Maryville Talks Books

When Chicago-based writer Sam Weller met his literary hero Ray Bradbury in 2000, it was friendship at first sight. As Bradbury's official biographer, he has since published four books connected to the iconic author, who died in 2012 at the age of 91. In this touching tribute, Weller talks about the enduring appeal of Bradbury's work, including this year's Maryville Reads pick, "Farenheit 451."

HEC-TV speaks with Erik Larson about his book Dead Wake:The Last Crossing of the Lusitania. The book examines the sinking of the ship during World War I and the events leading up to the tragic event. Larson talks in depth about his exhaustive research that includes detailed accounts from passengers on the ship. Dead Wake was named Book of the Year in the History Category by World Magazine.

Americans hear about North Korea a lot. Unfortunately, it’s usually from pop culture: The Daily Show, The Interview, Saturday Night Live skits. Former Washington Post correspondent Blaine Harden says those depictions often paint the totalitarian state as having a cartoon-like craziness. For years, he wanted to write a book on North Korea, the Korean War and the Kim dynasty, but Harden knew a book solely on those topics probably wouldn’t fly off store shelves. And, then the phone rang in December 2012… See how that phone call from former North Korean fighter pilot No Kum Sok provided him with the perfect action story to animate the history of North Korea and the opportunity to tell a forgotten story.

When President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, it felt like the end of an era. But in "The Fierce Urgency of Now: Lyndon Johnson, Congress, and the Battle for the Great Sociey," Princeton professor Julian Zelizer reveals the inside story of what happened next. In the three years after Kennedy's death, Johnson drove the passage of one of the most progressive legislative agendas in modern history - from Civil Rights and Voting Rights, to the War on Poverty, Medicare, and numerous other programs. And he did it with a conservative Congress. Find out how he accomplished that - and the price he paid for it - in this fascinating edition of Maryville Talks Books: One on One with Julian E. Zelizer.

We talk with author Patricia Cornwell who has sold over 100 million copies of her books featuring the character Kay Scarpetta. Cornwell talks about her latest book in the Scarpetta series called Flesh and Blood. Cornwell reveals intimate details about the book, and also goes into great detail about her interest in forensic science. We also learn how Cornwell, a former newspaper reporter, spends her free time.

They watch him every night gushing about the goings on in the star-studded world they could only dream of living in. They’re addicted to the outrageous lives he lets them peer in on in the Real Housewives series he founded. And, they love that he’s such a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, he named his dog after pitcher Michael Wacha. Andy Cohen is definitely many of St. Louisans’ favorite son. In this special edition of Maryville Talks Books, fans turn the table on the hometown boy turned talk show host for some outrageous moments including: pranks he’s pulled on his parents, who he would “marry, shag, kill,” and even a comment from his Aunt Judy.

Before the hit Netflix series made “Orange” the color to watch, there was the book that started it all. In "Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison," best-selling author Piper Kerman tells the true story of the crime and punishment that changed her life. Brenda Madden talks with Kerman about the day her past came back to haunt her and what she’s doing now to help women and children affected by incarceration.

Religious scholar Reza Aslan spent twenty years researching Jesus, the bible and historical documents to write his latest New York Times bestseller "Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth." While the book is quite popular, it’s also spawned some heated, televised debates. Aslan became an evangelical Christian after moving from Iran to the US as a child. Today, he’s reverted back to Islam, but still calls Jesus his “hero.” Join us as he describes the journey he took to write this intriguing book and reveal some inconsistencies between the historical and biblical Jesus.

Author and renowned psychiatrist Mark Epstein sits down with Maryville University’s Tom Eschen to talk about how understanding and accepting trauma can lead to personal growth and change.

Author Daniel James Brown gives us the back-story of his compelling New York Times’ Best Seller "The Boys in the Boat" – a tale of the countless challenges facing the U.S. eight-oar rowing team during the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Throughout this story, Brown drops what he calls informational “treasures” that transport the reader to Depression-era USA and Nazi Germany. Join us as he describes the six-year journey he took to find all those “treasures” and write the story that reveals the heart and dedication of not just the nine boys in the boat, but the people of that entire generation.

Austin Kleon has been called “one of the brightest new minds on the creative landscape” and “positively one of the most interesting people on the Internet.” So how did a bright kid from rural Ohio achieve those accolades? He shared his work - and he thinks you should, too. In this inspiring one on one interview, Kleon shares advice and insight from “Show Your Work! 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered,” the best-selling follow-up to his previous book, "Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative."

