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The Leonard Lopate Show

Wednesday, November 28, 2007
  • Alice Walker

    Getting Older in America

    Tens of millions of baby boomers are in their 50s and 60s. A geriatrician and a sociologist tell us what America's baby boomers need to know before they become senior citizens. Also: find out what soldiers are reading. We hear about a thwarted aid mission in Afghanistan. Plus, Alice Walker discuses her new book Why War is Never a Good Idea.

    We want your favorite holiday cookie recipe! On Dec. 11, we're hosting a Christmas cookie recipe swap. Dig up your favorite recipe and submit here.

Aid Mission in Afghanistan Gone Wrong

Joel Hafvenstein went to Afghanistan to run an aid program with two goals: to help opium poppy farmers find other ways to earn a living, and to win hearts and minds from the former Taliban government. But his mission went terribly wrong. His new memoir is Opium Season.

Opium Season is available for purchase at amazon.com

Teaching Literature at West Point

Elizabeth D. Samet talks about the links between literature and war, and how reading influences military life. Her new book about teaching English at West Point is Soldier's Heart.

Event: Elizabeth Samet will be speaking and signing books
Thursday, November 29 at 7 pm
192 Books
192 10th Avenue (between 21st and 22nd Streets)

Soldier’s Heart is available for purchase at amazon.com

Weigh in: We'd like to hear from current and former servicemen and -women. Which books have been most helpful to you during your time in the service?

Read an excerpt from Soldier's Heart

Getting Old in America

78 million baby boomers are moving into their 60s, and people are living longer than ever. We look into what America's baby boomers need to know before they become senior citizens. Dr. Jurgen Bludau is a geriatrician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Lillian Rubin is author of 60 on Up: The Truth About Aging in America.

60 on Up is available for purchase at amazon.com

Weigh in: What do you fear most about getting old? What do you look forward to?

Alice Walker: Why War is Never a Good Idea

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Walker wants to teach children about the graphic horrors of war. In her new kids' book, Why War is Never a Good Idea, she writes:

"Though War is Old

It has not

Become wise."

Why War is Never a Good Idea is available for purchase at amazon.com

If you can't see the video click here

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.