Why do we have human rights? Where did they come from? UCLA Professor Lynn Hunt, author of “Inventing Human Rights: A History” (Norton, 2007), will join us this hour.
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The World Without Us
What would happen if people just disappeared? Alan Weisman has a few thoughts on the subject. Weisman presents a haunting yet strangely appealing portrait of a planet earth devoid of human beings in his new, best-selling book “The World Without Us” (Thomas Dunne Books, 2007). We’ll explore that world and the ways we might get there whether we mean to or not.
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Teaching Theology
A century ago, theology provided the basis for universities around the world, but what about today? Is theological education still viable? We’ll talk this hour with two guests who think so. Dr. William Lawrence is Dean of SMU’s Perkins School of Theology, which recently broke ground on a new $13 million facility. Dr. Darrell Bock is Professor of Spiritual Development and Culture at Dallas Theological Seminary. They’ll both join us this hour.
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Language as a Window into Human Nature
What is the nature of the mind? According to Harvard Professor Steven Pinker, language reflects the “distinctively human model of reality, which differs in major ways form the objective understanding of reality eked out by our best science and logic.” Pinker will join us for the hour to discuss his research and his new book “The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature” (Viking, 2007).
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Dead Certain: The Presidency of George W. Bush
How will history view the Bush Administration? Journalist Robert Draper spent two years interviewing some 200 individuals including the President and his top officials and advisors for the book “Dead Certain: The Presidency of George W. Bush” (Free Press, 2007). Draper will be our guest this hour.
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My Kid Could Paint That
Can a 4-year-old create important art? In 2004, Marla Olmstead, a 4-year-old from Binghamton, NY, sold over $300,000 worth of paintings in a few months and quickly became famous in the art-media world. Then, a 60 Minutes expose suggested that her father may have actually painted the artworks. Our guest this hour, filmmaker Amir Bar-Lev, tells the story in his new documentary “My Kid Could Paint That” which opens on October 19th at the Angelika Film Center in Dallas.
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50 Years Reporting in Washington
Journalism has certainly changed in the past five decades and Robert D. Novak has been there for it all. No stranger to controversy himself, Novak has covered every administration since Harry Truman and he writes about it all in his new memoir. Robert Novak will join us this hour to discuss his career and new book “The Prince of Darkness: 50 Years Reporting in Washington” (Crown Forum, 2007).
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Dave Barry's History of the Millennium (So Far)
How’s the millennium going? Why not ask famous humor writer Dave Barry? Barry’s in town for a Fort Worth Star-Telegram event at Bass Hall, but he’s agreed to join us for the hour to talk about his new book “Dave Barry’s History of the Millennium (So Far)” (Putnam, 2007), his apparent (according to his bio) presidential campaign, and probably anything else that comes up.
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A Conversation with Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert
What does the future hold for Dallas and where is the city headed? We’ll discuss the state of things with recently-elected Mayor Tom Leppert this evening. Photographer Frank Gohlke will join us during the Scene segment to discuss his unique approach to landscape. His work can be seen in “Accommodating Nature: The Photographs of Frank Gohlke” which is on display at the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth until January 6, 2008, and a concurrent show at the Photographs Do Not Bend Gallery in Dallas until October 13.
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Washington, Lafayette, and their Revolutions
Did the French and American Revolutions affect one another? They most certainly did, according to journalist and author James R. Gaines. Gaines examines the complex relationship between France and America at its earliest roots in his new book “For Liberty and Glory: Washington, Lafayette, and their Revolutions” (Norton, 2007). James Gaines will be out guest for the hour.
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Secrets of the Amazon
What can we learn from the Amazon? Perhaps no one is better suited to answer that question than Dr. Mark J. Plotkin. The renowned ethnobotanist, plant explorer and author of “Tales of a Shaman’s Apprentice” will join us this hour to talk about his recent trip to the Amazon and his work with the Amazon Conservation Team.
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National Geographic Channel's "Inside the Living Body"
What’s going on inside your body right now? Dr. Stephen Marsh can tell you. Marsh interviewed over 200 experts in 45 fields of medicine from prestigious research and medical institutions around the world for the new National Geographic Channel program “Inside the Living Body” which premieres on Sunday, September 16th. Dr. Marsh will join us for the hour.
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