National characteristics, American; Social values - United States; United States - Civilization; United States - Civilization - Philosophy
Roger Rosenblatt discusses his book, “Where We Stand: 30 Reasons for Loving Our Country.” Rosenblatt shares where he was during the September 11, 2001 (9/11) attack and his thoughts on Rudy Giuliani. He then goes on to discuss the United...
Art patrons - United States - Biography; Art - Collectors and collecting - United States - Biography; Neuberger, Roy R.
Roy Neuberger discusses his book, “The Passionate Collector.” He begins by discussing his early life in Paris when he first started out as a young artist and how he later became a major art collector. He then reminisces about some of the first...
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...
Indians in popular culture; Indians - Pictorial works - History; Indians - Public opinion - History
Patricia Trenton discusses her book, “Native Americans: Five Centuries of Changing Images.” She begins by discussing several different paintings in the book including a composite drawing of the Algonquians called “Indians Fishing” by John...
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...
David Wallechinsky discusses his book, “The Knowledge Book.” He begins by discussing his own family and how neither of his parents went to college and instead were both autodidacts. He shares his memories growing up the child of parents who...
Jim and Henny Backus discuss their book, “Forgive Us Our Digressions.” Jim and Henny say they do their best writing in bed together. Jim talks about his father and Henny says that Jim’s uncle was a big backer of Broadway plays. Henny and...
Francine Ward discusses her book, “Esteemable Acts.” She begins by sharing her background. She discusses how she used to be a drug addict, an alcoholic and a call girl, but then she turned her life around, graduated from Georgetown University...
Interviews - United States; Talk shows - California; Radio broadcasting - California
Larry Mantle discusses his book, “This is AirTalk.” He begins by sharing that he is a fourth generation Angelino and what it was like being raised by young parents. Mantle discusses his life and career as a radio talk show host for KPCC, for...
Christopher Phillips discusses his book, “Six Questions of Socrates.” He begins by explaining that to write this book he traveled all over the globe visiting, Greece, Japan, South Korea, and Mexico. In each of these places he would conduct a...
Motion picture producers and directors - United States - Biography; Stevens, George Cooper, 1904 -1975
Marilyn Moss discusses her book, “Giant.” She begins by discussing how much material she was able to access on director George Stevens in his collection and personal papers at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences library. She...
Heather King discusses her book, “Parched.” She begins by explaining that the book is the story of her life and how she struggled with alcoholism from an early age. She starts with her childhood and how she craved solitude and how she always...
Moehringer, J. R., 1964-; Journalists - United States - Biography; Bars (Drinking establishments) - Social aspects - New York (State) - Manhasset; Manhasset (N.Y.) -Biography; Arizona - Biography; Connecticut - Biography
J.R. Moehringer discusses his book, “The Tender Bar.” He begins by discussing how growing up he found a home away from home at a local bar. He shares that when he was growing up his father, a well-known disc jockey, abandoned his mother and...
World War, 1939-1945 - Singapore - Fiction; Singapore - History - Japanese occupation, 1942-1945 - Fiction
Vyvyane Loh discusses her book, “Breaking the Tongue.” She begins by explaining the plot of the book that revolves around the torture of the protagonist, Claude, by Japanese interrogators during which Claude shares the story of his life. She...
Blair, Betsy, 1923-2009; Motion picture actors and actresses - United States - Biography
Betsy Blair discusses her book, “The Memory of All That.” She begins by describing the beginning of her career in New Jersey dancing in a chorus line. It was during this time in her life that she met, then choreographer, Gene Kelly whom she...
World War, 1914-1918 - Turkey - Fiction; Mothers and daughters - Fiction; Plantation life - Fiction; Women - Turkey - Fiction; Silk industry - Fiction; Dwellings - Fiction; Turkey - Fiction
Alev Lytle Croutier discusses her book, “Seven Houses.” She begins by discussing the plot of the novel, which is set against the backdrop of twentieth century Turkey. The book tells the story of the Ipekci silk-making family that begins during...
Interviewing in journalism; Interviewing in mass media
Lawrence Grobel discusses his book, “The Art of the Interview.” He begins by explaining that the book is almost meant to be an anecdotal memoir because it draws from his thirty years of interview experience. He advises in the book that before...
Dandelion wine; The Martian chronicles; Something wicked this way comes; Fahrenheit 451; Amateur architecture; Communities; City planning; Theater; Libraries
Connie Martinson interviews author Ray Bradbury. They begin by discussing several of his books including, “Dandelion Wine,” “Martian Chronicles,” “Something Wicked This Way Comes,” and “Fahrenheit 451.” Bradbury explains that many...
Presidents - United States - Biography; Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963
Robert Dallek discusses his biography, “An Unfinished Life." Dallek begins by sharing thoughts on John F. Kennedy the man and the president. He discusses the continuities of Kennedy’s life and career. One such continuity that Dallek mentions is...
