Studs Terkel and Tom Wolfe discuss Wolfe's first collection of essays, "The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby". Terkel and Wolfe begin their conversation by listening to and discussing an excerpt from an interview with a young motorcycle enthusiast named Chuck. Topics of conversation include Wolfe's writing process and personal history, the generation gap, class and income disparity, motorcycle culture, Las Vegas, and stock car racing.

Discussing the book "From Bauhaus to our house" with the author and journalist Tom Wolfe.

In "Goodbye Land," Jose Yglesias travels to Galicia, Spain, his father's native province. Yglesias found a number of cousins who remembered his father. Time was spent in a tavern owned by one of his cousins, talking about what they recalled about Yglesias' father. His cousins viewed Yglesias' travels to Spain as an event; a millionaire traveling to Spain and they showered him with an abundance of gifts.

Studs interview with Roddy Doyle, Irish writer, and author of "Paddy Clark Ha Ha Ha." Doyle reads several times from the book. Studs also reads a few lines from the book. Doyle describes the book set in the Republic of Ireland in the 1960's that portrays the life of a small boy. He discusses the characters and themes of the book that relate to real-life. Doyle speaks about his own childhood that is not reflected in the book. Studs notes that the musical comedy-drama film "Commitments" is based off Doyle's book.

Studs Terkel has a brief conversation with Tom Wolfe and reads "Las Vegas (What?) Las Vegas (Can't hear you! Too noisy) Las Vegas!!!!" from Tom Wolfe's collection "The Kandy-Kolored, Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby." Songs of the 20's interspersed throughout: "My Heart Belongs to Daddy" Cole Porter "Puttin on the Ritz" Irving Berlin "Look for the Silver lining" Jerome Kern/B.G. DeSylva "Sunny Side Of the Street" Jimmy McHugh/Dorothy Fields

Discussing "The Understudy : a Novel" and interviewing Elia Kazan.

Thomas Keneally discusses the book "Schindler's List," detailing the actions of Oskar Schindler saving Jews during WWII.

Canadian poet and novelist Margaret Atwood discusses her poetry and her first novel, “Surfacing,” focusing on the novel’s symbolism and the themes of nature, religion and memory. She compares life, attitudes, and politics in Canada with those of the United States.

Author Margaret Atwood discusses her novel "Life Before Man;" interview begins at :45.

As a result of writing his book, "Hell's Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs," Hunter S. Thompson said he's become calmer and not so quick to react, in case a fight starts. Thompson believes the reason for the rise in violence is due to pent up anger and hostility. A clip of a former prize fighter describing how he threatens people to repay their debts is played.