What started out as a 5-piece article on health care became Laurie Abraham's book, "Mama Might Be Better Off Dead: The Failure of Health Care in Urban America". Through her stories, Abraham points out the many hardships and catch-22 scenarios of some poor families. One woman, after caring for her mother all day, Julie, wanted to work part time in the evenings. However, she soon learned that she'd be making too much money and she'd no longer be eligible for Medicaid for herself and her children.

Author Laurence Shoup discusses his book, "The Carter Presidency and Beyond: Power and Politics in the 1980s," and explains how President Carter came to be elected. He describes the Trilateral Commission and other groups created by corporations and the richest American families to lobby. the government. He also discusses the Carter presidency and his double-dealing with major issues such as unions and regulating big businesses.

Discussing the book "The Chicagoization of America, 1893-1917" (published by Chicago Historical Bookworks) with Chicago author Kenan Heise.

Reflections on Judith Wax's life are part of her book, "Starting in the Middle." Ms. Wax talks about being the perfect wife and mother, when she always secretly wanted to be a writer. Being an ignored female guest at dinner parties was always interesting, too, as male guests would often ask her, "What does your husband do?"

In "Goodbye Land," Jose Yglesias travels to Galicia, Spain, his father's native province. Yglesias found a number of cousins who remembered his father. Time was spent in a tavern owned by one of his cousins, talking about what they recalled about Yglesias' father. His cousins viewed Yglesias' travels to Spain as an event; a millionaire traveling to Spain and they showered him with an abundance of gifts.

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

With his book, "Hunting Mr. Heartbreak: A Discovery of America," Jonathan Raban wanted to see if, in the 20th century, a man could have a new life in America. Raban traveled to New York City, to the deep south in Alabama, to Seattle and finally to the Florida Keys.

Discussing the book "The Crimes of Patriots: A True Tale of Dope, Dirty Money, and the CIA" (published by Norton) with the author, investigative journalist Jonathan Kwitny.

Kentucky writer John Egerton discusses his book "Generations: An American Family." The song "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is played at the opening and closing of the interview. The timestamps are as follows: 00:01:29-00:02:36 (opening) 00:55:33-00:58:40 (closing)

Discussing "How the Good Guys Finally Won : Notes from an Impeachment Summer" and interviewing Jimmy Breslin.

"Table Money," is Jimmy Breslin's novel about Owney and Dolores Morrison and their relationships with one another, with God, with the union job in Queens and with the local tavern.

British feminist and journalist Jill Tweedie discusses and reads from her book “In the Name of Love” with British journalist and humorist Alan Brien. Tweedie explores the scientific and psychological nature of what it means to “love” and how this differs from passion and romance. Studs plays "Loveless Love" - Billie Holiday (1940) and "Douce Dame Jolie" - Roland Hayes (1966).

Family and family secrets like Ms. Nelson's bout with alcoholism or her sister's mental health issues are covered in the book. Working for the Washington Post, she thought would be the highlight of her career, however, she talks about losing her journalistic integrity while working at that environment.

Jessica Mitford an English born author, investigative journalist, and civil rights activist discusses her book "Kind and Usual Punishment: The Prison Business,". Ms Mitford and Studs discuss her finding that prisoners were used as test subjects for drug trials and other medical research, and slave labor. Ms Mitford's book makes the argument that prisons are a governments means to making money from the prisoners they have punished. They speak about reform needed in the laws and decriminalization of many things and the abolishing of prison altogether. Ms.

In Jane Leavy’s book, “Squeeze Play,” similar to her main character, Leavy recalled her 1st time in a men’s locker room, covering a New York Knicks game. Luckily for Leavy, a player by the name of Phil Jackson, helped her feel comfortable being with the other players. Leavy explained that at that encounter, it was Jackson, who fed her the story that she needed. The theme of the book throughout is fragility. Some players, Leavy explained, felt more comfortable talking about their infertility issues with Leavy, a woman sportswriter.