Critic Maureen Corrigan reviews "The Book Wars" by James Atlas. It's the latest book in the growing debate over whether or not students should be required to read a set curriculum of "great books." Maureen says the more interesting thing about the book is that it's filled with ads for Federal Express.
Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews "The Commitments," the new movie about a struggling R 'n' B band in Dublin, Ireland. The film's directed by Alan Parker, who made the movie "Mississippi Burning" and "Fame."
We discuss last night's overthrow of Mikhail Gorbachev, with journalist Robert Cullen. He's a former Moscow correspondent for Newsweek, and he writes regularly on Eastern Europe for The Atlantic and the New Yorker. He was most recently in the USSR this past June, working on an article on the influence of the Soviet military. Cullen has a book coming out this autumn, titled, "Twilight Of Empire: Inside the Crumbling Soviet Bloc."
Investigative sportswriter John Feinstein (FINE-steen) His new book is "Hard Courts: Real Life on the Professional Tennis Tours," looks at the inner workings of professional tennis. He traveled the circuit during 1990 and 1991. Feinstein has written for "The Washington Post," "Sports Illustrated," and other publications and he's also a commentator for NPR. (published by Villard Books). (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)
Writer Stephen Pizzo. Pizzo's the co-author of "Inside Job: The Looting of America's Savings and Loans." Last month he testified before Congress, saying that the proposed further deregulation of the banks will lead to a further banking crisis. He'll discuss that testimony today. (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)
Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews two new Brahms recordings by the Boston Chamber Music Society. Lloyd says it's great music, and a great argument for chamber music written for something OTHER than string quartet. (The recordings are on Northeastern).
Food writer Edward Behr (pronounced "bear"). Behr writes, illustrates, and publishes the quarterly newsletter, "The Art of Eating." In each issue, Behr writes in-depth, personal essays about food and cuisine. The newsletter's subscription is small, but it's read by a large number of the top names in the food business. (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)
Television critic David Bianculli goes out on a limb, and reviews two live shows before they air..."Paul Simon Live in Central Park," which airs Thursday night on HBO, and "The Elvis Files," a syndicated show that tries to prove that Elvis Presley is still alive.
Edward Fiske, the education correspondent for the New York Times. Fiske's new book is called "Smart Schools, Smart Kids: Why Do Some Schools Work?" In it, Fiske looks at the decline of the American school system, and he examines some of the grass-roots programs that are reversing that trend. (It's published by Simon and Schuster). (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)
We look at the recent nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court, with Duke University law professor Walter Dellinger. Dellinger's written several articles on how the nomination process has evolved throughout the nation's history. (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)
Screenwriter and novelist Bruce Wagner. He wrote the screenplays for "Nightmare on Elm Street 3," and "Scenes from The Class Struggle in Beverly Hills." He's just come out with his first novel, a black comedy, "Force Majeure." It's a collection of his "Bud Wiggins" stories. Wiggins is a struggling screenwriter, actor, and some time chauffeur who is "circling the drain." (published by Random House). (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)
Book critic John Leonard reviews, "Topless: a Novel" by D. Keith Mano, a thriller about a young priest who returns to his former New York neighborhood to help manage the family business. The family's business turns out to be a topless bar and the "girls" there begin to get murdered. Mano's other books include, "Bishop's Progress," "War is Heaven," and "Take Five." ("Topless" is published by Random House.)
Former hostage David Jacobsen. In 1985 he was abducted in Beirut where he was director of the American University of Beirut's Medical Center and was held for 17 months. He was held captive along with Terry Anderson, Tom Sutherland, Ben Weir, and Martin Jenco. He's written about it in, "Hostage: My Nightmare in Beirut." (Published by Donald I. Fine, Inc.) (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)
Writer Robert Bausch. Bausch's new novel, "Almighty Me," is the story of an average guy who, for one year, is given the powers of God. (It's published by Houghton Mifflin). (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)
Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews two new comedies starring two stars from "SCTV," and wonders why they haven't been more successful. They are Martin Short who's starring with Danny Glover in, "Pure Luck," and John Candy whose new film is "Delirious."
Writer Ben Hamper. His funny first-person account of working in GM's auto factory is "Rivethead: Tales from the Assembly Line." Hamper is a third generation auto worker in Flint, Michigan.
Journalist Stryker McGuire. He covered the Nicaraguan revolution for Newsweek where he is Chief of Correspondents. After the war, he came back to New York but discovered that he hadn't settled in his own mind what he experienced in Nicaragua. He began a 20,000 mile driving trip from North America to South America to try and understand what had happened and to get a different look at Latin America. His book, "Streets with No Names," is an account of that trip. (published by Atlantic Monthly Press.) (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)
