*Be sure to check out my prolific friend Jonah Lehrer’s excellent cover story, “Depression’s Upside,” from yesterday’s New York Times Magazine. While you’re at it, check out his two excellent books–Proust Was a Neuroscientist, and How We Decide. Not only is Lehrer (pictured above) annoyingly brilliant, but he’s very sweet and very handsome. (And, sadly, married.)

*Ted Conover is one of the best nonfiction writers—and nicest guys—working today. A master of immersion journalism, his 2000 book Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing, is a harrowing look at the time he spent as a prison guard. He now has a terrific new book out called The Routes of Man, about roads and their power to change the world. Ya’ll should buy it.

*Adam Haslett is one of my favorite fiction writers–his 2002 short-story collection, You are Not a Stranger Here, is one of the best short-story collections of all time. He has a new book out, Union Atlantic, which is getting great reviews and which I can’t wait to read.

*If you missed Benedict Carey’s fascinating recent New York Times piece about the power of human touch, you’re forgiven and can read it here.