Compensation expert Graef Crystal. He used to design compensation packages for CEOs. But he's since become critical of the widening gap between what top executives make and what workers do. He recently conducted a preliminary survey of executive compensation in the nation's largest corporations. The survey found that the pay of chief executives has been rising, while that of workers has stagnated.
Ira Kay is the Practice Director of Watson Wyatt's Executive Compensation Practice. He's also the author of "Value at the Top: Solutions to the Executive Compensation Crisis" (Harper Collins).
Center for the Houston Rockets, Hakeem Olajuwon He was born in Nigeria, and came to the United States on a basketball scholarship to attend the University of Houston. He helped the team reach the NCAA Final Four. He's written his memoir, "Living the Dream: My Life and Basketball," (Little, Brown).
Classical Music Critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews the new two-cd set of a 1962 performance of the opera "Susannah." It features the legendary American soprano Phyllis Curtin. The cd set is available on the VAI label. Schwartz is Classical Music Editor of the Boston Phoenix.
Poet Donald Hall. A year ago, his wife, poet Jane Kenyon died of leukemia. There's a new collection of her work, "Otherwise: New & Selected Poems" (Graywolf Press). Hall will read from the book, including the last poems she wrote, and discuss their life together. Hall also has a forthcoming book of poetry, "The Old Life," (Houghton Mifflin) to be published in June.
Film writer/director David O. Russell. He made his film debut with the prize-winning independent film, "Spanking the Monkey." His latest film is "Flirting with Disaster" starring Ben Stiller and Patricia Arquette.
Poet, performer, and punk rocker Patti Smith. Early in her career she lived with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, and -- she says -- the two helped each other form and develop their individual talents. (Her 1975 debut album cover was photograph was taken by Mappelthorpe.) Terry talks with Smith on the occasion of the publication of, "Mappelthorpe Altars," (Random House) the color companion volume to the collection of his black-and-white prints, "Mapplethorpe" published in 1992.
The grand-daughter of former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Noa Ben Artzi-Pelossof. During the his funeral Noa gave a moving tribute to the grandfather she knew as opposed to the political leader the world knew. She's written a new memoir, "In the Name of Sorrow and Hope," (Knopf).
U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Hass. He's written several books of poetry including "Praise" and "Human Wishes." He also edited "The Essential Haiku: Versions of Basho, Buson & Issa."
World Music critic Milo Miles tells us about the concert he recently attended by the albino singer from Mali, Salif Keita. His new album is "Folon" on the Mango label.
Actor David Morse. He's best known for his role in the 1980's hospital TV series "St Elsewhere" as Dr. "Boomer" Morrison. Last year he costarred with Jack Nicholson in "The Crossing Guard" which was directed and written by Sean Penn. Most recently Morse can be seen in the film "12 Monkeys."
Photographer, writer, attorney, and former Special Assistant for Disability Policy to the Vice President of the U.S., George Covington. He was born legally blind, with less than ten percent of normal vision. He says he photographs "to see." Through his pictures he's able to hone in on the subject. His work is featured in the book, "Chronicles of Courage: Very Special Artist." (Random House). He was also featured in the PBS documentary series "People In Motion."
Brazilian photojournalist Sebastio Salgado's newest book documents working class people with difficult jobs. It's called "Workers." He began his professional life as an economist.
