How the States Got Their Shapes; The Civil War in the Words of Former Slaves; The Life of Hunter S. Thompson; FilmWeek
How the States Got Their Shapes
Ever wonder why Michigan has two parts that aren't attached to each other, or why a little sliver of West Virginia runs up between Pennsylvania and Ohio, or why tiny bits of Delaware are connected to New Jersey rather than the rest of Delaware? We've been looking at the map of the United States since childhood so, unconventional as many of the states' borders are, they seem natural to us. Larry talks with Mark Stein, author of "How the States Got Their Shapes," about the historical and geographical reasons our states' boundaries became the jigsaw puzzle we take for granted.
Guest: Mark Stein, author of How the States Got Their Shapes
The Civil War in the Words of Former Slaves
bloodiest conflict from the point of view of the people it freed. Larry talks with Ward about his book, "The Slaves' War," which was drawn from interviews, diaries, letters, and memoirs. It uncovers slaves' theories about the causes of the war, their thoughts about Lincoln, Davis, Lee, and Grant; and their memories of the carnage of battle.
Guest: Andrew Ward, author of The Slaves War: The Civil War in the Words of Former Slaves
The Life of Hunter S. Thompson
Larry Mantle talks with Academy Award winning documentarian Alex Gibney about his new film "Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson." Gibney's latest film "Taxi to the Dark Side" won the Oscar for Best Documentary this year. He also wrote and directed the Academy Award-nominated film "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room."
Guest: Alex Gibney, director, writer and producer of "Gonzo: The Life of and Work of Hunter S. Thompson."
FilmWeek
Larry and critics Lael Loewenstein of Variety, and Peter Rainer of The Christian Science Monito, review some of the week's new feature films including "Hancock," "The Wackness," and "Diminished Capacity," as well as the documentaries "Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson" and "Chris and Don: A Love Story."
Guest: Peter Rainer, of the Christian Science Monitor.
Guest: Lael Loewenstein, of Variety.