South African writer and political activist Nadine Gordimer joins Studs Terkel to talk about her book “A Guest of Honor,” a novel that explores African politics in a post-colonialism era. As an introduction to their conversation, Terkel plays a clip of an interview with Conor Cruise O’Brien, where an interaction with former Ghanaian president Kwame Nkrumah is discussed.

A discussion about the book, "House Made of Dawn," awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1969. N. Scott Momaday reads from his book.

Discussing the book "Observations from a Treadmill" and interviewing the author My (pseudonym).

Murray Kempton discusses race relation in the United State of America and the Black Panther Trial in New York. Murray also discusses his book, originally published as, "The Briar Patch: The People of New York versus Lumumba Shakur, et al." This book was reprinted as "The Briar Patch: The Trial of the Panther 21" in 1997.

Discussing "The Difference of Man and the Difference it Makes" and the philosophical ideals of Mortimer J. Adler. Mr. Adler speaks of his idea that the difference between human and animal behavior is a radical difference in kind.

Discussing the book "An open book" with the author Monica Dickens.

Milton Mayer discusses the state of U.S. education and the educational ideas of Robert Hutchins.

Chicago newspaper columnist Mike Royko discusses his book "Boss: Richard J. Daley of Chicago" and its subject, former Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley.

Mike Royko, long time journalist of Chicago, discusses his column about William O. Douglas. Royko also talks about his column about Jim Lee Osborne, who moved from the Appalachians to Chicago. Studs and other staff members read the articles by Royko and some responses he received from the public.

Mike Royko, a long-time journalist in Chicago, discusses some of his most popular columns. Topics include Cook County Hospital's lack of air conditioning in surgery rooms, the future of workers, and the Civil Right's Movement. The responsiblities of journalists and the effect of newspapers are also discussed.

Author-journalist Mike Royko's book, "I May Be Wrong, but I Doubt It" includes 65-70 of Royko's past articles. Royko talks about how his columns come to life. Never having been one to sit in an office, he talks about going out into the world to get the story and to report the facts. Royko includes a funny tale about the word, "clout," in his book.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

In a rare turn of events, Mike Royko and Herman Kogan interview Studs Terkel about his book, "Division Street: America." Kogan is in awe of how Studs was able to get people to talk to him and give in-depth interviews. When asked by Royko, "What would you do if you were God?", Studs answered that he'd let man be man.

"Laying Waste: The Poisoning of America by Toxic Chemicals," is Michael H. Brown's study of the Hooker Chemical Company and of toxic waste being dumped into the Love Canal. The toxic chemicals caused some women to suffer miscarriages. Some children were born with deformities, and some people developed cancer.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Writer and poet Maya Angelou talks about her life, Creole influences, and her book “Gather Together in My Name” with Studs Terkel. Angelou reads an excerpt from the book and the recording opens with Angelou reading one of her poems.

Angelou discusses her book "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" and recites "When I Think About Myself." She talks about growing up in Stamps, Arkansas, and her family. Copyrighted material has been removed.