The interview begins with Wright Morris reading from a essay he had presented at a conference on Arts in Public. Wright Morris, an American novelist and essayist , discusses how society no longer participates in consuming the arts, only skimming the surface by reading a review. Mr Morris argues that the bulk of society does not embrace or learn from the past mostly due to the fact there is no knowledge and a lack of curiosity to gain that knowledge.

Discussing the book "Blue highways: a journey into America" with William Least Heat Moon.

The clever writer and editor, fond of wordplay and literary forms, shares with Studs some insight into his satirical biography, The Life and Works of Mr. Anonymous.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Selections from the poetry anthology, The Portable Walter, are discussed.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

In this two part program, Studs first talks with the American novelist William Styron before a series of readings at the Newberry Library, and later, he discusses the literature of North and South America with the Mexican novelist Carlos Fuentes.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The writer sits down with Studs to discuss his most recent book, The Fight - about the heavyweight championship boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, which took place in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo).*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Author Calvin Trillin discusses the world of professional writing and his novel, Floater. Both Trillin and Studs read excerpts from the book.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The nature writer discusses his book, Of Wolves and Men, a National Book Award finalist.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The poet and journalist talks about abandoning his family's butter business to pursue a writing life in Paris where he became friendly with other writers, like Henry Miller and Ford Maddox Ford.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Sontag reads from "Illness as Metaphor" and discusses differences between diseases, particularly tuberculosis and cancer, regarding historic understanding and cultural representation.

Studs Terkel and Jerzy Kosinski express their own views on the morality of protagonist George Levanter from Blind Date. Terkel sees him as a vigilante whereas Kosinski sees him as a responsible social reformer. Kosinski states that ethics are viewed differently by Europeans based upon their history of invasions and betrayal which lends itself to an individual code of ethics as exemplified by George Levanter.

Studs discusses the life and work of Irish playwright, critic, and political activist George Bernard Shaw with historian and biographer Stanley Weintraub. The focus of the interview is Weintraub's book, Journey to Heartbreak: The Crucible Years of Bernard Shaw 1914-1918.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Mr Quinlan a pioneering Chicago TV executive and one time general manager of Chicago's ABC affiliate WBKB, discusses the book "The Hundred Million Dollar Lunch." Mr Quinlan and Studs converse about the trials against RKO General/General Tire, a struggle that lasted 15 years. Includes an excerpt of an interview with Denis Mitchell.