Books about whistleblowers, sneaks, truth-tellers, spies, rats, and tattletales.

The Mountain Goats’ frontman wrote a novel, and it’s creepy as hell. I asked him three questions about it.

Digital Privacy 101 from Kevin Mitnick, “the world’s most famous hacker.”

Leif Whittaker grew up in America's premier mountaineering family. What does that do to a person? As it turns out, enough to write a book.

A leading Roman scholar compares the (then upcoming) 2016 election to the politics of the ancient world. Plenty of irony within.

Many are saying these are the essential items to make your administration amazing, just really unbelievable. [Written before the 2016 election.]

A Q&A with American Heiress author Jeffrey Toobin on the Patty Hearst kidnapping, the SLA, and the Swinging ‘70s.

“And you can’t really explain it.” An interview with John Doe.

Geoff Manaugh’s A Burglar’s Guide to the City will change the way you look at architecture.

Is it more foolish to risk your life or risk wasting your life?

Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon and venerable rock critic Robert Christgau face off in a battle of memoirs.

A treatise by Rainn Wilson, noted bassoonist.

I spent 10 minutes talking with punk icon Richard Hell about his book, Massive. Pissed. Love.

If you don’t understand the enduring appeal of vinyl, maybe the RZA can convince you.

A Q&A with Kyle Dickman, former “Hotshot” firefighter and author of On the Burning Edge.

Author/artist Jeremy Collins on loss and the art of adventure.

All the Wild That Remains author David Gessner contrasts Edward Abbey and Wallace Stegner through an examination of their haircuts.

Journalist Bruce Barcott journeyed into the underworld of growers, sellers, and smokers. He returned with these seven mysterious relics.