Book Review Podcast: Superman and Supremely Boring Books In The New York Times Book Review, James Parker reviews Larry Tye's new biography of Superman, the hero who is approaching his 75th birthday. Mr. Parker calls Superman "a lonely, lonely man-god. Was he even a real superhero? On his native Krypton (now destroyed) he would have been normal, after all: it was only Earth's "slighter gravity pull" that gave him his superstrength. And Lois might dote upon the all-conquering Superman, but she despised Clark Kent. Was there anyone out there who could love them both - love him, that is, in the totality of his being? Elsewhere in the Book Review, Bruce Handy shares his collection of boring books, which he has gathered up from street vendors around his New York neighborhood. One of the books he picked up is a 1952 collection of speeches by Adlai Stevenson, about which he writes: Though he lost consecutive elections to Dwight Eisenhower, Stevenson had a reputation as a gifted speaker, esteemed for his dry, self-deprecating wit. But did even his most fervent supporters really need unexpurgated texts of his "Farm Policy" speech or the Sept. 23, 1952, address on "The Control of Inflation"? Getting the party started in his foreword, John Steinbeck notes, "A year and a half ago, I had never heard of Mr. Stevenson." On this week's podcast, Mr. Tye talks about Superman; Julie Bosman has notes from the field; David Haglund discusses Sheila Heti's new novel; Mr. Handy shares his thoughts about dull books; and Gregory Cowles has best-seller news. Sam Tanenhaus is the host.