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The Pop Culture Residue of the Cold War.

Now that the Cold War's over, Pop culture scholar Michael Barson has written "Better Dead Than Red! A Nostalgic Look At The Golden Years Of Russiaphobia, Red-Baiting, And Other Commie Madness." (Hyperion) It's a look at how popular culture fueled public hysteria during the cold war -- from the Children's Crusade Against Communism bubble gum card series to the Hollywood production "I was a Communist for the F-B-I." By the way... the book is due to arrive in stores on Mayday 1992.

14:49
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Other segments from the episode on April 20, 1992

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, April 20, 1992: Interview with Annie Dillard; Interview with Michael Barson; Review of Studs Terkel's book "Race: How Blacks and Whites Think and Feel About the American…
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22:23

Annie Dillard Discusses her First Novel.

Author Annie Dillard. She's written several non-fiction books; her new book, "The Living," (HarperCollins) is her first novel. Dillard's other works include the bestseller "The Writing Life," and the Pulitzer prize winning "Pilgrim at Tinker Creek." (Both are published by Harper &Row.)

Interview
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03:52

American Perspectives on Race.

Book critic John Leonard reviews Studs Terkel's new book, "Race: How Blacks and Whites Think and Feel About the American Obsession." (The New Press)

Review

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17:51

The Evolution of the Teenager.

Michael Barson is the author of the new book "Teenage Confidential: An Illustrated History of the American Teen (Chronicle Books, illustrated by Steven Heller). The book traces the evolution of the "teen" and the concept of the "teenager" which didn't exist before World War 2. The book also collects teenage artifacts, like movie posters, magazine covers, and advertisements.

Interview
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14:25

Postcards from the Past.

Popular culture junkie Michael Barson's latest book is a collection of postcards. The pictures are the covers from vintage romance comic books. It's called "Boy Loves Girl, Girl Loves Boy."

Interview

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