Abraham Rabinovich discusses his book, “The Yom Kippur War.” He begins by discussing the role of the generals in the Yom Kippur War and how the soldiers in the field played a stronger role then the generals. He talks specifically about the...
Adam Haslett discusses his book, “You Are Not a Stranger Here.” He begins by explaining that the book is a collection of nine short stories. He goes into detail discussing several of the stories individually, beginning with “Notes to My...
Conduct of life - Humor; Self- destructive behavior - Humor; Health - Humor
Adam Wasson and Jessica Stamen discuss their book, “The Self-Destruction Handbook.” They begin by explaining that there are plenty of books that help readers to avoid self-destructive behavior and that is why they decided to help those who want...
Teenage boys - United States - Fiction; Hate crimes - United States - Fiction; African American teenagers - Fiction; Basketball stories; Violence - Fiction
Alan Sitomer discusses his book, “The Hoopster.” He begins by stressing the importance of getting teenagers to read. He shares that he is a high school teacher and he feels that the number one factor that keeps students from being at risk is if...
College teachers - Fiction; Loss (Psychology) - Fiction; Class reunions - Fiction; First loves - Fiction
Alan Lightman discusses his book, “Reunion.” He begins by explaining the plot, which follows the protagonist Charles who is a middle-aged professor at a second tier liberal arts college who magically witnesses a replay of his senior year of...
Alan Silverbach discusses the book, “Fridays with Art.” He begins by explaining how he got started working at 20th Century Fox’s television division. He then shares that the first shows he worked on were “My Friend Flicka’” and...
Alecia Beldegreen discusses her book, “The Bed.” She begins by discussing the history of the bed and how it began in Egypt. She explains that the bed has always reflected human believes and rituals. Beldegreen then describes the beds during...
World War, 1914-1918 - Turkey - Fiction; Mothers and daughters - Fiction; Plantation life - Fiction; Women - Turkey - Fiction; Silk industry - Fiction; Dwellings - Fiction; Turkey - Fiction
Alev Lytle Croutier discusses her book, “Seven Houses.” She begins by discussing the plot of the novel, which is set against the backdrop of twentieth century Turkey. The book tells the story of the Ipekci silk-making family that begins during...
Russian teachers - Fiction; Mothers and sons - Fiction; Football players - Fiction; Interracial dating - Fiction; Parent and adult child - Fiction; African American families - Fiction; African American women college teachers - Fiction; Pushkin,...
Alice Randall discusses her book, “Pushkin and the Queen of Spades.” She begins by explaining the plot of the novel, which follows Winsor Armstrong who is a Harvard-educated professor of Russian literature whose son, Pushkin-who she named after...
Allen Rucker discusses his book, “The Sopranos Family Cookbook.” He begins by explaining that the book is a real cookbook that is written from the point of view of Artie Bucco, the fictional character in the television series “The...
New York (N.Y.) - Fiction; Poets - Fiction; Young men - Fiction; Gay men - Fiction
Allison Burnett discusses his book, “House Beautiful.” He begins by detailing the plot of the novel which tells the story of a summer in New York city in which B.K. Troop, a bipolar, alcoholic, homosexual turns his Manhattan brownstone into a...
Cixi, Empress Dowager of China, 1835-1908 - Fiction; Empresses - Fiction; China - History - Guangxu, 1875-1908 - Fiction
Anchee Min discusses her book, “Empress Orchid.” She begins by explaining that the book is historical fiction and follows the life of Tsu Hsi, also known as, Orchid. Orchid was born a poor girl in rural China, later she became a royal concubine...
Ann Louise Bardach discusses her book, “Cuba Confidential.” She begins by explaining that the book is both a history of Cuba and the story of Elian Gonzalez and why she felt the need to tell both stories. Bardach details Elain Gonzalez’ story...
New York (N.Y.) - Intellectual life - 20th century; New York (N.Y.) - Social life and customs - 20th century; Biographers - United States - Biography; Novelists, American - 20th century - Biography; Novelists, American - Homes and haunts - New York...
Anne Bernays and Justin Kaplan discuss their book, “Back Then.” They begin by explaining that they collaborated on the book, which is a double memoir recounting their parallel lives in 1950s New York City. They share how they both grew up in...
Anthony Bourdain discusses his book, “A Cook’s Tour.” He begins by sharing that the book was an opportunity for him to fulfill his greatest desires and fantasies by eating his way around the world. He also briefly discusses his previous book...
Motion picture actors and actresses - United States - Biography - Dictionaries; Silent films - United States - History and criticism
Anthony Slide discusses his book, “Silent Players.” He begins by explaining that he first became interested in silent films in the 1960s. He then explores some of the actors and actresses that he writes about in his book, including May Marsh,...
Dixon, Thomas, 1864-1946; Dixon, Thomas, 1864-1946 - Film and video adaptations; Dixon, Thomas, 1864-1946 - Political and social views; Motion pictures - United States - History - 20th century; Authors, American - 20th century - Biography; Film...
Anthony Slide discusses his book, “American Racist.” He begins by explaining that his book chronicles the life and films of Thomas Dixon. He discusses how being born during the reconstruction period in the South shaped Dixon’s attitude and...
Vaudeville - United States - History - 19th century; Vaudeville - United States - History - 20th century
Arthur Wertheim discusses his book, “Vaudeville Wars.” He begins by describing the history of vaudeville and how it had been around since the 1700s. He talks about the first modern day vaudeville circuit started by B. F. Keith and Edward...
Moaveni, Azadeh, 1976-; Iranian American women - Biography; Iranian Americans -Biography; Iran - Social conditions - 1979-1997; Iran - Social conditions - 1997-
Azdaeh Moaveni discusses her book, “Lipstick Jihad.” She begins by sharing her experiences and memories of growing up as an Iranian in Palo Alto, California during the shadow of the Iranian hostage crisis. She then discusses her experiences...
Blair, Betsy, 1923-2009; Motion picture actors and actresses - United States - Biography
Betsy Blair discusses her book, “The Memory of All That.” She begins by describing the beginning of her career in New Jersey dancing in a chorus line. It was during this time in her life that she met, then choreographer, Gene Kelly whom she...
