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Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has won the release of an American citizen from a North Korea prison. Boston native Aijalon Gomes had been teaching in South Korea when he crossed illegally into the North and was imprisoned in January.

Fans of the 1989 film Back to the Future Part II may recall when Marty McFly -- played by Michael J. Fox -- travels to the year 2015 and tries on a pair of Nike shoes that lace themselves with the push of a button. This week, folks on the Internet discovered Nike has applied for a patent on a pair of real-life auto-lacing shoes.

The landmark 1963 civil rights march was more than just "I have a dream," says historian Charles Euchner. His new book, Nobody Turn Me Around: A People's History of the 1963 March on Washington, relies on participants and attendees to tell the story of that fateful day.

Frank Falcinelli and Frank Castronovo, who own the Brooklyn restaurant Frankies Spuntino, have recipes for tomatoes from breakfast to dessert in their new cookbook, The Frankies Spuntino Kitchen Companion and Cooking Manual. "We're all about easy, practical, utilitarian," says Castronovo.

Jonathan Franzen's new novel Freedom has been called "a masterpiece" by Time Magazine and has received rave reviews from critics. Franzen talks about the runaway success of his previous novel The Corrections, and the strong reaction elicited by Freedom.

Science writer Jennifer Ackerman explores "the uncommon life of your common cold" in her new book, Ah-Choo! She explains why colds follow that familiar throat-to-nose-to-chest path of misery — and details what science shows about various cold remedies. (Prepare to be disappointed.)

For some, travel is a relaxing break, but not for writer Benjamin Percy. For our books series "My Guilty Pleasure," where authors talk about a book they are embarrassed to love, Percy discusses how he spends his vacations — armed with a travel guide, seeking out the spooky, the scary and the supernatural.

Many of Spencer's novels feature a turning point — a dreadful, unplanned act committed by one of the characters. In his latest book, Man in the Woods, a carpenter accidentally kills a man, which leads him to question himself and his relationship with God.

Olympic gold medal diver GREG LOUGANIS (Lew-GAIN-is) has written a book, "Breaking the Surface," (Random House) detailing the private life behind his diving persona. In 1988 LOUGANIS became the first diver in history to win consecutive Olympic gold medals in both the 10 meter platform and 3 meter springboard events. In 1994 he admitted he was gay. He now admits he has AIDS and knew it prior to the '88 games. To write to Greg: P.O. Box 4130, Malibu, CA

Humans have been telling stories ever since we began talking. This ability to craft narratives helps us shape our lives and our interactions with others and, says one neurologist, pushes us to excel and give life meaning.