Book excerpt: "Martha Stewart's Gardening Handbook"
Stewart's biggest gardening book in more than 30 years offers her expertise to green thumbs of all levels.
Books
Book excerpt: "The Antidote" by Karen Russell
The bestselling author of "Swamplandia!" and "Vampires in the Lemon Grove" returns with a Nebraska Dust Bowl-era tale of a prairie witch, who stores the memories that townsfolk don't want to carry.
Book excerpt: "Dream Count" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
In her long-awaited return to fiction, the author of "Americanah" presents her intricately-woven novel that explores love, ambition, family expectations, and the forces that shape women's choices.
The hidden side of Johnny Carson
As host of "The Tonight Show" for 30 years, Johnny Carson was the king of late-night TV. But the public rarely saw his private side. A new biography, "Carson the Magnificent," examines the late-night host's enduring impact, and his difficulties off-camera.
Book excerpt: "Carson the Magnificent"
Bill Zehme and Mike Thomas' biography examines the public and private lives of the man who remade late-night TV.
Book excerpt: "Resolute" by Benjamin Hall
The Fox News correspondent and author of the bestseller "Saved" writes about his recovery from devastating injuries suffered from a Russian missile attack in Ukraine, and of his return to Kyiv.
Looking back at 50 years of "Saturday Night Live"
On October 11, 1975, people tuning into the debut of a late-night comedy show saw something unlike any TV variety extravaganza they'd ever seen. Today, "Saturday Night Live," produced by Lorne Michaels, is now an entrenched part of pop culture.
David Macaulay, America's "Explainer-in-chief"
The author has spent more than 50 years finding ways to explain things, via his humorous and intricately illustrated books featuring wooly mammoth guides – his attempt to hook young readers on the wonders right before their eyes.
Book excerpt: "A Different Russia" by Marvin Kalb
The veteran CBS and NBC journalist writes about covering the 1963 Cold War summit between President John F. Kennedy and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev.
Book excerpt: "Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live"
Susan Morrison's biography of the late-night comedy producer is also the history of a pop culture institution, now marking its 50th year.
Corky Lee's quest for "photographic justice"
Chinese-American activist Corky Lee was a self-taught photojournalist who chose a camera as his tool for social change, fighting for his deeply-held belief that America was at its best when it practiced diversity, equity and inclusion of all its peoples and communities.
How Bill Gates knew he was different
The Harvard dropout revolutionized the computer industry and, later, the world of philanthropy. Now he has been looking back at his childhood, with the first of a three-part autobiography fittingly titled, "Source Code: My Beginnings."
Book excerpt: "Source Code: My Beginnings" by Bill Gates
In his new autobiography, the computer pioneer and philanthropist writes of his origins, and about how, in eighth grade, he discovered BASIC, which introduced him to the elegance and exacting demands of computer code.
Pete Davidson and Dav Pilkey on "Dog Man"
The playful anarchy of author-illustrator Dav Pilkey's bestselling "Dog Man" series, about a hero cop who is part-man, part-police dog, is now on screen in a new animated film, with comedian Pete Davidson playing Dog Man's arch-nemesis, Petey the Cat.
The Book Report: Washington Post critic Ron Charles (January 26)
The "Sunday Morning" book reviewer offers his suggestions for the new year, including new novels by Adam Ross and Alafair Burke.
Book excerpt: "Playworld" by Adam Ross
The acclaimed author of "Mr. Peanut" returns with a novel dipped in nostalgia and flecked with love and sorrow, about a child actor coming of age as the object of attraction for an older woman.
Book excerpt: "The Note" by Alafair Burke
In this new thriller by the New York Times bestselling author of "The Wife," a prank played by three women on vacation in the Hamptons causes them to get caught up in a police investigation over a missing person.
Book excerpt: "Tartufo" by Kira Jane Buxton
In her new novel, the author of "Hollow Kingdom" and "Feral Creatures" captures the comedy of truffle-mania in a tiny Tuscan village, upon the discovery of the world's largest truffle.
Book excerpt: "Paradise Bronx: The Life and Times of New York's Greatest Borough"
New Yorker writer Ian Frazier takes readers on a twisty and entertaining tour of the Bronx's rich history, landscape and people.
Steve Guttenberg talks the L.A. wildfires, and caring for his hero dad
As the Palisades Fire exploded in his hometown, the actor was moving abandoned cars so emergency vehicles could get through. He spoke about the importance of making a difference; and about caring for his late father, Stanley, whom he calls his "anchor."
Perle Mesta, the renowned social queen of Washington
Socialite Perle Mesta used her fortune to host inclusive dinner parties in Washington, D.C., becoming one of the most famous women in the world – "The Hostess with the Mostes' on the Ball."
Book excerpt: "Time to Thank: Caregiving for My Hero" by Steve Guttenberg
In his memoir the actor writes of his father and the relationship they shared, through their final years together, when Guttenberg dedicated himself to becoming a caregiver after his dad was diagnosed with kidney failure.
Book excerpt: "The Party: A Guide to Adventurous Entertaining" by Sally Quinn
In her 1997 book, the Washington Post columnist writes about the social imperatives for entertaining, and how the role of host and hostess in the nation's political capital has remained vitally important.
Book excerpt: "Fire Weather" by John Vaillant
This 2023 National Book Award finalist recounts the rise of climate science and the increasing dangers from climate change, including the devastation brought by today's wildfires.
Book excerpt: Washington hostess Perla Mesta, "The Woman Who Knew Everyone"
Bestselling author Meryl Gordon's biography tells the story of the socialite and political savant, whose gift for hosting parties in the nation's capital made her one of the most famous women in America.
Entertainment
Entertainment
Brigitte Bardot dies at 91
Actress Brigitte Bardot has died at the age of 91. Elizabeth Palmer looks back on her life.
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...)."
Samara Joy performs "Three Little Words"
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 "Three Little Words."
Second actor accuses Tyler Perry of sexual assault in new lawsuit
It marks the second lawsuit in recent months accusing the filmmaker and studio mogul of leveraging his power in Hollywood to make sexual advances.
Perry Bamonte, guitarist for The Cure, dies after "short illness" at 65
The band announced Perry Bamonte's death on their official website on Friday.
Broadway actress Imani Smith stabbed to death in New Jersey, police say
Smith previously played young Nala in "The Lion King" on Broadway.
Former "Big Brother" houseguest Mickey Lee died on Christmas, family says
Mickey Lee, a former "Big Brother" houseguest known for her vibrant personality and bold gameplay, has died, her family announced in a social media post shared Friday.