This week, Rachel Swarns talks about Michelle Obama’s family history; Julie Bosman has notes from the field; Dexter Filkins discusses Syria; and Gregory Cowles has best-seller news. Sam Tanenhaus is the host.

This week, Richard Ford discusses his new novel, “Canada”; Julie Bosman has notes from the field; Mark Hyman talks about the rising cost of youth sports; and Gregory Cowles has best-seller news. Sam Tanenhaus is the host.

This week, Richard Ford discusses his new novel, “Canada”; Julie Bosman has notes from the field; Mark Hyman talks about the rising cost of youth sports; and Gregory Cowles has best-seller news. Sam Tanenhaus is the host.

This week, Peter Keepnews talks about “Animal House”; Julie Bosman has notes from the field; Robin Finn discusses Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen; Gregory Cowles has best-seller news; and Times staffers share their summer reading plans. Sam Tanenhaus is the host.

This week, Peter Keepnews talks about “Animal House”; Julie Bosman has notes from the field; Robin Finn discusses Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen; Gregory Cowles has best-seller news; and Times staffers share their summer reading plans. Sam Tanenhaus is the host.

This week, Michael Lind talks about his economic history of the United States, “Land of Promise”; John Leland discusses a biography of Richard Brautigan; and Gregory Cowles has best-seller news. Sam Tanenhaus is the host.

This week, Joe Klein talks about Jonah Goldberg’s “The Tyranny of Clichés”; Jeff Shesol discusses Eric Alterman’s history of liberalism from the New Deal to the present; Julie Bosman has notes from the field; and Gregory Cowles has best-seller news. Sam Tanenhaus is the host.

This week, Judith Newman discusses Anne Enright’s memoir “Making Babies”; Julie Bosman has notes from the field; Pamela Paul talks about children’s books; and Gregory Cowles has best-seller news. Sam Tanenhaus is the host.

This week, Robert Caro discusses the new volume in his series about Lyndon Johnson; Julie Bosman has notes from the field; Charlotte Rogan talks about her debut novel, “The Lifeboat”; and Gregory Cowles has best-seller news. Sam Tanenhaus is the host.

This week, Nell Freudenberger discusses “The Newlyweds,” her new novel; Julie Bosman has notes from the field; T. M. Luhrmann talks about how evangelical Christians relate to God; and Gregory Cowles has best-seller news. Sam Tanenhaus is the host.