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Wisconsin Public Radio

Program 05-01-09-B

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Was Henry David Thoreau a failure? Hardly. Today, he's considered one of America's great writers. But his mentor, Ralph Waldo Emerson, called him the worst kind of failure: a dreamer. At Thoreau's funeral, Emerson said Thoreau was born for greatness, but he lacked ambition. He was nor more than a dilettante. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge we'll talk about the history of failure in a country that worships success.

SEGMENT 1:

Writer and writing coach Natalie Goldberg tells Anne Strainchamps how two of the most important men in her life - her father and her Zen master – failed her, and why she had to write about it. Her memoir is called "The Great Failure." Also, David Schmader thinks "Showgirls" is the most brilliant bad movie ever made. He did a commentary for the new DVD edition and tells Steve Paulson why it's so hilarious. And we hear lots of clips.

SEGMENT 2:

Scott Sandage is the author of "Born Losers: A History of Failure in America." He tells Anne Strainchamps that the very meaning of failure has changed in American society over 200 years, and we hear some examples of famous American failures. Also, David Denby is the author of "American Sucker." He hatched a plan to make a million dollars on the stock market. Then the dot com bubble burst, and he watched his new fortune wither away. Denby tells the story to Steve Paulson.

SEGMENT 3:

Writer Mike Magnuson used to like being a lummox. Then he took up bicycling, and changed his life. He's slim and fit now, and he's written a book about the transformation, called "Heft on Wheels." Magnuson reads from the book and talks with Jim Fleming about his new life.

Cassette copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 05-01-09-B.

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Books:

• David Denby, American Sucker (Little, Brown)
• Natalie Goldberg, The Great Failure : A Bartender, A Monk, and My Unlikely Path to Truth (HarperSanFrancisco)
• Mike Magnuson, Heft on Wheels : A Field Guide to Doing a 180 (Harmony)
• Scott Sandage, Born Losers: Born Losers : A History of Failure in America (Harvard University Press)

Music:

• After Return:
  Bob Dylan w/ "Love Minus Zero"
  on Bringing it All Back
  Columbia Records
• After Goldberg:
  Richard Stoltzman w/ "Goodbye"
  on Richard Stoltzman: New York Counterpoint
  RCA
• After Schmader:
  Miss Kittin & The Hacker w/ "Showgirls"
• Joe Bucci Trio w/ "Topsy"
  on Ultra-Lounge Vol. 4: Bachelor Pad Royale
  Capitol
• After Sandage:
  Billy Adams w/ "Born to be a Loser"
  on Rockin' Thru the Years 1955-2002
  Castle
• After Denby:
  Tortoise w/ "Sixpack"
  on Standards
  Thrill Jockey
• After Magnuson:
  T.J. Baden w/ "Opportunity"
  on Sounds of Wood and Steel 2
  Windham Hill Records

Distribution dates:

week of 03/05/2006 - hour 2 week of 01/09/2005 - hour 2

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Questions and comments can be addressed to: flemingj@wpr.org

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