovation in the worlds of music, film and television.
Dr. Fauci to star in new children's book
The picture book follows the doctor through his Brooklyn childhood, medical school, and career working with seven U.S. presidents to tackle the nation's biggest public health crises.
Prince Harry pens emotional message to bereaved children in new book
"When I was a young boy I lost my mum. At the time I didn't want to believe it or accept it, and it left a huge hole inside me," Prince Harry wrote. "I know how you feel."
Book excerpt: "American Baby," on the shadow history of adoption
Gabrielle Glaser writes a story familiar to millions of Americans – one of loss, love, and a search for identity – about a woman who lost her first born, and the child wondering where he had come from.
Book excerpt: "Lady Bird Johnson: Hiding in Plain Sight"
Author Julia Sweig recounts the life of the former first lady and her surprisingly powerful role in LBJ's political career.
"Dear Bob": Bob Hope's correspondence with GIs at war
For decades the comedian was a true war hero to American military stationed overseas, entertaining troops with his USO Tour. A new book highlights his lesser-known role as a correspondent, answering some of the thousands of letters he received from service members.
Book excerpt: Walter Isaacson's "The Code Breaker"
The latest book from the bestselling biographer of geniuses from da Vinci and Franklin to Einstein and Jobs tells the story of Jennifer Doudna and the creation (and moral questioning) of the gene-editing technology CRISPR.
Children's author Bettinita Harris on empowering Black girls
"What I am trying to do with the book is to tell young Black girls that they are enough. ... They don't have to be like anyone else."
6 Dr. Seuss books will stop being published due to racist images
Dr. Seuss — who was born Theodor Seuss Geisel on March 2, 1904 — is No. 2 on Forbes' list of highest-paid dead celebrities of 2020.
The Book Report: Reviews from Washington Post critic Ron Charles (February 28)
Recommendations of new fiction and non-fiction titles.
Book excerpt: "Klara and the Sun" by Kazuo Ishiguro
The latest novel by the Nobel Prize-winning author of "Never Let Me Go" is a science-fiction story of artificial intelligence, manufactured companions, and the meaning of love.
Book excerpt: "Under a White Sky" by Elizabeth Kolbert
The New Yorker magazine writer examines the seemingly futile efforts we human beings must engage in to address our species' depredation of the planet.
Book excerpt: "Fake Accounts" by Lauren Oyler
A woman discovers her boyfriend's online persona of anonymous conspiracy theorist, and responds by creating fake online identities of her own in this acclaimed comic novel.
Book excerpt: "The Committed" by Viet Thanh Nguyen
This sequel to the author's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "The Sympathizer" follows his communist spy protagonist as he arrives in 1980s Paris to take up a new persona: drug dealer.
Jenny Han on romance and representation
Han spoke with CBS News before the Netflix premiere of "To All The Boys: Always and Forever."
Book excerpt: "Between Two Kingdoms" by Suleika Jaouad
The New York Times columnist's memoir recounts her years-long chemotherapy, and the 15,000-mile road trip she took to meet some of the people who'd shared their stories with her.
The improbable life of Mike Nichols
The director and comedian who arrived in the U.S. as a child refugee from Nazi Germany became a Tony- and Oscar-winning master of both stage and screen, mining real life for comedic and dramatic gold.
The Book Report: Reviews from Washington Post critic Ron Charles (January 31)
Recommendations of new fiction and non-fiction titles.
Book excerpt: "Black Buck" by Mateo Askaripour
This debut novel – a New York Times bestseller – offers a comical tale of one ambitious Black man's experience on a tech startup's sales team.
Entertainment
Here's who's performing on New Year's Eve to ring in 2026
Here's what to know about the lineup of performances scheduled for New Year's Eve, when crowds gather in Times Square to ring in 2026.
Isiah Whitlock Jr., actor known for his roles in "The Wire" and "Veep," dies at 71
Isiah Whitlock Jr. is perhaps best known for his role as state Sen. R. Clayton "Clay" Davis on HBO's "The Wire."
George Clooney, his wife and their twins granted French citizenship
France's government says that George Clooney, his wife Amal and their eight-year-old twins Ella and Alexander have been awarded French citizenship.
Beyoncé is now a billionaire, according to Forbes
The Grammy-winning artist Beyoncé became the fifth musician to achieve the wealth milestone, Forbes said Monday.
Actor accusing Tyler Perry exchanged texts with him years after alleged assault
Actor Mario Rodriguez alleged in the lawsuit filed last week in California that Tyler Perry sexually assaulted him during encounters between 2014 and 2019.
French split over Brigitte Bardot tribute due to her far right views
French politicians were divided on Monday over how to pay tribute to the late Brigitte Bardot who, despite her screen legend, courted controversy in later life with her far-right views.
MetroCard art: Swiping beauty from the mundane
On December 31, New York City will officially retire the transit system's MetroCard, that ubiquitous piece of plastic used to gain entrance onto subways and buses. But there is beauty in using MetroCards as the raw materials for art, as Thomas McKean has found in his collages and miniature sculptures depicting portraits of city life. Serena Altschul reports.
2025: The year's top books
"Sunday Morning" checks out the bestselling fiction and non-fiction of the past year.
2025: The year's top movies
"Sunday Morning" checks out the highest-grossing films of the past year.
2025: The year's top music
"Sunday Morning" checks out Spotify's top streaming hits of the past year.
The Book Report: Ron Charles' picks from 2025
The Washington Post book reviewer offers "Sunday Morning" viewers his picks for fiction and non-fiction titles to add to their New Year's reading lists.
The Book Report: Ron Charles' books of the year for 2025
The Washington Post book reviewer offers "Sunday Morning" viewers his picks for fiction and non-fiction titles to add to their New Year's reading lists.
Book excerpt: "Guilty by Definition" by Susie Dent
This debut novel is a mystery in which a dictionary editor at Oxford turns to word-sleuthing in order to unravel a family member's long-ago disappearance.
How one photographer takes refuge in Paris
Peter Turnley, an American and French photographer known for documenting the human condition, finds comfort in Paris. His new book "PARIS Je t'aime" showcases 50 years of photographs from his favorite city.
Samara Joy performs "Now And Then (In Remembrance Of...)"
Samara Joy burst onto the jazz scene in 2021, earning major praise as a "classic jazz singer from a new generation," and gaining popularity on TikTok. The young artist has already won five Grammy Awards, and her album "Portrait" is now up for Best Jazz Vocal Album of the Year. Here's Samara Joy performing "Now And Then (In Remembrance Of...)."