Dave Barry: humorist, Pulitzer prize-winning columnist, author and all around funny guy. Join us for Dave's take on everything from escorting his daughter to see a Justin Bieber concert to his wife's roll in the popularity of the book "The Kite Runner." Plus, he dispels some myths surrounding the perceived glamour of writing for a living. He even lets us in on his method of what he calls "writing lies" for his popular books. It's a candid, comedic conversation with one of the most entertaining authors we've ever interviewed.

The Immortal LIfe of Henrietta Lacks is a touching, yet shocking tale of a poor black tobacco farmer whose cells, taken without her knowledge, ultimately influenced almost every aspect of medicine today. As scientists often point out, if you've taken anything stronger than an aspirin, you can probably thank Henrietta. The book is a New York Times bestseller, but many who read its pages are often left with many questions about the family, medical ethics and racial and privacy issues. We talk with Henrietta's granddaughter and great-granddaughter about the book, Henrietta and the soon to be made HBO movie based on this book.

Most people turn to friends, parents and sometimes even experts in the medical field for advice on parenting. Not Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jared Diamond – he prefers to take notes on best ways to rear a child from tribal communities. And, that’s not the only type of lesson they can teach us. In his most recent book, The World Until Yesterday, Diamond draws on five decades of his own fieldwork in New Guinea to write about potential answers to several universal human problems. Diamond discusses how traditional societies handle caring for the elderly, healthier diets and what he calls “constructive paranoia.”

Best-selling mystery author Sue Grafton is back with "W is for Wasted," the twenty-third letter in her hugely popular "alphabet series." The year is 1988, but female private eye Kinsey Millhone isn't worried about perms or shoulder pads; she's trying to figure out what two dead men - a shady, former colleague and a homeless man - have in common. In this entertaining interview, the former-screenwriter also talks about Hollywood, hair cuts and how she survived a difficult childhood.

Ann Patchett has a happy marriage. But the award-winning author of Bel Canto, State of Wonder and other novels never expected to publish a book about it. In this revealing interview, Patchett talks about the life lessons that led to This is the Story of a Happy Marriage, a collection of articles and essays about love, loss and the power of forgiveness. Find out how Patchett survived the turbulent end of her first marriage, and why Time Magazine calls her one of the "most influential people in the world."

The Kite Runner made him famous and changed his life.  A Thousand Splendid Suns and his most recent book And the Mountains Echoed solidified his place among some of the most well-respected authors.  In this one on one conversation, Hosseini tells us why he avoids Hollywood endings in his novels, how he often "takes things" from people for his writing and what advice he would offer aspiring novelists.  Plus, learn about his childhood and writing inspirations.  This is an in-depth, captivating interview that will have you laughing at the author's poignant stories.  Plus, hear how he answers some of his biggest fans' questions.

Michael Pollan has literally changed the way we eat. The best-selling author of "The Omnivore's Dilemma," and one of the stars of the documentary "Food, Inc.", returns to the table with "Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation." In this "One on One," Pollan explains why the simple act of making - or not making - a meal changes everything, from the way we live now to the future of our species and planet.

For Pulitzer Prize winning novelist Elizabeth Strout, writing is an "act of communication" between herself and her readers. Her new novel, "The Burgess Boys," continues that conversation with an unsettling look into the lives of siblings, their families, an immigrant haunted by loss, and the small town that ties them together.

Often referred to as the “Queen of Suspense,” Lisa Gardner almost dares you to try to figure out her mysteries before the last page of her books. However, most of her readers will tell you, that’s just not possible with Gardner’s never ending plot twists. In this one on one conversation, Gardner reveals some of her writing secrets: how she comes up with those plot twists, where she gets her characters’ names and characteristics, and how a walk through the serene New Hampshire White Mountains can inspire some of her most poignant scenes.  Plus, it’s not just her characters who can be mysterious. Gardner has a few secrets of her own.  Learn about her other pen name, favorite past time and unusual desires she fulfilled in writing her most recent novel Touch and Go.

Bestselling author David Von Drehle talks about the eight years he spent researching Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War for his book Rise to Greatness: Abraham Lincoln and America’s Most Perilous Year. Von Drehle explains how he found it hard to imagine how our 16th president survived 1862 with so many struggles politically and personally. The U.S. Treasury was broke, the Union’s top general was on his deathbed and the Confederacy was poised for a victory. In his personal life, two of Lincoln’s sons came down with typhoid fever, Willie would ultimately die from the disease and his wife Mary Todd would tumble into deep depression. Von Drehle says it was how Lincoln responded to these situations that established him as one of our nation’s greatest leaders.

