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PROGRAM: TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE

PRODUCER: Steve Paulson, Wisconsin Public Radio, 608-263-5412

PROMO       1/11/2009    "Magical Thinking"
*When she was a child, Laura Miller wanted desperately to visit Narnia -
- C.S. Lewis' fantastic fictional universe in which animals talk and
magic is an everyday occurrence. But when Miller re-read the "Chronicles
of Narnia" series as an adult, she felt betrayed and tricked.  Next time
on To the Best of Our Knowledge, Laura Miller talks about returning to
the Narnia stories to discover the wonder and mysteries they hold for
adults. Also, we'll explore the truth behind today's pop mysticisms.

                                   
PROGRAM RUNDOWN:   "Magical Thinking"


0:00 - 13:41        SEGMENT 1: (13:42)
            Robert Price writes about the popularity of books like
            Rhonda Byrne's "The Secret" in his book, "Top Secret: The
            Truth Behind Today's Pop Mysticism."  He tells Anne
            Strainchamps that people would be better off if they
            stuck to mainstream religion rather than what he
            considers the "dumbed down" versions. 
                              
            Segment One Outcue:  "...PRI - Public Radio
            International."

13:42 - 14:11  LOCAL OPTION with music bed (:29)

14:12 - 37:44       SEGMENT 2: (23:34)
            Mark Barrowcliffe wasted his youth playing Dungeons and
            Dragons.  Now he's turned his obsession into a book, "The
            Elfish Gene: Dungeons, Dragons and Growing Up Strange." 
            Barrowcliffe tells Jim Fleming how D & D is played and
            recalls some of his most memorable games.   Also,  Holly Black
     is a fantasy writer best known for "The
            Spiderwick Chronicles."  Her latest book is "The Good
            Neighbors: Book One: Kin."  Black tells Anne Strainchamps
            what she thinks children get out of reading about magic
            or alternative realities.
                         
            Segment Two Outcue:  "...PRI - Public Radio
            International."

37:45 - 38:14       LOCAL OPTION with music bed (:29)

38:15 - 53:00       SEGMENT 3: (14:44)
            Kenneth Branagh reads a selection from "The Magician's
            Nephew," one of The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis.
            And Laura Miller talks with Steve Paulson about her long
            relationship with the Narnia books. She read them as a
            child and loved them. Later she was put off by the
            Christian symbolism, but now feels the book are terrific
            for believers and non-believers alike. Miller's book
            about her experience with Narnia is called "The
            Magician's Book: A Skeptic's Adventures in Narnia."
                         
            Segment Three Outcue: PRI Audio Logo


For a copy of this hour, call 1-800-747-7444, and ask for program number
1-11-A.

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Radio and the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.
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