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A Satire Taken Seriously Turns Into a Popular Conspiracy Theory.

Publisher of The Nation, Victor Navasky. He was one of a group of writers who in 1967 conceived of a literary hoax. The book "Report From Iron Mountain," was penned by Leonard Lewin and was a satire, supposedly written by a commission of eminent scholars about the problems that would arise in the United States if "permanent peace" should arrive. The book has been compared to Swift's "A Modest Proposal" and "Dr. Strangelove" for its social and political commentary. It wasn't until 1972 that Lewin admitted the hoax. Even so, extreme-right fringe groups have now taken the book to heart "as proof of a secret government plot to suppress personal liberties." The book has been reissued, (by The Free Press) with an introduction by Victor Navasky.

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Other segments from the episode on April 18, 1996

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, April 18, 1996: Interview with Victor Navasky; Commentary on keyboards and rock music; Interview with Jack Miles; Review of Guus Janssen's album "Lighter."
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19:51

Jack Miles on "God."

Former Jesuit seminarian and literary critic Jack Miles. He's just won the Pulitzer prize for his book, "God: A Biography." (Vintage). In the book he examines God as a character -- the protagonist -- of the Old Testament. Miles is also a columnist and member of the editorial board of the Los Angeles Times.

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05:46

A Subversive Musician.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "Lighter" (Geestgronden label, dist. by BVHaast Records, Prinseneiland 99 1013 LN Amsterdam, Phone: 020 6239799, FAX 020 6243435) the new release by Dutch musician Guus Janssen (khoos YAHNsuh).

Review

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Victor Navasky on "Naming Names"

The editor of The Nation has a new book about the blacklisting of Hollywood actors during the McCarthy era. He talks about how the issue of nuclear proliferation is affecting the political right and left, and the difficulties journalists face when navigating copyright issues.

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