Writing letters was how the late author Bruce Chatwin (1940-89) communicated with the people closest to him, since he was usually traveling far from home. Under The Sun: Letters of Bruce Chatwin (Viking) is an exquisite curio from the days before e-mail.

Chatwin turned his journeys into bestselling...

The Jimmy Carter comparisons began on the campaign trail, before Barack Obama won the election in 2008. As candidates both men were relatively inexperienced. Both offered a fresh alternative to a departing administration that had grown profoundly unpopular. As presidents, Carter and Obama both struggled against a slumping, stubborn economy....