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The Olympics are transforming Britain — at least for now. Before the games began The London Times declared they were sure to produce a litany of disasters. But the gloom has been obliterated in just a few days by a tsunami of patriotism and self-congratulation. The nation has been stunned and thrilled that the games are so far successful — and that their trophy cupboard is filling up at unexpected speed.

Golden Days starts out as a fun tale of '80s Los Angeles. By the end, it's a devastating portrait of life after a nuclear blast. Author Gabrielle Zevin says it showed her that novels, like life, can span multiple genres. Do you have a favorite book about life in California? Tell us in the comments.

In Hillsborough County, the way people voted in 2008 — for or against President Obama — signals their perception of everything that's happened since and, usually, the way they intend to vote. In this swing county hit hard by the financial crisis, the rarest voter is a person who's changed his mind.

Journalists Donald Barlett and James Steele say a government commitment to free trade and an indifference to offshoring of jobs has crippled the middle class. And, they say, that situation is unlikely to change, no matter who wins this year's presidential election.

Working closely with a former detective, James still goes out with Brighton police to gather material for his work about an English city with a rich criminal history.

NPR Music's Tom Huizenga and host Guy Raz spin an eclectic mix of new classical releases.

In the new book, The Rise of Rome, author Anthony Everitt tracks Rome's ascension from a small market town to the greatest empire in the ancient world. Along the way, he traces the rise of some of the ancient world's most powerful players.

In 1972, Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern chose the young senator as his running mate. Just 18 days later, Eagleton was forced to drop out. The incident forever changed the way presidential candidates pick their No. 2s.

Most people's after-midnight mishaps are nothing compared with what David K. Randall describes in his new book. From people committing murder while supposedly sleepwalking, to what sleep was like in medieval times, Dreamland provides a lively overview of the world's most popular nocturnal pastime.

The Scummers is the last installment in Maynard's Crum trilogy. Maynard based Crum, his 1988 semi-autobiographical novel, on his small, poor West Virginia hometown. The people of Crum who know the book tend to love it or hate it. Maynard spoke with Terry Gross in 2003.