Terry Gross

Religion historian Martin E. Marty teaches at the University of Chicago and is one of the foremost authorities on religion and society. His new book is the third in a four volume set: "Modern American Religion, Volume 3: Under God, Indivisible, 1941-1960."

Psychologist Mark Epstein's new book is "Thoughts Without a Thinker: Psychotherapy From a Buddhist Perspective" (Basic Books). He discovered both Buddhism and psychology in college and combines Eastern spirituality and Western psychology to help patients reach solutions to their problems.

Advocate of children's and women's rights, Sarah Buel. Nineteen years ago she struggled to put her life together after leaving an abusive marriage. After a short time on welfare, Buel began working full-time and taking undergraduate classes. In 1990, she graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School. Buel is the co-founder of the Massachusetts Domestic Violence Council and currently serves as juvenile prosecutor for the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office in Quincy, MA. She believes the entire community must take responsibility for domestic violence.

Singer, songwriter, guitarist and actor Willie Nelson recently released two new albums. With "Spirit," Nelson is the first country musician to record with Island Records. He recorded "How Great Thou Art" with his sister, Bobbie Nelson. That CD is a collection of gospel standards, like "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" and "Just A Closer Walk With Thee."

The world premier showing of Dale Chihuly's translucent sculpture from his Finland Suite is currently at Jack Lenor Larsen’s Long House Foundation in East Hampton, New York. This fall, his exhibit “Chihuly Over Venice” will be featured at the international Contemporary Art Glass exhibition. Chihuly is among the best known American artists working today and is one of only four Americans to be given a one-person show at the Louvre.

Political advisor David Mixner. His new book, Stranger Among Friends, is a memoir of the 1992 Clinton campaign and life inside the Clinton White House. Mixner was pivotal in getting then-Governor Clinton the support of gay voters and was hopeful that the Democratic victory would expand civil rights to gays and lesbians. With Clinton’s watered-down support of gays in the military and recent rejection of gay marriage, Mixner has become disillusioned with the administration, and his book reflects this.

Lisa Schwarzbaum reviews the new film "Courage Under Fire," starring Denzel Washington, about events surrounding the Persian Gulf War.

A new monologue by the NPR commentator, playwright, and housecleaner. "Drama Bug" was featured on This American Life, a nationally broadcast radio program hosted by Ira Glass and produced at WBEZ in Chicago. Sedaris is known nationally for his humor writing; he launched his radio commentator career with his "SantaLand Diaries," broadcast during NPR's "Morning Edition in 1992.

With the release of Hornby's first novel "High-Fidelity," one reviewer writes that the author has "established himself in England as a maestro of the male confessional." "High-Fidelity" is about 36-year old Rob Fleming, an obsessed record-collector, who's just lost his girlfriend, a casualty of his devotion to music. Next week, the book comes out in paperback. (RE-BROADCAST OF 9/26/95 INTERVIEW)

Crowley's works were recently re-published in a book, "3 Plays by Mart Crowley" (Alyson Publications). "The Boys in the Band" (1968), is the classic portrait of a gay artist living in New York and was one of the first plays to break the taboo on the portrayal of homosexuality. A revival of "The Boys in the Band" opened in June and the film version is being featured at the Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival this summer.