John Williams

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about the Trump administration wanting to give $1000 to every newborn, his thoughts on Medical Aid in Dying legislation, and if he prefers TV episodes all being dropped at one time as opposed to being released week-to-week.

The great Mr. Fix-It, Lou Manfredini, joins John Williams to tell us the projects we need to be working on this week. Lou says it’s time to repair cracks in your walkways and to seal your asphalt driveway. As always, Lou answers all of your questions!

Listen to HouseSmarts Radio on WGN each Saturday morning at 6 am.

Chicago Tribune theater critic, author and editorial page editor Chris Jones joins John Williams to talk about the 2025 Tony Awards including ‘Purpose’ winning best play after it was first produced at Steppenwolf, and the success of ‘Oh, Mary.’ Chris also talks about the live production of ‘Good Night, and Good Luck,’ and why the story still resonates today.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected].

No AI-generated book titles are found amongst the books our WGN crew of readers recently read and are recommending. If you’re looking for something to read next, take a look at fiction and non-fiction selections from John Williams, Steve Alexander, Bob Kessler and Sara Tieman. And check back at wgnradio.com/books for all our past recommendations!

John Williams (weekdays 10am-2pm, including The Wintrust Business Lunch)
Class Clown: The Memoirs of a Professional Wiseass (2025) – Dave Barry
I expected this book to be humorous. I didn’t expect it to be surprising.   There are several points in his biography where I said, I sure didn’t see THAT coming.   The first sentence:  “So I’m in a rock band with Stephen King.”  Okay so you probably DID know that, but what follows is engaging and sometimes dark and often laugh out loud funny.   It’s a swift read and follows the first rule of entertainment:  leave them wanting more. Hear John’s interview with Dave Barry here.

Abundance (2025) – Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson
Not done with this one, but it is a critique of liberal policies in the pursuit of the good life.  This is not to say it is a pro-Republican book.  It starts with an almost utopian vision of America in the year 2050 and it sucks you in.  Oh, I want that, you’ll say.  And hen they tell you why you don’t have it.  And that’s a good place to start.

Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space (2024) – Adam Higginbotham
The book came out last May, but the reviews by our own Sara Tieman and podcaster David Plotz made me realize I NEED to read this book. We know how this is going to end through subtitle and history. Which is not a reason to avoid going back to the beginning and learning.  The writing – I hear – is marvelous and instructive, the story, tragic.

Steve Alexander (agribusiness reporter)
Gandolfini: Jim, Tony and the Life of a Legend (2025) – Jason Bailey
Fans of “The Sopranos” will enjoy the biography of James Gandolfini by Jason Bailey. Gandolfini is a love letter to the actor, who died in 2013 at 51. He’s best known, of course, as troubled New Jersey Mafia boss Tony Soprano, but he acted in a surprising number of other films after that, including many that never saw the light of day. Perhaps his best performance was his last, and one he didn’t live long enough to see, as Julia Louis-Dreyfuss’s co-star in 2013’s Enough Said.

As described by dozens of other actors, directors, and producers, Gandolfini, as an actor, was extremely insecure and very hard on himself, while very generous and supportive (including financially) with his fellow actors and crews.

I highly recommend this book–especially if you’re a Gandolfini and Sopranos fan–and perhaps you’ll want to experience it as I did: re-watching the series as I read the book.

Heart, Be at Peace: A Novel (2024) – Donal Ryan
Another book I liked in May was Heart, Be at Peace by Donal Ryan.  It won the Irish Book of the Year award, and I came upon it at the Cuirt Internation Festival of Literature (also known as the Galway Book Festival). Ireland has several book festivals each year and Diane and I have been fortunate enough to attend a few others, including the West Cork festival in Bantry, and the Dalkey festival in suburban Dublin. The Galway festival featured Q&As and signings with not only Donal Ryan, but other acclaimed Irish authors like Sally Rooney, Roddy Doyle, Anne Enright, and Kevin Barry. If you want to immerse yourself in literature (all kinds) with all sorts of workshops, plus enough down time for sightseeing (we took a day cruise to the Aran Islands and the Cliffs of Moher), I highly recommend one of these book festivals. In fact, I bet Steve Bertrand Travel could sell out “book festival tours” to Ireland and other European countries. I can think of a couple of WGN employees who would love to host those trips (hint, hint).

Oh, back to the book: Heart, Be at Peace is the story of the struggles and grudges and secrets of a small Irish town near Limerick. The book is constructed as a collection of stories from 21 residents as they deal with drugs and fast money that are interrupting the town’s recovery from economic collapse.  It’s cleverly crafted and written. I recommend it, but if you aren’t familiar with Irish colloquialisms, you’ll need to google several words, as I did.