Who was the most fascinating, influential founding father?  According to Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham, it wasn't our first President George Washington or inventor/diplomat/statesman Benjamin Franklin, it was Thomas Jefferson.  In this one on one conversation, Meacham states his case to back up this statement and gives insight into the intriguing, complicated, contradictory life of Thomas Jefferson.  Some of the topics covered include: Jefferson's ability to compromise over the dinner table, his ability to combine ideas and plans to bring forth momentous events like the Louisiana Purchase, his affair with slave Sally Hemings and the incredible debt he accrued before his death on July 4, 1826.

Many remember with extreme clarity the day the World Trade Center was attacked and the day Osama bin Laden was killed. But, the events that connect those two days are less clear for most Americans. Mark Bowden, the award winning author of Black Hawk Down, walks us through the development of new strategies and technology developed to track down this extreme terrorist in his latest book, The Finish: The Killing of Osama bin Laden. In this candid one on one conversation, Bowden reveals the research that went into his latest release, the risky aspects of the Abottabad mission and the secret behind his literary success.

Author, photographer, and humanitarian Eric Greitens grew up in a quiet suburb of St. Louis, but he's seen his share of the world's suffering. After graduating from Parkway North, Greitens headed off to Duke University and a life of public service. He taught English in China, and worked with refugees in places like Rwanda, Croatia and Bosnia, where he came to the realization that victims of war need both compassion and protection. After receiving graduate degrees from Oxford University, he became a Navy SEAL and fought in Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2007, he returned to St. Louis and founded The Mission Continues, a national nonprofit that helps post-9/11 veterans continue to serve their communities. In this One on One Conversation, Greitens talks about his St. Louis childhood and the experiences that led him to write three books, including his new release for young adult readers, The Warrior's Heart: Becoming a Man of Compassion and Courage. Based on Greiten's best-selling memoir, The Heart and the Fist, The Warriors Heart is an inspiring "call to action" for young people who want to make a difference in the world.

After penning her 17th book, award-winning author Chitra Divakaruni talks with HEC-TV about what inspired her most recently released novel One Amazing Thing. The book's characters will intrigue the reader with well-developed, thoughtful stories that are revealed as they struggle to survive following a deadly earthquake. Divakaruni explores cultural differences and human behavior in an uncontrollable situation. One Amazing Thing is an enjoyable, fast read as her characters' stories have a broad range of emotions that will have readers crying on one page and laughing on another. In this conversation, she reveals some secrets of the book as well as her One Amazing Thing.

Author and St. Louis native Bill Donius tells us about a method that can help you get those occasional "Aha moments" to happen much more frequently…a method that's as easy as switching your pen from one hand to the other. He says it's all about learning how to use your whole brain, including your right brain – the side of your brain that's often ignored as left brain logic takes over answering most of our daily questions. Donius says using your whole brain can change your perspectives, actions, habits and moods in revolutionary ways. It was successful for hundreds of volunteers who tried it out before he wrote his book, Thought Revolution: How to Unlock Your Inner Genius; volunteers that included executives from Express Scripts, Enterprise Rent-a-Car and Clear Channel Broadcasting. Business leaders are now taking his findings into the workplace to try to unlock innovative ideas from the right hemisphere of employees' minds.

He's known for giving an insider's in-depth look at sports; Cardinals baseball strategy with Three Nights in August (when he told the story of the 2003 three game series between the Cardinals and Cubs from Tony LaRussa's perspective) and the intensity of high school football in Friday Night Lights. But, recently Buzz Bissinger turned the pen on himself and wrote Father's Day - a raw look at raising premature twins, one of which has brain damage. In this conversation, Bissinger not only talks about a poignant moment at Six Flags St. Louis featured in that new book, he discusses Cardinal nation (made up of what he calls the "Best fans in baseball"), recent changes in the Cardinals clubhouse (and where he thinks Albert Pujols should've went) and the unusual evolution of the care of premature babies. It's an intriguing talk that has multiple connections to Missouri, especially St. Louis.

When you cover sports for more than fifty years, you see a lot of changes. It's that experience that's given Emmy award and Peabody award winning Frank Deford a perspective on sports that can be duplicated by none other. This one-one-one conversation with the Sports Illustrated writer, NPR commentator and HBO Real Sports with Bryant Gumble contributor is informational, entertaining and intriguing with stories about sports greats Arthur Ashe and Wilt Chamberlain as well as insight into the future of journalism and interestingly enough, the recent tattoo craze.

NCAA All-American, Rhodes Scholar, NBA Hall-of-Famer, Olympic Gold Medalist, U.S. Senator, Democratic Presidential hopeful: they are titles most of us dream of having one of during our lifetime. Sen. Bill Bradley has had them all. In this one-on-one interview, the Crystal City native discusses moments from his athletic and political life including how he became a basketball great.

