Terry Gross

Author Linda P. Brown is co-author of "Birthbond: Reunions between Birthparents and Adoptees--What happens After." In the 1960's BROWN gave up her own daughter for adoption. The book is based on interviews with 30 birthmothers -- from a variety of backgrounds -- who were reunited with their adult children. And it looks at the challenges these mothers face after the reunion. "Birthbond" is published by New Horizon Press, Far Hills, N.J. (Interview by Sedge Thomson)

Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore. In his first-ever film, "Roger & Me," Moore returns to his home town of Flint, Michigan to document what happened when General Motors laid of 35,000 workers there. And he begins a Quixote-like quest to meet with GM Chairman Roger Smith, following him to Detroit, and New York.

Novelist Anne Lamott. Her latest novel, "All New People", is an account of growing up in a Northern California railroad town in the midst of the cultural dislocations of the 1960's. (Interview by Sedge Thomson)

Author Daniel Callahan. He is an expert on medical ethics whose latest book is "What Kind of Life: The Limits of Medical Progress." The book questions the assumption that everyone should receive the most life sustaining medical care available. According to Callahan, we need to change our thinking about health and illness and focus on the quality of life rather than the extension of life. (Interview by Sedge Thomson)

Journalist Eddy L. Harris. Harris' book, "Mississippi Solo," is Harris' chronicle of his 23-hundred mile journey down the Mississippi by canoe. This was by no means an idyllic voyage for a black man traveling alone, and Harris faced racism and the threat of violence, in addition to the normal problems of such a lengthy journey. (Interview by Sedge Thomson)

Street performer turned film actor Rick Aviles (a-VEEL-us). Aviles started out doing comedy on the streets of Manhattan, and was named "Comic of the Year" by the Village voice in 1980. He's since appeared in the movies "Mondo NY," "Street Smart," and "Spike of Bensonhurst." Aviles has a part in Jim Jarmusch's new movie, "Mystery Train."

Poet, critic and translator Robert Hass. He won the Yale Series of Younger Poets Award for his first volume of poetry, "Field Guide," published in 1973. He translated, with poet Robert Pinsky, Czeslaw Milosz's "The Separate Notebooks." His essays have appeared in The New York Review of Books, The New Republic, Antaeus, and Salmagundi. Many of those essays are collected in his book, "Twentieth Century Pleasures." Hass's new book, "Human Wishes," mixes verse, prose poems. and essays.

Critic at large Laurie Stone comments on stand-up comic Jimmy Tingle.

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews "Glory," starring Matthew Broderick and Morgan Freeman. It's the true story of a black regiment during the Civil War.

Writer Timothy Ryback. He's just written a book chronicling the history of rock music in eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. In the book, "Rock around the Bloc," RYBACK shows how rock music has been a presence there from the mid-1950's beginning with the Elvis Craze, and continuing with Beatlemania, and punk and heavy metal music. The rock movement spawned officially sanctioned bands as well as underground groups. Ryback says the recent events in Eastern Europe were foreshadowed in 1988 when government policy on rock bands were loosened there.