Northeastern Illinois University professor June Sochen discusses her book "Movers and shakers;: American women thinkers and activists, 1900-1970". Sochen and Studs cover a wide range of female activists and radicals who fundamentally reshaped American society via their efforts in the labor movement and union organizing, the arts and culture, and research.
The beauty of nature and all it has to offer is the main topic of Josephine Winslow Johnson's book, 'The Inland Island: A Year in Nature."*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations
Dr. Joseph Collins co-authored the book, "Food First: Beyond the Myth of Scarcity". Among the topics in the book include world hunger, famine, food policies and politics. Collins asks the readers to think about being ok with eating food grown in another country when the workers of that country are so poor, they themselves are starving for food.
According to Joseph Campbell's book, "Myths to Live By," myths put people in touch with dimensions of their own being and consciousness. Dreams, Campbell explained, are private myths and myths are a public dream. Campbell also talks about how the west and the orient view myths and symbols.
Discussing the book, "The Night Is Dark and I Am Far from Home," about improving education and innovation in teaching methods,and interviewing the author, Jonathan Kozol.
Interviewing John Holt about education.
Discussing education and interviewing John Holt.
Events not recorded in history books is what prompted John D. Weaver to write "The Brownsville Raid: The Story of America's Black Dreyfus Affair". Weaver had heard the story of Black Army soldiers causing a raucous, when they were actually set up. Without even being granted a trial, President Theodore Roosevelt, dismissed those soldiers from the United States Army, Weaver explained.
"Waves at Genji's Door: Japan Through Its Cinema," includes Joan Mellen's study of Japanese film, Japanese history and Japanese culture. Some of Mellen's topics include Akira Kurosawa's films, Samurais and the ritual suicide of Seppuku.
Joan Cook discusses her book "In Defense of Homo Sapiens" and talks about research done by other scientists working with Chimps and other primates. She explains her stance that not all humans lean towards violence and that nature, not nurture, and the environment creates aggression and violence. The conversation compares economics and Darwinism for a view of humanistic economics.
Jill Johnston speaks about her book 'Lesbian Nation: The Feminist Solution', published in 1973. Johnston describes her political definition of lesbianism as self-commitment, and how her writings fits into the feminism on the whole.
Jessica Mitford an English born author, investigative journalist, and civil rights activist discusses her book "Kind and Usual Punishment: The Prison Business,". Ms Mitford and Studs discuss her finding that prisoners were used as test subjects for drug trials and other medical research, and slave labor. Ms Mitford's book makes the argument that prisons are a governments means to making money from the prisoners they have punished. They speak about reform needed in the laws and decriminalization of many things and the abolishing of prison altogether. Ms.