Young men - Fiction;
Swindlers and swindling - Fiction;
Circus performers - Fiction;
College dropouts - Fiction;
Drug addicts - Fiction;
Freak shows - Fiction;
Circus - Fiction;
Venice (Los Angeles, Calif.) - Fiction;
Boise (Idaho) - Fiction
Matthew Carnahan discusses his novel, “Serpent Girl.” He begins by explaining that he used to work for the circus, and wanted his main character to be an elephant trainer. He talks about his character’s struggle to figure out who mugged...
General Motors Corporation - History;
EV1 automobile
Michael Shnayerson discusses his book, “The Car That Could.” He begins by explaining the beginning of the electric vehicle manufactured by General Motors. He talks about how GM influenced other car companies to make vehicles that did not rely...
Garner, James;
Maverick (Television program);
Microsoft Visual C++;
C++ (Computer program language);
Windows (Computer programs)
Ed Robertson discusses his book, “Maverick.” He begins by explaining that his book is about the film and television series, “Maverick.” He talks about how he first watched the show in syndication in reruns. He discusses the hero...
Margot Livesey discusses her book, “The Missing World.” She begins by explaining that the book is somewhat autobiographical in that she always longs for second chances in the way that some of the characters in the book do. She then explores the...
Conservatism - United States; United States - Politics and government - 1981-1989
George F. Will discusses his book, “The Morning After.” He begins by explaining why he believes the printed word is the most important way of communicating knowledge and carrying ideas. The book is a collection of articles he has written on...
United States. Congress; Women legislators - United States; United States - Politics and government - 1993-2001
Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky discusses her book, “A Woman’s Place.” She begins by explaining that she is a member of the first women’s caucus in the United States Congress. She talks about how she became elected as a representative of...
O'Hara, John, 1905-1970; Novelists, American - 20th century - Biography
Geoffrey Wolff discusses his biography, “The Art of Burning Bridges.” He begins by explaining the early life of author John O’Hara: his father left his family with little money and O’Hara desperately wanted to go to Yale. He began his...
Chaya M. Burstein discusses her book, “The Jewish Kids Catalog.” She begins by explaining that she wanted to write this book to teach Jewish children about their background and heritage. She also did the illustrations throughout the book. ...
African American neighborhoods - Fiction;
Real estate business - Fiction;
Real estate agents - Fiction;
Gentrification - Fiction;
Ex-convicts - Fiction;
Journalists - Fiction;
Harlem (New York, N.Y.) - Fiction
Mat Johnson discusses his novel, “Hunting in Harlem.” He begins by explaining that his book is a story about the recreation of Harlem and bringing in a new community. He introduces his 3 main characters who are released from prison and...
Joseph Olshan discusses his novel, “The Conversion.” He begins by explaining his book is about a young male writer who moves to Italy and has a relationship with an older man. When one of the men dies, the other begins to investigate the...
Brady, Joanna (Fictitious character) - Fiction;
Fourth of July celebrations - Fiction;
Policewomen - Fiction;
Sheriffs - Fiction;
Cochise County (Ariz.) - Fiction;
Arizona - Fiction
J.A. Jance discusses her novel, “Exit Wounds.” She begins by explaining that this book continues the series that follows characters Sherriff Joanna Brady and her husband Butch. She talks about how Joanna investigates the death of a woman who...
Justice, Charlotte (Fictitious character) - Fiction;
Police - California - Los Angeles - Fiction;
African American police - Fiction;
African American women - Fiction;
Policewomen - Fiction;
Los Angeles (Calif.) - Fiction
Paula L. Woods discusses her novel, “Dirty Laundry.” She begins by explaining this is another book in the series that follows her character Charlotte Justice. She talks about how the city of Los Angeles changes after every political...
Conduct of life;
Responsibility;
Quality of work life
Olive Gallagher discusses her book, “A Simple Path to the Good Life.” She begins by explaining that she writes for an advice column, and responds to a lot of ethical questions and problems people have. She doesn’t tell anyone what to do,...
Culture diffusion; Human beings - Effect of environment on; Ethnology; Civilization - History; Social evolution
Jared Diamond discusses his book, “Guns, Germs, and Steel." Diamond explains that his book argues that geographical and environmental factors shaped the modern world. He elaborates by explaining that societies that historically had a head start...
Channing, Carol; Actors - United States - Biography; Singers - United States - Biography
Carol Channing discusses her autobiography, “Just Lucky I Guess.” She begins by explaining her early life and childhood, and how she grew up singing and acting. She talks about her early acting career and how she tried out for a part in the...
Tim Guest talks about his book, “My Life in Orange.” He begins by explaining that he spent his childhood with his parents living in a commune. He talks about how his mother was devoutly religious but decided she wanted a more mystical...
African Americans - Reparations;
Atonement;
Government liability - United States
Roy L. Brooks discusses his book, “Atonement and Forgiveness.” He begins by explaining that 21 million Africans were taken from their homes and put into slavery. He discusses his career as a professor at the San Diego Law School, and how he...
Iris Chang discusses her book, “The Chinese in America.” She begins by explaining that she has written other Chinese history books on the leaders of China and the silk trade. She talks about how the Chinese came to California during the gold...
Motion picture industry - Fiction;
Hollywood (Los Angeles, Calif.) - Fiction
Robert W. Cort discusses his novel, “Action!” He begins by explaining that the book covers the years between 1948 and 1998 in Hollywood. He talks about how he did research for his book at the Library of the Motion Picture Academy. He...
Children of interfaith marriage - Germany - Biography;
Jews - Germany - History - 1933-1945;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) - Germany - Personal narratives;
Germany - Biography
Cynthia Crane discusses her book, “Divided Lives.” She begins by explaining how she studied in Germany and wanted to interview people who were half Jewish and half Christian. She describes her own personal experience finding out that her...
