Of the 20 most costly catastrophes since 1970, more than half have occurred since 2001. Is this an omen for the 21st century? How should we behave in this uncertain and dangerous environment? We’ll talk with Erwann Michel-Kerjan, Managing Director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Risk Center and author of the new book “The Irrational Economist: Making Decisions in a Dangerous World” (Public Affairs, 2010).
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What does it take to see things differently than others and how do such visionaries shape our history and future? We’ll spend this hour with Walter Isaacson, whose new book is “American Sketches: Great Leaders, Creative Thinkers, and Heroes of a Hurricane” (Simon & Schuster, 2009).
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Have past attempts at education reform made a difference in learning? And how can things be improved for the immediate future? We’ll discuss the state of America’s students with Margaret Spellings, former U.S. Secretary of Education. She was in town last November to accept the first annual Simmons Luminary Award from the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development at SMU.
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What should we know about the world that’s just not getting reported and how would a better global understanding help Americans be better citizens? We’ll talk this hour with journalist Lisa Ling, who was in town last month to speak to the Brinker International Forum at the AT&T Performing Arts Center.
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Did a clear front runner emerge among the Republican candidates for Texas Governor in last night’s debate? We’ll discuss state issues and analyze the contenders with political science professors Valerie Martinez-Ebers from the University of North Texas and James Riddlesperger from Texas Christian University. In the Art&Seek segment, Jerome talks with Roslyn Adele Walker, Senior Curator at the Dallas Museum of Art, whose new book is “The Arts of Africa” (Yale University Press, 2009).
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Are you capable of handling the awkward moments of daily social speech in a world of cell phones, email, and texting? We’ll talk this hour with Daniel Menaker, former executive editor in chief of Random House and author of the new book, “A Good Talk: The Story and Skill of Conversation” (TWELVE, 2010).
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How can we keep arts education and creative learning a vital element in the lives of our youth, especially children in urban neighborhoods with limited access to cultural opportunities? We’ll find out this hour with Gigi Antoni, president and CEO of Big Thought, and Daniel Windham, Director of Arts for The Wallace Foundation.
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Why was America’s dominance after the end of the Cold War so short-lived? We’ll explore misunderstandings in recent foreign policy with Jack F. Matlock, Jr., former U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union and author of “Superpower Illusions: How Myths and False Ideologies Led America Astray – and How to Return to Reality” (Yale, 2010).
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How did the humblest tool for organizing data reduce complications in surgical practice, streamline restaurant operations, and minimize the risks of venture capital? We’ll spend this hour with Harvard Medical School professor Atul Gawande, author of “The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right” (Metropolitan Books, 2010).
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What exactly is Iran’s “green movement,” and how does it manage to thrive under intense political pressure? We’ll find out this hour with Hooman Majd, whose article “Think Again: Iran’s Green Movement” appears in the current edition of Foreign Policy Magazine.
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Are scientists on the cusp of reversing paralysis? Is there new hope for people suffering from degenerative illnesses? We’ll explore the latest cutting-edge research with Dr. Douglas Fields, author of “The Other Brain: From Dementia to Schizophrenia, How New Discoveries about the Brain Are Revolutionizing Medicine and Science (Simon & Schuster, 2009).
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Did you wait until the last minute to decide your new year’s resolutions? This hour, find out how to stop putting things off until tomorrow with Berkeley psychologist Jane Burka, author of “Procrastination: Why You Do It, What to Do About It NOW” (De Capo, 2009).
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