At The Smithsonian Associates on Tuesday, December 2, 2010.

Biomolecular archaeologist Patrick McGovern tells the compelling story of humanity's quest for the perfect drink.In Uncorking the Past (University of California Press, 2009), he follows a tantalizing trail of archaeological, chemical, artistic, and textual clues to reveal what we now know about how humans created and enjoyed fermented beverages across cultures. He also presents the hypothesis that libations, from Asian rice wines to the corn beer of the Americas to sweet meads and wines made from honey and fruit, have played a role in human evolution.

At The Smithsonian Associates on Tuesday, November 30, 2010.

100 years after Mark Twain's death, the first of his three volume autobiography is being published. Twain wanted the 100-year lead time to ensure he would be "dead, and unaware, and indifferent," and free to speak his "whole frank mind." The Autobiography of Mark Twain, Vol. 1 (University of California Press, 2010), presents Twain's life story in his own words, filled with his signature humor, opinions, and ideas on a wide range of topics, from his friends and contemporaries, to religion and politics, and culture and society.

At The Smithsonian Associates on Tuesday, November 18, 2010.

Did Orson Welles' 1938 radio dramatization of The War of the Worlds create widespread panic? Did Walter Cronkite's on-air editorializing alter the course of the Vietnam War? W. Joseph Campbell addresses these stories and other prominent media myths in his book, Getting It Wrong: Ten of the Greatest Misreported Stories in American Journalism (University of California Press, 2010). Campbell is a journalism professor in the school of communication at American University

At The Smithsonian Associates on Tuesday, November 16, 2010.

During the 1940s, the Nazis amassed a vast collection of priceless art and historical artifacts, including the crown jewels of the Holy Roman Empire. Author Sidney Kirkpatrick describes the efforts of a German-born U.S. Army lieutenant, Walter Horn, to locate these treasures in his new book, A True Story of Nazi Plunder and the Race to Recover the Crown Jewels of the Holy Roman Empire (Simon & Schuster, 2010).

At The Smithsonian Associates on Tuesday, November 9, 2010.

Mickey Mantle was the first superstar of the television age. With his All-American looks and athletic prowess, Mantle came to represent America's postwar optimism and seemingly limitless potential. Author Jane Leavy takes an in-depth look at the life of Number Seven in her new biography, The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle and the End of America's Childhood (HarperCollins, 2010). Leavy is an award-winning former sportswriter and feature writer for The Washington Post.

At The Smithsonian Associates on Saturday, November 6, 2010.

Istanbul was the administrative and ceremonial center of the far-flung Ottoman Empire for 400 years, and it is home today to a dazzling array of cultural experiences and unique adventures. In addition to the famous Topkapi Palace, the private and public seat of the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul also houses the Florence Nightingale Museum, Turkish baths, Whirling Dervishes, and sprawling bazaars. From the lavish gardens to the hidden harems and modern museums, leading Turkish tour guide Serif Yenen provides a peek at this sumptuous bygone world in his book, Quick Guide Istanbul (Serif Yenen, 2009).

At The Smithsonian Associates on Saturday, October 23, 2010.

Chocolate was used both for ritual purposes and for royal feasts in pre-Columbian America. Similarly, today chocolate is part of holiday celebrations and featured in both savory and sweet meals. In Chocolate in Mesoamerica: A Cultural History of Cacao (University Press of Florida, 2010), edited by Cameron L. McNeil, scholars assess the history and cultural significance of cacao in the Americas, from its earliest existence to its contemporary uses. McNeil is an assistant professor of anthropology at Lehman College, City University of New York.

At The Smithsonian Associates on Saturday, October 23, 2010.

Spanish colonists were initially disgusted by the strange Indian drink they encountered in the New World. However, chocolate rapidly became one of the most lucrative American exports as demand for it raged in Europe. George Washington University associate professor of history Marcy Norton examines the role chocolate played in both the Old and New Worlds in her book, Sacred Gifts, Profane Pleasures: A History of Tobacco and Chocolate in the Atlantic World (Cornell University Press, 2010).

At The Smithsonian Associates on Thursday, October 7, 2010.

In the 4th and 5th millennia B.C., the ancient city of Mendes became the center of worship and political power in the Nile Delta. Donald Redford, professor of classical and ancient Mediterranean studies at Pennsylvania State University, traces the history of this fascinating city, home to a mysterious cult dedicated to the worship of a lascivious ram-god. His book, City of Ram-Man: The Story of Ancient Mendes (Princeton University Press, 2010), provides a chronological and image-filled account of the rise and fall of the city.

At The Smithsonian Associates on Friday, October 1, and Saturday, October 2, 2010.

Perfume experts Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez illuminate the art of fragrance in their book, Perfumes: The A-Z Guide (Penguin, 2009). From the heavenly to the odious, Turin and Sanchez describe and rank more than 1200 fragrances. They also discuss olfactory science, the history of perfume, general types of fragrances, and offer advice to consumers on how to choose a perfume. Turin is a biophysicist at MIT, chief technology officer for a fragrance molecule design company, and author of numerous articles on scent and science. Sanchez is a longtime perfume critic and writer.