Books

This week on The Reading Life: We’ll talk with Liz Williams, founder of the Southern Food and Beverage Museum, and library director Charles Brown about the new culinary library the museum is starting with the New Orleans Public Library. And we’ll hear from all around book person Abi Pollokoff — award-winning poet, Tulane Review editor, and Pelican Publishing editor. Susan also reviews the book Alif the Unseen.

This week on The Reading Life: More of Susan's interview with the fabulous Oscar-winner William Joyce about The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore and storyteller Coleen Salley, as well as a reading by poet/lawyer Chris Hannan.

In The Twilight War, government historian David Crist outlines the secret history of America's 30-year conflict with Iran. The book, based on interviews with hundreds of officials as well as classified military archives, details how the covert war has spanned five American presidential terms and repeatedly threatened to bring the two nations into open warfare.

Crist tells Fresh Air's Terry Gross that there have been several incidents that have almost resulted in battle over the past 30 years.