Discussing the book "Angry middle-aged man" with Pat Watters.

Reflections on Judith Wax's life are part of her book, "Starting in the Middle." Ms. Wax talks about being the perfect wife and mother, when she always secretly wanted to be a writer. Being an ignored female guest at dinner parties was always interesting, too, as male guests would often ask her, "What does your husband do?"

After having served in three Navies, Gwynee Dyer, wrote his book, "War." Dyer explains people are willing to kill foreigners to protect their own land, possessions, and rights, etc. Dyer also points out that the only reason for war is to obtain power and to determine, by mass destruction, who gets what.

Author-journalist Mike Royko's book, "I May Be Wrong, but I Doubt It" includes 65-70 of Royko's past articles. Royko talks about how his columns come to life. Never having been one to sit in an office, he talks about going out into the world to get the story and to report the facts. Royko includes a funny tale about the word, "clout," in his book.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Wicker discusses advocacy journalism versus objective journalism, freedom of the press, and the role of the press in American society.

Because there' s murder, torture, prison terms and terrorism involved, Studs Terkel, mentions that this book reads like a crime novel. "Assassination on Embassy Row," is John Dinges' account of what happened to Orlando Letelier in Washington, D.C. in 1976.

Journalistic responsibility is a major theme of Gay Talese's book, "The Kingdom and the Power: Behind the Scenes at The New York Times, The Institution That Influences the World". Should they print what's true and verifiable or some watered down version of the truth? The New York Times has endured, says Talese because the paper plays it safe, it's never too right or too left.