The Book Report: Reviews from Washington Post critic Ron Charles (March 28)
Recommendations of new fiction, non-fiction and poetry titles.
Books
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.
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.
Lady Bird Johnson, first lady and diarist
Julia Sweig's new book, "Lady Bird Johnson: Hiding in Plain Sight," examines the first lady's surprisingly powerful role in LBJ's life and political career, and her little-known contribution as an audio diarist documenting every moment of his presidency.
Book excerpt: "LifeLines" by Melissa Bernstein
The co-founder of Melissa & Doug writes a revealing and hopeful testimonial about her lifelong struggle with anxiety and how she learned to deal with a crushing depression.
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.
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.
More From Sunday Morning
"Hail and farewell": A tribute to those we lost in 2025
"Sunday Morning" looks back at some of the newsworthy men and women who passed away this year – from musicians and storytellers, to activists and statesmen – who touched us with their creativity and humanity.
Luke Burbank on making realistic New Year's resolutions
Forget about hitting the gym, or signing up for a foreign language app. Luke Burbank resolves to do far better with his New Year's resolutions in 2026 by committing to goals he can actually keep … probably.
The history of the New Year's Eve ball drop
Since 1907, New Yorkers have marked the New Year with the ceremonial dropping of a huge ball in Times Square. Now, a brand-new ball, covered with more than 5,000 handcrafted Waterford Crystal discs, will help ring in 2026.
Top news headlines of 2025 month-by-month
From political upheavals and gun violence, to the first American-born pope, "Sunday Morning" host Jane Pauley looks back at key events of a transformative year in U.S. history.
Good news you may have missed in 2025
The bad news from the past year (and there was a lot of it) drowned out much of the GOOD news that made smaller headlines. David Pogue reports on some of 2025's best underreported stories.
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.
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.
Book excerpt: "Black Moses" by Caleb Gayle
The award-winning journalist's latest book recounts the rise of Edward McCabe, an activist who, during Reconstruction, lobbied for a Black-governed state in the Oklahoma Territory.
This week on "Sunday Morning" (Dec. 28)
A look at the features for this week's broadcast of the Emmy-winning program, hosted by Jane Pauley.
A New Mexico monastery where the silence calls
The Monastery of Christ in the Desert, in Northern New Mexico, is home to 15 Benedictine monks, some livestock, and a guesthouse for people looking for a little quiet in this turbulent world. "Sunday Morning" pays a visit.