Sontag reads from "Illness as Metaphor" and discusses differences between diseases, particularly tuberculosis and cancer, regarding historic understanding and cultural representation.

Lynn Caine discusses her book "Widow" and talks about the death of her husband caused by cancer. She talks about the adjustment to losing your best friend, lover and partner. She describes how grief is buried socially and ignored, and how hard it is to raise children after the death of a spouse.

His background as a chaplain prepared Dean Joe Matthews for his role at the Ecumenical Institute of Chicago. Here, he discusses what it means to be human and to truly live one's life.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Alfred Alvarez, poet and author, talks about his new book, "The Savage God," and how depression and suicide affects people. He talks about his past experience with his friend Sylvia Plath and the end of her life. The two men also discuss the history of suicide including the Greeks, Judas, Middle Ages, and the Renaissance. Alvarez also talks about famous artists who have committed suicide and why the 20th century may have caused so many suicides. Alvarez reads the opening passage and epilogue of his book.