Poet and activist Allen Ginsberg talks about the resurgence of the 50s beat generation of artists and poets; how Bob Dyland was influenced by Kerouac. He talks also about censorship of his work and others.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali is one of the world's most controversial critics of Islam. Born in Somalia, the former Dutch politician has lived under threat of death for years, after the murder of a colleague with whom she made a film about Islam's treatment of women. She talks about her new memoir "Nomad" and about what the West should do to lessen the influence of radical Islam among Muslim immigrants.

Niece of the assassinated former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Fatimo Bhutto talks about her memoir "Songs of Blood and Sword". It is about the Bhutto family dynasty, whose tagic and violent story mirrors the history of modern Pakistan. Fatima's father was gunned down in 1993 and she holds her aunt Benazir responsible for his death.

Nobelist Kazuo Ishiguro talks to Allan Gregg about his new novel "Never Let Me Go".

Canadian novelist Rabindranath Maharaj, whose novel "The Amazing Absorbing Boy" is about a young immigrant from Trinidad and how he adjusts to life in multi-cultural Toronto.

Acclaimed novelist Jane Urquhart discusses her biography "L. M. Montgomery" (Lucy Maud Montgomery). It tells us about the tragic life of the beloved author of "Anne of Green Gables" This is part of the Extraordinary Canadians biography series.

In his latest book, "The Empathic Civilization: The Race to Global Consciousness in a World in Crisis", renowned social thinker Jeremy Rifkin offers a radical new view of human nature. He looks at how empathy will determine our fate as a species.

American journalist and author of ,Game Change, , Mark Halperin discusses his bestseller about the last U.S. presidential campaign and assesses President Obama's record so far, as well as his future challenges.

Author and Canadian icon Douglas Coupland, talks about his latest book "Generation A", the follow-up work to his ground-breaking novel "Generation X". He also relfects on his life and work.

Award-winning author Lawrence Hill on his novel "The Book of Negroes". He also discusses the historical odyssey of former slaves back to Africa, on which the story is based.