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Philip Hoare's book, The Whale, is an exploration of the role that the great animals have played in human history, from Moby-Dick to lamp oil to the author's own close encounter with a curious female sperm whale.

Novelist and playwright Dan Fante writes about alcoholism, drug addiction and failed attempts at literary success — all of which he has experienced himself. He discusses his novel, 86'd, battling his own emotional demons, and the process of reliving his past on paper.

Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in Asia. But it hasn't always been that way, and the Mekong River has been key to its periods of prosperity. Recovering from 20th century atrocities, the country now faces a new danger: Development is putting the river and its fish at risk.

In a small Swedish village, 19 people are found brutally murdered. The investigation of these gruesome deaths takes readers from Sweden to China to Africa in Henning Mankell's latest book, The Man from Beijing.

Fulfilling the masculine dream of having arms like Goliath probably isn't worth the downside of steroid use. Vicarious satisfaction is probably better, as author Marc Acito discovers upon reading Gladiator, the autobiography of one-time American Gladiators star Dan Clark, known to television audiences as Nitro.

Film critic Leonard Maltin's new book is called 151 Best Movies You've Never Seen. Some of his picks featured giant stars like Jack Nicholson in less famous roles, and some starred complete unknowns. Maltin shares a few of his favorites.

As it winds its way to the South China Sea, the Mekong River runs along Myanmar's remote and often troubled Shan state. The repressive military government in Yangon controls parts of the state, while ethnic militias and warlords rule the others.

Ten years after President Clinton's impeachment, law professor Ken Gormley reviews the entire scandal in his new 800-page book The Death of American Virtue: Clinton vs. Starr. Gormley joins Fresh Air to discuss the independent counsel investigation — and why it continues to resonate today.

Alexandra Penney's longtime nightmare of being broke and dependent on others for help almost overwhelmed her when Bernard Madoff was arrested and her life savings disappeared.

Journalist David E. Hoffman reflects on the high-stakes maneuverings of the Cold War arms race and tells Fresh Air about the urgent search for the nuclear and biological hazards left behind after the collapse of the Soviet Union. He also details the inner workings of the Soviet nuclear program in his book The Dead Hand.