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Vast distances and cultural differences may separate America's states, but remarkably, regional rivalries are fairly trivial. This unity is no accident; it's the legacy of the explorers, leaders and inventors who brought the country together. British author Simon Winchester tells their stories in The Men Who United the States.

Sachin Tendulkar made his cricket debut as at the age of 16, and he's captivated fans ever since. This week, he announced his plans to retire. Indian politician Shashi Tharoor says batsman Tendulkar is "possibly one of the greatest in the history of the entire sport worldwide."

Tom Hanks plays Captain Phillips in a high-seas hostage drama. Historian Jill Lepore introduces us to Jane, Ben Franklin's younger sister. And we catch up with child-actor-turned-artist Daniel Radcliffe now that he's in his post-Potter years.

The U.S. has said it wants to reach a deal by the end of October to keep some members of its military in Afghanistan. Secretary of State John Kerry is in Kabul meeting with President Hamid Karzai to work out an agreement, but two main points seem to be standing in their way.

Author Denise Spellberg's book draws parallels between the beliefs of the founding father and religious tolerance in the United States today.

In the documentary, director Roger Ross Williams explores the role of American evangelicals in the anti-gay movement there. Williams and Christopher Senyonjo, an excommunicated Anglican bishop, discuss the collision of religion and politics.

Composer Phillip Glass, director Robert Wilson and choreographer Lucinda Childs discuss their epic modern opera, which is being staged for the first time in two decades.

Dilip Joseph was working for an international aid organization in Afghanistan when he was kidnapped by the Taliban last year. He was in captivity for several days before being rescued by a team of Navy SEALs.

Myanmar, also known as Burma, has struggled to end the ethnic insurgencies that have long divided the country. Now, the last of the insurgent groups has signed a preliminary agreement.

Author Antoine Wilson suggests bypassing Proust in favor of a far shorter choice: Nicholson Baker's 1988 novel, which shares the internal monologue of a businessman on an escalator. Shoelaces, drinking straws and the corporate culture of men's bathrooms undergo thorough analysis in this slim book, which Wilson calls "relentlessly perceptive."