Authors on the Air: A Few Good Eggs

by Staff, PW Daily -- Publishers Weekly, 6/1/2005

This morning the Today Show spoke with Julie Vargo and Maureen Regan, the authors of A Few Good Eggs: Two Chicks Dish on Overcoming the Insanity of Infertility (ReganBooks, $26.50). Vargo and Regan shared their experiences with infertility and offered frank and friendly advice for others facing the same situation.

Today on Imus in the Morning, Richard Haass seized the chance to talk about The Opportunity (Public Affairs, $25). PW had this to say: “As the president of the Council on Foreign Relations, one of the country's most influential nongovernmental organizations and the publisher of the essential policy journal Foreign Affairs, Haass has a unique seat from which to weigh the direction of the U.S.'s relations with the rest of the world…. Haass ends up arguing not just that the U.S. has terrific opportunities to integrate itself politically with the rest of the world, but that it must do so in order to preserve its economic integrity if nothing else. The final chapter, titled ‘The Necessity,’ argues that if that integration does not happen, ‘The principal challenges of this era...will come to overwhelm the United States.’ Coming as they do from a carefully calibrated source, those are sobering words.”

On the Diane Rehm Show today, Lynn Nicholas discussed Cruel World: The Children of Europe in the Nazi Web (Knopf, $35). PW gave the book a starred review, writing, “Nicholas's acclaimed The Rape of Europa helped galvanize the return of Nazi-looted art. While this work is unlikely to have such practical impact, it demonstrates a similar breadth of research and historical compassion. She looks at the effect of Nazi policies on children as a recounting of the nonmilitary story of WWII…. At times, Nicholas loses her focus, retelling the much-told story of the war itself. But there is no doubt that she has put together a well-written, compelling history that makes us look at the war era anew.”

Talk of the Nation took a presidential turn today with Christopher Hitchens and Thomas Jefferson: Author of America (Eminent Lives, $19.95). PW called this latest entry in HarperCollins’ Eminent Lives series a “brief yet dense biography” and went on to say: “This opinionated, lively narrative sheds light not only on Jefferson's complex personality but on the politics of his time, making it both a fascinating character study and an excellent review of early American history.”

Former president Bill Clinton will appear on Larry King Live tonight. The paperback edition of Clinton’s autobiography, My Life (Vintage, $17.95), went on sale yesterday.

Look for Lisa Scottoline to heighten the suspense on the Early Show Friday when she stops by to promote Devil’s Corner (HarperCollins, $25.95; HarperAudio abridged CD, $29.95, unabridged CD, $39.95). PW’s verdict: “Scottoline's 12th novel was inspired by a real-life jury trial for crack-cocaine trafficking of members of one of the most violent gangs in Philadelphia history (in her acknowledgments, the former trial lawyer admits she watches cases like these ‘for fun’). Such inspiration lends a tough, uncompromising realism to this stand-alone legal thriller…. Scottoline’s ability to mix humor with serious subject matter, combined with her intense research of inner city drug trafficking and a side plot involving Vicki's love life, make for compelling entertainment.”

For more detailed information about author appearances on these shows and others as well as listings of book mentions and book reviews, see Motor Online. The service monitors nationally broadcast TV and radio programs and develops comprehensive listings of books, music, magazines, videos, film and software featured on more than 60 programs.

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