Lisa See vividly illustrates the true spirit of motherhood and love of country as she discusses her latest novels, “Shanghai Girls” and the sequel, “Dreams of Joy.” See offers viewers an insightful look at how she intertwines the historical complexities of the time with personal relationships.

Luis Alberto Urrea humorously draws audience members into his personal journey to connect with his own history. After growing up listening to family folklore about his great aunt Teresita, and her magical healing powers, he knew he had to keep her memory alive. He spent 26 years researching before he felt that he could properly tell the tale of this young Mexican Joan of Arc. Urrea's efforts magnificently culminated in "The Hummingbird's Daughter" and the sequel, "Queen of America."

Luis Alberto Urrea humorously draws audience members into his personal journey to connect with his own history. After growing up listening to family folklore about his great aunt Teresita, and her magical healing powers, he knew he had to keep her memory alive. He spent 26 years researching before he felt that he could properly tell the tale of this young Mexican Joan of Arc. Urrea's efforts magnificently culminated in "The Hummingbird's Daughter" and the sequel, "Queen of America."

They are considered fathers of modern medicine: Sigmund Freud for his advancements in psychoanalysis, and William Halsted for the many surgical breakthroughs he made in the operating room.  And yet, both men battled an addiction to cocaine.  Acclaimed medical historian and pediatrician Howard Markel reveals how scientific research lead these men down a path of "accidental" addiction to what many perceived as the "miracle drug" of the 1880s, cocaine.  Markel's chat on his New York Time's best-selling book, "An Anatomy of Addiction" not only discusses the extent of the doctors' addictions to cocaine, but how the public's perception of the drug changed from excited advocates of its perceived benefits to disdain for those who became addicted to it.

New York Times Best-seller author Jean Kwok shares her personal story with students at Maryville University. This story mirrors that of the young Chinese immigrant, Kim Chang, in her debut novel "Girl in Translation." See how living a double life between school and a Chinatown sweatshop in Brooklyn helped to make the author the successful women she is today.

New York Times Best-seller author Jean Kwok shares her personal story with students at Maryville University. This story mirrors that of the young Chinese immigrant, Kim Chang, in her debut novel "Girl in Translation." See how living a double life between school and a Chinatown sweatshop in Brooklyn helped to make the author the successful women she is today.

New York Times Best Selling Author Stacy Schiff discusses her newest biography “Cleopatra: A Life.” Together with St. Louis Public Radio’s popular host Don Marsh, you’ll get the story behind the story of the last queen of Egypt.

New York Times Best Selling Author Stacy Schiff discusses her newest biography “Cleopatra: A Life.” Together with St. Louis Public Radio’s popular host Don Marsh, you’ll get the story behind the story of the last queen of Egypt.

Robopocalypse is a brilliantly conceived action-filled epic, a terrifying story with heart-stopping implications for the real technology all around us. Director Steven Spielberg has already started making the movie version, which is slated for release in 2013. Wilson received his PhD in robotics from Carnegie Mellon University. He has also written a nonfiction book, How to Survive a Robot Uprising.

Robopocalypse is a brilliantly conceived action-filled epic, a terrifying story with heart-stopping implications for the real technology all around us. Director Steven Spielberg has already started making the movie version, which is slated for release in 2013. Wilson received his PhD in robotics from Carnegie Mellon University. He has also written a nonfiction book, How to Survive a Robot Uprising.

Now in paperback, Justin Cronin’s hit novel The Passage is a breathtaking tale of catastrophe and survival. This mesmerizing work of sacrifice and hope, tells an epic story of a girl given the chance to save humanity. Award-winning and acclaimed author Justin Cronin’s ambitious vision and powerful prose combine and create the perfect summer read. Stephen King says, "Read this book and the ordinary world disappears." Watch Justin Cronin speak about the inspiration behind his work and read a key passage from the novel about an important character. This presentation is part of the Maryville Talks Books series, which is co-sponsored by Left Bank Books, Maryville University, HEC-TV, and St. Louis Public Radio.

Now in paperback, Justin Cronin’s hit novel The Passage is a breathtaking tale of catastrophe and survival. This mesmerizing work of sacrifice and hope, tells an epic story of a girl given the chance to save humanity. Award-winning and acclaimed author Justin Cronin’s ambitious vision and powerful prose combine and create the perfect summer read. Stephen King says, "Read this book and the ordinary world disappears." Watch Justin Cronin speak about the inspiration behind his work and read a key passage from the novel about an important character. This presentation is part of the Maryville Talks Books series, which is co-sponsored by Left Bank Books, Maryville University, HEC-TV, and St. Louis Public Radio.

Helen Simonson , a British native who married an American and has lived in the U.S. for the past 20 years, provided lively, humorous commentary about how her novel, Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, describes life in a small English village.