Reader's Corner

Author of "How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character"

A shot fired by a deranged assassin in the lobby of a Washington, D.C., train station in the summer of 1881 would eventually lead to the death of the United States’ 20th president, James A. Garfield.

While Garfield survived for more than two months after the shooting, he later succumbed to massive infection introduced by aggressive and highly unsterile attempts to locate the bullet by the very doctors charged with saving his life. In fact, gunman Charles Guiteau argued, unsuccessfully, that it was Garfield’s doctors who should be charged with murder and not he.

Author of "The Last Great Senate: Courage and Statesmanship in Times of Crisis"

Author of the short story collection "Volt"

Author of "Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President"

Rome wasn’t built in a day. Neither was Chicago. But one author has discovered 12 days in the history of the latter that indelibly tested its resolve and helped define its course.

In his New York Times bestseller, “City of Scoundrels: The 12 Days of Disaster that Gave Birth to Modern Chicago,” Gary Krist details the events of July 21-Aug. 1, 1919, when Chicago endured tragedy, violence and chaos that would challenge a young, rapidly growing city still trying to solidify its future.

Author of "Little America: The War Within the War For Afghanistan"

Author of "American Colossus: The Triumph of Capitalism, 1865-1900"

Author of "American Triumvirate: Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan and the Modern Age of Golf"

Author of "Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend"

On the night he was killed, Osama bin Laden heard strange sounds inside his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. He quietly told his youngest wife, “Don’t turn on the light.” They were the last words he would utter. Minutes later, a team of Navy SEALs made their way to his top-floor bedroom and shot and killed the United States’ most wanted man.

Interview with Gary Gallagher

Author of "Manhunt: From 9/11 to Abbottabad"

Author of "The Arab Uprising"

The next time someone does the unexpected and claims, “I couldn’t help myself,” don’t be so quick to write it off as a lame excuse. Turns out it may be written into their genetic code.

In his latest book, “The Violinist’s Thumb and Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written by Our Genetic Code,” Sam Kean offers a fascinating glimpse into how all those A-C-G-T combinations strung along the famous double helix control more than our eye color or inclination toward being left-handed. A lot more.

Author of "The Violinist's Thumb and Other Lost Tales of Love, War and Genius, as Written by Our Genetic Code"

Author of "The Scarlet Macaw: One Woman's Fight to Save the World's Most Beautiful Bird," the book selected for 2012-2013 Campus Read at Boise State University.

We all need heroes, and almost 75 years after he came to life, Superman remains one of our most adored and enduring ones.

Academy Award-winning author of "Trust Me: A Memior" and resident of Eagle, ID

Author of "How to Run the World"