Historian Harold Schechter tells Anne Strainchamps that violence has always been an important part of popular entertainment and our ancestors enjoyed truly grisly spectacles.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
Audio
Garret Keizer talks about his book, "The Unwanted Sound of Everything We Want: A Book About Noise."
Greil Marcus tells Steve Paulson that self-invention has been a part of American nationhood since Puritan times.
Poet MK Asante recounts his tough childhood in Philadelphia and the sad story of his beloved older brother, and also how the rhythms of hip hop evoke the sensibility of his generation.
Greg Mortensen is the author of "Three Cups of Tea." The book explains how a failed attempt to climb K2 led to a program to build schools in the heart of Taliban country in Pakistan and Afghanistan with local people and donated money.
Herman Gollob is the author of “Me and Shakespeare: Adventures with the Bard.” He talks about how he became addicted to Shakespeare’s plays in his later life and why he teaches them to senior citizens.
Writer Gina Nahai grew up in Iran under the Shah and watched the growing strength of Islamic fundamentalism. Her latest novel is set in Tennessee, among a community of Appalachian Holy Rollers.
Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez served as Commander of Coalition Forces in Iraq from June 2003 to June 2004, during which period the scandal at Abu Ghraib took place.
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