In his book, A Chinaman's Chance, former Clinton speechwriter Eric Liu reflects on his own Chinese American identity. He tells Steve Paulson how multiculturalism is challenging traditional notions of what it means to be American.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
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Chad Harbach is a cofounder and coeditor of the literary magazine N+1. A few years ago, he penned a widely circulated essay looking at the rise of creative writing MFA programs in the US. He believes they're creating a distinctly new literary culture, with its own set of motivations and goals.
James Kakalios tells Jim Fleming that without quantum physics, we wouldn't have ipods or CD players or laptops.
James WIlliam Gibson talks about ways in which people are seeking to reconnect with the natural world and to protect it, rather than simply exploit it as a resource.
Hugh Masakela is a dreamer who longed for personal artistic expression and freedom for his people.
James Gleick's "The Information" is a sweeping history of information, going back to the invention of writing and the African tradition of talking drums. He tells Steve Paulson that the invention of information technologies has changed the very nature of consciousness.
If you really want to get a feel for Isaac Newton - perhaps history's greatest scientist - the best way is to see his original manuscripts at Cambridge University Library. But they're so valuable, it's hard to get permission to look at them. They did let Steve Paulson in, but only in the company of 4 archivists, plus Newton historian Sarah Dry.
Jack Gottschalk tells Steve Paulson that piracy is alive and well on the high seas, from crews who hi-jack tankers and container ships to well-armed bandits who prey on boat people.
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