John Eliot discusses his book, “Overachievement.” He begins by discussing how he served as a consultant to Rice University’s Baseball team who won the National Championship in 2003. He explains that as the team’s consultant he helped the...
Warren Campbell discusses his book, “Sometimes the Sun Shines in the Rain.” He begins by discussing one of his poems that compares rain to the teardrops of angels. He explains that he originally wanted to have that poem on the cover of the...
Cabala; Spiritual life - Judaism; Mysticism - Judaism
Yehuda Berg discusses his book, “The Power of Kabbalah.” He begins by explaining what is Kabbalah, which originally began as an ancient wisdom. It later developed into different systems, which consists of more personal work, as well as a...
New York (N.Y.) - Biography; Large type books; Irish Americans - New York (State) - New York - Biography; McCourt, Malachy, 1931-
Malachy McCourt discusses his book, “A Monk Swimming.” McCourt explains that his book is a memoir of his life, which begins in New York City in 1952 at the age of twenty. He goes on to discuss his life as an actor, bartender, writer, and...
Los Angeles Region (Calif.) - Biography; Los Angeles Region (Calif.) - Politics and government; Los Angeles Region (Calif.) - History; Los Angeles Region (Calif.) - Social life and customs
D.J. Waldie discusses his book, “Where We Are Now: Notes From Los Angeles.” He begins by explaining how the book is a compilation of essays on the meaning of place in Los Angeles. He stresses the importance of building community within Los...
Lindbergh, Charles A. (Charles Augustus), 1902-1974; Air pilots - United States - Biography
A. Scott Berg discusses his book, “Lindbergh.” He explains that the book is a biography of the life and career of the legendary aviator, Charles Lindbergh. Berg shares stories concerning the detailed research that he conducted in order to write...
Drummers (Musicians) - United States - Biography; Rich, Buddy, 1917-1987
Mel Torme discusses his book, “Traps, the Drum Wonder.” He explains that the book is a biography of his friend Buddy Rich, nicknamed Traps, the Drum Wonder. Traps was a jazz drummer known for his abrasive personality and virtuosity. Torme...
Linda Palmer discusses her book, “Love is Murder.” She begins by explaining how she came up with the idea for the plot, which is a murder mystery set in the world of daytime soap opera television. Palmer explains that prior to writing mystery...
Tom Sleigh discusses his book, “Space Walk.” He begins by sharing his thoughts on being awarded the 2008 Kingsley Tufts Award. He explains that the book is a compilation of his poetry dealing with growing up during the Cold War era. He goes on...
Population Groups - psychology - United States - Popular Works; Health Policy - United States - Popular Works; Health Behavior - United States - Popular Works; Drug Industry - economics - United States - Popular Works; Drug Industry - economics -...
Greg Critser discusses his book, “Generation Rx.” He begins by distinguishing between chronic diseases and their prevention and treatments versus acute infectious diseases. He explains that for infectious diseases, such as Polio there is an...
Mark Kurlansky discusses his book, “Boogaloo on 2nd Avenue.” He begins by discussing the plot of the book, which follows a family living on the lower East Side of New York City in the 1980s. He explains that one of the main characters of the...
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...
Niall Williams discusses his book, “The Fall of Light.” He begins by explaining that the novel is set during the years of Ireland’s Potato Famine, which is what he considers the single greatest tragedy in Irish history. He explains that he...
Thieves - California - Los Angeles - Case studies; Robbery investigation - California - Los Angeles - Case studies; Bank robberies - California - Los Angeles - Case studies; United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation - Officials and employees -...
William Rehder discusses his book, “Where the Money Is.” He begins by explaining that Los Angles has been the bank robbery capitol of the world since 1979 and that the minute a bank is robbed it involves the F.B.I. Rehder explains that it was...
Viken Berberian discusses his book, “The Cyclist.” He begins by explaining the plot, which follows a terrorist who plans to blow up a hotel during a cycling race. From there he goes on to explain that he wanted to debunk the idea that political...
Advertising - Fashion; Clothing and dress - Erotic aspects; Clothing and dress - Symbolic aspects; Women’s clothing - History; Lingerie – History
Jill Fields discusses her book, “An Intimate Affair.” She begins by explaining that the book examines twentieth-century women’s history via the history of twentieth-century lingerie. To research the book she explains how she examined fashion...
Robert Zuckerman discusses his book, “Kindsight.” He begins by explaining that the book is a selected collection of his photographs, each paired with his personal explanation of the circumstances in which the picture was taken. He explains that...
Linn Ullman discusses her book, “Before you Sleep." She begins by explaining that the book is told mainly in flashbacks and traces the history of a family filled with fractured personalities. The Blom family consists of Karin the narrator, her...
United States - Emigration and immigration - Case studies; Honduras - Emigration and immigration - Case studies; Illegal aliens - United States - Social conditions - Case studies; Immigrant children - United States - Social conditions - Case...
Sonia Nazario discusses her book, “Enrique’s Journey.” She begins by explaining that the book is the true story of a young boy named Enrique who travels from Honduras to the United States to find his mother. Nazario explains that when Enrique...
Dani Shapiro discusses her book, “Family History.” She begins by sharing the basic plot of the book that follows the narrator, Rachel Jenson who is a housewife and art restorer married to Ned, a former painter. The couple live in a small town...