Book Review Podcast: Amanda Ripley's 'The Smartest Kids in the World' In The New York Times Book Review, Annie Murphy Paul reviews "The Smartest Kids in the World," Amanda Ripley's investigation into the educational experience in Finland, South Korea and Poland, and how it compares with its American counterpart. Ms. Paul writes: In reporting her book, Ripley made the canny choice to enlist "field agents" who could penetrate other countries" schools far more fully than she: three American students, each studying abroad for a year. Kim, a restless 15-year-old from rural Oklahoma, heads off to Finland, a place she had only read about, "a snow-castle country with white nights and strong coffee." Instead, what she finds is a trudge through the cold dark, to a dingy school with desks in rows and an old-fashioned chalkboard - not an iPad or interactive whiteboard in sight. What Kim's school in the small town of Pietarsaari does have is bright, talented teachers who are well trained and love their jobs. On this week's podcast, Ms. Paul discusses "The Smartest Kids in the World"; Cris Beam discusses "To the End of June," her book about America's foster care system; Sarah Harrison Smith surveys back-to-school children's books; Julie Bosman has notes from the field; and Parul Sehgal has best-seller news. Here is this week's Book Review.