On this edition of Conversations, Kelefa Sanneh talks with host Dan Skinner about “Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres.” Sanneh has been a New Yorker staff writer since 2008, before which he spent six years as a pop-music critic at “The New York Times.” He is also a contributor to “CBS Sunday Morning.” 

On this edition of Conversations, Anthony Doerr talks with host Dan Skinner about “Cloud Cuckoo Land.” Doerr is the author of numerous novels including “About Grace,” “For Seasons in Rome,” “The Shell Collector” and “All the Light We Cannot See,” which was a #1 New York Times Bestseller and winner of the Pulitzer Prize.

On this edition of Conversations, Marta McDowell talks with host Dan Skinner about “Unearthing The Secret Garden – The Plants and Places that Inspired Frances Hodgson Burnett.” McDowell consults for public gardens and private clients, writes and lectures on gardening topics, and teaches landscape history and horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden.

On this edition of Conversations, Peter Norton talks with host Dan Skinner about “The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics.” Norton is a publishing veteran with more than 25 years’ experience in the book industry. He’s been with Printers Row Publishing Group for 11 years as VP and Publisher of the Adult imprints — Thunder Bay Press, Portable Press and Canterbury Classics.

What drives a person to make major changes in their life, and what might the experience teach them about themselves?