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BTSA: "Free to Choose" Milton & Rose Friedman with Prof. Mark Skousen Nov 10, 2023

Show notes

Milton Friedman was a 1976 Nobel Prize-winning American economist and advisor to President Ronald Reagan and conservative British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, among others. This week, a conversation with his friend and a Professor at Chapman University, Mark Skousen. In 1980, Friedman partnered with his wife, Rose, to create a 10-part television series for PBS titled "Free to Choose." The Friedmans argued that free-market capitalism works best for all members of society, leading to problem-solving where other economic approaches have failed. The companion book to the PBS series, also titled Free to Choose, was among the best-selling non-fiction books of 1980.

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AB: Stephen Friot, "Containing History" Nov 10, 2023

Show notes

U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Friot discussed his book on Cold War history and how it explains current U.S.-Russia relations. About Books also reported on the latest publishing industry news and current non-fiction books.

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BN: Robert Hartley, "Purpose, Power & Prison" Nov 07, 2023

Show notes

When you read about the political history of Illinois, you often see the word "corruption." For instance, from January 1961 until January 2009 Illinois citizens elected 8 different men to be their governor. Four of those eventually went to prison, all convicted after they were out of office. Our guest this week, Robert Hartley, has written 11 books about the politicians of Illinois, including one titled "Power, Purpose & Prison." Mr. Hartley writes that these men met their downfall under different circumstances. He asks: "Where did they go wrong?" and "Were they able to recover self-respect in spite of their punishment?"

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Q&A: Randy Barnett and Evan Bernick, "The Original Meaning of the 14th Amendment" Nov 06, 2023

Show notes

Professors Randy Barnett and Evan Bernick talked about their book, The Original Meaning of the 14th Amendment. They argued that the 14th Amendment, which gave the federal judiciary and Congress new powers over the states, has been misinterpreted by conservative and liberal judges alike since its adoption in 1868.

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AW: Ruth Simmons, "Up Home - One Girl's Journey" Nov 05, 2023

Show notes

Ruth Simmons spoke about her journey from poverty to academia, serving as president of Smith College, Brown University & Prairie View A&M University. She was interviewed by author Freeman Hrabowski.

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BTSA: "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston w/ Prof. Gary Richards Nov 03, 2023

Show notes

Zora Neale Hurston brings to life a Southern love story that explores race, gender roles, and identity, which influenced African-American and women's literature. In this episode, we speak with English Professor Gary Richards of The University of Mary Washington. The book is considered a classic of the Harlem Renaissance.

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BN: Ben Stein, "The Peacemaker" Oct 31, 2023

Show notes

Ben Stein, our guest this week, is close to 80 years old. When he was in his 20s he wrote speeches for Richard Nixon. He wants you to know that he still calls Mr. Nixon his hero. Mr. Stein also tells you in his latest book about what he's done since those early years: "I've worked as a university teacher, a columnist for the Wall Street Journal, a scriptwriter, a novelist, an investigator into financial fraud for Barron's, a columnist for the late greatly lamented Los Angeles Herald Examiner, a writer and a commentator on economics, an actor, a game show host, a talk show host, a father, and a husband." His book is called "The Peacemaker: Nixon – The Man, President, and My Friend."

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Q&A: Tom Cronin, "Imagining a Great Republic" Oct 30, 2023

Show notes

Professor Tom Cronin talked about his book, Imagining a Great Republic, a survey of American novels that have helped tell the story of the American political experiment.

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AW: Martin Baron, "Collision of Power" Oct 29, 2023

Show notes

Martin Baron talks about leading the Washington Post as executive editor under the ownership of Jeff Bezos & during Donald Trump’s presidency. He's interviewed by NPR Media Correspondent David Folkenflik.

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BTSA: "My Antonia" by Willa Cather w/ Historian Richard Norton Smith Oct 27, 2023

Show notes

Willa Cather's novel, My Ántonia, evokes the Nebraska prairie life of her childhood and pays tribute to the spirit and courage of immigrant pioneers in America. Historian Richard Norton Smith discusses Cather's works, including My Antonia, which was written in 1918. The book tells the story of a girl who arrives on the frontier as part of a family of Bohemian immigrants, and her friendship with an orphaned boy who taught her English. The novel explores issues facing women of the time in that region, and the meaning of success in America.

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