Books & Literature

The Fresh Air classical music critic reads a new poem about his mother.

Film critic John Powers reviews the latest Jane Austen novel-turned-film, "Emma."

Retired Republican political consultant Ed Rollins has just written a book chronicling his 30 years in American politics, "Bare Knuckles and Back Rooms: My Life in American Politics." He began his political life a Democrat, working for Bobby Kennedy's campaign in 1968. After an experience at a violent demonstration he became a Republican and worked his way up to become President Reagan's top political advisor.

Edward Tenner is author of "Why Things Bite Back" from Knopf. It's about the unintended effects that new technological breakthroughs bring. Tenner is also a researcher at Princeton University in the Department of Geological and Geophysical Sciences.

Vilar's memoir "A Message from God in the Atomic Age" chronicles three generations of self-destructive behavior: in 1954, her grandmother was imprisoned for opening fire at the U.S. House of Representatives; in 1977, her mother leapt to her death from a speeding car; and in 1988, Vilar herself was committed to a psychiatric hospital after attempting suicide. Alternating between her notes from the psychiatric ward and the chronicling of the history of her family, Vilar tells of her own attempts to come to terms with her family history.

Posner has just written a biography about the founder of the Reform Party, Ross Perot, called "Citizen Perot: His Life & Times." This month, the party will hold two conventions to decide who will be their candidate for President. Perot is expected to win the nomination. Posner's book is the result of two years of research--including exclusive access to Perot himself. It explores how Perot made his billions, influenced Presidents, rescued his employees from Iran, and much more about the life of this eccentric and controversial business man and politician.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews "Typhoid Mary," by Judith Walzer Leavitt, about the woman unwittingly responsible for an outbreak of typhoid fever in New York City.

O'Donnell's book is "Getting Over Homer" from Knopf. He's has also written two other books "Elementary Education," and "Vertigo Park: and Other Tall Tales." O'Donnell also did a stint writing for TV's Saturday Night Live. His twin brother, Steve, writes for David Letterman.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews two books on punk rock: "Please Kill Me: The Uncensored History of Punk," by Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain, and the novel "Go Now" by Richard Hell.

Mitford died of cancer at the age of 78 on Tuesday (July 23). She was considered one of the premiere investigative journalists of her day, a muckraker in the tradition of Sinclair Lewis and John Dos Passos. Her targets included the Famous Writers School, a Midwest correspondence school, and the U.S. penal system ("Kind and Usual Punishment: The Prison Business"). Mitford's most recent book, "The American Way of Birth" (1992), declares that doctors perform too many C-Sections and de-legitimize midwifery.

Puzo's new novel is "The Last Don." He is best known for "The Godfather." This new book returns him to that genre: the inner workings of the Mafia. The main character is an old man trying to secure his family's future in an era of legalized gambling, motion picture investments and the threat of government informers. His goal is threatened by familial in-fighting. The two-time Academy Award winner has also written several screenplays, including are all three Godfathers and Superman I and II.

Doctor of psychology and director of a sleep disorder clinic in San Diego, Sonia Ancoli-Israel. Her new book, "All I Want Is A Good Night's Sleep" addresses both sleep and the full range of sleep disorders, with advice on how to improve everyday sleep and how to overcome chronic sleep problems. Jet lag, snoring, sleepwalking and talking, and insomnia are all addressed.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews Nancy Friday's newest autobiographical look at the plight of women -- this time focusing on their relationship with their genitals.

The psychosexual therapist, along with Ben Yagoda, wrote a new book about the well-being of the American family, "The Value of Family: A Blueprint for the 21st Century." Much of her perspective is informed by her experience fleeing the Holocaust as a child.

Psychologist Mark Epstein's new book is "Thoughts Without a Thinker: Psychotherapy From a Buddhist Perspective" (Basic Books). He discovered both Buddhism and psychology in college and combines Eastern spirituality and Western psychology to help patients reach solutions to their problems.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews "Derby Dugan's Depression Funnies," by Tom De Haven.

The essayist, poet and playwright's new book, "Make-Believe Town," is a selection of essays about everything from theater to politics to Judaism. His work has been called opinionated, forceful, original and always surprising. Mamet won a Pulitzer Prize for his play "Glengarry Glen Ross" and has written and directed several motion pictures.

Former conservative Michael Lind. As a writer and editor he worked closely with the leaders of American conservatism: as research assistant to William F. Buckley, Jr. and editor of the National Interest. He became disillusioned with the party because of it's economic policies and the dominance of such groups as the Christian Coalition. He also denounced Pat Buchanan in 1992. Lind's new book is "Up From Conservatism: Why the Right is Wrong for America." He's currently senior editor of The New Yorker.

Professor of Psychology at Harvard, Daniel L. Schacter has studied memory for the past twenty years, the way the mind remembers. One chapter in his new book, "Searching for Memory: the brain, the mind, the past" is about the controversial issue of "repressed" memory.

Performance poet Sapphire has written a new novel, "Push," in the voice of a 16 year-old black girl named Precious Jones, who is pregnant for the second time by her father. Her world opens up when a teacher encourages her to learn to read and write. Sapphire taught reading and writing to teenagers and adults in Harlem and the Bronx for eight years. There's also a new edition of her book of poetry, "American Dreams."