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Awkward over hors d'oeuvres? A mess with martinis? Knowing what to say at a cocktail party can be overwhelming — but these three books will have you culturally informed in no time.

Growing up during the Reagan era, Jason Eskenazi heard so much about "The Evil Empire" that when the Berlin Wall came down, he had to go visit it. He ended up spending more than a decade photographing life in the former Soviet Union.

India is not a member of the G-8, but it is one of several emerging powers included in the G-20. Many believe these countries should have a greater say in global decision making. President Bush hosts a G-20 summit Friday. India believes key international financial institutions should be strengthened so the economic fallout on developing countries is minimal.

James Lipton, the creator and host of the popular television program "Inside the Actors Studio," is celebrating the show's 200th episode this week on the Bravo cable network. Lipton is known for his casual, reflective talks with celebrities, A-listers from the late Paul Newman to comedian Chris Rock. In commemoration of the anniversary, the television host talks about his show, and his book Inside Inside the Actors Studio.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is an unlikely best-seller — it's the first book in a trilogy of thrillers written by Stieg Larsson, a previously unknown Swedish journalist who died of a heart attack in 2004.

Once renowned for its artists, Italy seemed to vanish from the world stage in the '80s and '90s. But two new novels, Clash of Civilizations Over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio and Sicilian Tragedee, show Italian culture enjoying an international comeback.

Amitav Ghosh's sprawling historical novel is set on a former slave ship in 1838, and features a wildly diverse cast of characters and fluid, "beautifully made" sentences. Reviewer Alan Cheuse says Sea of Poppies is worth a passage.

Although his brain was no bigger than a walnut, Alex the African gray parrot could do more than speak and understand — he could also count, identify colors and, according to his owner Irene Pepperberg, develop an emotional relationship.

The NPR Board of Directors has announced that Vivian Schiller will be the new president and CEO. Schiller is vice president and general manager of NYT.com.

Since joining the Howard Stern Show in 2001, comic and actor Artie Lange has revealed his personal demons to millions of radio listeners.