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Commentator Rod Dreher lives in Dallas. He's been driving back and forth to work in a car without air conditioning all summer long. And while it hasn't been comfortable or easy, it's made him appreciate the AC in his home and office. Dreher, a writer at the Dallas Morning News, is the author of Crunchy Cons. He blogs at Beliefnet.com.

Author and journalist Vijay Vaitheeswaran discusses the relative merits of alternative energy sources. He says spending on hybrid cars is an investment in the future, more than a way to save money now. Vaitheeswaran also says there are parts of the country where solar is price competitive with fossil fuels.

A forthcoming book by journalists Michael Isikoff and David Corn suggests that Richard Armitage, Deputy Secretary of State in 2003, may be the missing link in the story that has been called "Plamegate."

Alan Cheuse reviews The Emperor's Children by Claire Messud. It's a novel about a group of young New Yorkers and their struggles with family, work, and love.

In India, several states have banned the sale of Coke and Pepsi after a group called The Center for Science and Environment said the soft drinks contain unacceptably high levels of pesticide. The national government of India has said the Center's data is flawed. But the state governments continue to ban the products.

Commentator Jack Staub rhapsodizes about his favorite herb, basil, which is abundant at this time of year. He also offers hints about what to do with all of it, including a recipe for handy and easy-to-use pesto cubes.

In the world of specialty farming, biodynamic agriculture goes beyond organic in its arcane rules. The basics are that a good grape begins in the compost heap. A growing number of California wineries have joined this international discipline — and they're producing critically acclaimed wines.

Episcopalian minister Barbara Brown Taylor's new book, Leaving Church: A Memoir of Faith, describes her decision to leave her job after 15 years as a full-time minister. Taylor was named one of the 12 most effective preachers in the English-speaking world by Baylor University. After her ministry, she went to teach religion at Piedmont College in Georgia. She is also an editor-at-large and columnist for The Christian Century.

Bruce Knecht's book Hooked: Pirates, Poaching, and the Perfect Fish is the story of the Chilean Sea Bass. It's an ugly, oily fish that became a favorite dining option in upscale restaurants, until it was nearly fished out.

Edward P. Jones won a Pulitzer Prize for his novel The Known World, a tale of black slave owners in the antebellum South. His latest work is the short story collection All Aunt Hagar's Children. Washington, D.C. — Jones' home town — is a major character in the stories.