Yehiel De-Nur spent two years as a prisoner in the Auschwitz concentration camp.  He wrote several books about his experiences there, using his identity number Ka-Tsetnik 135633. His wife Nina served in the British army as a young woman and later helped in the translation and publication of De-Nur's works.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations

Yehiel De-Nur spent two years as a prisoner in the Auschwitz concentration camp.  He wrote several books about his experiences there, using his identity number Ka-Tsetnik 135633. His wife Nina served in the British army as a young woman and later helped in the translation and publication of De-Nur's works.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Discussing the book "Memory of Fire: Vol. 1, Genesis" (published by Pantheon, part one of a trilogy) with the author Eduardo Galeano.

Discussing parts two and three of "Memory of Fire: Vol. 2, Faces and Masks - Century of the Wind," with the author Eduardo Galeano.

Discussing the book "Memory of Fire: Vol. 1, Genesis," with the author Eduardo Galeano (this tape has been fully restored to its original length).

E.Y. (Yip) Harburg and Studs Terkel read from the book "At This Point in Rhyme". E.Y. Harburg also discusses his thoughts on humanity, how to properly write a song, and the importance of light verse and humor as a basis for everything he creates. Excerpts of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Judy Garland, "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime" by the Weavers, and a Broadway recording of "How Are Things in Glocca Morra" are played in the original airing but have been removed from this version for copyright reasons.

E. L. Doctorow’s way of writing has turned to storytelling in his book, “Lives of the Poets: A Novella and Six Stories”. To get the reader interested, it is as though the storyteller has placed a sort of spell on his audience, explained Doctorow. As the author and storyteller, Doctorow’s said his job was to make uneventful events seem more interesting than they actually are.

The novelist, best known for his works of historical fiction, expresses hope that his book about New York City in the early 20th Century will find its way into the hands of people who don’t normally pick up novels.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Discussing the book "Another War, Another Peace: A Novel" with the author Dr. Ronald J. Glasser.

Dr. Richard Selzer, a surgeon, reads essays from his book, "Mortal Lesson: Notes on the Art of Surgery." Dr. Selzer recalls moments of his profession that stuck with him including the removal of a diabetic women's leg and the removal of a botfly larvae. He also takes a poetic look at the liver and the skin, including a story about Henry Moss. Dr. Selzer finishes his interview with a story about his first time witnessing an abortion. A comedy skit by Mike Nichols and Elaine May is also played.

Dorothy Parker’s thoughts as a critic and writer on the state of American literature.

Doris May Lessing discusses the inspiration behind "The Four-Gated City", her thoughts about science and humanity, and her predictions for the future.

Being enamored with Rosa Luxemburg's life resulted in Donna Blue Lachman's play, "The Language of Birds: Rosa Luxemburg and Me." The play is of Luxemburg reading letters or of her talking to birds. At one point, Lachman wanted to quit writing the play, noting it was too difficult to finish. Remembering the strong and courageous revolutionary Luxemburg was made her complete the play.

In her book, “Liberty Denied: The Current Rise of Censorship in America,” Donna Demac points out that we, as a society, are not as free as we think we are. Demac can’t understand why anyone would want to keep people from reading great pieces of literature. While some groups called certain books anti-Christian, Demac said no one has ever died from reading a four-letter word.