In his book, "The Library of Great American Writing," Louis Untermeyer points out great writers and their works. Untermeyer believed that there was no one great piece of literature, but rather many great works from ordinary people, as well. For instance, Untermeyer explained, that when Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address, Lincoln didn't realize he was writing a great piece of literature.

Includes Lawrence Ferlinghetti reading and discussing his poems from his books "A Coney Island State of Mind" and "Big Table."

Co-founder of the bookstore City Lights Booksellers & Publishers, poet and social activist Lawrence Ferlinghetti discusses his latest work which reflects on his youth and travels to Europe. Ferlinghetti recites pieces from his current work on the topics of Spain, France, and Italy. The poet also reflects on his previous work and his view on the Beat Generation.

Laura Fermi discusses Benito Mussolini. Includes Studs Terkel reading an excerpt from Laura Fermi's book "Mussolini" at the beginning [removed due to copyright]. Includes instrumental music [removed due to copyright].

The broadcast begins with an excerpt from interview with Pat Zimmerman where Mr. Zimmerman Plays "Sunday Morning" by Kris Kristofferson . Kris Kristofferson discusses his career as a songwriter and performer during the 1960's and 1970's. Mr. Kristofferson discusses working during that time with Janis Joplin, Merle Haggard, and Johnny Cash.

Poet and translator Kimon Friar discusses Nikos Kazantzakis and the art of Greek translation. Friar discusses the common theme in all of Kazantzaki’s works, how all of nature is set out to transform matter into spirit. Friar discusses and reads Nikos Kazantzakis’s “The Odyssey: A Modern Sequel”, Constantine Cavafy’s “Ithaka”, and Odysseus Elytēs’s “The Autopsy”. This program includes an excerpt of an interview with Eleni Kazantzakis, Nikos’s wife, where she describes how Nikos always saw the excitement in every person he met.

In preparation to play Emily Dickinson in, "The Belle of Amherst" Julie Harris read both the letters and the poems written by Dickinson. Harris said she had become fascinated by Dickinson's persona. This interview includes two excerpts: "Because I could not stop for Death," and "Before I got my eye put out."

Terkel interviews author Jonathan Yardley on his latest book. This book titled "Ring" is a biography of the sports writer columnist Ring Lardner.

Curators Jonathan Wordsworth, Robert Woof, and Michael C. Jaye discuss the exhibition “William Wordsworth and the Age of English Romanticism”, an exhibition of paintings, watercolors, manuscripts, and literature inspired by Wordsworth's Romantic Poetry. Jonathan Wordsworth reads an excerpt of lines from William Wordsworth’s “Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey”, "To Toussaint L'Ouverture", and "The World Is Too Much With Us." Studs reads "My Heart Leaps Up" - William Wordsworth. Studs plays "Ça Ira" - Edith Piaf (1954) and "A Man's a Man for A'That" - Ewan MacColl (1959).

Terkel interviews Jonathan Wordsworth about his great-great uncle William Wordsworth.

Jonathan Miller discusses Shakespeare. Includes Feste's song "Hey, ho, the Wind and Rain" sung by Alfred Deller. Includes a clip from Jonathan Miller as Bertrand Russell.

Studs has a spirited discussion with Jonathan Kozol who shares his adventures and learnings in Cuba that formed the basis of his book "Children of the Revolution: A Yankee Teacher in the Cuban Schools." Kozol explains the ambitious Cuban Literacy Campaign begun in the 1960s that aimed to educate the entire population, tells of children teaching adults in remote villages by lantern light, and the unity and national pride that resulted. He and Studs explore the idea of generative words in literacy education and contemplate Kozol's hope to adapt a similar approach to American education.