Conrad, Barnaby, 1922 - Alcohol use; Betty Ford Center; Substance abuse - Patients - Rehabilitation - California; Alcoholics - United States - Biography
Barnaby Conrad discusses his book, “Time is All We Have: Four Weeks at the Betty Ford Center.” Conrad talks about his alcoholism and his relationship with his friend, Artie Shaw. He then describes some of the people he met at the Betty Ford...
Anderson, Walter, 1944-;
Risk-taking (Psychology);
Security (Psychology);
Self-actualization (Psychology);
Celebrities - United States - Interviews;
Celebrities - United States - Psychology
Walter Anderson discusses his book, “The Greatest Risk of All.” He begins by explaining that he believes people need to learn to take more risks. He talks about his abusive childhood and how he learned to overcome obstacles. He describes his...
Loss (Psychology); Self-actualization (Psychology)
Judith Viorst discusses her book, “Necessary Losses: The Loves, Illusions, Dependencies and Impossible Expectations that All of Us Have to Give Up in Order to Grow.” She says she studied at a psychoanalytic institute and talks about great...
Tormé, Mel, 1925-1999; Singers - United States - Biography
Mel Torme discusses his autobiography, “It Wasn’t All Velvet.” He elaborates on his multi-faceted career as a composer, lyricist, conductor, musician, actor, and more. He explains what a work day for him usually consists of and what projects...
Madden, Owney, 1891-1980 - Fiction; Irish American criminals - Fiction; Prohibition - Fiction; Criminals - Fiction; Hot Springs (Ark.) - Fiction; New York (N.Y.) - Fiction
Michael Walsh discusses his book, “And All the Saints.” He begins by explaining why he chose to write in the first person as Owney Madden, an Irish gangster who lived during the early 1900s. He discusses how the book is based on real events...
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...
Actresses - Fiction; Older women - Fiction; Motion picture actors and actresses - Fiction; Private investigators - California - Los Angeles - Fiction
Ray Bradbury discusses his book, “Let’s All Kill Constance." He explains that the plot is set in 1960s Los Angeles and follows an unnamed writer who serves as the novel’s narrator. The mystery begins with a visit from an aging Hollywood...
Rosselli, Johnny;
Criminals - United States - Biography;
Mafia - United States - History - 20th century
Charles Rappleye discusses his book, “All American Mafioso.” He begins by explaining the early life of Johnny Rosselli, a hit man for the mafia. He talks about how Rosselli was born in Boston, moved to Chicago, and became friends with Al...
Young women - Fiction;
Grandmothers - Fiction;
Despair - Fiction
Jan Goldstein discusses his novel, “All That Matters.” He begins by explaining that his book is about a young woman who is depressed and builds a relationship with her grandmother. He talks about the struggles his characters go through and...
George P. Fletcher discusses his book, “Loyalty.” He begins by explaining that his book is a collection of essays on religious beliefs in the judicial system. He talks about how people stay true to their beliefs when a court has divided...
Sobhraj, Charles;
Leclerc, Marie Andrée;
Murderers - Biography;
Murder - Southeast Asia - Case studies;
Murder - Europe - Case studies
Thomas Thompson discusses his book, “Serpentine.” He begins by explaining that his book is a non-fiction account of Charles Sobhraj, a hypnotist and murderer. He describes how Sobhraj would befriend tourists in a foreign country and poison...
Nathan Pritikin discusses his book, “The Pritikin Permanent Weight-Loss Manual.” He begins by explaining that he includes recipes in his diet book from all over the world and all different cultures. He talks about the importance of lowering...
Means, Russell, 1939-; American Indian Movement; Oglala Indians - Biography; Indians of North America - Government relations - 1934-
Russell Means discusses his book, "Where White Men Fear to Tread: The Autobiography of Russell Means." The book is not only about his life, but the experience of the American Indian. His parents moved to San Francisco so he wouldn't have to...
Jews - Persecutions - Soviet Union - Fiction; Soviet Union - History - 1925-1953 - Fiction
Elie Wiesel discusses his book, “The Testament.” He begins by saying that both Fascism and Communism deny the value of man in the name of an abstract humanity that will never occur, that will never take shape. Because of this, cruelties were...
Jacqueline Bassan discusses her book, “From Shul to Cool.” She begins by explaining the inspiration behind the book, which came from her own love of music and how she grew up listening to music in Shul, learning Yiddish folk songs, show tunes,...
Motion pictures - Casting - United States; Television programs - Casting - United States
Rob Kendt discusses his book, “How They Cast It.” He begins by explaining what “break down services” are and how casting directors are trying to unionize. He explains that casting directors are the unsung heroes of film and television. He...
Schwartz, Jonathan, 1938- - Childhood and youth; Schwartz, Jonathan, 1938- - Family; Schwartz, Jonathan, 1938- - Homes and haunts - California - Los Angeles; Composers - Family relationships - United States; Schwartz, Arthur, 1900-1984; Radio...
Jonathan Schwartz discusses his autobiography, “All In Good Time.” He begins by describing his early childhood and how his father, Arthur Schwartz, was a well-connected member of the music scene in Hollywood. He discusses losing his mother at...
Science fiction - Authorship; Authors, American - 20th century - Biography; Bradbury, Ray, 1920-
Ray Bradbury discusses his book, “Let’s All Kill Constance,” and Jerry Weist’s biography of him, “Bradbury: An Illustrated Life: A Journey to Far Metaphor.” Martinson begins by reading an excerpt from “Let’s All Kill Constance.” ...
Thomas Hine discusses his book, “I Want That!” He begins the interview by explaining consumer history and questioning the power that possessions have over people. He talks about the first department stores which began in the 1850s, and how...
Galicia (Poland and Ukraine) - Fiction; Aristocracy (Social class) - Fiction; Intelligence officers - Fiction; Jewish preaching - Fiction; Revolutionaries - Fiction; Conspiracies - Fiction; Rabbis - Fiction; Europe - History - 1871-1918 - Fiction
Michael André Bernstein discusses his novel, “Conspirators.” He begins by explaining how he is a professor in Berkeley, CA and teaches English and comparative literature. He describes the plot of his book: a play writer who must go back over...
