Pauline Kael (National Book award winner) discusses contemporary films and her recent publications. Much of the conversation is focused on Stanley Kubrick's work and the role of violence in movies.

Neil Postman, an author, educator, media theorist and cultural critic discusses his book; "The School Book: For People Who Want to Know What All the Hollering Is About,". Mr Postman and Studs talk about his definition of what school is for and it's worth, and they converse about several sections of the book. Mr. Postman reads an excerpt from his book to begin the interview.

In schools, reading, writing and speech are all on the decline because there are too many visual images from the TV, according to Neil Postman’s book, “Teaching as a Conserving Activity”. Postman criticized “Sesame Street” for its instantaneity. There are no short cuts in teaching, said Postman. He believed the worst thing a teacher could do was to make teaching entertaining for their students.

Studs Terkel interviews composer Ned Rorem. They discuss Rorem's childhood, music, poetry, languages, and religion.

Discussing the book "Downsize This!" (published by Crown) with the author, filmmaker and social critic Michael Moore.

Euthanasia is the topic of Marya Mannes' book, "Last Rights: A Case for the Good Death". With cases of terminally ill patients, Mannes advocates having compassion and allowing one to chose a good and gentle death.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

American author and cartoonist Jules Feiffer presents readings and discusses topics from his book “Ackroyd.”

Terkel interviews author Jonathan Yardley on his latest book. This book titled "Ring" is a biography of the sports writer columnist Ring Lardner.

Film critic John Simon and Studs Terkel discuss various movies, filmmaking techniques, and how film is a newer form of art. Terkel plays an audio clip from an interview he did he with Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni.

Discussing the book "Smoke and Mirrors: Violence, Television and Other American Cultures" (published by The New Press) with the author, media critic John Leonard.

John Lahr discusses celebrities, the media, and his book "Autograph Hound". Includes Studs Terkel and John Lahr reading from Lahr's book "Autograph Hound".

According to Jens Kruuse, being born in the same home town as Hans Christian Andersen is Kruuse’s claim to fame. A well-known literary critic, Kruuse says that people don’t realize he’s an excellent bridge player who enters tournaments. Kruuse explains that Denmark has the biggest coastline in all of Europe and that the people there live a truthful, simple but good life. The interview ends abruptly.

When asked, Jen Kruuse said he wrote his book, “A War for an Afternoon,” as a result of life being madness. As a morale booster, to make the men of the SS army feel invincible, they were ordered to exterminate the town of Oradour-sur-Glane, France. The women and children of the town were rounded up, placed in the town’s church and the church was burned. All the men of the town were shot dead. The entire incident, explained Kruuse, was madness, pure madness.

In the first part of this program Studs Terkel discusses French theater with critic Jean Vilar. In the second part, Studs and Eugène Ionesco discuss Ionesco’s work and the Theater of the Absurd.