Two central themes of Judith Rossner's book, "Looking for Mr. Goodbar" are time and loneliness. In her book, Rossner captivates her readers with Theresa Dunn's experiences of being a teacher by day and living dangerously with her sexual exploits at night. Included in the interview, both Rossner and Studs Terkel read passages from the book.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

She never took any writing courses and she didn't have an agent and yet, Judith Guest's novel, "Ordinary People," became something of a phenomenon. After her youngest son left for college, Guest found herself with more time to dedicate to writing. Guest also talks about how Viking press wanted her to change the title of her book.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Discussing the book "Closing Time" with the author Joseph Heller. "Closing Time" was written as a sequel to his popular novel "Catch-22".

Jonathan Kozol discusses his book "Illiterate America." Includes an interview of a black teenager student named Jimmy.

John Lahr discusses celebrities, the media, and his book "Autograph Hound". Includes Studs Terkel and John Lahr reading from Lahr's book "Autograph Hound".

Joan Didion describes the main characters Charlotte and Charlotte's ex-husbands, Warren and Leonard of her novel, "A Book of Common Prayer". Didion said she based her novel from the song, "If I Ever Cease to Love You". A fan of Didion, who after reading her novel, made the comparison and asked Didion, "So you knew my ex-husband, too?"

"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.

Jerzy Kosinski discusses his book "Being There". Includes Studs Terkel reading from Kosinski's book "Being There".

Storyteller, humorist, radio personality, and author Jean Shepherd discusses his book, A Fistful of Fig Newtons. Shepherd considers how his various career paths, particularly that of a radio personality, have affected his writing.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Jean Auel discusses her novel, "The Clan of the Cave Bear," including the anthropological research that informed her writing, feminism in her main character, Ayla, and the book's themes of cooperation, adaptation, tribal memory, and reverence for life. Includes excerpts from the book and recordings of pygmy music made by anthropologist Colin Turnbull.

James Mills, a novelist and journalist, talks to Studs about his book "Report to the Commissioner". Mr. Mills and Studs discuss the story and Mr. Mills goes in depth into the process of police detectives working a case. Studs plays an excerpt of a Chicago policeman talking about working on the tactical squad on the police force. The policeman tells of how they go into a neighborhood as civilians to stop crime.