Terry Gross

In her new book, The Wisdom of Whores, epidemiologist Elizabeth Pisani interviews sex workers, drug users, health officials and bureaucrats in an effort to determine why 40 million people are living with HIV — and what can be done to curb the epidemic.

Whether he's lancing boils, getting crabs from thrift-store trousers or sitting in a hospital waiting room dressed only in his underwear, one thing is clear: David Sedaris is not shy about sharing embarrassing, cringe-worthy moments.

Acclaimed 2007 film — based on the life of post-punk musician Ian Curtis, who killed himself in 1980 at age 23 — won a trio of prizes at the Cannes Film Festival and took home a range of other international awards. It's out now on DVD.