I tend to be wary of books that everyone’s talking about. Too often, all that buzz ends in disappointment for me—the book is good, but not that good.

Happily, this was not the case with Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, which met with widespread acclaim when it was published in June. It's a uniquely plotted thriller that kept me reading—and guessing—way past my bedtime after I finally relented and cracked its spine recently.

The book is structured in alternating chapters that shift perspectives between the two main characters. Magazine writer Nick Dunne is living in Manhattan when he meets Amy Elliot at a party. Amy’s mind is always working, and Nick is fascinated because he can never quite figure out what she’s thinking. They get married, and though the union has a…

More than just a crime novel, Gone Girl is an astute and thought-provoking look into two complex personalities. Don’t miss this masterful psychological thriller that lives up to its hype.

Preventive mastectomies for women at high risk of breast cancer, but who haven’t yet been diagnosed, are a hot topic in the breast cancer community these days, as genetic testing for the disease becomes more widely available. The procedureis also becoming more common among breast cancer patients, with some choosing the prophylactic removal of a breast that doesn’t… Read More >>

We've heard a lot about Navy SEALS of late—and for very good reason. Last month saw the publication of  No Easy Day by "Mark Owen" (whose real name is Mark Bissonnette), a tell-all about the mission to kill Osama bin Laden. The book came under fire from the Pentagon—and shot to the top of the bestseller list. Whether or not No Easy Dayis for you, here are five more…

•Viper Pilot: A Memoir of Air Combat  by Dan Hampton, coming out tomorrow. This heart-thumping story is by America's most decorated F-16 fighter pilot, covering everything from securing air space on 9/11 to destroying Saddam Hussein's escape helicopters in Baghdad  to the rescue of a surrounded Marine.

• Into the Fire: A Firsthand Account of the Most Extraordinary Battle in the Afghan War by Dakota Meyer. The old saying is "Tell it to the Marines," but in this case a Marine tells it brilliantly to us. Meyer won a medal of Honor for his extraordinary valor and heroism  in the battle of Ganjigal.

• We Got Him!: A Memoir of the Hunt and Capture of Saddam Hussein  by Steve Russell, coming out in paperback this month. Retired U.S. Army St. Col. Russell gives us the vivid blow-by-blow.

•Service: A Navy SEAL at War  by Marcus Luttrell. As part of SEAL Team 5, Luttrell spent six months in the Al Qaeda stronghold of Ramadi, Iraq. He had previously served in Afghanistan. Here, he not only relates his experiences but also reflects on why a rare few accept such risky missions to serve their country. He also spotlights and gives props to SEAL wives.

• SEAL TEAM Six: Memoirs of an Elite Navy SEAL Sniper by Howard E. Wasdin. This riveting account of SEAL life was featured in Reader's Digest.  You can  read our excerpt here.

Scan this: October 7 is the 60th anniversary of the barcode, those ubiquitous sets of black lines/white spaces that give manufacturers a way to track goods, and consumers a way to learn more about them. (Hello, QR code.) I'm a sucker for good tech trivia, and thanks to this handy infographiccreated by Wasp Barcode Technologies to celebrate the anniversary, I now know: •The… Read More >>

Heads up, true believers: A partnership between Marvel Entertainment and Susan G. Komen for the Cure launches next week as part of "National Breast Cancer Awareness Month."

Six of Marvel's best-known comic books—from the Avengers to Wolverine—will ship with Komen-branded, pink covers this month, in addition to a full page advertorial that aims to spread knowledge about the disease.

A PR rep for Komen told me that the initiative is "for education purposes only," so no financial proceeds from sale of the books will make it to the cancer-fighting organization. But the special comics can still do some good. In a 2011 survey conducted with ACNielsen, DC Comics, Marvel's primary rival, found that its audience skewed heavily male: 93 percent…. Marvel's…

Interested? You can view the advertorial on Marvel's website in addition to each cover. To buy the books, check the shelves of your local comics shop on Wednesdays starting next week for Avengers #31, Captain America #18, Captain Marvel #5, Fantastic Four #611, Invincible Iron Man #526, Mighty Thor #21, Uncanny X-Men #20, and Wolverine #315.

My recommendation: Give 'em to a kid that wants to make a difference someday.

In my earliest days of reading, Roald Dahl's fantastic collection of children's books left a lasting mark on my imagination. (Matilda is my absolute favorite.) So how fitting for such a renowned and whimsical author that the museum in his honor is now accessible from all over the world with an interactive tour thanks to some technological magic.

Google Maps' ever impressive Street View feature now allows Roald Dahlenthusiasts the chance to peek inside the humble galleries in Dahl's original home in Buckinghamshire, England. Though there are limits to the tour's functionality—it is difficult to access certain corners of the galleries, and like visits to some real-life museums, it is far too easy to find yourself in the gift shop—what you…

With President Obama and Mitt Romney scheduled to square off in the first Presidential debate on Wednesday, it's time to get serious. Or not. Or maybe we'll get serious after we have some fun. Yes, that's it. Fun first, then serious.

Okay, so here's an animated video that captures perfectly the essential dynamic of the modern political debate. I love the fact that it's presented by "the League of Short Attention Span Voters."

Of course, there's a lot more going on in these debates than just a couple of smart guys disagreeing about everything. In "Five Things to Watch in the Presidential Debate,"Andy Sullivan of Reuters neatly sums up the candidates' different goals and strategies for Wednesday's clash. The gist: Romney's under pressure to deliver a powerful performance that will help him escape the shadow of recent missteps;…

For a deeper dive into the meaning and impact of it all, check out this smart piece from Washington Monthly, in which George Washington University political scientist John Sides asks (and answers) the big question:"Do Presidential Debates Really Matter?"

Never mind the World Series, how about a championship devoted to the best facial hair? The 2012 European Beard and Mustache Championships recently wrapped up in France, where 100 hairy competitors put their follicular adornments to the test. There were curled beards, mustaches molded to perfect spiky points and an array of other elaborate 'stache-styles that put this famous soup-strainerto shame. Contestants in the… Read More >>

Dr. No, the first Bond film, was released in 1962, so its 50th anniversary is upon us. There are celebratory screenings, new Bond DVD sets, and web postings of everything from girls to gadgets to great lines. (My all-time favorite exchange is from Goldfinger: "You expect me to talk?" "No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to die.") But the best thing I've seen is a collection of all…

First of all, there's that classic opening sequence with the gun barrel, and the basic do-do, do-do, do-do-do-do melody. But the other films all have their individual themes, some of which (Goldfinger, Live and Let Die) were big hits, and some of which were, deservedly, not big hits. It's a real trip through time to listen to all of them. (And I'm really pleased with myself for not suggesting that they…

Turn up the volume and check out Tor's James Bond Theme Song Dossier »

Picture this: It's a rainy day in a long week and everyone is intently plugging away at their computers. Suddenly I get a phone call from a co-worker who adds to the dreariness by complaining that it's only Wednesday. Remaining optimistic I say, "Let's cheer up! We need something to make us laugh." Shortly thereafter I receive an email from the very same… Read More >>