The Book Report:
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Reviews from Washington Post critic Ron Charles (July 5)
Recommendations of new fiction and non-fiction titles
Book excerpt: "The Vanishing Half" by Brit Bennett
Book excerpt: "A Burning" by Megha Majumdar
Book excerpt: "The Lincoln Conspiracy"
Book excerpt: "The Taste of Sugar" by Marisel Vera
"Sunday Morning" Matinee:
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“For Good,” from “Wicked”
In a time of pandemic, the cast and crew of the Broadway musical “Wicked” – featuring Ginna Claire Mason and Lindsay Pearce – present a message of hope for frontline workers, “For Good”
"Chasing Rainbows"
“Chicago” in lockdown
Bach, by Lang Lang and Lil Buck
"The 24 Hour Plays — Viral Monologues"
"Diana: A True Musical Story"
Itzhak Perlman & the Juilliard Orchestra
"Moulin Rouge! The Musical" with a cat
"Stomp" in quarantine
"Dream For You," from "Sing Street"
"A Chorus Line in Quarantine"
“Mrs. Doubtfire: The Musical”
In case you missed:
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The race to find a COVID-19 vaccine
As researchers rush to develop a drug against coronavirus, and thousands sign up to participate in clinical trials, what are the technical, ethical and political obstacles to coming up with an effective and safe vaccine quickly?
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on confronting a "frightening" pandemic, and thoughts on his political future
Apple CEO Tim Cook on the nexus of technology and social change
The Melania you don't know
FDR and the re-creation of America
The president as communicator-in-chief
The survivors: Life after COVID-19
Lessons from the 1918 flu pandemic
Taking migraine seriously
On books:
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Hear, hear! The explosion in audio books
Smartphones and digital downloads have helped make audio recordings of books a billion-dollar industry, with more than 45,000 new audiobooks recorded last year alone
Marlo Thomas + Phil Donahue on the secrets of marriage
Books produced by hand
Julie Andrews' "practically perfect" book podcast
"Little Fires Everywhere" author Celeste Ng
Muhammad Ali, in and out of the ring
George Washington's turbulent retirement
Our fascination with Louisa May Alcott's enduring classic "Little Women"
Master of intrigue John le Carré on his latest villain: Brexit
Colson Whitehead on "The Nickel Boys" and exhuming tales of the dead
Under the Tuscan sun with author Frances Mayes
A visit to the Metropol, star of "A Gentleman in Moscow"
On art:
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Artist Kadir Nelson's evocative response to the pandemic
The paint is barely dry on his latest work, "After the Storm," a celebration of the strength of the human spirit
Keeping a classic technique of painting alive in Florence
Assemblage artist Betye Saar: Making the ordinary extraordinary
The long shadow of Claude Monet
Rescuing art: The creativity and science of restoration
Enter the immersive art world of Meow Wolf
Helen Frankenthaler: An artist lost in the moment
Black models in modern art
The delicate craft of wood carver David Esterly
Frida Kahlo: The unapologetic artist
Bill Traylor: The imaginative art of a freed slave
The restless perfectionism of Alberto Giacometti
On fashion:
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The Japanese art of tie dyeing
Artisans practice their skills at "shibori" in the town of Arimatsu, where merchant houses specializing in producing exquisitely-dyed fabrics have stood for centuries
Fashion designer Dapper Dan's rags to riches story
Brunello Cucinelli: Fashion and philosophy
Ralph Lauren: "I feel cooler now than ever"
Maye Musk, the silver cover girl
Michael Kors: Still on the cutting edge
Betsey Johnson, fashion's free spirit
From the archives:
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Is it time to tear down monuments to the Confederacy?
