Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790;
United States - Foreign relations - France;
France - Foreign relations - United States;
United States - Foreign relations - 1775-1783
Stacy Schiff discusses her book, “A Great Improvisation.” She begins by explaining the reasons Benjamin Franklin went to France to get support for the new American colonies. She talks about Franklin’s troubled relationship with his son, and...
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...
Sobhraj, Charles;
Leclerc, Marie Andrée;
Murderers - Biography;
Murder - Southeast Asia - Case studies;
Murder - Europe - Case studies
Thomas Thompson discusses his book, “Serpentine.” He begins by explaining that his book is a non-fiction account of Charles Sobhraj, a hypnotist and murderer. He describes how Sobhraj would befriend tourists in a foreign country and poison...
Saxon (Fictitious character) - Fiction;
Private investigators - California - Los Angeles - Fiction
Les Roberts discusses his book, “An Infinite Number of Monkeys.” He begins by explaining that his book is about a private investigator Saxon who helps out his secretary. He talks about Saxon’s loyalty and vulnerability, which make his...
Lewis Simons discusses his book, “Worth Dying For.” Simons, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his reporting in the Philippines, begins by explaining that the book explores the background of the Philippine Revolution. He discusses how Ferdinand...
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...
Golfers - United States - Biography; Jones, Bobby, 1902-1971
Mark Frost discusses his book, “The Grand Slam.” He begins by explaining that the book deals with the 1920s, a significant era of sports history, during which, golfer Bobby Jones dominated the sport. Frost goes on to share that the book...
Golden Gate International Exposition (1939-1940 : San Francisco, Calif.) - Fiction; Women composers - Fiction; Jazz musicians - Fiction; San Francisco (Calif.) - Fiction
Rupert Holmes discusses his book, "Swing: A Mystery." The story takes place in San Francisco circa 1940. All of the locations mentioned in the book were (and are) real locations. The main character is a band leader named Ray. He is involved...
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...
Science fiction - Authorship; Authors, American - 20th century - Biography; Bradbury, Ray, 1920-
Ray Bradbury discusses his book, “Let’s All Kill Constance,” and Jerry Weist’s biography of him, “Bradbury: An Illustrated Life: A Journey to Far Metaphor.” Martinson begins by reading an excerpt from “Let’s All Kill Constance.” ...
Motion pictures - Production and direction - Vocational guidance
Annett Wolf talks about her career as an independent filmmaker and discusses Michael Wiese’s book, “The Independent Film & Videomakers Guide.” She begins by giving background information on herself, her upbringing in Denmark, and working...
Rhodes, Zandra, 1940-; Fashion designers - Great Britain - Biography; Textile designers - Great Britain - Biography; Women fashion designers - Great Britain - Biography; Women textile designers - Great Britain - Biography
Zandra Rhodes discusses her book, “The Art of Zandra Rhodes.” She begins by describing that she uses herself and her body as a canvas for her art. Her mother was a dress fitter and she got her love for designing at an early age. Rhodes...
Motion picture authorship; Motion picture plays - Technique
Robert McKee discusses his book, “Story.” He begins by explaining how he is a screenwriter and professor, and how his students have won numerous Academy Awards, Golden Globe awards, and Emmy awards for their writings. He says that a writer...
Barbara Goldsmith discusses her book, “Obsessive Genius.” She begins by explaining that her book is part of Norton’s Great Discoveries Series, and she wrote about the life of Marie Curie and her discovery of radioactivity. Goldsmith talks...
