Michael Shermer discusses his book, “Science Friction.” He begins by explaining that the book is a collection of essays that explore the barriers and biases that both plaque and fuel science. In these essays he faces such questions as: how does...
Tara Lynda Guber discusses her book, “Contact.” She begins by explaining that she developed a new form of yoga that allows people to physically interact with each other while meditating. She talks about how this type of yoga can be done with...
United States. Constitution. 1st-10th Amendments. - Popular works; Civil rights - United States - Popular works; Civil rights - United States - Cases
Caroline Kennedy and Ellen Alderman discuss their book “In Our Own Defense.” “In Our Own Defense” explores the first ten amendments of the Constitution, otherwise known as the Bill of Rights, which is meant to protect the individual from...
Andrei Codrescu discusses his book, “The Blood Countess,” which is about the life of his ancestor, Elizabeth Bathory, known as the Blood Countess. Andrei weaves two stories together, one that takes place in the 1590s, and another that is more...
Henry Denker discusses his book, “Judge Spencer Dissents,” which is about Judge Spencer, who is a senior judge of the Federal Judicial District in his 70s, and is known to dissent from his counterparts. He believed his judge counterparts were...
Munson, Audrey;
Artists’ models - United States - Biography
Diane Rozas dsicusses her book, “American Venus.” She begins by explaining that her book is about model Audrey Munson who was a model for many painters and sculptors. She talks about how Munson’s face can be seen in many statues in New...
Wasserman, Lew; Music Corporation of America - History; Chief executive officers - United States - Biography
Connie Bruck discusses her book “When Hollywood Had a King.” She explains that the book tells the story of Lew Wasserman and the Music Corporation of America, more commonly known as the MCA. Bruck describes how Wasserman, a visionary...
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...
Los Angeles (Calif.) - Social life and customs; Christmas decorations - California - Los Angeles; Christmas - California - Los Angeles; Skinner, George, d. 1978
Georja Skinner discusses her book, “The Christmas House.” She begins by explaining that the book tells the story of her father’s life. Her father, George Skinner, moved from Canada to Santa Monica with his father. When they left Canada he was...
Tuscany (Italy) - Social life and customs; Tuscany (Italy) - Description and travel; Doran, Phil - Homes and haunts - Italy - Tuscany
Phil Doran discusses his book, “The Reluctant Tuscan.” He begins by explaining how one day he was surprised by a call from his wife who informed him that she had bought a house in Italy. At the time he was working in Hollywood as a writer, for...
Education - United States - History; Education - Philosophy
Mortimer J. Adler discusses his book, “Reforming Education: The Opening of the American Mind.” Adler calls for the equal educational opportunity for all children in our schools known as the Paideia Reform. He explains what he believes are the...
Ken Howard discusses his book, “Act Natural.” He begins by explaining the origins of the book, which draws from courses he taught at Harvard and from his own career as an actor and sets out to demonstrate how to be a more effective public...
Rape - Investigation - England - Leicestershire - Case studies; Murder - Investigation - England - Leicestershire - Case studies; DNA fingerprinting
Joseph Wambaugh discusses his book, “The Blooding.” He begins by saying that the technique of genetic fingerprinting developed by Alex Jeffreys was used to solve the case of two murdered girls in Leicester, England. Wambaugh states that he...
Cari Beauchamp discusses her book, “Anita Loos Rediscovered.” She begins by explaining that the book is a collection of previously unpublished film treatments, short stories, and one-act plays that span fifty years of Anita Loos' creative...
Terror - Religious aspects - Christianity - History; Inquisition
Jonathan Kirsch discusses his book, “The Grand Inquisitor’s Manual.” He begins by discussing the focus of some of his previous books and how this book is different in that it examines how government and religion allied together during the...
Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969 - Assassination attempts - Fiction; Attempted assassination - Fiction; World War, 1939-1945 - Commando operations - Fiction; Ardennes, Battle of the, 1944-1945 - Fiction
Mark Frost discusses his book, “The Second Objective.” He begins by explaining that the book is a World War II thriller based on a real German operation that took place during the war. Frost discusses the plot which involves Lieutenant Colonel...
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...
Cixi, Empress Dowager of China, 1835-1908 - Fiction; Empresses - Fiction; China - History - Guangxu, 1875-1908 - Fiction
Anchee Min discusses her book, “Empress Orchid.” She begins by explaining that the book is historical fiction and follows the life of Tsu Hsi, also known as, Orchid. Orchid was born a poor girl in rural China, later she became a royal concubine...
African Americans - History - 1964-; African Americans - Social conditions - 1975-; African Americans - Intellectual life - 20th century; African Americans in popular culture; Popular culture - United States - History - 20th century; United States...
Nelson George discusses his book, “Post-Soul Nation: The Explosive, Contradictory, Triumphant, and Tragic 1980s as Experienced by African Americans (Previously Known as Blacks and Before That Negroes).” He begins with talking about how African...
Mencken, H. L. (Henry Louis), 1880-1956; Authors, American - 20th century - Biography; Journalists - United States – Biography; Editors - United States – Biography
Marion Elizabeth Rodgers discusses her biography, “Mencken.” She begins by discussing H. L. Mencken’s early issues with censorship at Harvard, and how he is known for his freedom of speech. She talks about Mencken’s legacy towards a...
