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In 1937, frustrated by a conservative Supreme Court that struck down a series of his New Deal programs, President Franklin Roosevelt set about to reform the court — by expanding it and adding as many as six liberal justices. The controversial proposition is examined in writer Jeff Shesol's new book, Supreme Power: Franklin Roosevelt vs. the Supreme Court.

In Josh Ritter's first novel, Bright's Passage, a World War I soldier goes home to West Virginia and must protect himself and his infant son. The book contains Ritter's trademark combination of humor, gothic themes and fantastical imagery (an angel who inhabits the body of a horse).

The Tragedy of Arthur, the new novel by Arthur Phillips, tells the story of a con man, his son and an undiscovered work by William Shakespeare. Phillips speaks to Scott Simon about fraud and family drama.

In their new book, Chasing Aphrodite, journalists Jason Felch and Ralph Frammolino tell the story of dozens of illicitly acquired antiquities at one of the world's wealthiest museums. The J. Paul Getty Museum of Los Angeles ended up returning 40 looted objects — including the goddess of love.

For years, the New Zealand kakapo had no need to fly — the bird's only predators were in the sky — but then came human settlers and, with them, an invasive weasel-like predator. Author William Stolzenburg explores exotic island species' vulnerability to newcomers in Rat Island.

Former Assistant Secretary of Education Diane Ravitch explains why she was once an early advocate of No Child Left Behind, school vouchers and charter schools — and what changed her mind.

African journalist Peter Godwin returned to his native Zimbabwe in 2008 to follow the presidential election. He writes about President Robert Mugabe's refusal to give up power — and Mugabe's torture campaign against opposition supporters — in The Fear.

In May 1945, a plane carrying 24 men and women crashed into a hidden valley in New Guinea. There were only three survivors. Journalist Mitchell Zuckoff tells the remarkable story of their rescue in Lost In Shangri-La.

Afghan-American diplomat and foreign policy expert Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad speaks with NPR's Ailsa Chang on the U.S. killing of Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Gregory Maguire has returned to Oz for another look at the workings of good and evil in the Emerald City. The author tells Liane Hansen about Son of a Witch, the sequel to his 1995 best-seller Wicked.