These books will help you understand -- and navigate -- marketing, branding and advertising in our TiVo-charged, Internet-fueled, "post-television" age:

Buzzmarketing

Life After the 30-Second Spot

Nobrow

Mediated

The Conquest of Cool

Trendspotting

Stumped for a book? The Williamsburg Regional Library in Virginia to the rescue! The library publishes a website where "a different staff member picks favorite reviews" each week. Book reviews change daily. Check out today's selection here.

Capote. Mailer. Didion. Wolfe. These literary lions burst the conventions of traditional journalism, helping invent a "new journalism" through their storytelling that forever changed the way we look at our culture. Check out these books to read more:

The Gang That Wouldn't Write Straight (the story of New Journalism)

The Art of Fact (anthology)

Radical Chic & Mau-Mauing the Flak Catchers by Tom Wolfe

Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion

These novels all won prestigious awards and well-earned heaps of praise. Fodder for your next book club read?

The Echo Maker (National Book Award)

Copper Sun (Coretta Scott King Award)

Spin (Hugo Award for science fiction)

The Janissary Tree (Edgar Award for mystery)

Over the last few weeks we've featured summer reading recommendations from a terrific group of guest contributors. (Thanks to all!) But what about books for kids? Check out these lists for great picks for your favorite student on vacation...

Reading is Fundamental 2007 Summer Reading Guide

Summer Reading Buzz

Reading Rockets Summer Reading

Houston school district summer reading lists

We called up one of our favorite word lovers to ask her for books picks about a subject near and dear to her heart. Martha Barnette, author and host of public radio's A Way With Words, graciously sent us these terrific recommendations:

Idiom's Delight by Suzanne Brock. In English, "you stand on your own two feet," but in Spanish, you "fly with your own wings." A beautifully illustrated volume of idioms in Spanish, Italian, French, and Latin that I've given as a gift again and again.

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