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

Discussing and reading from "Fairy Tales" and "The Saga of Eric the Viking" (both published by Schocken Press) with the author Terry Jones.

Studs discusses writing and acting with John Schultz, Paul Pekin, and six of their students: Alex Wayne, Linda Gilbert, Will Jackson, Dan Michalski, Bill Johnson, and Fred Game. The main topic of conversation is the "Story Workshop" method of teaching writing, which Schultz had recently developed and were leading at CAM (Christian Action Ministries) Academy in Chicago. The group discuss their history as teachers and writers, and they demonstrate some of the techniques they employ in their methodology. Some of the students also express the successes they have had in developing their writ

Studs discusses poetry and mass media with American writer Norman Corwin, who was visiting Chicago to receive an honorary award from Columbia College. Works discussed include Corwin's radio address, "On A Note of Triumph," which the author delivered on May 8, 1945 to mark the end of World War II in Europe, and "Ballad for Americans", a cantata produced by Corwin on CBS radio in 1939. Topics include Corwin's personal and professional history, the process of writing "for the ear", World War II, the dawn of the nuclear age, and the television's role in eclipsing radio in popularity.

Hearing Chopin being played through the pipes of another apartment and a tale about a young girl who died and whose father froze her body in an ice house are among the stories in Stuart Dybek's book, "The Coast of Chicago." Dybek explained that although his stories may seem dream-like, he tries to come up up with stories from some place of reality.

The book, "Happy Days: My Mother, My Father, My Sister and Me," gives a lot of background about Shana Alexander's father, Milton Ager. A few of Ager's songs are played throughout the interview. Alexander also glosses over her time spent with Life magazine and with 60 Minutes.

Canadian journalist and novelist Robertson Davies discusses his new book, the second installment in "The Deptford Trilogy" titled "The Manticore." Much of the discussion also focuses on the prequel, titled "Fifth Business."

The blues and jazz are topics covered by Ralph Ellison. Ellison himself started to play the trumpet at the age of seven. Ellison said for him, when hearing classical music, he then had to go and find classical literature.

Studs Terkel's EBO contest

The death of Hampl's grandmother led Patricia Hampl to Prague and her book "A Romantic Education" covers her travels. Hampl wanted to learn about her roots and about her grandmother's homeland. Once in Prague, Hampl wasn't able to uncover any of her roots but instead she learned about the contemporary Prague.

Fly fishing, relationships and people Norman Maclean has met are all apart of his book, "A River Runs Through It." Maclean's father taught Maclean and his brother the art of fly fishing. Maclean's book is semi-autobiographical with three short stories.

When talking about his book, "Chi-Town," Norbert Blei said all the communities in Chicago offer everyone the groups' separate ethnic cultures. Blei also talks about riding the Douglass Park El and the old man sitting on a bench, who he encounters at Grant Park. Lastly, Blei talks about writers who have influenced him.

This interview contains two parts. The first focuses on writer and John Henry Faulk biographer, Michael Burton, in which Burton discusses John Henry Faulk’s life as an American storyteller as well as his book entitled “John Henry Faulk: The Making of a Liberated Mind.” Burton makes mention of how the Hollywood Blacklist affected Faulk’s career.

After having received the Caldecott Medal for "Where the Wild Things Are," Maurice Sendak knew he had to do a different kind of book. Sendak recalled his trips to Brooklyn as a child and how going out to eat was a huge treat. From there, Sendak's book, "Night Kitchen," was born.

Author Madeleine L'Engle discusses her novel "A Severed Wasp," about a retired concert pianist (Katherine Forrester, who appeared in L'Engle's first novel, "The Small Rain") who puts on a benefit concert at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine at the request of her old friend, Felix Bodeway. Like Katherine, L'Engle is a pianist and the interview is interspersed with Bach fugues throughout. In addition to discussing the plot, Terkel and L'Engle discuss several of the book's characters and their histories and motivations.