Bksm1112

TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE

from Wisconsin Public Radio

November 12, 1995 Programs

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1100 - 1159

Gated Cities

1200 - 1259

Mental Abilities

1300 - 1359

Historical Interpretation

PROGRAM RUNDOWN

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."

11-12-A

PROGRAM RUNDOWN

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.

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.

11-12-C