Grief; Loss (Psychology); Bereavement - Psychological aspects
David Kessler discusses the book he co-wrote with Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, “On Grief and Grieving.” He begins by talking about his time working with Kübler-Ross before her death and applies her 5 stages of grief in the book. He talks about...
Stalin, Joseph, 1879-1953; Heads of state - Soviet Union - Biography; Soviet Union - History - 1925-1953
Simon Sebag Montefiore discusses his biography, “Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar.” He begins by talking about Josef Stalin’s early life in Georgia and his relationship with his parents. Stalin was always a lover of literature and had a...
Pianists;
Pianists - United States - Biography;
Musicians - United States - Biography
Academy Award winning composer and pianist John Green discusses his life and plays selections from songs he’s composed. He begins by talking about his early life, and publishing his first song while studying at Harvard. He discusses his...
Imagination - Fiction; Cows - Fiction; Art museums - Fiction; School field trips - Fiction
Ed Massey discusses his children’s book, “Milton.” He begins by explaining that the book is about a little boy who pretends he is a cow named Milton and walks through different paintings in an art museum. Massey talks about his art...
Harry Turtledove discusses his book, “Ruled Britannia.” He begins by explaining that his alternative history novel focuses around what would have happened if the Spanish Armada had succeeded, and how William Shakespeare used his writing to...
Ray Shannon discusses his novel, “Man Eater.” He begins by explaining how his real name is Gar Anthony Haywood, but he decided to write this book under an alias so his readers wouldn’t get confused. He says the book is about a gangster who...
Basketball players - Fiction;
Foster children - Fiction
Peter Barsocchini discusses his novel, “Ghost.” He begins by explaining that his book is about a young basketball player who grows up in a bad neighborhood. He talks about other books he’s worked on including a biography of Merv Griffin. ...
Conlon, Edward, 1965-;
New York (N.Y.). Police Dept. - Biography;
Police - New York (State) - New York - Biography
Edward Conlon discusses his autobiography, “Blue Blood.” He begins by explaining that he is a detective for the New York Police Force, and that he is a third generation policeman. He discusses several jobs he has had in law enforcement and...
City and town life - Fiction;
Social classes - Fiction;
Irish - Australia - Fiction;
Prejudices - Fiction;
Immigrants - Fiction;
Australia - Fiction
Thomas Keneally discusses his novel, “A River Town.” He begins by explaining that his book is about an older man who decides to adopt a troubled young girl. He talks about different methods that police use to solve murders in Australia. He...
Baja California (Mexico : Peninsula) - History; Baja California (Mexico : Peninsula) - Social life and customs; Baja California (Mexico : Peninsula) - Biography
Harry Crosby discusses his book “Last of the Californios,” which he wrote and took photographs for. He begins by explaining the word Californio, which was a term used by settlers to describe indigenous people from Baja, California. The...
Anderson, Walter, 1944-; Dysfunctional families - United States; Secrecy - Psychological aspects; Publishers and publishing - United States - Biography
Walter Anderson discusses his autobiography, “Meant To Be.” He begins by talking about coming home from the Marines because of the death of his father. During this time, his mother reveals to him that another man was actually his biological...
Rapp, Joel; Television writers - United States - Biography; Screenwriters - United States - Biography; Gardeners - United States - Biography; Radio broadcasters - United States - Biography
Joel Rapp discusses his autobiography, “Radio, TV, Mother Earth, & Me.” He begins by explaining that his father was a television program writer, and both of his parents were vaudeville actors. He talks about attending the University of...
John Allen Paulos discusses his book, “A Mathematician Plays the Stock Market.” He begins by discussing how people advertise stocks on the Internet. He talks about his decision to write the book after being involved in the WorldCom scandal,...
Motion picture industry - Fiction; Hollywood (Los Angeles, Calif.) - Fiction
Bruce Wagner discusses his novel, “Still Holding.” He begins by explaining that he grew up in Hollywood, CA and writes stories that explore the culture and heritage of the area. He describes the psychology of celebrity stalkers, look-a-likes,...
Identity (Psychology) - Fiction; City and town life - Fiction; Fate and fatalism - Fiction; Middle West - Fiction
Dan Chaon discusses his novel, “You Remind Me of Me.” He begins by explaining that his book is about the struggles and problems of family life. Martinson asks Chaon to read the first paragraph of the book about a young boy who has a near...
Taylor, Kenneth Z.;
Taylor, Teresa, 1959-;
Murder - New Jersey - Case studies;
Trials (Murder) - New Jersey;
Custody of children - New Jersey
Peter Maas discusses his book, “In a Child’s Name: The Legacy of a Mother’s Murder.” He begins by explaining that his book is a true story about Ken and Teresa Taylor. Teresa was Ken’s third wife, whom he beat to death, and then...
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...
DeMille, Cecil B. (Cecil Blount), 1881-1959; Motion pictures - United States - History
Robert Birchard discusses his book, “Cecil B. DeMille’s Hollywood.” He begins by sharing that he has been interested in film history since he was a child. He then discusses his research process and his hope that DeMille’s personality comes...
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 - Psychology; Presidents - United States - Biography; Speed, Joshua F. (Joshua Fry), 1814-1882; Depression in men; Depression, Mental
Joshua Wolf Shenk discusses his biography, “Lincoln’s Melancholy.” He begins with describing Abraham Lincoln’s history of depression and melancholy even as a child. He also talks about Lincoln’s friendship with Joshua F. Speed and how...
Marshall, Thurgood, 1908-1993;
United States. Supreme Court - Biography;
African Americans - Civil rights;
Civil rights movements - United States - History - 20th century;
Judges - United States - Biography;
African American judges - Biography
Carl T. Rowan discusses his book, “Dream Makers, Dream Breakers.” He begins by explaining that his book is a biography of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Thurgood Marshall, and he talks about his political beliefs and how he changed...
