McQueen, Steve, 1930-1980; Motion picture actors and actresses - United States - Biography
Neile McQueen Toffel discusses her book, “My Husband, My Friend.” She begins by explaining that she was a dancer on Broadway when she met actor Steve McQueen, and the two became married. She talks about how she had to treat her husband...
Social skills in children;
Learning disabled children;
Social acceptance in children;
Interpersonal relations in children
Richard Lavoie discusses his book, “It’s So Much Work to Be Your Friend.” He begins by talking about how important school is for learning disabled children because they need to learn proper social interaction. He describes qualities all...
Window dressers - Great Britain - Biography; Doonan, Simon, 1952-
Simon Doonan discusses his book, “Nasty.” He begins by discussing the plot of the book, which uses humor to recount his life in 1950s and 1960s Reading, England. Doonan explains his early obsession with glamor and beautiful people, which led...
Women art dealers - Fiction; World War, 1939-1945 - Art and the war - Fiction; Female friendship - Fiction; New York (N.Y.) - Fiction; Paris (France) - Fiction
Barbara Taylor Bradford discusses her book, “A Sudden Change of Heart.” She begins by talking about the two main characters in the book, Laura and Claire. Bradford describes Laura as “true blue,” an always devoted friend to Claire. She...
Denmark - History - German occupation, 1940-1945 - Fiction; Denmark - History - German occupation, 1940-1945 - Juvenile fiction; Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) - Denmark - Fiction; World War, 1939-1945 - Underground movements - Denmark - Fiction;...
Sonia Levitin discusses her book, “Room in the Heart.” She begins by explaining that the book deals with the historic events of the Nazi invasion of Denmark during World War II. To tell the story, Levitin alternates between the narratives of...
Vietnam War, 1961-1975 - United States - Fiction; Belief and doubt - Fiction; Mothers - Death - Fiction; Male friendship - Fiction; Predestination - Fiction; Birthfathers - Fiction; New Hampshire - Fiction
John Irving discusses his book, “A Prayer for Owen Meany.” Meany is described as a religious figure that is undersized and damaged, who accidentally kills his best friend’s mother. Owen goes on to find success in the written word and...
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...
Davis, Sammy, 1925-1990; Entertainers - United States - Biography
Burt Boyar discusses the life of his friend Sammy Davis Jr. and talks about Davis’s autobiography, “Sammy.” Boyar describes how he and his late wife Jane decided to contribute new material to “Sammy” after the death of their long-time...
Leah Komaiko discusses her book, “Am I Old Yet?” She begins by talking about how she primarily writes children’s books and young adult novels, but wanted to write this book about her personal experiences with friendship. She describes how...
Sullivan, Tom, 1947-;
Blind - United States - Biography;
Blind musicians - United States - Biography;
Conduct of life;
Self-actualization (Psychology)
Tom Sullivan discusses his autobiography, “Seeing Lessons.” He begins by explaining that he was born blind because of complications during childbirth at the hospital. He talks about being isolated as a child, and how he made his first...
Wood, Natalie; Motion picture actors and actresses - United States - Biography
Gavin Lambert discusses his biography, “Natalie Wood.” He begins by explaining that he was a long-time friend of the late actress Natalie Wood, and wrote the screenplay for the film, “Inside Daisy Clover.” He talks about how Wood was a...
Dr. William A. Nolen discusses his book, “Crisis Time.” He begins by explaining that his book helps men deal with having a midlife crisis. He talks about his own midlife crisis at age 50 when his life became so overwhelming he couldn’t see...
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...
African American men - Fiction;
Basketball players - Fiction;
Male friendship - Fiction;
Rape - Fiction;
Oakland (Calif.) - Fiction
Nichelle D. Tramble discusses her novel, “The Last King.” She begins by explaining that her book is a sequel to “The Dying Ground.” She talks about her main character Maceo who returns home to help a childhood friend. She describes the...
Rockefeller, John D. (John Davison), 1839-1937;
Capitalists and financiers - United States - Biography;
Industrialists - United States - Biography;
Philanthropists - United States - Biography
Ron Chernow discusses his biography of the life of John D. Rockefeller, “Titan.” He begins by describing the early life of Rockefeller and how his father was a conman and a bigamist. He talks about how Rockefeller worked on oil transports...
World War, 1939-1945 - France - Fiction; Revenge - Fiction; Betrayal - Fiction; Man-woman relationships - Fiction
Jacqueline Briskin discusses her book, “The Naked Heart.” Briskin talks about the two protagonists, Ann, an American girl, and her friend, Gilberte, the daughter of French nobility. Briskin describes the French climate during World War II and...
Christian biography - United States; Amputees - United States - Biography; Skiers - United States - Biography
Carol Schuller discusses her book, “In the Shadow of His Wings.” Schuller talks about the amputation of her leg as a result of a motorcycle accident and her skiing endeavors.
Footage of Schuller skiing and an interview by her father,...
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...
Rod McKuen discusses his book, “Intervals.” He begins by explaining that the book is a collection of his newest poetry. He explains that the poems are an exploration of his life and his thoughts on love, family, and his career. In this...
Bil Wright discusses his book, "Sunday You Learn How to Box." Wright describes Jeanette, the main character Louis' mother. He describes her as a woman who has a very specific dream of what she wants her life to be. Wright then goes on to...
