Booknotes: America's Finest Authors on Reading, Writing, and the Power of Ideas

by Brian Lamb

For nearly a decade, Booknotes has been an oasis of book programming on television, the only place where Americans can regularly find in-depth, quality discussions of books.

Genres: Nonfiction, Books About Books, Writing, History, Essays, Biography, Politics

426 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Brian Lamb, founder of C-SPAN, currently serves as the C-SPAN Networks' Executive Chairman. Since C-SPAN's founding in 1979, Brian has been a regular on-camera presence, interviewing all presidents since Reagan and many world leaders, members of Congress, journalists and authors. Over 15 years beginning in 1989, Brian interviewed 801 nonfiction authors for a weekly series called "Booknotes." Currently, Brian hosts "Q & A," a Sunday evening, hour-long interview program with people who are making things happen in the public sphere.

Six books of collected Brian Lamb interviews have been published by PublicAffairs based on the "Booknotes" and "Q & A" series, most recently, "Sundays at Eight." And in 2010, PublicAffairs published "The Supreme Court," a collection of interviews Brian and C-SPAN colleague Susan Swain conducted with eleven current and former Supreme Court justices. C-SPAN's 10th book with PublicAffairs, "The Presidents: Noted Historians Rank America's Best - and Worst - Chief Executives," was published in spring 2019.

Brian's work with C-SPAN has been recognized with the Presidential Medal of Honor and the National Humanities Medal. In 2011, Purdue University, Brian's alma mater, announced the naming of the Brian Lamb School of Communication.

Brian is a longtime resident of Arlington, Virginia. When he's not devouring newspapers, websites, nonfiction books, or Thai food at his favorite local restaurant, Brian is likely in hot pursuit of the latest country music release.

Reviews

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really wish there were more books like this. I loved the show Booknotes for many reasons--one was learning about the authors' writing habits--where they wrote, how they wrote, and what inspired them at their desks.

I suppose this book is a distillation of the Booknotes program, with some added emphasis on the work habits of authors. It inspires my own quest for improving my work habits and creating an efficient writing space.

It's a little disconcerting, though, to learn that many of these esteemed writers--such as Doris Kearns Goodwin, Shelby Foote and John Keegan, for example--all write in longhand. . . .

(Granted, much of the series took place at the dawn of computer writing software prior to MS Word. . . .)

Their habits can't help my hyperactive editing instinct at the keyboard, but maybe it can inspire me to make each sentence count the first time, instead of endlessly tweaking.

This is a non-linear book that you can open to any point and begin reading and learning.

I still lament the end of Booknotes, and I wish C-SPAN could revive the program for public benefit. It is damn hard to read a book a week, though, as Brian Lamb once revealed near the end of the series.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been my normal nighttime reading, and I am quite glad I picked it up; it consists of interviews with nonfiction authors, who talk about books, the art of writing, and their lives. And I very much enjoyed reading this book.

Booknotes was a television series on the C-SPAN network hosted by Brian Lamb, which originally aired from 1989 to 2004. The format of the show was a one-hour, one-on-one interview with a non-fiction author, with a given author only appearing on the show once. The series was broadcast at 8 p.m. Eastern Time each Sunday night, and was the longest-running author interview program in United States broadcast history (And one that I was totally unconscious of; I knew of C-Span, but never watched it, as I am not a government wonk.) This particular volume has selected interviews from 1989 through 1997, and is in three sections. The first one is Storytellers, with interviews from such people as Shelby Foote (who only wrote with a dip pen), Stephen Ambrose, Robert K. Massie, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and Norman Mailer. The Reporters includes George Will, Anna Quindlen, Morley Safer, William F. Buckley, Jr., Garry Wills, and John Hockenberry. The final third section, Public Figures, includes Jimmy Carter, Al Gore, William Rehnquist, Dan Quayle, Betty Friedan, Norman Schwarzkopf, and Margaret Thatcher. The book includes two color photograph sections, a complete list of programs from 1989 through early 1997, and an Appendix telling where to go online for more information about programs and authors.

I very much enjoyed this book, and am glad to have stumbled upon it.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed this immensely, 25 years after publication, because I’m old enough to remember, if not the books, the writers or the topics. The writers’ side of the interviews gave an intimate perspective of the writing experience for them . As a reader, I loved it.

[Lydia Feliciano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good variety of authors covering non-fiction topics.

[Blake Edward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian Lamb is a hero and his band of writers around the world. I learn so much from them for free! He’s given incredible value to the world through his nonprofit.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is edited transcripts of the tv show which made it something of a mixed bag. I liked the beginning section featuring authors the most. The middle section featuring journalists dragged for me since many of them talked of subjects that weren't interesting to me.

[Kendall]

Compilation of interviews with authors who have appeared on the CSPAN program Booknotes. Mostly non-fiction authors. Some good tips and insights into writing.

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, gave me many additions for my book list.

[Eli]

A book that is the companion to BookTV. Tells great behind the scenes tales of the writing life.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both volumes are a great read for both fans of the show and history buffs. Enjoyable and informative.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fine collection of interviews with authors of significant books yielded many title for my books-to-read list.

[Patricia Tennesen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting yet as on the show, at times mundane.

[Beth Shultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was interesting to read. It was published around 20 years ago, but still good.

[John Bond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great collection of interviews of some great minds. Also, an insight into where the US was in the late 90s. Recommend.