In this 2017 report, Mo Rocca looks at the debate over toppling monuments to Confederate figures - and a Roanoke, Va.'s church window memorializing Stonewall Jackson
2013: "Star Trek"'s George Takei: A sci-fi icon
2012: A typewriter renaissance
2010: A rare look at author Philip Roth
2010: Florence Henderson, America's Mom
2008: Newspaper man Jimmy Breslin
2008: Marni Nixon, singing voice of the stars
2007: Anthony Bourdain, the culinary bad boy
2007: Bill Geist keeps germs at bay
2006: Neil Simon's storied career
2006: Kenny Rogers, not resting on laurels
2006: Writer Tom Wolfe on journalism and voyeurism
2005: The confidential Tab Hunter
2005: The wilder side of Gene Wilder
2005: Leonard Nimoy on "Star Trek"
2004: The Museum of Modern Art's expansion
2004: Roger Bannister on breaking the 4:00 mile
2004: Carrie Fisher
2003: Extreme ironing
2001: Milton Glaser's designing mind
2001: Photographer Mary Ellen Mark
2000: Mementos at the Wall
1999: Goats as lawn mowers
1998: Author and undersea explorer Clive Cussler
1996: A landmark Vermeer exhibition
1996: Drive-thru America
1996: School of Circus Arts
1995: Celebrating the first ATM
1995: Terrence McNally, Zoe Caldwell on “Master Class”
1995: Author Pat Conroy
1994: A retirement home for horses
1994: The "unsinkable" Debbie Reynolds
1992: Ode to Secretariat
1991: Route 66, the "Main Street of America"
1990: Rescuing horses for adoption
1988: Bill Geist and the art of curling
1982: Artist Keith Haring
1980: Peter O'Toole talks "Macbeth"
1979: Architect I.M. Pei on the JFK Library
1979: Oil refinery vs. bald eagle
In memoriam:
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The essence of comedy giant Carl Reiner
Sitcom legends Norman Lear and Dick Van Dyke reflect on the passing of the actor-writer-director, one of TV comedy's founding fathers and leading second bananas
From 2015: Carl Reiner: Still making us laugh
From 2017: Golden boys Carl Reiner, Norman Lear and Dick Van Dyke
From 2007: Love that works at any age
From 2019: Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner and George Takei with advice for the "Next-Greatest Generation"
From Steve Hartman:
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Drive-thru citizenship
In America, you can get almost anything in a drive-thru. And this year, because of the pandemic, immigrants who have completed all the requirements of citizenship are pulling into parking lots from San Diego to Des Moines to Detroit for socially-distant naturalization ceremonies. Steve Hartman visits with some newly-minted U.S. citizens in Albany, N.Y. where the oath was taken behind the wheel
Letters to Dad
A fan’s letter to Babe Ruth
Giving peace a chance
On TV and streaming:
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Sir Patrick Stewart on "Star Trek" and sonnets
The Shakespearean actor most recognized for his performances in the sci-fi franchises "X-Men" and "Star Trek" talks about playing Captain Jean Luc Picard, and how he sought an escape from the pandemic through poetry
Bryce Dallas Howard and Ron Howard on fatherhood
Jerry Seinfeld on missing audiences, comedy before smartphones, and Zoom backgrounds
Reese Witherspoon on her media company, Hello Sunshine
The enduring Henry Winkler
Claire Danes on "Homeland," and the embarrassment of fame
"Mrs. America" and the battle over the Equal Rights Amendment
On music:
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Yusuf revisits the songs of Cat Stevens
The singer-songwriter has re-recorded his iconic 1970 album "Tea For the Tillerman," with the perspective that 50 years of living can bring
Songs for our times: A COVID-19 playlist
Josh Groban on connecting with his audience during the pandemic
Graham Nash: "It's never been this weird, has it?"
Billie Eilish: "Nobody that knows me thinks I'm a dark person"
Air Supply: Rocky romance
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Lizzo on the power of words
The 32-year-old singer-rapper-flutist, named Time's Entertainer of the Year, talks about her continuing battle to overcome self-doubt and body shaming - and to help others do so as well
Randy Newman has a message: "Stay Away"
The Dixie Chicks on turning their bad times into ballads
Gary Clark Jr.: "Music is my religion"
Conductor Gustavo Dudamel: It's necessary "to have art as part of your life"
The life of Prince, revealed in "The Beautiful Ones"
Mark Knopfler: Music is "a bit of an obsession"
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Alicia Keys on her struggle to know herself
The multiple-Grammy-winner has paused for a little self-reflection in a new book ("More Myself: A Journey") and a new album ("Alicia")
Huey Lewis on his hearing loss
Raffi, the children's troubadour
A new dawn for Tanya Tucker
Jeff Lynne, the reluctant rock star, returns with Jeff Lynne's ELO
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James Taylor looks back, with favorite songs and old stories
At 71 the legendary singer-songwriter has recorded a new audio memoir, and an album of songs he loved while growing up in North Carolina, "American Standard"
Mumford & Sons on playing with a "sense of abandon"
Elton John: Addiction "nearly destroyed my soul"
Olivia Newton-John on finding joy in a life with cancer
John Williams on reworking the classics – his own
BTS, the kings of K-Pop
On stage:
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During a pandemic, the play's still the thing
For regional theatres to reopen will require some big changes – for actors, crew, and the audience – as well as trying out new ideas to maintain the joy of live performance
Keeping Broadway's lights on
"Riverdance" at 25
Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick's great chemistry, on stage and off
Alanis Morissette's "Jagged Little Pill" inspires a Broadway musical
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at 60
Encore: Lin-Manuel Miranda brings "Hamilton" to Puerto Rico
On movies:
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Pete Davidson on "The King of Staten Island"
The "Saturday Night Live" star talks about his new, mostly-autobiographical movie about a drifting twenty-something from NYC's least-celebrated borough touched by parental loss and depression (and yes, it's a comedy)
Richard Dreyfuss on facing down sharks, aliens, and his own demons
Harrison Ford, the reluctant superstar, on "The Call of the Wild"
Rescuing scenic backdrops from Hollywood's Golden Age
How intimacy coordinators are changing the way intimate encounters are filmed
The art of Kim Novak
Popular On CBS News
More from "Sunday Morning"
The Uplift — Stories That Inspire
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Woman gets dishwashing job to see husband at care center
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Man catches child falling from burning building
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Girl raises money to buy multicultural crayons, books for schools
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Former sanitation worker accepted to Harvard Law School
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School bus driver inspired by students gets degree during pandemic
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Widow donates kidney to the same man her husband's donation saved