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The Leonard Lopate Show

Monday, March 15, 2004
  • The Great Wave (Hokusai Katsushika)
    The Great Wave (Hokusai Katsushika)

    Japan Unbound

    Right now, Japan is stuck in its longest recession since World War II. UC Santa Barbara professor John Nathan explains how the ongoing economic difficulties are bringing to the surface Japan’s cultural upheaval and struggle to forge a national identity. Then Security Consultant in Baghdad and former Special Forces soldier Mark Vargas describes the capture and imprisonment of Saddam Hussein. Brad Land recounts the horrendous hazing he went through as a fraternity pledge. And Doris Lessing, one of our most prolific writers, on her latest, The Grandmothers. It’s a collection of four short novels.

John Nathan

John Nathan is the author of Japan Unbound: A Volatile Nation's Quest for Pride and Purpose.

» Read more about the book

Music: Original motion picture score, "The Last Samurai" Tracks 2 and 6

Mark Vargas

Mark Vargas is Security Consultant in Baghdad, and is also Command Major [D] Ret. Special Forces. He has written the foreword to Robin Moore’s new book, Hunting Down Saddam: The Inside Story of the Search and Capture.

Music: Music from the motion picture, "The General’s Daughter" Tracks 6 and 5

Brad Land

In his memoir, Goat, Brad Land tells about the barbaric hazing rituals he underwent while pledging a fraternity.

» Read an excerpt of Land's memoir
» Read more about the book

Events: Brad Land does a reading and Q&A on Tuesday, March 16 at the KGB BAR at 7:00PM, 85 East 4th Street, NYC

Music: Music from the motion picture, "The General’s Daughter" Tracks 15 and 7

Doris Lessing

Doris Lessing writes about intimacy, relationships, and the human condition in her latest, The Grandmothers: Four Short Novellas.

Events: Doris Lessing is interviewed by Leonard at the 92nd St Y on Monday March 15 at 7 pm and at Queens College, Tuesday, March 16 at 8 pm. For tickets, call 718-997-4646

Music: Music from the motion picture, "Iris" Track 7

National Book Award Winners

The Leonard Lopate Show

A number of this year’s National Book Award winners have appeared on The Leonard Lopate Show. Click here to see the list!

Tributes: Jeanne-Claude

The Leonard Lopate Show

Jeanne-Claude created environmental works of art with her husband and fellow-conspirator/collaborator Christo. Together, they wrapped the Reichstag in Berlin, the Pont-Neuf in Paris, and created The Gates, with billowy orange drapes, in Central Park. Jeanne-Claude just died at the age of 74. You can hear Leonard Lopate’s last interview with them both, from July 19, 1999.

Please Explain: Eco-Labels

The Leonard Lopate Show

Your broccoli, shampoo, and air conditioner might bear labels declaring them to be organic, cruelty-free, or energy efficient, but what do those labels mean and are they true? Dr. Urvashi Rangan, Project Director for Consumer Reports' GreenerChoices.org and Consumers Union’s Senior Scientist for Policy Initiatives, and Dara O'Rourke, founder and CEO of GoodGuide.com, took a look at what eco-labels indicate, how standards are set, and what they mean for consumers and manufacturers around the world.

Our 3-ingredient Challenge wins a James Beard Award

The Leonard Lopate Show

On May 3, the Lopate Show won its third James Beard Award for our 3-ingredient challenge. In August, we asked our listeners to call in and name 3 ingredients and then challenged New York chef and 3-ingredient expert Rozanne Gold to whip up a recipe! You can listen to the 3-ingredient challenge and get some inspiration for simple, delicious, and unexpected dishes.