Remarkably Bright Creatures (2022) – Shelby Van Pelt
And, my favorite book of the month was Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. I’m late to this party because there was a long wait list at the library. I should have bought it. I recall other WGN readers have praised this book and I agree. It’s soooo good; just a beautiful and tender story about loss and friendship with a touch of fantasy in the form of a “talking” giant Pacific octopus who serves as a detective and faciliator in helping heal some of the human pain.

Bob Kessler (news) 
Heartbreaker: A Memoir (2025 – Mike Campbell
Guitarist Mike Campbell is one of the great and truly essential band members in rock and roll. While Tom Petty had top billing, his picture on the album covers and did most of the songwriting, it would not have taken on the sound and shape it did without Mike Campbell. Like the music Mike Campbell created with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, this book is straightforward, honest, approachable while imparting deep insight and feelings. It fits my standard for music autobiographies:  “Is this as good as Rodney Crowell’s ‘Chinaberry Sidewalks?'” The answer here is a definite “yes.”

Turning to Birds: The Power and Beauty of Noticing (2025) – Lili Taylor
A sensitive, sweet, life affirming series of approachable essays on birding. Although it’s not an activity I’m looking to get into, I could certainly relate as a person who has strong passions and curiosities. It’s a quick, worthwhile read that serves as an inspiration to get out and experience the world. The things that surround us that we might only notice in passing can offer much, if we relate to them differently.

Darkenbloom (2024) – Eva Menasse
A challenging, intricate read and unlike any fiction I’ve encountered. The text shifts around its many characters in a way that makes the narrative (such as it is) a struggle to follow. But, I stuck with it because of the rave reviews and I was curious how it would wrap up.  The closest thing I can compare it with is a Richard Scarry illustrated book like ‘What Do People Do All Day’ (although the subject matter and tone are obviously very different).  But both are rich in characters, all doing different things in a European town with its European feel as their lives intersect and intertwine.

Tilt (2025) – Emma Pattee
An intense and insightful page-turner about a pregnant woman in the aftermath of a massive earthquake in Portland, Oregon. It’s an account of the main character’s journey to find her husband and get back home amidst the disaster but is also worthy examination of the societal impact of such devastation.

City of Dreams (2023) and City in Ruins (2024) – Don Winslow
These are parts 2 and 3 of Winslow’s great ‘Danny Ryan’ epic mob thriller series. All three are smart, suspenseful and full of surprises that kept me turning page after page.

Sara Tieman (promotions & public relations manager and station bookworm) 
Under the Same Stars (2025) – Libba Bray
The cover may say YA historical fiction but don’t like YA deter you as an adult reader. This book encompasses three timelines: present day – well, pandemic 2020 times, so near enough present day – 1980 with an American teenager living in West Berlin and 1940s Germany. Historical fiction is always and forever my favorite genre and there’s a wealth of material in the WWII era which I find myself most commonly picking up. Finding out all these three timelines come together was a surprise and, yes, I’m crying at the end. Worth the read.

Paperback Crush: The Totally Radically History of 80s and 90s Teen Fiction (2018) – Gabrielle Moss
This book made my heart happy because it tapped into my growing up years and was like a trip down memory line with pictures of books I read and loved, from The Baby-Sitters Club series by Ann M. Martin to Francine Pascal’s Sweet Valley Twins, the R.L. Stine’s Fear Street series, Lurlene McDaniel books and more. The chapters are divided into broader themes like jobs and school to dive more into depth of the books that cover those themes. Moss is critical and honest of these works and the material available to us at the time, so now, I want to go back and re-read those books I loved and look at them through the lens of adult eyes.

Craig Bolanos, Founder and Wealth Advisor at VestGen Wealth Partners, joins John Williams to talk about the good job report, what is driving the market today, the dustup between President Trump and Elon Musk, the outlook for Tesla (and EV’s in general) moving forward, the fantastic run that gold has had recently, what he thinks of Fed policy, why he think there should be two rate cuts this year, and the importance of keeping diversified.

Jack Godfrey, musical theatre composer, lyricist and writer, joins John Williams to talk about the musical, ‘42 Balloons,’ now showing at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Jack tells John about his career path and what led him to musical theater, when he became interested in the story of Lawnchair Larry, what made him want to write about this story, what makes this story so personal, his fascination of American culture, and what he wants people to take from the show.

NewsNation Now anchor Connell McShane joins John Williams to talk about the latest on the President Trump v. Elon Musk beef. How seriously should we be taking this?

It’s time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature! Are you trying to come up with some vacation ideas that are only a quick getaway from the Chicago area? Well, John Williams has some great recommendations for your trip! Today, we take a short trip north of the border and visit with Christine Rebout, Executive Director, Visit Edgerton! Christine reminds us where Edgerton is located and how the town is like being dropped in a Hallmark movie! Christine tells us about all the opportunities for fun on Lake Koshkonong, the great dining in downtown Edgerton, and the best festivals taking place this summer!

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!