In America, U.S.A., Princeton historian Eddie Glaude Jr. looks at the country through the lens of its previous anniversaries and centennials. "The divided soul of the nation is in full view," he says.

Summer is the perfect time to go back to great books that whizzed by in spring, including The Family Man, by James Lasdun, The Hill, by Harriet Clark and A Beautiful Loan, by Mary Costello

A stay-out-of-the-water beach read features a giant, sentient sea creature. NPR's Elissa Nadworny talks with Tessa Yang about her debut novel, "The Jelly Fish Problem."

So you want to ignite a reading habit this summer. How do you get back into the groove? We talk to reading enthusiasts for their best tricks — like allowing yourself to read wherever, whenever.

The flag has been a canvas for generations of American artists to explore and depict both our anxieties and our highest hopes for our nation.

The French pianists celebrate more than a half century of recording together with a triple-disc set containing many brand new tracks.

Satrapi's groundbreaking graphic novel Persepolis introduced readers to life in Iran during the Islamic revolution and the Iran/Iraq war. She died June 4, 2026. Originally broadcast June 2, 2003.

Hockney moved from London to Southern California in the 1960s and was an innovative painter, photographer, stage designer and printmaker.

By finding joy and humor in life's chaos, The Paradox's brand of Black pop-punk feels both fresh and familiar.

Thirty years ago, Brad Nowell, the lead singer of '90s ska band Sublime, died of an overdose. His son Jakob was an infant. He's now Sublime's lead singer, releasing the band's first album since 1996.