NYT Books

In a new memoir and documentary, the actor known for “Two and a Half Men,” “Platoon” and a debauched life that nearly killed him puts it all out there.

Terminally ill, she contacted obituary reporters looking to be interviewed about her life and imminent death — to be “at her own wake,” a colleague said.

Lighthearted in tone, and free of violence and gore, these gentle, witty books are the perfect antidote for tough times. If you’ve never read any, here’s where to start.

At his Chicago restaurant Ever, which played a supporting role in “The Bear,” the chef Curtis Duffy refines his story.

Each age has its own way of drawing the arc of a human life. Ours is concerned with its unpredictability.

“My favorite novel of all time” is an antidote to “Of Mice and Men,” he promises. His new book, “Anima Rising,” is a playful visit to 1911 Vienna.

The best-selling romance author Carley Fortune recommends books whose high stakes and buried traumas make their love stories all the more satisfying.

He conjured fantastical worlds with covers for novels by Philip K. Dick and Arthur C. Clarke. He also left his mark on albums by Fleetwood Mac and Rod Stewart.

He conjured fantastical worlds with covers for novels by Philip K. Dick and Arthur C. Clarke. He also left his mark on albums by Fleetwood Mac and Rod Stewart.

The best-selling bard of female anxiety rakes over some middle school memories while visiting the city where she grew up.