The amazing Studs Terkel, now age 94, has just published his 16th book in paperback. Its subhead Adventures of an Eclectic Disc Jockey (The New Press; $16.95), is certainly the right word for a man whose enthusiasms run the gamut from Ravi Shankar’s sitar to Louis Armstrong’s coronet. But “disc jockey” is far too […]

This weekend on WGN Radio, we’ll be talking about great opportunities for learning and enrichment around Chicago. Our suggestions include the Art Institute’s week-long overview of its collection to the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s docent program. . .and even advanced training for motorcycle riders.
You can hear Satisfaction on the air each Saturday at 6am, 11am or […]

GRAM PARSONS * THE COM
So beloved was Gram Parsons that even now, more than thirty years since his
death, fans still scour vaults for one last gem from the country-rock
pioneer. Unfortunately the former Byrds/Flying Burrito Brothers member
released only two solo albums, 1973’s GP and 1974’s Grievous Angel, and left
little unused material behind. This three CD collection […]

Road warrior Tom Petty may finally be wearing out the road. On his first solo album in 12 years (American Recordings) the sage rocker lays out a map of 30 years on the highway and fills it with signs of slowing down, from the pop-up references to “roads” and “time” and Petty’s own hints that […]

These excerpts from the hilarious sports columns by Scheft (Warner Books; $13.95), which originally ran in Sports Illustrated and ESPN Magazine, offer laugh-out-loud viewpoints on every aspect of the world of professional sports. He updates these columns with fresh, funny commentary. As Scheft confesses in his introductory remarks, readers often don’t get the […]

This warm-hearted tribute to the joys of the independent bookstore weaves its way through San Francisco, Alexandria, Denver, Paris, Mendocino, Mainz, Tucson, Prague, and finally back to his home in San Francisco (Graywolf Press; $17.00). Buzbee explores the musty smells, the feel of the cracked bindings, and the memorable words with the tenderness of […]

What are your Top Ten unfulfilled wishes? Everyone should have a list of daydream fantasy experiences and be ready to go after them. Mine’s a work in progress, but here’s what’s making the grade this summer.
1. LEARN SPANISH. Two of our near-adult children are fluent and probably will spend a great deal of time in […]

Are we what we drink? Standage argues that beverages have influenced the course of human history in many ways, beginning with the first beer made in Mesopotamia circa 10,000 B.C.(Walker; $14.95). Not all glasses contain alcohol. First there is beer, then wine, whiskey, coffee, tea, and, most recently, Coca-Cola. Although early […]