This week, Deborah Soloman on a new biography of Vincent Van Gogh; Ginia Bellafante on the latest selection of the Big City Book Club; the Times’s national legal correspondent, John Schwartz explains his preference for audiobooks; and Gregory Cowles has best-seller news. Sam Tanenhaus is the host.

This week, historian David Greenberg assesses Ann Beattie’s new novel, “Mrs. Nixon: A Life”; Julie Bosman has notes from the field; Alexander Star takes an anthropological view of Afghanistan; and Gregory Cowles has best-seller news.

This week, historian David Greenberg assesses Ann Beattie’s new novel, “Mrs. Nixon: A Life”; Julie Bosman has notes from the field; Alexander Star takes an anthropological view of Afghanistan; and Gregory Cowles has best-seller news.

This week, John Lewis Gaddis discusses the life and career of diplomat George F. Kennan; Pamela Paul talks to children’s books legend, Chris Van Allsburg about his new book, “The Chronicles of Harris Burdick”; Julie Bosman has notes from the field; and Gregory Cowles has best-seller news. Sam Tanenhaus is the host.

This week, John Lewis Gaddis discusses the life and career of diplomat George F. Kennan; Pamela Paul talks to children’s books legend, Chris Van Allsburg about his new book, “The Chronicles of Harris Burdick”; Julie Bosman has notes from the field; and Gregory Cowles has best-seller news. Sam Tanenhaus is the host.

This week, Kathryn Schulz and Sam Anderson discuss the new novel “IQ84” by Haruki Murakami; Harvey Araton describes the glory days of the New York Knicks in his book, “When the Garden Was Eden”; and we bid a fond farewell to the Book Review’s best-seller columnist, Jennifer Schuessler. Sam Tanenhaus is the host.

This week, Kathryn Schulz and Sam Anderson discuss the new novel “IQ84” by Haruki Murakami; Harvey Araton describes the glory days of the New York Knicks in his book, “When the Garden Was Eden”; and we bid a fond farewell to the Book Review’s best-seller columnist, Jennifer Schuessler. Sam Tanenhaus is the host.

This week, Frank Rich talks about the life of film critic Pauline Kael; Richard Brookhiser discusses his new biography of James Madison; and Jennifer Schuessler has best-seller news. Sam Tanenhaus is the host.

This week, Frank Rich talks about the life of film critic Pauline Kael; Richard Brookhiser discusses his new biography of James Madison; and Jennifer Schuessler has best-seller news. Sam Tanenhaus is the host.

This week, author Susan Orlean explores the life of a canine icon in her book, “Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend”; Steven Heller talks about his latest Visuals column; Julie Bosman has notes from the field; and Jennifer Schuessler has best-seller news. Sam Tanenhaus is the host.