Bksm1112

TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE
from Wisconsin Public Radio
November 12, 1995 Programs
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1100 - 1159 Hour #1 Gated Cities
1200 - 1259 Hour #2 Mental Abilities
1300 - 1359 Hour #3 Historical Interpretation
PROGRAM RUNDOWN Hour 1:Gated Cities
SEGMENT 1:
Political scientist Evan McKenzie tells Judith Strasser about
the new gated cities and other "common interest developments"
that are luring Americans out of their traditional urban
centers. McKenzie's book about these communities is called
"Privatopia."
SEGMENT 2:
Cynthia Hamilton tells Judith Strasser that the key to saving
our cities is not merely fixing them up: the massive urban
renewal projects of the 1960s often destroyed the very
communities they set out to preserve. Hamilton directs the
African-American studies program at the University of Rhode
Island. Also, historian Richard Sennett tells Steve Paulson
that ancient Greek cities were designed to showcase the naked
male body and that our cities reflect our obsession with sex.
Sennett's latest book is called "Flesh and Stone: The Body and
City in Western Civilization."
SEGMENT 3:
Writer Mark Salzman tells Jim Fleming about his unconventional
youth and fascination with Eastern philosophy and martial arts.
Salzman's new book is called "Lost in Place: Growing Up Absurd
in Suburbia."
For cassette copies of this hour, call 1-800-747-7444, and ask for program number
11-12-A.
PROGRAM RUNDOWN Hour 2:Mental Abilities
SEGMENT 1:
Psychologist Frances Rauscher tells Judith Strasser about her
research showing that children as young as three who are given
simple musical training develop significantly improved
cognitive abilities including temporal/spatial imaging skills.
Rauscher teaches at the University of Wisconsin in Osh Kosh.
Also, radio games! Harvard psychologist Stephen Kosslyn has
spent twenty years figuring out how the mind conjures up
images. It turns out there are a variety of imaging skills,
and Kosslyn demonstrates on Steve Paulson that they are not
necessarily related and have nothing to do with intelligence.
Kosslyn's book is called "Image and Brain."
SEGMENT 2:
Daniel Goleman is a science writer for the New York Times and
the author of "Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More
Than IQ." He tells Jim Fleming what emotional intelligence is
and why school systems (including New Haven's) are wise to work
at developing it.
SEGMENT 3:
The central character of Alan Lightman's novel "Good Benito" is
a physicist completely lacking in emotional intelligence.
Lightman tells Judith Strasser why some scientists have trouble
dealing with the messy ambiguity of human relationships.
Lightman teaches physics and writing at MIT.
For cassette copies of this hour, call 1-800-747-7444, and ask for program number
11-12-B.
PROGRAM RUNDOWN: HOUR 3: Historical Interpretation
SEGMENT 1
Historian Edward Linenthal tells Judith Strasser that all
history is a narrative and, using the Little Big Horn
battlefield as an example, explains how our interpretation of
an event can change over time. Linenthal is the author of
"Sacred Grounds: Americans and Their Battlefields" and
"Preserving Memory: The Struggle to Create the American
Holocaust Museum."
SEGMENT 2:
Sociologist James Loewen studied twelve American high-school
history texts. He tells Steve Paulson what's wrong with them
and why. Loewen's book is called "Lies My Teacher Told Me:
Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong." Also,
former reporter Joy Hakim has written (with the editorial
advice of a bunch of ten year olds) a series of ten American
history books that kids actually want to read. She tells Jim
Fleming what makes her books different and why they are
accepted by adults from both ends of the political spectrum.
Joy Hakim's books are called "A History of US."
SEGMENT 3:
In her new book, "The House on the Lagoon," Puerto Rican
novelist Rosario Ferre (rose ah' ree oh ferr ray') shows how
family history shapes the lives of a pair of young lovers.
Ferre talks with Judith Strasser about the power of stories
from the past to determine the future.
For cassette copies of this hour, call 1-800-747-7444, and ask for program number
11-12-C.
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Last modified: Friday November 10, 1995