TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE


PROMO FOR    1/10/2010       "Reality"
*It's not quite the Manhattan that we're familiar with. "The New York
Times" is available in a "War-Free Edition" and there are rumors of an
escaped tiger on the prowl in the Upper East Side. This is the setting
of Jonathan Lethem's ("LEETH-em's) critically-acclaimed new novel,
"Chronic City." Next time on TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE, Jonathan
Lethem "LEETH-em" talks about the real and the unreal, as we explore the
nature of reality. And we'll look at "The Simulated Universe" Argument.
Is this the real life or is this just fantasy?


PROGRAM RUNDOWN:   "Reality"


0:00 - 14:38        SEGMENT 1: (14:39)
            Jonathan Lethem's new novel is "Chronic City."  The book 
            has been described as a cross between the famous borough-
            centric New Yorker cartoon and the darkest episode of
            "Seinfeld." Lethem reads a bit and talks aout the book
            with Jim Fleming.  
                    
            Segment One Outcue:  "...PRI - Public Radio
            International."

14:39 - 15:08  LOCAL OPTION with music bed (:29)

15:09 - 40:31       SEGMENT 2: (25:23)
            Chuck Klosterman is the author of several books focusing
            on pop culture.   The latest is a collection of essays
            called "Eating the Dinosaur." In the final essay, called
            "Fail," Klosterman examines the thinking behind the so-
            called "Unabomber Manifesto."  He tells Steve Paulson
            that while he doesn't condone Ted Kaczynski's murders, he
            thinks there are some interesting ideas in his writing. 
            Also, V. Vale has published four books by J.G. Ballard
            through his independent publishing house, RE/Search
            Publications. Ballard is considered a science fiction
            writer, but described his fiction as "picturing the
            psychology of the future."  Vale talks with Steve Paulson
            about the prophetic powers of J.G. Ballard.  And we hear
            a bit from a CBC Radio dramatization of a Ballard short
            story from their "Vanishing Point" series.
                    
            Segment Two Outcue:  "...PRI - Public Radio
            International."

40:32 - 41:01       LOCAL OPTION with music bed (:29)

41:02 - 53:00       SEGMENT 3: (11:58)
            Brent Silby teaches philosophy in Christchurch, New
            Zealand and is the author of an article in "Philosophy
            Now" magazine called "The Simulated Universe."    He
            talks with Anne Strainchamps about the argument it makes. 
                    
            Segment Three Outcue: PRI Audio Logo


For a copy of this hour, call 1-800-747-7444, and ask for program number
1-10-B.

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