Piece image

Last Day On Earth

From: Guy Rathbun
Series: Turning Pages: Authors and Their Words
Length: 23:01

Embed_button
David Vann's latest work. The true story of Steve Kazmierszak. On Valentine's Day, 2008, Kazmierszak killed five and wounded 18 at Northern Illinois University. Read the full description.

Fir_m12_t05_small Major networks were unsuccessful in attempts to get the story: CNN failed, The Chicago Tribune, Washington Post and several others gave up because of a lack of information. But David Vann, while investigating the shooting for Esquire Magazine, interviewed Kazmierczak's high school and junior high friends. He gained complete access to 1,500 pages of police files, and came away with a vivid portrait of a school shooter. In the process, Vann turns the story upon himself recounting his own involvement with guns. The story is riveting and disturbing. 

Also in the Turning Pages: Authors and Their Words series

Caption: Jean Houston

The Wizard of Us (27:55)
From: Guy Rathbun

Author and philosopher Jean Houston offers a guidepost into the world of Dorothy and L Frank Baum in which she delves into the deeper messages held inside the world of OZ.
Caption: Vicki Leon

Love, Lust & Longing in the Ancient World (14:59)
From: Guy Rathbun

Author Vicki Leon takes us for a ride through the ages of aphrodisiacs and anti-aphrodisiacs, contraception, nymphomania, bisexuality, cross-dressing and gender bending in ...
Caption: Joni Mitchell

Joni: The Creative Odyssey of Joni Mitchell (28:58)
From: Guy Rathbun

The story of Joni Mitchell is as convoluted and compelling as her music. She eluded industry clichés, spoke and composed in philosophical twists, and criticized most those ...
Caption: Joe Wenke

You've Got to be Kidding (15:15)
From: Guy Rathbun

A former corporate speechwriter, Joe Wenke is the owner of a leading event marketing company. With his new book, he’s going to have a few more interesting monikers to go by.
Caption: Emily Franklin

How to Spell Chanukah (09:49)
From: Guy Rathbun

Here’s a new book for Channuk, Hannukkah, Channukah, or however you happen to spell it.
Caption: B.A. Shapiro

The Art Forger (20:24)
From: Guy Rathbun

The New York Times estimates that nearly forty percent of museum and gallery art is forged. Keep that in mind as you read the new book by B.A. Shapiro.
Caption: Colin Fischer, Credit: Jacket cover design by Emily Osborne

Colin Fischer (14:42)
From: Guy Rathbun

This is the story of an exceptional 14-year-old boy with Asperger’s syndrome. He hates the color blue, keeps a very detailed notebook, needs flash cards to recognize facial ...
Piece image

Neptune Speaks (28:28)
From: Guy Rathbun

Robert Wintner is Executive Director of the Snorkel Bob Foundation and owner of Snorkel Bob's Hawaii. He has written several novels, two of which were purchased for movie options.
Caption: Leslie M.M. Blume, Credit: photo by Billy Farrell

Bring Back: The Cocktail Edition (13:16)
From: Guy Rathbun

Try to imagine drinking your way through this book! That’s what author Leslie M. M. Blume has done in order to provide recipes for 144 cocktails.
Caption: My Berlin Kitchen (cover), Credit: Roseanne Serra (jacket design)

My Berlin Kitchen (17:13)
From: Guy Rathbun

Imagine a time in your life when everything is where it should be. Challenging work, a fulfilling love life, and a secure future. Then lurking somewhere behind it, the ...

Piece Description

Major networks were unsuccessful in attempts to get the story: CNN failed, The Chicago Tribune, Washington Post and several others gave up because of a lack of information. But David Vann, while investigating the shooting for Esquire Magazine, interviewed Kazmierczak's high school and junior high friends. He gained complete access to 1,500 pages of police files, and came away with a vivid portrait of a school shooter. In the process, Vann turns the story upon himself recounting his own involvement with guns. The story is riveting and disturbing. 

Intro and Outro

INTRO:

The following is a portrait of the Northern Illinois University shooting on Valentine's Day 2008.

OUTRO:

Musical Works

Title Artist Album Label Year Length
Pensativa Terry Trotter It's About Time. MAMA 1993 00:00