NYT Books

“Not her politics, but the relentlessness and archness of her characters,” says the prizewinning playwright behind “Stereophonic,” which is now up in London.

The musical “Operation Mincemeat” tells the story of an absurd feat of deception dreamed up by this spy-turned-novelist. His real acts of espionage were even wilder.

Political challenges to elite colleges have long been a feature of life in the United States. A 1963 book helps show us why.

“Born in Flames,” by the historian Bench Ansfield, recounts how the wave of urban arson in the 1970s devastated poor communities while enriching building owners.

Clean home, clean mind. Or at least you can try, with the help of several tomes about doing more with less.

In “Baldwin: A Love Story,” Nicholas Boggs goes far beyond other scholars in tracing Baldwin’s relationships and their role in his work.

Elliot Ackerman, a Marine veteran and prolific author, switched gears with “Sheepdogs,” a caper story featuring down-on-their-luck ex-military buddies.

Mark Doten’s new book examines a contemporary American culture that routinely defies satire.

Turning to books for workout inspiration is probably a terrible idea.

Our columnist on three notable new novels.