Shelf Life

To understand the economic crisis, you may want to grab a book. There are lots of business books available on the market right now. Kai Ryssdal speaks with Jack Covert and Todd Sattersten, authors of "The 100 Best Business Books of All Time," about which ones you should pick up.

Robotics and other technologies have had a big impact on how war is waged. Kai Ryssdal speaks with warfare expert P.W. Singer about how technology is revolutionizing war on and off the battlefield.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship, or mixed martial arts, has emerged from the shadows to become a huge moneymaker. Kai Ryssdal speaks with Sports Illustrated writer L. Jon Wertheim about the combat sport's fast-growing audience.

High on President Obama's agenda is reforming our nation's schools. Kai Ryssdal speaks with author Susan Eaton about the problems with our schools and what can be done to fix them in our economic state.

At 2008's World Economic Forum, Bill Gates challenged corporations to engage in 'creative capitalism,' or be more socially responsible. Kai Ryssdal speaks with journalist Michael Kinsley about what that entails.

The best way to avoid getting scammed is to learn from history. Dr. Chris McKenna, who's writing a book on schemers, tells Steve Chiotakis about one particularly bad scammer who affected the world economy in the 1920's.

Countrywide Financial is arguably the company at the heart of the mortgage financial crisis. Kai Ryssdal speaks with Countrywide's former Senior Vice President of Marketing Adam Michaelson about his experiences at the company.

Trouble's not new to Caribbean banana growers. Author Peter Chapman chronicles the rise and fall of the company at the center of a lot of that trouble, the United Fruit Company, in his book, "Bananas!" He talks with Kai Ryssdal.