To the Best of Our Knowledge
Each week, To the Best of Our Knowledge brings you two hours of in-depth interviews with nationally and internationally-known guests whose passion for new ideas will challenge and engage. Hosted by Jim Fleming, this interview magazine is thoughtful and penetrating, and features fascinating topics and guests.
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TTBOOK: Radical Gardening
James William Gibson suggests we reconnect with the natural world and protect it, rather than exploit it. Amy Stewart cultivates a garden of lethal plants. Richard Reynolds describes his adventures as a guerrilla gardener. Erin Clune tours a private garden that has become a local la …
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TTBOOK: Arts Education
Eric Booth is concerned about the current state of arts education in American schools. Michael Doucet educates people about Cajun culture through Cajun music. Katie Salen explains what children can learn from designing and playing games. David Gilmour writes about his decision to le …
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TTBOOK: Reclaiming Islam
Reza Aslan discusses President Obama's speech but says Muslims will wait to see if the actions of the United States reflect its leader's words. Tissa Hami is one of the world's few female Muslim stand-up comics. Christopher Caldwell explains the European discomfort with the rising tide of …
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TTBOOK: How We Learn
Daniel Wolff says most Americans learn what they really need to know outside of school. Richard Nisbett thinks that parenting styles have an enormous impact on the IQ of children. Maryanne Wolf feels the dyslexia brain ought to be considered a gift. Rick Riordan created the character …
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TTBOOK: Boots On the Ground
Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez wrote a scathing critique of the Bush administration's planning and execution of the war in Iraq. Helen Benedict collected interviews about the sexual harassment and sexual abuse endured by female soldiers in Iraq. Donovan Campbell writes about his expe …
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TTBOOK: Atheism and its Critics
John Haught says the so-called "new atheists" simply don't measure up to old atheists like Nietzsche and Camus. Richard Dawkins demonstrates why he's been called "Darwin's rottweiler. Alister McGrath talks about the role of religious zealotry. Jenny Phillips filmed a group of inmates le …
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TTBOOK: Save the Males
Kathleen Parker says that popular culture portrays men as fools and it's in women's interest in fix this. Tom Farley, older brother of comedian Chris Farley talks about his life, comedy and early death. Maddox is a politically incorrect, testosterone-laden and deliberately outrageous comedia …
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TTBOOK: Karaoke
Brian Raftery wrote about karaoke in Japan and the man who invented it. The Gomers perform for karaoke where you sing along with a live band. Bjorn Turmann's novel revolves around karaoke. The Snuggles Collective uses audio clips to create vocals that "sing" karaoke. Jonas Ridderst …
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TTBOOK: Sense of Place
Terry Tempest Williams describes some important landscapes. Martyn Stewart recorded the sounds of the Arctic. Scott Russell Sanders writes about his on-going effort to understand the place where he lives. Jerry Apps chronicles his "Old Farm." Caryl Owen burns her young prairie. G …
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TTBOOK: Revenge of the Nerds
Benjamin Nugent describes nerd history and the different nerdy subcultures. Dan Lamoureux produced and directed the documentary film "Nerdcore for Life." David Anderegg thinks we need more nerds. Holly Black says that girl nerds and geeks definitely exist. Gary Brecher explains …
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TTBOOK: Facing Death
Aubrey de Grey thinks there's no reason why people can't go on living indefinitely. Umberto Eco has some thoughts in favor of death. Diana Athill has written her second memoir at the age of 91. Simon Critchley wrote a quirky account of how various philosophers thought about death and …
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TTBOOK: Mother Stories
Frances Richey and her son Ben Richey talk about her poetry and his service in Iraq. Melissa Errico sings "Mockingbird." Isabel Allende's memoir takes the form of a letter to her deceased daughter. Amanda Henry comments on the rocky road to motherhood. Rachel Pastan discusses com …
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TTBOOK: The Afghan Question
Ahmed Rashid says that the U.S. rushed into Afghanistan but was never interested in the country's real problems. Craig Mullaney led an infantry rifle platoon along the hostile border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. David Kilcullen feels that the problem with traditional counter-insurgen …
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TTBOOK: American Classic
Jeannette Walls tells an American classic story of rags to riches. Steven Biel describes a classic painting, American Gothic. Freakwater plays not-so-classic country music. John T. Edge claims apple pie as the ultimate American classic.
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TTBOOK: From Suburbia to the Surreal: Writers' Lives
Blake Bailey is the author of the new biography of John Cheever. Pulitzer Prize winning writers Elizabeth Strout and Marilynne Robinson discuss the appeal of small towns and how to live a good life. Tracy Daugherty is the author of "Hiding Man: A Biography of Donald Barthelme." Natali …
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TTBOOK: Sturm und Twang: Country Music
Carlene Carter describes how events in her life inspired her album "Stronger." Dana Jennings' family listened to country music and their values were shaped by it. John Huss wrote an essay about Johnny Cash and the concept of Justice. Joe Nick Patoski authored a comprehensive biography …
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TTBOOK: Coming Home From Iraq
Jim Sheeler talks about the next-of-kin notification process. John McCury reads his essay called "The Fallen." Tyler Boudreau resigned his commission due to reservations over the legitimacy of the Iraq war. Gary Mitchell was a sniper in Viet Nam and talks about his experiences and the …
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TTBOOK: Under the Influence
Pattie Boyd played muse to George Harrison and Eric Clapton. David Hillman wrote about recreational drug use in antiquity. Steve Almond had a teenage obsession with Kurt Vonnegut. Christopher O'Riley says the real credit for his success belongs to his mentor, Russell Sherman.
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TTBOOK: Iran After the Revolution
Salman Rushdie talks about the novel that sent him into hiding for a decade. Mamek Khadem created music for an art installation to mark the Iranian Revolution. Author Azadeh Moaveni describes working in Iran with a government minder. David Assman filmed the Iranian women's National Fo …
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TTBOOK: Good Dog
Michael Schaffer found pet ownership has made a major shift in our culture in the last fifteen years. Stanley Coren describes how the modern dog developed. Cesar Millan says dogs need exercise, discipline and affection, in that order. Temple Grandin worries about pets in our moder …
To the Best of Our Knowledge
