In the book, Showalter grapples with the “crushing reality” that he doesn’t have anything to write about — and the realization that “if you’re going to write a book, you should read books too,” he said.

Jodi Kantor's new book, "The Obamas" examines the first marriage and the family's life in the White House.

The following are excerpts of a conversation with Mr. Lashinsky, who is also a senior editor at large with Fortune magazine:

Sheril Kirshenbaum, the 31-year-old author of The Science of Kissing, talks about her book, which explores the properties of puckering up.