so i would read dick and jane all the way up to julius caesar. when i came to a word difficult, he would say work with it little sister. he wouldn't jump in and tell me. he would let me work it out so i did. i learned to jump into words. that built my confidence, grandmother and ggrandfather were from the old school. i can remember

so i would read dick and jane all the way up to julius caesar. when i came to a word difficult, he would say work with it little sister. he wouldn't jump in and tell me. he would let me work it out so i did. i learned to jump into words. that built my confidence, grandmother and ggrandfather were from the old school. i can remember borrowing $25 from my grandmother. i was taking out my checkbook to pay her. she said no, darling, don't give me a little piece of paper. what did i give you. i said a 20 and a 5. so bring me that. they went to the light company and paid their light bills. they went to the department store and paid whatever. they went there once or twice a week to take care of business. the process of going through things, my grandmother would take me to the library. all along the way there were places where we couldn't go to the andrew jackson hotel, we couldn't go to morten's cafeteria. there was a paramount theatre, we had to go in the back door, separate water fountains. it was a very negative experience. when i got to the library,

and he chose the first 12 from julius caesar through donation, many of them are fascinating. some of them terrible tyrants, dictators. some of them great men like caesar augustus. and that book that he wrote became famous, since purnick began to has never been out of print. is basically our source material, not only for the lives of those great roman emperors, but for the characters, the personalities. because he, being in rome, he was able to do interviews with people who lived through some of the lives of those caesars, and by telling not only their public lives by their private lives. he gave his unforgettable insight, this window onto the world of rome, and at the height of the roman empire. >> host: so he is often credited as some was the father of psychological character driven biography. in fact, he had a classical president. >> guest: that's true, but the big difference i think is he did something that has never been done since, as far as i know, as far as biographical history. and i know if my book is the first time. it's been tried since roman times, but he decided

she writes about her love with marc anthony and julius caesar and tells her life story in a way that's stocking stuffers here at the end. >> adriana trigiani, one of america's favorite authors, she has "don't sing at the table." and how to deal with your in-laws in there. which is perfect advice for the holidays. and the importance of getting a good breakfast, all good grandmother advice. >> and lastly a book that's going to make you go ah. >> a book of cute, you know, baby animals. you can't go wrong with that. >> john, great to have you here. >> good to see you. >> up next, dessert delights from sunny anderson. first this is "today" on nbc. >>> these this morning on "today's" holiday kitchen, just desserts. we're talking about treats that will be the toast of your holiday party. with us is sunny anderson. host of the food network's "rooking for real." dessert first. i'm all about it. >> that's how i like to order. that's how i like to dream. that's how i like to live. that's what i do. >> and you do it well. baklava. that's what we're going to start with? >> i love baklava. but it's

she writes about her love with marc anthony and julius caesar and tells her life story in a way that's. >> stocking stuffers here at the end. >> adriana trigiani, one of america's favorite authors, she has "don't sing at the table." and how to deal with your in-laws in there. which is perfect advice for the holidays. and the importance of getting a good breakfast, all good grandmother advice. >> and lastly a book that's going to make you go ah. >> a book of cute, you know, baby animals. you can't go wrong with that. >> john, great to have you here. >> good to see you. >> up next, dessert delights from sunny anderson. first this is "today" on nbc. ♪ [ female announcer ] yoplait's real fruit and the goodness of dairy... gives you a little slice of happy. and happiness cos in 25 decious flavors. explore them all. yoplait. it is so good. now the yoplait you love in a new four pack. try it today. i want a robosan 4000. [ mom ] the one no one could get. toy stores are reporting long lines and empty shelves. a robosan 4000. [ mom ] and i mean no one. so i did most of my holiday shopping on ci