Society & Culture

Film critic John Powers reviews the Lars von Trier's first English language film, "Breaking the Waves."

The former Saturday Night Live performer was best known for, Pat, the gender-ambiguous character. Sweeney took the character the big screen, but the result was a flop. When her brother was diagnosed with cancer, she took him into her home to take care of him while he was getting treatment. Her parents also moved in. Sweeney began work on a performance piece as a way to deal with the situation. Her brother eventually died, and she herself was diagnosed with cancer. She's now in remission. Sweeney's one woman show is called "God Said, Ha!"

The Fresh Air commentator has been writing about the historically black institution, where he currently teachers, and shares these thoughts.

Nunez's debut autobiographical novel was "A Feather on the Breath of God." Her newest is "Naked Sleeper." (HarperCollins). One reviewer calls it "a fine novel of maturing at 40." Another writes that it's "a steady, superbly insightful study of a life as quietly complex as the reader's own."

From Australia, adventurer Robyn Davidson. Her book "Tracks" was the account of her 1,700 mile journey across Australia with four camels and a dog. Her next trip was a trek across the Indian desert with nomads, which she chronicled in the new book "Desert Places."

Theroux's extensive travels have taken him through Africa, Asia and Central America. In his earlier writings, a central theme of his work was the ironic examination of the clashing and mingling of Western and Third World cultures. His new book, "My Other Life" (Houghton Bufflin) is a work of fiction about a character named Paul Theroux, based on his experiences and encounters as a world traveler. His interview was recorded at the Free Library in Philadelphia

Linguist Geoff Nunberg talks about corporate language.

Film critic John Powers reviews the new, socially-conscious film "Set it Off" directed by F. Gary Gray, who directed "Friday." It's about four black women who plot a bank robbery.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan considers "The Rules: Time-tested Secrets for Capturing the Heart of Mr. Right" by Ellen Fein and Sherrie Schneider, and wonders how literary heroines may have fared had they followed the authors' advice.

Munro has a new collection called "Selected Stories." Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly, and The Paris Review. She's written seven previous short story collections, and has received Canada's highest literary prize three times.

Berube is a professor of English at the University of Illinois and is the author of the new book, "Life As We Know It: A Father, a Family, and an Exceptional Child." It's about the birth of his son in 1991, Jamie, who has Down syndrome, and how that has affected his family's life. Berube writes in the introduction, "individual humans like James are compelling us daily to determine what kind of 'individuality' we will value, on what terms, and why."

Commentator Gerald Early reflects on the black community and historically black colleges and universities.

Linguist Geoffrey Nunberg looks at how email technology is altering the way we write letters.

Film critic John Powers reviews the new independent film "Swingers," about a group of young men trying to make it in Hollywood.

Rock historian Ed Ward talks about how white fans of the 1960s folk revival sought out long-neglected blues artists.

Part three of Ed Ward's series on the history of the blues. He talks about how the realities of post-war life changed the trajectory of the genre.

Book Critic Maureen Corrigan reviews the new book by Mona Simpson, about a troubled family living on a commune.

Leno talks with Terry about his life: growing up, his struggling years as a standup (with other comics like Robin Williams, Andy Kaufman, and Steve Martin), and taking over The Tonight Show. His new memoir is called "Leading With My Chin."

Film critic John Powers reviews Spike Lee's new film, "Get On the Bus," about the recent Million Man March in Washington, D.C.

Commentator Dagoberto Gilb has some thoughts on his son and college.