Monday, June 1, 2009
Historian and author Thurston Clarke talks with Bob about the lessons we can learn from Robert Kennedy’s presidential bid in 1968. Clarke’s latest book is titled, The Last Campaign: Robert F. Kennedy and 82 Days That Inspired America. It’s now out in paperback. Then, Bob talks to director Seth Gordon about his documentary King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. Gordon documents the battle between gaming legend Billy Mitchell and newcomer Steve Wiebe (WEE-be) for the title of Donkey Kong champion. In the latest development, Stride Gum has offered Wiebe $10,001 in quarters if he can beat Mitchell’s world record.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
When novelist W.D. Wetherell turned 50, he left his family to go on a month-long fishing trip in Yellowstone. He recounts the story in Yellowstone Autumn. Then, Bob has been a fan of Ian Tyson forever but has never had the chance to interview him. The Canadian country-folk legend’s newest CD is titled Yellowhead to Yellowstone and other Love Songs.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Next, historian and cultural educator Simon Schama didn’t look too far back in time for his latest book The American Future: A History. Using the 2008 presidential election as a reference point, Schama examines the history of four on-going social debates in the U.S.: war, religion, race and immigration, and economic division. Then, Salon.com book critic Laura Miller enlightens Bob on the best of the new fiction out this spring.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
When Ayelet Waldman declared in a New York Times magazine story that she loved her husband more than her four children, moms across America vilified her. To explain herself, Waldman took to the talk show circuit, even facing (and holding her own against) Oprah’s angry mob.Now Waldman has published a book of essays about maternal guilt. It’s called Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace. Then, musician Yusuf Islam, also known as Cat Stevens, is one of the most beloved songwriters of his generation.But at the height of his fame in 1977 (and with 8 gold records under his belt), Stevens converted to Islam, changed his name, and left music to do philanthropic work in the Muslim community.Yusuf returned to music in 1995, and this spring has a new album out titled Roadsinger.
Friday, June 5, 2009
David Broder of The Washington Post joins Bob to talk politics.The Rote Kapelle, or Red Orchestra, was what the Gestapo called a group of ordinary Germans who tried to bring down the Nazi regime from within Germany. After years of research and exclusive interviews, Anne Nelson has published Red Orchestra: The Story of the Berlin Underground and the Circle of Friends Who Resisted Hitler. Then, in this week’s installment of our ongoing series This I Believe, Bob talks with executive director Dan Gediman about the essay from Helen Keller. As an infant, Keller was struck by a fever that left her deaf and blind. But with the guidance of her teacher Anne Sullivan, Keller learned to communicate through the eyes and ears of others. After graduating from Radcliffe College, Keller became a renowned author, activist and lecturer.
regardless of the outcome, it sounds like Wiebe won the crowd over and was the winner in most everyone’s opinion