Chicago Sun-Times film critic and author Roger Ebert discusses his book "Roger Ebert's Book of Film: From Tolstoy to Tarantino, The Finest Writing From A Century of Film" (published by Norton); reads passages from his book; interview with Buster Keaton is played at 35:18.

Northwestern University professor of Slavic languages and literatures Irwin Weil discusses Russian literature, poetry, and theater. Weil discusses the strong interest students have at Northwestern University for the subject he teaches, and attempts to answer why that is. Weil sings several unnamed Russian folk songs throughout the program and reads “A Magic Moment I Remember” - Aleksandr Sergeevich Pushkin.

Studs Terkel talks to New York Times journalist Harrison E. Salisbury about his book on the Russian Revolution of 1917 entitled, "Black Night, White Snow", detailing the roles of the SR's, Lenin and the Bolsheviks, the Mensheviks, the Narodniks, Kerensky, Kropotkin, Stalin, Zinoviev and more.

After reading Twain's books, Bobrinskoy believed that all Russian boys, Bobrinkskoy included, at one point or another, thought about running away to America. Twains' books depicted lives filled with adventure in the United States. Bobrinskoy's final thought was that Mark Twain was the greatest American writer.

Author Francine du Plessix Gray discusses and reads from her book “Soviet Women: Walking the Tightrope.” The discussion is heavily focused on the feminist movement in Russia as it compares to the 1960s feminist movement in the United Sates; as Gray states the Russian movement being much more radical in terms of free love, eroticism, and artistic expression. Studs plays "Chastushki" - Zinaida Kozakova (1961).

Dr. Robert Jay Lifton, psychiatrist and psycho-historian, discusses the acceptance and embrace of nuclear disaster, doctors' opposition to nuclear weapons, difference in Americans' and Europeans' opposition to nuclear weapons, psychological impact of nuclear bombings in Japan, and the mental disconnect experienced by those who build atomic weapons who then see the bombs' effects.

Dr. Robert Coles' book, "The Call of Service; A Witness to Idealism" came as a result of watching of his mother work tirelessly in soup kitchens, helping the less fortunate. Through his stories and experiences, Coles lets his audience know that one must put himself in others' shoes to truly help others.