Discussing the controversy over teaching evolution in public schools, correcting popular misinterpretations of Darwin's theories, and defining Social Darwinism with author and geneticist Richard Lewontin.

H.E.F Donahue discusses his book "The Higher Animals". Donahue goes into depth about the characters in his book and touches on the subjects of evolution, history, literature, and his life. H.E.F. Donahue quotes Charles Darwin.

Douglas W. Druick, scholar and curator of the Art Institute of Chicago, discusses his book "Odilon Redon: Prince of Dreams, 1840-1916." The interview explores Redon's life and art work, including his techniques he developed because of the time period he lived in.

Studs talks with Donald Johanson about his book "Lucy: The Beginnings of Humankind," in which the famed paleoanthropologist describes his discovery of the female hominin fossil in Ethiopia. The conversation includes talk of Charles Darwin, Eugène Dubois' Java Man discovery, what makes a hominid, holes in the fossil record, fossil dating, his disagreements with Louis and Richard Leakey, site discovery, and his belief that the Hadar Formation in the Afar Triangle of Ethiopia holds the keys to the evolutionary puzzle. Includes snippets of the Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds."

Evolution and the future of the human race are among topics in Carl Sagan's and Ann Druyan's book, "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors: A Search for Who We Are." Included is an excerpt of the astronomer Harlow Shapley speaking at the beginning. Carl Sagan also reads an excerpt from the book at the end.