Books

Journalist James Traub has written "City on a Hill: Testing the American Dream at City College." This is an exploration of the "open admissions policy" that was implemented at the College in 1970, and the effects this policy has had on the school. Traub examined remedial classes and struggling students, and talked to administrators and professors including Leonard Jeffries, the controversial Chair of the Black Studies Department.

Writer and professor Michael Eric Dyson wrote "Making Malcolm: The Myth and Meaning of Malcolm X." The book explores the different sides of Malcolm X and how his influence is felt today. Dyson is also the author of "Reflecting Black," and a professor of Communications Studies at the University of North Carolina.

Commentator Maureen Corrigan reviews "Remember Laughter," Neil Grauer's biography of James Thurber.

Carter has a new book called "Helping Yourself Help Others." She talks with Terry about helping others and about providing care to the sick and her life since she and her husband left the White House.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "Our Cancer Year," about a couple's battle with cancer, by Harvey Pekar and Joyce Brabner.

Commentator Maureen Corrigan reviews "Fables of Abundance: A Cultural History of Advertising in America," by Jackson Lears.

Dagoberto Gilb with a commentary on fatherhood in light of his newfound literary fame.

"Wall Street Journal" senior writer Jane Mayer is co-author of "Strange Justice: The Selling of Clarence Thomas,: She and fellow journalist Jill Abramson, investigated sexual harassment allegations against Thomas made by Anita Hill. They found other women who had had similar experiences with Thomas, but who were never called to testify. They wanted to write an objective account of the process, and they bring their harshest criticism on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Critic Maureen Corrigan reviews "Borderliners" the new novel by Danish writer Peter Hoeg, author of "Smillas Sense of Smell."

Twenty-five years ago, most of the middle class wasn't involved in Wall Street affairs, and investments were for the rich. Now that's changed, in what financial journalist Joseph Nocera calls "a money revolution." Nocera has written "A Piece of the Action: How the Middle Class Joined the Money Class." The book explores how the middle class became involved in the stock market, largely, he says, through the rise of credit cards, mutual funds, and discount brokerage houses.