Books & Literature

Chinese writer Jung Chang. She was born in China but left in 1978 to study. She now lives in England. Her book, "Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China," (published by Simon & Schuster). It's the story of Jung Chang, her mother, and her grandmother Chang's grandmother was born into feudal society, whose feet were bound at the age of two; she was a concubine at 15. Chang's mother grew up under Japanese occupation, was a part of the Communist-led student underground, and later a heroine of the revolution.

Actor Hume Cronyn. For more than 50 years, Cronyn has been one of the most distinguish actors working. He's written a new memoir about his life, called "A Terrible Liar." (It's published by Morrow). (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)

After decades of domestic bliss, the comic strip character Blondie is venturing out into the work force. Commentator Maureen Corrigan tells us what she thinks of that development.

Writer Carl Hiaasen (produced "hi-ah-sen"). Hiaasen's latest crime novel, "Native Tongue," continues his tradition of poking fun at his native Florida. When he's not writing crime stories, Hiaasen is an investigative journalist and columnist for the Miami Herald. (It's published by Knopf). (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)

Novelist Russell Banks. In his new novel, "The Sweet Hereafter," Banks explores the aftermath of one of those tragedies that occasionally appear in the news and then quickly fade away. Banks' story revolves around a school bus crash that kills 14 children in a rural New York town. (It's published by Harper Collins). (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)

Editor and columnist Raymond Sokolov. His new book is "Why We Eat What We Eat: How the Encounter Between the New World and the Old Changed the Way Everyone on the Planet Eats." (published by Summit Books) His premise is that Christopher Columbus initiated a worldwide culinary revolution when he discovered the New World. Sokolov is the editor of the Leisure & Arts page of "The Wall Street Journal," a columnist for "Natural History" magazine, and a contributor to "Food and Wine" magazine. (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane).

Writer David Rieff (pronounced "reef"). his new book, "Los Angeles: Capital of the Third World," looks at how the millions of poor immigrants that have come to the Los Angeles area in the past two decades have changed the shape of that city...changing it from the "City of Dreams" that's long been L.A.'s popular image, to a much poorer, problem-ridden,and diverse, place. Rieff says something similar is in store for many other American cities. (The book's published by Simon and Schuster).

Actor David Carradine. He's still known as the star of the 70s TV series, "Kung Fu." Carradine's written a new book about his personal journey through the martial arts, called "Spirit of Shaolin." (It's published by Tuttle).

Former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop. He's written a new memoir, called "Koop: The Memoirs if America's Family Doctor." (It's published by Random House).

Critic Maureen Corrigan reviews "Memoirs" by English writer Kingsley Amis (published by Summit Books).

Author Shelby Steele. Steele's best-selling book, "The Content of Our Character," is a personal analysis of racism in America. Steele says it's time Blacks in America stopped using racial victimization as a crutch and started to rely on their own efforts to gain access to the mainstream. (It's newly published in paperback by Harper).

Book critic John Leonard reviews the new collection of reviews by film critic Pauline Kael, "Movie Love: Complete Reviews 1988-1991." (Plume: A William Abrahams Book).

We discuss the upcoming confirmation hearings of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court with New York Times columnist Anthony Lewis. In the late 50s and early 60s, Lewis covered the Supreme Court for the Times. His new book, "Make No Law," examines one of those cases, the Sullivan libel case against the Times. (It's published by Random House).

Critic John Leonard reviews a new novel by Josephine Herbst, "The Starched Blue Sky of Spain."

In the wake of Baltic independence, we examine the history of the region with professor Walter Clemens, who's just published the book, Baltic Independence and Russian Empire (St. Martin's Press).

Professor and educator E.D. Hirsch, Jr. He's the author of the best selling book, "Cultural Literacy," (paperback published by Vintage Books) in which he argues that children in the United States lack "cultural literacy," or the basic grasp of background information that allows them to be literate and to function effectively in society. He has put his theories to work in an elementary school curriculum, The Core Knowledge Series.

The age of the big three networks is over. Ten years ago, ABC, CBS and NBC monopolized 90% of the television audience. Now they attract a bit over sixty. Reporter Ken Auletta has written about the impact of the decline of the networks and the rise of cable and home video. His new book is called Three Blind Mice: How the TV Networks Lost Their Way. (Random House)

Stephen Carter, who's written the book "Reflections of an Affirmative Action Baby" (Basic Books) has led a privileged and fortunate life, growing up in a professional black family, attending Ivy League schools and subsequently becoming one of the youngest tenured law professors in Yale University's history. But Carter has also weathered academic and professional experiences in which he was pigeonholed and patronized on account of his race.

Commentator Maureen Corrigan reviews two books about sisters: "A Very Close Conspiracy," by Jane Dunn, and "The Dark Sister," by Rebecca Goldstein.

Journalist Jane Bryant Quinn. Her finance columns appear in "Newsweek," and "Woman's Day." She's written a new guide to personal finance, "Making the Most of Your Money: Smart Ways to Create Wealth and Plan Your Finances in the '90s." (published by Simon & Schuster.)