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.

Discussing the book "Very Old Bones" (published by Viking Press) with the author William Kennedy.

Discussing the book "The Flaming Corsage" (published by Viking) with the author William Kennedy.

Author William Kennedy, explains how he came up with the title for his book, "Riding the Yellow Trolley Car: Selected Nonfiction." Also in the interview, Kennedy talks about other writers: Patrick Kavanagh, James Joyce, Bernard Malamud and J.P. Donleavy.

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.