A nuclear bomb wipes out a U.S. city — and it's unclear who the real perpetrator is. Though current events — the U.S. withdrawal of troops from Iraq — have overtaken the plot of Blink of An Eye, the political thriller from former Secretary of Defense William Cohen is exciting nonetheless.

Every year, the comedian's three young grandchildren visit him for Christmas. Problem is, "they're annoying," he says. So Cosby came up with a plan to calm the squabbling children and restore Christmas cheer to his household.

The "Can You See What I See?" children's book series are photo-puzzles made from Walter Wick's signature photographic compositions of model toys and odds and ends. His latest book is called Toyland Express. Wick joins host Audie Cornish to talk about how he puts together is photo illustrations.

Alex Schmidt's grandparents say that the best Jewish food they've ever eaten came from Mexico. They remember a legendary husband-and-wife catering team who made downtown Mexico City feel like the shtetls of Eastern Europe. Schmidt visits her grandmother to find out more about fusing two culinary traditions.

The New Testament is constantly being re-interpreted from a variety of perspectives — from feminists, to socialists, to traditionalists; there's even a version as seen through the prism of Star Wars. Now you can add to the collection The Jewish Annotated New Testament, the first annotated version of the New Testament from an entirely Jewish point of view.

These five outstanding novels take us to unfamiliar eras and exotic locales — ancient Israel, Elizabethan England, 1920s Paris — while confirming our common humanity.

Jessica Fellowes, author of a new book about the successful series Downton Abbey, talks about the story of the Crawleys and the world they inhabit.