Discussing the collection of drama criticism "Astonish me" and interviewing the drama critic John Lahr.

John Lahr discusses celebrities, the media, and his book "Autograph Hound". Includes Studs Terkel and John Lahr reading from Lahr's book "Autograph Hound".

Ten years ago, explained Robert Brustein, not for profit theatres were starting to pop up. Brustein was optimistic about these new theatres being available in communities as a way of offering culture. Theatres will not be funded though, because President Reagan cut federal funding to theatres in half. In addition, the National Endowment for the Arts was not growing fast enough to assist all theatres involved.

Ralph Ellison, winner of the National Book Award for Fiction for his book "Invisible Man," discusses his early life and education and his life as a writer and lifetime scholar. He speaks on being a musician (trumpet), the joy of music and the Church and how they fit into the lives of African Americans.

When asked, Jen Kruuse said he wrote his book, “A War for an Afternoon,” as a result of life being madness. As a morale booster, to make the men of the SS army feel invincible, they were ordered to exterminate the town of Oradour-sur-Glane, France. The women and children of the town were rounded up, placed in the town’s church and the church was burned. All the men of the town were shot dead. The entire incident, explained Kruuse, was madness, pure madness.

Part 2 of a discussion with Jack LaPorte while Studs was in England. Conversation cuts out at 05:06 and begins the coversation with Al Alvarez. Albert Alvarez, poet, writer and critic, discusses how technology advancement is changing society. He specifically discusses war in general, the Holocaust and advancements in destructive weapons. He speaks fondly of Sylvia Plath, and discusses his current book, "Beyond All This Fiddle: Essays, 1955-1967."