Marathon Madness

Amby Burfoot and David Willey of Runner’s World magazine talk about this Sunday’s New York City Marathon. Mr. Burfoot can even share what it’s like to win one--he’s a former champion of the Boston Marathon. Next, we’ll talk to Dr. Fawaz Gerges of Sarah Lawrence College about the recent social and political upheaval in Lebanon. Since September, Lebanon has seen the resignation of its Prime Minister and four of its cabinet members. We’ll take a look at the issues surrounding the resignations, and examine the implications for the stability of the region. Then, Jean Nathan uncovers the strange history of Dare Wright—a model/actress who in 1957 created the children’s book The Lonely Doll. In her new biography, The Secret Life of the Lonely Doll, Jean Nathan reveals some disturbing parallels between Wright’s life and that of her famous doll. And Nation columnist Patricia J. Williams reflects on her life, and the social history of her times, in Open House: Of Family, Friends, Food, Piano Lessons, and the Search for a Room of My Own. Finally, we’ll ask Dr. Scott Keeter, Associate Director of the PEW Center for People and the Press in Washington D.C., and Professor Brian Balogh of the University of Virginia’s History Department, how we became so divided as a country. They join us as part of our new Please Explain feature, where we attempt to get to the bottom of complicated issues.