Society & Culture

Writer and radio personality Garrison Keillor. He is the host and writer of A Prairie Home Companion, broadcast from Minnesota and heard weekly on public radio stations nationwide. Keillor has just published two new books. One is a semi-autobiographical novel, called Lake Wobegon Summer 1956. (Viking) The other is in collaboration with photographer Richard Olsenius: In Search of Lake Wobegon (Viking Studio). It an effort to capture in words and pictures the people and places that inspired the fictional town of Lake Wobegon.

South African journalists Mondli Makhanya talk about race and racism in their country in light of the upcoming U.N. conference on World Racism, which will be held in South Africa. Barrell is editor of Johannesburg Daily Mail & Guardian. Until his appointment as editor last year he was political editor of the M&G. Mondli Makhanya is the Political Editor of the Sunday Times.

Film critic Henry Sheehan reviews Ghost World.

Language commentator Geoff Nunberg on solutions.

Historian and civil rights activist Roger Wilkins has written a new book Jefferson Pillow: The Founding Fathers and the Dilemma of Black Patriotism (Beacon Press). Wilkins considers our founding fathers and their conflicting attitudes toward race and how it affects his own sense of patriotism. Wilkins is a professor of history at George Mason University, a Pulitzer-prize winner, and former Assistant Attorney General under President Johnson.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews McSorleys Wonderful Saloon by Joseph Mitchell.

British actress Charlotte Rampling. Shes known for her great beauty. She was a model before beginning her film career in the sixties with hits such as Georgy Girl and The Damned. She may be best known for The Night Porter, a 1974 classic about a concentration camp survivor reunited with the Nazi guard who tortured her. Ramplings new film is the French Under The Sand, about a woman whose husband mysteriously disappears during a seaside vacation.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg wonders if the English language could do with fewer adverbs.

Film critic Henry Sheehan reviews Moulin Rouge, starring Nicole Kidman.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews John Henry Days, the new book by Colson Whitehead.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg responds to listeners comments about his anachronism piece a few weeks ago and the popular use of the word –gay— referring to homosexuals.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews The Dying Animal by Philip Roth.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg talks about the word "literally".

Linguist Geoff Nunberg talks about linguistic anachronysms.

Film critic Henry Sheehan reviews "Town & Country."

Kent Walker is the oldest son of Sante Kimes, the 66-year old con-artist and convicted killer. Last year Kimes was convicted along with her other son Kenny Kimes of murdering an elderly Manhattan millionaires. The two have also been connected to the deaths or disappearances of three other wealthy people. Sante Kimes has been dubed the "Dragon Lady." Her other crimes include shoplifting, arson, and slavery. Kent Walker's book is "Son of a Grifter"

Linguist Geoff Nunberg examines the origins of the word "apology."

The Car Talk guys talk with Terry about their first garage and more.

Richard Bernstein has served as Time Magazines Beijing Bureau Chief as well as the New York Times National Cultural Correspondent and now, book critic. He has published several books including –From the Center of the Earth,— a book on modern China and –Dictatorship of Virtue,— which examines multiculturalism. His newest book is –Ultimate Journey: Retracing the Path of an Ancient Buddhist Monk Who Crossed Asia in Search of Enlightenment.— In it, Bernstein traces the monk Hsuan Tsangs legendary journey through seventh century China and India.

Irish writer Nuala OFaolain. Her first novel, My Dream of You, (Riverhead Books) has just come out in paperback. Her critically acclaimed 1998 memoir, Are You Somebody? The Accidental Memoir of a Dublin Woman was on the New York Times bestseller list. OFaolain is also a columnist for the Irish Times; she has been at the paper for over 12 years.