John Waters is an iconic American filmmaker, actor, director, screen writer, standup comedian, writer, and visual artist best known for his cult films, including Hairspray, Pink Flamingos, and Cecil B. DeMented. His latest book is Carsick: John Waters Hitchhikes his Way Across America (Farrar, Straus and Giroux; $26.00). Waters is putting his life on the line.

Join Pamela Paul in conversation with some of our best novelists — Nicholson Baker, Walter Mosley, Ann Patchett, and Francine Prose — who have all made notable contributions to the series, for an inside look at the famous “Grey Lady’s” coverage of books and authors. From the 2014 Miami Book Fair.

Garth Stein on A Sudden Light: A Novel, Ron Rash on Something Rich and Strange: Selected Stories, Peter Heller on The Painter: A Novel, Wiley Cash on This Dark Road to Mercy: A Novel.

Ben Greenman with Questlove on The World According to Questlove and George Clinton on Brothas Be, Yo Like George Ain't That Funkin' Kinda Hard on You?

Join thought leaders for a lively discussion about local and global threats to book culture, authentic media, free speech, and copyright laws. Andrew Albanese, Publishers Weekly senior writer; Astra Taylor, author of The People’s Platform, Oren Teicher, executive director of the American Bookseller’s Association; and moderator Christopher Kenneally, host of the “Beyond the Book” podcast.

In Black Prophetic Fire, distinguished scholars and intellectuals Dr. Cornel West and Christa Buschendorf provide a fresh perspective on six revolutionary African American leaders. Join the always provocative Cornel West and Beacon Press’ renowned director, Helene Atwan, for an illuminating conversation.

In his memoir, the dynamic and always controversial television producer shares fifty years of show business and politics, with all the candor and wisdom expected from the creator of All in the Family.

Bai shows how the Hart affair marked a crucial turning point in the ethos of political media—and, by extension, politics itself, as candidates' "character" began to draw more fixation than their political experience.

Walter Isaacson discusses how ideas and imagination got converted into the inventions that transformed our era.

Richard Blanco on The Prince of Los Cocuyos: A Miami Childhood.

Dr. Judith Rodin, president of the Rockefeller Foundation and author of The Resilience Dividend, joins journalist Gwen Ifill, moderator and managing editor of Washington Week and co-anchor and co-managing editor of PBS NewsHour, to discuss the social and economic benefits of bouncing back from adversity.

Jeffrey Brown interviews Marlon James, author of “A Brief History of Seven Killings.”

Kelly Corrigan sits with Daphne Merkin, author of “The Fame Lunches: On Wounded Icons, Money, Sex, Brontës, and the Importance of Handbags.”

Rich Fahle interviews Rick Bragg, author of “Jerry Lee Lewis: His Own Story.”

Jeffrey Brown interviews Azar Nafisi, author of “The Republic of Imagination: America in Three Books.”

Kelly Corrigan sits down with Russell Banks, author of “A Permanent Member of the Family.”

Rich Fahle talks with Molly Antopol, author of The UnAmericans: Stories.

Jeffrey Brown interviews Kai Bird, author of The Good Spy: The Life and Death of Robert Ames.

Kelly Corrigan sits with John Cleese, author of So Anyway…

Kelly Corrigan interviews Francine Prose, author of “Lovers at the Chameleon Club, Paris 1932.”