Norman Mailer discusses how recent trips to the moon fit into the American consciousness, technology and machines in modern life, individuality, and the future of space exploration. Studs and Mailer read excerpts from "Fire on the Moon."

H. E. F. (Shag) Donahue and Nelson Algren discuss Donahue's book, "Conversations with Nelson Algren," a biographical exploration of Algren's life as a writer. They discuss the creative lives, successes and failures of other authors in relation to Algren's work, including Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, J.D. Salinger, Richard Wright, and others. Includes the author reading excerpts from "Conversations with Nelson Algren."

Dr. Carlo Levi talks about the differences in Italian and American literature in the first part. In the second part, children Julio and Phillipo sing Italian nursery rhymes. In the last part, Maria Caniglia and husband Pino Donati discuss opera; part 2.

Writer Dan Wakefield discusses his book “Between the Lines,” his relationship with C. Wright Mills, and his career. Wakefield reads the epigraph from his book.

Brick Top discusses her career, her colleagues, and the jazz scene.

When Otto Friedrich wrote his book, Going Crazy: An Inquiry Into Madness in Our Time, his intention was to find out from those with mental illness what it was like to go crazy. Of the people Friedrich asked, about a third of them were treated with professional help, a third were helped with medications, and the other third preferred to be left alone.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The cartoonist discusses his comic strip collection, Kudzu, and its humorous approach to such everyday themes as wanting to leave one’s hometown, moving through life without a father, and seeking out the local preacher for guidance.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations