The New York City firefighter and writer reads from his book, The Final Fire, and discusses his two careers.  Includes a clip of an interview with Brooklyn firefighter Tommy Gates.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The New York Times correspondent in Moscow discusses and reads from his novel, The Gates of Hell. The book closely mirrors the life of Russian novelist and Soviet dissident Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The novelist, short story writer, and poet, in town for a reading at Evanston's Amazingrace Coffeehouse, shares with Studs some of the early life experiences that inspired his writing.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The celebrated author of The Ginger Man joins Studs to share some of the inspirations for his latest book, The Unexpurgated Code: A Complete Manual of Survival & Manners.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

As founder of the watchdog group, Common Cause, and as Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) under President Lyndon Johnson, Gardner was a strong advocate for citizen participation and service. Here, he emphasizes the need to fight back against the widespread apathy of the times.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The journalist and writer discusses his controversial writings, his time spent as a celebrity figure, and his thoughts about writers as celebrities.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Studs joins the British novelist at his Chicago hotel room to discuss his latest book, Daniel Martin.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Writer Gore Vidal discusses his book, the Eastern philosophy behind it, and its themes on media sensationalism.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The cartoonist and author talks about his latest work, Tantrum, which Studs describes as a novel-in-cartoon-form. The oddly-compelling story of a respectable business man who regresses to toddler-like behavior can be seen as an early example of a graphic novel.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The blue-collar writer and poet joins Studs to reminisce about the hard times of the 1920s and 1930s and the founding of his Chicago-based College of Complexes.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations