Jon Stravers — also known as "Hawk" — is an ornithologist, a musician, and a Vietnam veteran. To say that he's obsessed with birds might be putting it mildly. Since he came back from Vietnam he's spent most of his springs and summers along the Mississippi keeping an eye and ear out for birds. His latest obsession is the Cerulean Warbler, a species once thought to be in decline in the Upper Mississippi.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
Audio
Archeologist Alexander Stille talks to Steve Paulson about the paradox involved in his work – sometimes digging up old treasures can destroy them.
Writer Andre Aciman says a good memoir can capture emotional truth even when certain historical details are fictionalized. He describes the art of the memoir.
Have you every actually read Thoreau's "Walden"? If not, you've really missed something. Here's the next best thing: excerpts from the book, set to music.
Alain de Botton tells Steve Paulson how modern readers can derive comfort from philosophy, and sees no conflict between talking about serious ideas and entertaining the reader.
American writer Amanda Henry is married to a Frenchman. She provides a commentary on how differently they perceive things due to their national origins.
Abram de Swaan is a Dutch sociologist who studies the politics of language. He tells Steve Paulson that English is the worldwide language of business and diplomacy, though many wish it weren’t.
Andrew Sullivan and Brian Mann appeared together at the Wisconsin Book Festival in a discussion moderated by Steve Paulson on the topic of the new conservatives in America.
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